Ayurvedic Home Remedies: For Jaundice and Liver Diseases

Kizhanelli and karisalanganni are two herbs that are used in Siddha and Ayurveda for treating fatty liver, jaundice and other liver diseases. The incidents of liver damage are on the increase and it would be beneficial to equip ourselves with the knowledge of these herbs for both preventing and treating a host of liver diseases.

Liver is located on the right upper side of abdomen. The normal weight of liver of an adult is around 3 pounds. It secretes bile into the intestine which is essential in digesting fat. Harmful chemicals that enter the body like alcohol and drugs are rendered harmless by liver. A healthy liver is needed for production of proteins like albumin.

The normal function of liver is disrupted due to viruses, alcohol, toxins in drugs etc.

Kizhanelli (Phyllanthus niruri) is a herb with very tiny round leaves. It grows in lush green areas and can be found in the banks of rivers, lakes and paddy fields. Apart from treating jaundice this herb is useful in curing anemia, skin problems, eyesight defects etc. Kizhanelli juice and ponnankanni juice are mixed in equal quantity of linseed oil and allowed to boil for five minutes. The oil is then allowed to cool. This oil is applied on head for healthy hair growth as well as eye problems.

Karisalankanni (Eclipta alba) is found to grow in river banks and paddy fields. Two litres of karisalankanni juice and linseed oil are mixed and allowed to boil. 40 gm athimathuram powder is added and then allowed to cool. This is a well known remedy for cough, phlegm in chest, disturbances of voice box etc. A spoonful of this oil is taken in the mornings and evenings. The oil can also be used for bathing purposes.

For treating jaundice and other liver problems, leaves of karisalankanni, kizhanelli and thumbai of equal quantity are ground to a fine paste. Around 15 gm of this paste is mixed in buttermilk and taken on empty stomach in the mornings and evenings. This not only cures jaundice but also restores the liver to its healthy normal level within a short period.

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Flowers as Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Ayurveda uses flowers to cure certain diseases. Flowers play an important role in our lives. Flowers of various hues and colours soothe your mood and relax your mind. The fragrance of certain flowers cools you down. Certain flowers can cure diseases when eaten. Following are some flowers used for treating diseases.

Rose

Even though many colours of roses are available the original roses are the best ones suited medicinally. This alone has the enchanting fragrance. Rosewater prepared from rose flowers is used as eyedrops to keep away all eye related infections. Kulkund made from rose cures ulcers of the stomach. The powder of dried rose petals acts as excellent laxatives.

Jasmine

Jasmine falls under the category of herbs which cure diseases just by inhaling them. For example, most of the mental disorders decrease in severity on inhaling jasmine flowers. It calms your mind.

Sunflower

Oil obtained from the seeds of sunflower can be applied on acne. This promotes healing without suppuration. When applied on swollen joints it is found to reduce inflammation. Sunflower oil is used in preparing various dishes.

Shoe flower

The red five petaled shoe flower has excellent medicinal value.

5-10 petals of the shoe flower are chewed. Drink a glass of water. This is found to cure ulcers of stomach. Also white discharge or leukorrhea can be treated this way.

The petals of 4-5 flowers are ground into a paste and mixed in buttermilk. Drinking this buttermilk cleanses your blood. It also strengthens your heart.

For hair fall, premature graying, and baldness etc a preparation made of shoe flower has proved to be beneficial. This is how you prepare it. Put petals of 50 shoe flowers in linseed oil and put this oil in a bottle. Wrap it with a thin white cloth and place it in sunlight for 10 days. Stir the oil once morning and evening. Filter the shoe flower out from linseed oil and mix coconut oil of equal quantity. This should be applied everyday on the scalp to prevent hair fall.

Plantain flower

Known for its excellent diuretic property dishes made of plantain flower are good in curing most of the stomach problems. They are also good at curing hemorrhoids. Some excellent dishes can be found here.

Neem flower

Gather neem flowers during the flowering season, clean and dry them. Powder the flowers and store them. This powder can be used in preparing rasam etc, to cure pitha and vadha related diseases. It also protects the liver.

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Liver and Ayurveda

Liver is one of the complex organs in the human body. One of its functions is production of bile which helps in digesting fat. Food digested by the stomach gets processed by the liver where toxins are filtered.

Sometimes the liver has to bear the brunt due to excessive consumption of alcohol, certain drugs, hot substances like chillies etc.

Karisalankanni (Eclipta prostrata) is the herb of choice in treating liver diseases. This herb grows in marshy areas throughout the year. It grows abundantly during the rainy season. There are two varieties of karisilankanni, one has yellow flowers and the other white. The yellow one is more potent.

Karisalankanni is most effective when eaten raw. It can also be dried in shade and powdered.

When ground to a paste and cooked as in karislankanni kootu, it is good for teeth, skin and hair. It induces appetite. It aids digestion and helps expel fecal matter from the large intestines. It heals ulcers. It cleans the liver and encourages secretion of bile. It cures inflamed liver also called fatty liver.

Adulterated food can jeopardise the liver. Also foods contaminated with chemicals can play havoc. All these on entering human body should to be expelled and the liver is strained beyond its limit. This results in sluggish liver, stomach upset and gastroenteritis. Even though we consume nutritive foods in plenty than the previous generations it doesn’t seem to strengthen our immune system. This is because of the loss of coordination between the liver, intestines and stomach. Adulterated food, contaminated water and polluted environment are the factors that are to be blamed for this state of affairs. There is a high risk of hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, cirrhosis, atherosclerosis and coronary thrombosis.

Karisalankanni comes to rescue in such cases. One ounce of karisalankanni juice (15 ml) and cow’s milk 20 ml (boiled and then brought down to the room temperature) are mixed and should be taken first thing in the morning. This regulates the blood pressure as well.

As karisalankanni starts working in the system, it sets right the liver and cures jaundice, fatty liver, splenomegaly, hemorrhoids, indigestion etc. Regular intake strengthens the inner organs.


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