In summer, the organ "liver" becomes a topic again and again - for various reasons. For some, because a hepatitis vaccination was recommended for a trip. For others, because the consumption of beverages in summer causes liver stress. Or because a "summer flu" with vomiting and diarrhoea leads to complaints in the liver area. Did you know that 1/3 of all Austrians have a "non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD)", most of them without even suspecting it?

Fatty liver is a "silent" disease. Since the liver has no nerves that conduct pain to the brain, fatigue is usually the only symptom. "Fatigue is the pain of the liver" is what traditional European medicine says. Very few "carriers" of a fatty liver know about their condition. The diagnosis is usually not made during normal check-ups without an ultrasound of the liver. Yet fatty liver is often the starting point of other serious diseases: Cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Often an incidental finding

"I thought I was living a healthy life. I often drink a fruit smoothie for breakfast, follow the recommendation to eat raw fruit or vegetables several times a day, even between meals, and also try to keep walking instead of taking lifts or driving," says Ms A. L. "The diagnosis of fatty liver took me completely by surprise." Experts agree that fatty liver is a typical disease of affluence and civilisation. Too many carbohydrates (sugar and flour), too frequent meals, too many bad fats in the diet and too little exercise lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver in about one third of the population. The diagnosis is often made late or not at all because, apart from fatigue, there are no symptoms for a long time.

How is fatty liver diagnosed?

The diagnosis can be made by an extended screening examination with additional blood values such as CRP, exact fatty acid analysis, status of fat-soluble vitamins, HOMA index and an ultrasound of the liver. These investigations are arranged by our practice in suspected cases. "I went for an extended screening because of tiredness and fatigue. The diagnosis "fatty liver" shocked me," says Mr. J.K., "It was amazing how quickly with the Ayurvedic therapy my complaints were as good as gone and also the laboratory values had normalised within 2 months."

Therapy

What does this therapy look like? As in modern medicine, exercise and nutrition play an important role. Ayurvedic detoxification therapies and medicinal herbs accelerate recovery enormously and facilitate the necessary change of some lifestyle habits.

Exercise

Regular aerobic exercise (training in the individually comfortable pulse range and with nasal breathing) for 30 - 60 minutes daily empties the fat stores of the liver. This makes more healthy liver tissue available again for detoxification and synthesis of body components.

Diet

Avoiding snacks and eating 2 - 3 meals a day is essential. Especially the consumption of raw fruit, sweets and sweet drinks between meals leads to an excess of carbohydrates, which are converted into storage fat by the liver. Therefore, it is important to drink only water and unsweetened tea between meals.

Supply of vitamins and healthy fats

The fat-soluble vitamin D, but also the other fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K support the normalisation of liver metabolism. Omega 3 fatty acid-containing oils such as linseed oil, hemp oil, walnut oil, algae oil or fish oil as a supplement to the daily diet prevent the formation of harmful fats (LDL and oxidised LDL) in the body.

Ayurvedic advanced therapy

Purification cures

In our practice, Ayurvedic cleansing cures have proven very effective as initial treatment for metabolic disorders such as fatty liver. This applies to simple cures such as the herbal detox cure, which can be carried out at home with little effort, as well as to our webinars and Pancha Karma treatments in our Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre. Within one to three weeks, not only do the findings improve, vital energy and well-being are quickly restored. These cures also promote a lasting change in lifestyle and dietary habits.

Medicinal herbs

Bitter medicinal herbs contain herbal adjuvants that improve fat digestion and the flow of bile juices. This is true for local herbs such as sage, wormwood and mixtures such as Swedish bitters, as well as for Ayurvedic single herbs such as turmeric or neem and complex remedies such as the liver rasayana MA937.

Reduce the risk of secondary diseases

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease that affects millions of Austrians. Since it does not cause pain, it often goes undetected. The health consequences are serious: diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and dementia are very likely to develop as secondary diseases. What and when is only a question of disposition and time. A healthy Ayurvedic lifestyle, regular cleansing cures and the intake of rasayanas cure this seemingly harmless disease in a natural way and safely protect against threatening secondary diseases.