Chinese Remedies for Chronic Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, occurs in response to chronic damage to the liver. Cirrhosis can be mild or chronic, depending on the damage to the liver. When the liver is injured, it repairs itself. Scar tissue is the result of this process. As scarring builds up, liver function is decreased. Because the liver is essential for ridding the body of harmful toxins, purifying the blood, and manufacturing vital nutrients, an impaired liver is a serious matter. Malnutrition, liver cancer, high levels of blood toxins, increased infections, and hypertension can result from cirrhosis.

Traditional Treatments for Cirrhosis

• Traditional medical treatments for cirrhosis of the liver are twofold: the first process is treating the underlying condition causing the liver scarring; the second, treating complications arising from the scarring itself. Because cirrhosis is often caused by alcoholism or hepatitis, those conditions are addressed first. Secondary conditions are then treated. Those conditions include excess fluid in the body, reduced liver albumin synthesis, infections, liver cancer, high levels of toxins in the blood, and increased pressure in the veins around the liver.

Chinese Medicine Treatments for Cirrhosis

• TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a system used to diagnose and treat illness that dates back thousands of years in China. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on a holistic understanding of the total universe. TCM states that the "zang--fu" organs are the core of the human body through which a network of blood vessels and tissues work together to make up the total person. Evaluating health or disease includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease as well as the way the body resists and fights the disease. Therefore, treatment is based on the symptoms themselves as well as the differentiation of syndromes. This means that people with the same disease and similar symptoms could be treated in different ways.

  For cirrhosis patients, Chinese medicine works to sustain the patient in the best health possible before surgery should the need arise. Total overall health is stressed, with a focus on eating a healthy diet and leading a healthy lifestyle. Qigong exercises are recommended to improve health and involve regulating mind, body, and respiration. Exercises are performed by the patient (internal) or with the assistance of a quigong master (external). The type and extent of exercises is based on the needs and symptoms of the patient.

  In addition to quigong exercise, acupuncture is used to pinpoint specific problems. The size of the needles, the depth of the insertion, the length of time elapsed, and the choice of points along "meridians" are all based on the effects being sought. In addition to quigong and acupuncture, medicinal herbs are also prescribed in TCM to treat cirrhosis of the liver in order to keep the patient in the best physical condition possible and to attempt to reverse the liver damage.

  Controlling liver inflammation is one of the key priorities in Chinese medicine when it comes to cirrhosis of the liver. Anti-inflammation herbs that can also help protect liver cells include the following:

  Wu Wei Zi (Schizandrae Fructus)
  Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
  Shui Fei Ji (Silybum marianum)
  Ku Shen (Sophorae Radix)
  Chui Pen Cao (Sedi sarmentosi herba)
  Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix)

  In addition to controlling inflammation, Chinese herbs are used to improve liver albumin synthesis. Herbs used to improve albumin synthesis include:

  Dong Cuon Xia Cao (Cordyceps sinensis), Dang Gui (Angelicae Radix)
  Dang Shen (Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix)
  Ling zhi cao (Ganoderma japonicum)
  Gou qi zi (Lycium barbarum)
  Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait)
  Di Haung (Rehmanniae Radix)
  Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhziae Radix)
  Ji Xue Teng (Mucunae Caulis)
  San Leng (Sparganii Rhizoma)
  E Zhu (Zedoariae Rhizoma)
  Xian mao (Curculiginis rhizoma)
  Ba Ji Tian (Morindae officinalis radix)

  Because bleeding is often a complication from cirrhosis of the liver, Chinese herbs used to assist in blood clotting and to reduce blood in the stool. The following herbs are used for those purposes:

  Yunan Bai Yao Capsule
  Xian He Cao (Herba agremoniae)
  Qian Cao (Rubiae radix)
  Bai Ji Granule

  Increased bilirubin levels are sometimes treated with these herbs:

  Yin Chen Wu Ling San (Capillaris and Hoelen Five Formula)
  Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin (Decoction of Five Ingredients for Antiphologistic)
  Hu Zhang (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma)
  Qian Cao (Rubiae radix)
  Yin Chen Hao (Artemisiae Capillaris)
  Da Huang (Rhei Rhizoma).