Jaundice

Jaundice, also known as Icterus, is a yellowish or greenish pigmentation of the skin and eyes due to high bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is formed by the breakdown of red blood cells in the body. The liver helps to excrete it. If the liver is not working properly excretion will not happen and leads to high bilirubin level in the body. Jaundice in babies occurs in over half in the first week following birth and does not pose a serious threat in most.

• Low grade Fever.
• Burning sensation in the body.
• Change in skin color.
• Dark-colored urine and/or clay-colored stool.
• Weakness/fatigue.
• Lack of appetite.
• Flatulence.
• Excessive thirst.
• Itching of skin.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Swelling of the legs and abdomen.
• Abdominal pain.

• Due to excessive intake of spicy, sour, alkaline food.
• Unwholesome food.
• Sleeping during day time.
• Exercise or doing any strenuous physical activity when food is not digested properly.
• Suppression of natural urges.
• Alcohol misuse.
• Liver disorders like liver infection, hepatitis, gallstones and cirrhosis of liver.

In Ayurveda, Jaundice is known as Kamala. According to Ayurveda there are three elements present in our body: vata, pitta, and kapha which should be balanced in a healthy individual. Due to the above causative factors, Pitta gets aggravated impairing the blood and the tissues of the liver. It causes blockage in the channels of the liver and bile (also a pitta predominant secretion) is thrown back into the blood leading to discoloration of the eyes and skin.

Treatment protocol aims at:

1. Excrete high bilirubin from blood and support the body for proper functioning.
2. Achieve proper liver function with proper bilirubin excretion.
3. Rejuvenating the liver cells and preventing liver damage (Hepatoprotective).

The first line of treatment should always be avoiding the causative factors. If the problem persists then consider the following treatment protocol

• Change in skin colour, itching, burning sensation, low grade fever, dark coloured urine/stool, excessive thirst - All these symptoms are associated with high bilirubin in blood. Arogyavardhini vati and Bhrngaraja help to check the bilirubin mechanism in blood. It removes the blockage in the channels of the liver. Kamadudha, Suvarna makshika normalise the doshas, reduce burning and itching of the body.
• Nausea, loss of appetite, flatulence - Liver is a part of the digestive system improper functioning of the liver leads to poor appetite and fatigue. Haritaki, Amalaki, Bihitaki will stimulate digestion and cleanse the digestive system. 
• Swelling in legs and abdomen - Damaged liver slows the normal flow of blood through the liver, thus increasing pressure in the blood vessel. The increased pressure in the blood vessels can cause fluid to accumulate in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites).
• Weakness/Fatigue - Bhrngaraja, Bhumyamalaki, Kalmegha, Kumari are hepatoprotective in function. It will rejuvenate the liver with proper circulation and improve the overall health.

            (The above mentioned Ayurvedic drugs are Herbs and Herbomineral preparations)

Other Therapies:  Virechana/Purgation therapy (cleaning digestive tract and purifies blood).

Arogyavardhini vati , Bhrngaraja, Kamadudha, Suvarna makshika,  Haritaki, Amalaki, Bihitaki, Bhrngaraja, Bhumyamalaki, Kalmegha, Kumari