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| Hepatitis in Ayurveda |
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In Ayurvedic medicine the liver is the seat of ranjaka pitta along with the spleen. The definition of Pitta literally means bile, which is ranjaka pitta. Ranjaka pitta gives color to all the tissues. Ranjaka pitta is responsible for erythrogenesis, the creation of red blood cells in the bone marrow, which are mixed with rasa dhatu, the plasma. Thus, ranjaka pitta is responsible for giving color to the blood.
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The function of ranjaka pitta in the liver is the disintegration of hemoglobin, which produces haem and globin. From haem, bile is produced, and that bile is ranjaka pitta. Its' job is to give color to the urine, feces and sweat.
Ranjaka pitta in the stomach is intrinsic factor, which is responsible for production of blood in the bone marrow. Ranjaka pitta in the spleen kills bacteria and parasites as well as produces some white blood cells (rasa dhatu), so its job is more protective.
There is a functional integrity between the liver, stomach, spleen and bone marrow. If the function of the liver is affected the bone marrow will also be affected. If the function of the stomach is affected, it will affect the liver. In a way, the spleen is to filter the blood and to send unwanted heavy, old red blood cells to the liver; the liver destroys them and separates the hemoglobin from the blood. Then the liver utilizes the hemoglobin that is liberated for the production of bile salts, pigment and enzymes. Therefore, when the spleen is enlarged the liver may also be enlarged and vice versa.
The Sanskrit word for liver is "yakrut". "Ya" means circulation and "krut" means action. Yakrut is an important seat of fire - the seat of anger, hate, envy, and jealousy. These emotions need to be processed and metabolized. These emotions want to come out but, if we suppress them, they accumulate in the tissues and lead to disease. Ayurveda does not separate emotions from the organs. We cannot separate body from mind and mind from consciousness.
Disorders of ranjaka pitta include hepatitis, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome and mononucleosis. Excessive bile production or a blockage in the flow of bile usually indicates high pitta, which in turn affects the agni or enzyme activities responsible for absorption, digestion and metabolism. Pitta can be aggravated by many factors of diet and lifestyle. These would include alcohol abuse, eating red meat, eating too much spicy or oily, heavy foods, lack of sleep, too much direct exposure to the sun and smoking. When pitta becomes aggravated liver diseases can result such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Ayurveda describes two basic types of kaamala (hepatitis or jaundice).
1. Shakhasrita is caused by the minimal aggravation of pitta and kapha, and is easily curable.
2. Kumbha kaamala results from very high pitta and is difficult to cure. It can become incurable if not attended to immediately.
Samprapti
Due to the aggravation of pitta by excessive alcohol intake, too much heavy, oily, spicy food, etc. the liver can become diseased. When pitta is out of balance and disease begins in the liver this can result in disease of the blood, muscle tissue, and biliary system. The manifestation of this disease will be ‘kaamala' or jaundice.
The symptoms of "kamala” include:
•Loss of appetite and taste
• Generalized weakness
• Yellowish discoloration of the eyes, nails, oral cavity, and urine
• Vague body pains
• Burning sensation
• Weakness in all sensory organs
Once hepatitis is advanced and the immune system is highly comprised emaciation will be present as well. Ayurveda teaches us that hepatitis involves all systems in the body including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and the gastrointestinal system as well as the skin.
Symptoms of hepatitis such as generalized edema, excessive thirst, bloody stools, vomiting blood, red eyes, dizziness, drowsiness, total loss of appetite, and hepatic coma indicate that the liver disease is at an incurable stage and the patient is believed to be terminally ill.
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