The literature of Ayurvedic medicine states that a blood deficiency condition similar to anemia usually precedes jaundice and hepatitis. The liver becomes overactive if this state persists, because the additional metabolic by-products of the increased quantity of dead and defective red blood cells have to be processed. This creates, over time, a subclinical hepatic dysfunction characterized by impaired detoxification capacity. The overburdened liver cannot synthesize and excrete bile properly,

and the accumulated and poorly detoxified bile enters the general circulation, further weakening the liver. This kind of non-infectious liver sickness or jaundice is called in Sanskrit Pandu Kamala.. Infectious jaundice or infectious hepatitis is called Aupadrabic Kamala. It is highly contagious. As a general rule, anemic persons are far more susceptible to infectious hepatitis. Epidemic hepatitis is possible in a compromised population, such as in hospitals.

Functions controlled by the nervous system. Pitta refers to metabolic and waste removal functions, and Kapha refers to nutrient absorption processes. An organ system is healthy if it receives an adequate supply of nutrients via the arteries, an adequate supply of nerve force via the nerves and and adequate drainage of metabolic waste products via the veins and lymphatic system. When illness arises, Ayurvedic Vaidyas (doctors) look for imbalances in Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The term dosha refers to the general group of toxins which result respectively when there is an imbalance in any of the three primary energies.
In Ayurvedic thinking, the inflammation of the liver is the result of metabolic overwork occurring in hepatic veins which contain an abnormal amount of poor quality bile (a form of Pitta dosha or "fire toxin"). Ayurveda considers that inflammation of any organ is present when toxicity causes the veins to become "overactive," or dilated and hot. In the case of hepatitis, fever with chills, nausea, and vomiting are the result.
The swelling of the liver is caused by excess dilation and exudation in the hepatic arteries (Kapha dosha or "mucous toxin"), with increased water-like fluids. The enlarged liver and the blockage in the biliary duct results in a white or light brown stool, because "the yellow bile cannot flow downward."


Madhu Bajra Bajracharya
Chairman
Nepal Traditional Ayurvedic
Medical Practitioner’s Association