The department of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) in Kerala has for the first time in the country introduced specialized treatment for fatty liver (steatosis hepatitis) disease (FLD), mainly found in the age group of 20-40, in selected government Ayurveda hospitals across the state.

Gradually, based on the success rate, all the hospitals will have facilities and medications for treating this disease which is found increasing in youngsters.

Though treatment for fatty liver has been there in all the ISM hospitals for long, specialized and research oriented method of treatment for this health risk was introduced in selected hospitals in the last one year. The method of treatment comprises three phases of three and four months. Treatment in these three stages will completely cure the disease, and its success rate is significantly high, said Dr. MS Raziya, district medical officer for ISM, Alappuzha.

“Fatty liver is a diet and lifestyle oriented disease. The symptoms include sudden loss of appetite, pain in upper right abdominal area, lethargy and acidity. Those who are overweight or diabetic are at greater risk.  There are herbal remedies for this disease in Ayurveda which will effectively control this liver condition. This is the first stage of liver disease and it occurs when excess fat gets accumulated around the liver and causes it to become enlarged”, said the ISM DMO.

In Alappuzha district, the Taluk hospitals at Cherthalai, Mararikulam, Mavelikara and Kayamkulam, have been selected for specialized treatment for FLD. For preliminary testing and scanning, the department of ISM has tied up with private testing laboratories. A scientific committee has been constituted for suggesting medications, which would be supplied to the hospitals by the state owned manufacturer, Oushadhi.

While talking to Pharmabiz, Dr. Raziya said though fatty liver is not life-threatening, it can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer if left unattended for a long time. She said the ayurvedic treatment for FLD has benefited more than 100 patients in Alapuzha district within the last three years time. The first phase of treatment will continue for three months, and the next two stages will comprise eight more months. Though the patients recover from all symptoms, follow up treatments are to be continued.

At present the scientific committee has advised six kinds of medicines for treating FLD, all of them are classical drugs, but specially prepared for this symptom only.

Further to this, the department has now introduced certain new projects of treatments for diseases affecting children, geriatric care, gynecological problems, palliative care and mental disorders. All Ayurveda and Siddha hospitals in Kerala have special treatment facilities for these special projects introduced by the ISM department.