Jaundice

Jaundice or icterus, is a common liver disorder characterized by yellow discoloration of the skin and mucus membranes. It occurs due to an increase in the amount of bile pigments, or bilurubin in the blood.

Symptoms
Yellow discoloration of the eyes, skin, tongue and urine the foremost sign of contracting jaundice. It is usually accompanied by fever, headache, itchiness, loss of appetite, general body weakness, liver pains, nausea, and chronic constipation.

Causes
There are different causes for each type of jaundice. In pre-hepatic jaundice, plenty of red blood cells are broken down and is converted into bilirubin. In hepatic jaundice, the bilirubin process does not work properly in the liver. In post-hepatic jaundice, the bilirubin that entered the bile are not eliminated through the feces properly.

Liver-related conditions such as malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever and tuberculosis are further causes of jaundice.

Home Remedies
Bitter Luffa: Place a handful of bitter luffa in a piece of cloth and wrap it. Squeeze tightly to make juice extract. Inhale the aroma coming from this juice. Delicate patients should not take this for it can cause side effects such as high fever, migraine, and volatility.

As an alternative for its juice, soak dry bitter luffa crusts in water overnight. Use the prepared water to place 2-3 drops in the patient. Bitter luffa seeds can also be use after soaking it in water.

Radish Leaves: Make juice extract from radish leaves and give ½ liter of this juice to the patient daily. It will bring back the appetite and will improve bowel movement within 8-10 days.

Tomato: Drink a glass of fresh tomato juice mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper early in the morning.

Snake Gourd Leaves: Boil 15 gm of snake gourd leaves in 250 ml water. Then boil coriander seeds in 500 ml water until it lowers down by 1/3. Mix the two and give it 30-60 ml of this juices 3 times a day.

Pigeon Pea Leaves: Take 60 ml juice extracted from green leaves of pigeon pea plant everyday.

Almond, dried date and cardamom: Soak 8 almond kernels, 2 dried dates and 5 small cardamom overnight in water. Remove outer coating of almond kernels and inner seeds of dried dates. Mix into a paste then mix 50 grams of sugar and equal parts of butter. Let the patient lick this paste for the treatment of jaundice.

Sugarcane: Mix 1 glass of homemade sugarcane juice and ½ parts of limejuice. Take 2 times daily for faster recovery.

One glass of sugarcane juice, mixed with the juice of half a lime, and taken twice daily, can hasten recovery from jaundice. It is, however, very essential that the juice must be clean and preferably prepared at home. Resistance is low in jaundice and any infected beverage could make matters worse.

Lemon: Mix 20 ml lemon juice with water and drink it several times a day to heal damaged liver cells.

Lemon is also beneficial in the treatment of jaundice. The patient should be given 20 ml of lemon juice mixed with water several times a day. This will protect the damaged liver cells.

Barley Water: Mix 1 cup of barley water in 3 liters of water then boil it. Simmer for 3 hours. Drink several times a day.

Jaundice Berry: Take ¼ teaspoon of jaundice berry powder for several times a day. Jaundice berry juice can be given in a 2-4 ml doses.

Diets
Mild cases of jaundice can be cure thru a well-balanced diet and proper physical rest.

Undergo an exclusive juice diet for 1 week until all symptoms subsided. Follow with an exclusive fruit diet for the next 3-5 days by taking eating succulent fruits at 5 hour intervals for 3 times a day.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get enough carbohydrates.

Avoid fatty foods, legumes and pulses for they will cause intestinal problems or blockage.

Other suggestions
Take moderate physical exercises.

Take plenty of fresh air.

Have a moderate amount of rest.