• Know the cause of liver diseases, Ayurvedic treatment principles adopted in liver disorders and some important Ayurvedic medicines which are very useful in liver diseases.

Liver diseases develop in an individual owing to improper diet habits, severe intake of soft drinks, fast food, high fat-containing meals, contaminated food, alcoholism, viral infection, high cholesterol level in blood, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, over dosage of some allopathic drugs, pesticides, genetic issues, lack of exercise etc.

The main etiological factors of Yakrit roga are excessive intake of katu, amla, lavanarasa ahara, ushna, tiksna, vidahi dravya, virudhahara, madya, malina ahara, keeping awake at night, excessive day time sleep, over use of krithrima vishajanya dravyas, suppression of natural urges, excessive usage of unpurified metals and bhasmas. 

Liver diseases develop in an individual owing to improper diet habits, severe intake of soft drinks, fast food, high fat-containing meals, contaminated food, alcoholism, viral infection, high cholesterol level in blood, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, over-dosage of some allopathic drugs, pesticides, genetic issues, lack of exercise etc. Several individuals with hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E have only mild or no symptoms at all.

Different types of virus, however, can produce more severe symptoms. Symptoms of hepatitis A, B, and C include fever, depression, and loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and nausea, abdominal discomfort, swelling of the abdomen, legs, dark urine, and jaundice. In some situation, the virus can induce a chronic liver infection, which can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer. These patients are at high risk.

Drug induced liver diseases

Drug induced liver diseases are increased. Hepatic diseases are also increased after Covid19. In children it occurred due to virus, toxins or allopathic drugs, obstruction to liver, limited supply of blood to liver and sometimes auto immune disorder. So many allopathic medications have the potential to harm the liver. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) can result from both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. However, since the majority of incidents go unreported, it is difficult to determine how frequently it occurs. Depending on the dosage, several medications have a predictable harmful effect on the liver.

Acetaminophen is responsible for the majority of these cases. The liver reacts differently to other medications. This makes it more difficult to forecast their effects on the liver at any dosage. This includes popular treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and certain types of antibiotics.

Liver Tox

Information on the diagnosis, cause, frequency, clinical patterns, and treatment of liver injury caused by prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as specific herbal and dietary supplements, is readily available, objective, and updated on a regular basis by LiverTox®. 

The LiverTox website is intended to serve as a resource for clinical academicians and researchers who focus on idiosyncratic drug-induced hepatotoxicity, as well as for doctors and patients (livertox.nic.gov). Imaging studies and liver function testing can detect liver damage and help diagnose liver illnesses.

Ayurvedic treatment principles adopted in liver disorders

The primary goal is to determine the precise cause of       the illness. Piittashamana, shophahara, srotodushtihara, mutrala, amapachana, deepana, yakritsamrakshaka, Antarvidradhihara oushadhas must be included in the treatment.

Let us recollect some important medicines which are very useful in liver diseases.

Kashayam

1. Amritotharam kashayam/Kwatham tablet (Ref.Text: Sahasrayogam)

It is used to cure fever, odema, constipation and jaundice. This decoction is tridosha hara, jwargna, kamalahara, rasaraktaprasadana, srotoshodhana, deepana, shophahara and virechana oushadha.

2. Ardhavilvam kashayam (Ref.Text.Sahasrayogam)

Effective in odema conditions and liver diseases. The medication is Shophahara, srotoshodhana, kaphavatahara, mutrala and medohra oushadha.

3. Drakshadi kashayam/Kwatham tablet (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

In fever, alcoholism, vomiting, giddiness, vertigo, haemoptysis, and jaundice. This dug is Vatapitta jvarahara, bhramahara, kamalahara, rakthapittahara, yakrit balya and raktaprasadana.

4. Guggulutiktakam kashayam / Kwatham tablet /Guggulu tiktakaghritam (Ref. Text: Ashtanga hridayam)

Used in abscess, swellings, liver cancer, cardic complaints, rheumatic ailments and other liver disorders. Vatakaphahara, medohara, shophara, granthivilayana and with lekhana properties.

5. Guluchyadikashayam / Kwatham tablet (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

It is cooling, used in fever, vomiting, burning sensation, hepatoprotective and improves digestive capacity. The kashayam is Deepana, amapachana, Jwaragna, kamalahara and pittasamana.

6. Nimbamritadipanchatiktam kashayam/Kwatham tablet (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Prescribed in skin diseases, liver complaints, benign, malignant tumours and abscess. It is Pittkapha shamana, deepana, pachana, raktaprasadana and shophahara.

7. Pachanamritam kashayam (Ref. Text: Sahasra yogam)

Used in fever, metabolic disorders, anti-inflammatory and helps to improve digestive power. The decoction is Pittakaphashamana, deepana, pachana and raktaprasadana.

8. Patolakturohinyadi kashayam/Kwathamtablet (Ref.Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Helps to eliminate toxins in the body, useful inanorexia, vomiting and jaundice. It is kaphapittasamana, vishahara and yakritprasadana.

9. Patolamuladi kashayam (Ref.Text: Ashtanga hridayam)

Useful in skin ailments, constipation, hemorrhoids, and complications of jaundice. The medicine is Kaphapitta shamana, virechana, srotoshodhana and vishagna.

10. Punarnavadi kashayam/Kwatham tablet (Ref.Text.Sahasrayogam)

This decoction is widely prescribed in anemia, odema, swellings, abscess, tumour, cough, it is anti-lipidemic and liver protective also. It is Sophahara, raktaprasadana, kaphapittashamaka, deepana and mutrala.

11. Saptasaram kashayam/Kwatham tablet (Ref.Text: Sahasrayogam)

In pelvic inflammatory disease, constipation, PCOD and liver disorders. This medicine is Vatakapha shamana, vibandhahara, srotoshodhaka and sulahara.

12. Shadangam kashayam/Kwatha churnam (Ref.Text: Ashtangahridayam)

It is cooling, useful in fever, burning sensation, digestive problems and liver disorders. Pittkapha shamana, trishngna, rakthapitthara, pittaprasadana and amapittapachana

13. Sukumram kashaym/Kwatham tablet (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Widely prescribed in various gynaecological disorders, odema, menstrual irregularities, liver disorders, tumour, swellings. Tridoshahara, balya, srotoshodhana, gulmahara, sulaprasamana and koshtasudhikara.

14. Tikthakam kashayam/Kwathamtablet/ Tiktakaghritam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Effective in skin disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, internal ulcer, abscess, swellings, burning sensation and psychological problems. Pittakaphashamana, raktaprasadana, sophahara, vishagna and amashayavranahara.

15. Mahatiktam kashayam/Kwatham tablet/Mahatiktaghritam (Ref.Text: Ashtangahridayam)

In skin ailments, ulcer, burning sensation, tumor, liver complaints, jaundice etc. Tridoshahara, pittakaphashamana, rakthaprasadana and rasayana guna.

16. Varavishaladi kashayam/Kalyanakaghrita (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

This contains the ingredients of Kalyanakaghrita, suitable for psychological problems, anemia, itching sensation all over the body, fever, odema and liver disorders. Deepana, vishagna and tridoshahara.

17. Varanadikashayam (Ref. Text: Ashtanga hridayam)

Used in migraine, metabolic disorders, hyper lipidemia, thyroid disease, swellings, obesity and internal abscess. Kaphavatashamana, Deepana, Antarvidradhihara, medohara, Kaphavatashamana, and sophahara.

18. Vyoshadikashayam (Ref.Text:Sahasrayogam)

In iron deficiency anemia, odemaand jaundice. Raktaprasadana, balya, sophahara, deepana and pachana.

19. Dasamulapanchakoladi kashayam (Ref. Text: Sahasrayogam)

Indicated in constipation, ascitis and liver disorders. Vatakaphashamana, deepana, virechana, sroto shodhna and vishagna.

20. Vasaguluchyadikashayam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Useful in anemia, jaundice, bleeding and the diseases of liver. Yakritprasda, rakthaprasadana, rakthapitthara, Kamilahara and srotoshodhaka.

Gulika or Pills

1. Arogyavardhini gulika (Ref. Text: Rasaratna samuchayam)

Caution should be taken while prescribing this medicine, which contains rasaushadhis. Effective in chronic fever, hyper lipidemia, liver diseases, jaundice etc.

2. Chandraprabhavatika (Ref. Text: Bhaishajya ratnavali)

It is widely prescribed in diabetes, gynaecological disorders, liver ailments, tumor, urinary tract infections etc.

3. Dushivishari gulika (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Helps to eliminate the accumulated toxins in the body and it protects the liver.

4. Hingvadigulika/Hinguvachadichurnam (Ref. Text: Sahasrayogam)

The same contents of Hinguvachadichurnam, digestive, carminative, and is useful in abdominal colic, anorexia etc.

5. Mandooravatakam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Anemia, oedema and jaundice can be managed by this pill.

6. Punarnavadimanduram (Ref. Text: Ayurvedic formulary of India – Part I)

Anemia, mal-absorption syndrome, edema and spleen diseases are cured by this medicine. Hepatoprotective.

7. Shaddharanachurnam / gulika (Ref. Text: Ashtangasamgraham)

Relives edema and can be used in various liver diseases.

8. Vilvadigulika (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

This is used in all types of poisonous affliction in the body, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and it is hepeta protective also.

Churnam

1. Aswagandhachurnam

Immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, hepato protective and stress reliever.

2. Avipathichurnam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

This can be used as a purgative medicine in jaundice and other liver disorders.

3. Navayasachurnam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Used in iron deficiency anemia and jaundice.

4. Rajanyadichurnam (Ref. Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Reputed medicine in pediatric ailments and is used in jaundice also. Immunomodulatory and anti-oxidant.

Ghritam

1. Ashokaghritam (Ref. Text: Bhaishajyaratnavali)

Generally prescribed in gynaecological disorders, it is also indicated in jaundice.

2. Indukantaghritam (Ref. Text: Sahasrayogam)

Immunomodulatory, prevents intermittent fever, useful in abdominal diseases and ascites.

3. Mahapanchagavyaghritam (Ref. Text: Ashtanga hridayam)

Usually prescribed in epilepsy, mental disorders and it is also used in liver disorders.

Bhasma

1. Chaturmukhachintamani rasam (Bhaishajya ratnavali).

Used in fever, hyperacidity and jaundice. Caution should be taken while prescribing this which contains rasaushadhis.

2. Lohasinduram Capasule (7) 200mg, (14) 300mg, (21) 250mg, (101) 100mg. Used in iron deficiency anemia, jaundice and it is blood purifier also.

3. Sidhmakaradvajam 100 mg (Ref. Text: Bhaishajyaratnavali).

Helps to regain health, used in liver ailments and improves immunity. Contains rasaushadi, caution should be taken while prescribing.

4. Makaradvajam 100mg (Ref. Text: Rasatarangini)

Helps to regain health and improves immunity. Contains rasaushadi, caution should be taken while prescribing.

Kshara

1. Kalyanaksharam (Ref.Text:Ashtangahridayam)

Effective medicine in abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, calculi and liver complaints.

2. Palasaksharam (Ref.Text: Susrutasamhita).

Effective medicine in intestinal obstruction, abdominal discomfort and diseases associated with liver.

Leha

1. Kalyanagulam (Ref.Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Used as apurgative medicine in skin diseases, ascites and jaundice.

2. Drakshadileham (Ref.Text: Ashtangahridayam)

Effective medicine in jaundice and liver disorders.

3. Valiya Chinchadileham

This medicine of AVS is prescribed in iron deficiency anemia, odema and jaundice

Arishtam

1. Rohitakarishtam (Ref.Text:Bhaishajyaratnavali)

This medicine is used in edema, jaundice, skin ailments, liver disorders and abdominal discomfort.

New generation medicine

1. Livokot Tablet

This medicine of AVS contains hydro alcoholic extract of Kirtatikta, Tamalaki and Pippali. Used in fatty liver, jaundice and liver disorders.

Author is Chief Sub Editor, Centre for Textual Studies and Publications, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal.

This article was first published in Oushadham Magazine July 2025 issue (Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association of India). Author has asked esamskriti to share article.

No part of this article may be reproduced in full or part without written permission of the Author and Oushadham Magazine.

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