Jaundice

Definition

Jaundice is a signal of underlying disease in the liver or gallbladder. In some cases, jaundice indicates disease in both organs.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of jaundice include yellowing of the skin and yellowing of the whites of the eyes. The yellowing of the skin and eyes is due to elevated circulation associated with bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow-brown pigment that is infused into the blood by the liver.

Additional symptoms may include darkening of the urine, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, pale-colored feces, water retention, bloating, rashes, and severe fatigue.

Cause

Jaundice is usually an indication of one or more of the following disorders: Hepatitis, Cirrhosis from the liver, break down of blood, problems within the gallbladder or bile ductwork (due to gemstones, inflammation, growth, or an infection), and pernicious anemia. Jaundice that occurs at birth is common but is usually not severe.

Caution: If you exhibit any of the symptoms of jaundice, seek prompt medical attention, including having blood tests. Other tests may also be required such as a livery biopsy or ultrasound.

Organic Cures

Aromatherapy: Geranium, rosemary, and lemon are useful essential oils.

Diet plan: During the initial, acute phase of jaundice, which can last for a several days, consume raw organic vegetables, fruit and fresh squeezed juices. Continue this diet for a month or more. To assist the gall bladder, in the morning, consume a cup of warm, filtered drinking water with the juice of half a lemon. Eat plenty of apples and pears, yogurt and raw seeds, and nut butter. Consume plenty of raw green vegetables and sprouts to help cleanse the blood. Drink barley water throughout day (to make barley drinking water, place single serving of barley in 3 quarts of water, and then simmer for three hours). Avoid all hydrogenated and processed fat, deep-fried foods, sugars, white flour products, and sour, spicy, and high sodium foods. Also, stay away from beef, fish, cheese, oils, and concentrated sweets.

Herbs: Combine equal parts milk thistle and dandelion root and add to a glycerin solution. Consume a 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture three times each day. Other useful herbs include aloe vera gel, barberry, lavender, dandelion, gentian root, goldenseal, parsley, rose hips, turmeric, as well as yellowdock.

Homeopathy: Useful naturopathic remedies include Bryonia, Cinchona, Merc sol., Chelidonium, Nat phos., Kali bich., Chamomilla (babies), Phosphorus, and Nux vomica.

Liquid Therapy: The following juice combos can be helpful: Carrot and beet juice, grape, pear, and lemon, carrot, celery, and parsley, and carrot, beet, and cucumber.

Dietary Supplementation: Lipotropic formula, liver glandulars, and digestive system enzymes are helpful for improving liver and gallbladder performance. Other useful nutrients include vitamin B complex, vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and free-form amino acids.

Optional Professional Treatment

If your signs and symptoms persist despite following the methods listed above, seek the help of a qualified medical expert. The following professional therapies have all demonstrated the ability to be useful for treating jaundice: Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Detoxification Treatment, Environmental Medicine, Light Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments, Osteopathy, Qigong, Reflexology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. (See Glossary for descriptions of these alternative therapies.)