Health Conditions from A to Z

Jaundice

Jaundice is a signal of underlying disease in either the liver or gallbladder, or both. It manifests as yellowing of the skin, the whites of the eyes, and other body tissues. Additional symptoms may include darkening of the urine, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pale-colored feces, fluid retention in the abdominal area, digestive problems, rashes, and severe fatigue.

The yellowing of the skin, eyes, and tissues caused by jaundice is due to increased circulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow-brown pigment that is normally. cleared from the blood by the liver and excreted in the feces as bile.

What To Consider

Jaundice is usually a sign of one or more of the following disorders:

• hepatitis,
• cirrhosis of the liver,
• breakdown of blood,
• problems in the gallbladder or bile ducts (due to stones, inflammation, tumor, or infection),
• and pernicious anemia.

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

Self-Care Tips

Diet
During the initial, acute stage of jaundice, which can last for a few weeks, consuming mainly raw and organic fruits and vegetables and fresh squeezed vegetable juices cane be beneficial. Continue this diet for a month or more. In addition, to aid the liver and gallbladder, in the morning drink a glass of warm, filtered water with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Eat plenty of raw apples and pears or grate together with yogurt and raw seeds or seed and nut butter. Consume plenty of raw green vegetables and sprouts to help cleanse the blood. Try drinking barley water throughout day (to make barley water, place one cup of barley in three quarts of water, then simmer for three hours). Avoid all hydrogenated and processed fats, deep-fried foods, sugars, and white flour products, as well as hot, sour, spicy, and salty foods, meat, fish, cheese, oils, and concentrated sweets.

Nutritional Supplementation
Lipotropic formula and liver glandulars, along with digestive enzymes can be very helpful in boosting liver and gallbladder function. Other useful nutrients include vitamins B complex, vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and free form amino acids.

Aromatherapy
Geranium, rosemary, and/or lemon are useful essential oils.

Herbs
Combine milk thistle and dandelion root in equal parts and add to a glycerin solution. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture three times a day. Other useful herbs include aloe vera gel, barberry, chamomile, dandelion, gentian root, goldenseal, neem, parsley, rose hips, tumeric, and yellowdock

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

Juice Therapy
The following juice combinations can be helpful
Carrot and beet juice with a little radish and/or dandelion root juice added; grapes, pear, and lemon; carrot, celery, and parsley; and carrot, beet, and cucumber.

Caution

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