Jaundice and its treatment - 1
Jaundice is indicative of the malfunctioning of the liver. It may be caused by an obstruction of the bile ducts which discharge bile salts and pigment in to the intestine. The bile then gets mixed with blood and this gives a yellow pigmentation to the skin. The obstruction of the bile ducts could be due to a gall stones or inflammation of the liver, known as hepatitis, caused by a virus. In the latter case, the virus spreads and may lead to epidemics owing to over-crowding, dirty surroundings, insanitary conditions and contamination of food and water. Other causes of jaundice are pernicious anaemia and certain diseases affecting the liver such as typhoid, malaria, yellow fever and tuberculosis.
The simple form of jaundice can be cured rapidly by diet therapy and exercises. Recovery will, however, be slow in serious cases which have been caused by obstruction or pressure in bile ducts. The patient should rest until the acute symptoms of the disease subside. The patient should be put on a fruit juice for a week. The juice of lemons, grapes, peer, carrot, beet and sugarcane can be taken. A hot water enema should be taken daily during the fast to ensure regular bowel elimination, thereby preventing the absorption of decomposed, poisonous material in to the blood stream. The fruit juice fast may be discontinued after the severity of the disease is over and a simple diet may be resumed.
The simple diet may be resumed on the following lines -
On rising : A glass of warm water mixed with two teaspoons of lime juice.
Breakfast : One fresh juicy fruit such as apple, papaya, grapes, berries and mango. One cup wheat dalia or one slice of whole wheat bread with a little butter.
Mid-morning : Orange juice.
Lunch : Two small chappatis of whole wheat flour, a cup of strained vegetable soup, a steamed leafy vegetable such as spinach, fenugreek or carrot and a glass of buttermilk.
Mid-afternoon : Orange juice or coconut water.
Dinner : Two whole chappatis with a little ghee or butter, baked. Also, baked potato and one other leafy vegetable like spinach and fenugreek, a glass of hot milk and honey of desired.