Those who have liver damage from alcohol consumption over long period of time, need to understand that liver health is vital for detoxifying toxin elements, nutrient storage, and digestion.
If you want to heal your liver damage from alcohol naturally, then this post is meant for you.
Here, we will talk about how those whose livers are damaged from alcohol can get their liver health back by following these little steps. Read till the end to learn more.
What is alcohol-related liver disease?
Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a disease which occurs when one person has been drinking alcohol for a long period of time and it ends up damaging the liver. [1]
Continuous alcohol consumption ends up creating fat accumulation, which leads to liver cell decline.
It causes swelling and inflammation in the liver, but one can face different stages depending on the severity of liver damage from alcohol.
There are following Stages of ARLD:
Alcohol-related fatty liver disease
In this stage, fat starts to build around the liver due to the excessive alcohol consumption.
However this is the first stage and damage is minimal. But if treatment is not performed properly in this stage then it can lead to serious diseases mentioned below.
Alcohol-related hepatitis
In this stage, inflammation (swelling) of the liver occurs when liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.
The severity of scarring depends on the liver damage from alcohol.
In some cases, treatment can reduce the inflammation, while more severe cases can lead to liver failure.
Alcohol-related cirrhosis
In this stage, the liver is severely damaged by the scar tissue that in longer term can impact overall function of the liver, causing organ failure. Leaving doctors with no choice but to do a liver transplant to hel p you.
How to Detect Liver Damage from Alcohol
The surest way to know if you have liver damage from alcohol is to get a liver test done.
If the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is twice or more than that of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), then you know your liver has been damaged due to alcohol.
What are the symptoms of alcohol-related liver disease?
Some people don’t face symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage. Others started showing signs earlier. However, the main symptoms are:
Early symptoms of ARLD include:
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Abdominal discomfort
- loss of appetite
- mood swings
- bleeding gum
- Itchy skin
- Great hair loss
Advanced symptoms
As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, and one can face the following symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Vomiting blood due to internal bleeding
- Frequent nosebleeds and bleeding gums
- Skin and/or whites of eyes turn yellow (jaundice)
- Muscle weakness
- Abdominal swelling
- Appearance of red blood vessels on the skin’s surface like a spider web
- Insomnia
- Skin bruises easily
- Swelling of legs or ankles
- In men, swollen breasts and Decreased libido
- Fever and shivering
- Itchy skin
- Fingernails that curve excessively
- Difficulty in processing alcohol and drugs
Alcohol-related Liver Damage Syndrome?
Normally liver damage is caused by consuming a large amount of alcohol for a continuous period of time.
If you drink a lot, then there are chances of having alcohol-related liver damage.
Most people don’t face symptoms till the liver gets severely damaged.
However following symptoms can indicate the severity of liver.
Feeling of fatigue, nauseous feeling, or unexplained weight loss.
Natural ways to heal liver damage from alcohol
Quit Drinking
Stopping drinking can help improve liver damage. If you are dealing with alcoholic hepatitis, it is possible that your condition will entirely reverse.
Quitting alcohol consumption can help alleviate chronic damage. Also your liver will start healing as no more damage is caused by alcohol consumption. For liver health, you should definitely try to control your addiction.
Eat a healthy diet
Eat a healthy meal to heal your damaged liver. Usually when our liver gets damaged then one faces high weight loss, fatigue.
Thus having a healthy meal will help gain weight, more nutrients and will benefit more growth of healthy cells in the liver.
Your meal should have necessary vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that can help reduce swelling of the liver. Depending on the severity of the liver damage, one can make a healthy meal.
Exercise regularly
Exercise improves blood flow to the liver and may benefit the treatment of liver inflammation. By reducing liver fat.
Take supplements
People who have liver problems are mostly found to be weak, lacking in stamina and immunity.
For such people having a healthy diet become essential for not only their liver but overall health.
However, when the liver doesn’t work properly one faces loss of appetite, and thus intaking calories and protein become a major concern.
Such a person could take nutrient or vitamin supplements. Even though there are specific liver supplements one can take to protect and repair liver damage from alcohol, Some liver supplements one can take are:
- Milk thistle
- SAM-e
- Zinc
- Vitamin A, C, E, and B3 supplement tablets
Use Herbs
One can take the following herbs for better liver health:
- Ashwagandha: It aids in liver detox and improves liver function by lowering cholesterol (sugar level), which can turn into fat and could cause damage to liver health.
- Ginger aids in reducing fat buildup in the liver, reducing liver inflammation, and reducing liver enzymes. Read our post on health benefits of ginger tea to know more.
- Garlic aids in reducing chemical imbalances in the liver to prevent liver damage from alcohol.
- Ginseng root helps treat conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis and keeps the liver clean. proven beneficial for liver surgeries and transplantations.
- Giloy: It aids in boosting metabolism and liver cell regeneration, which could improve liver health.
- Gokshura: It helps improve blood circulation and detox harmful toxins from the liver.
- Amla: It helps boost liver function, improve hunger, and help digest toxins from the body to prevent further damage to the liver.
- Turmeric helps reduce fat accumulation in the liver and improves fat metabolism.
All these herbs play a pivotal role in boosting liver health and removing toxins from the lungs. These powerful ayurvedic herbs can also provide other health benefits.
Read our Post on Most Powerful Herbs for Alcohol Addiction to Learn More
Lifestyle changes for liver damage from alcohol
Make the following lifestyle changes for a healthy liver:
- Say No to Alcohol: The only safe amount one should take is zero.
- Lose weight: By regular exercise and a balanced diet, losing weight can help clear up fat in the liver. You can even reverse the early stage of liver damage from alcohol intake.
- Watch your diet: Avoid carbohydrate intake as sugars turn into fat and can accumulate in the liver. Rather, have protein, fiber, and healthy fats in your diet.
- Cut your sodium intake: It can cause inflammation and damage your liver.
- Exercise regularly: to burn off excess calories and fat, both risk factors for alcohol-related diseases.
Get enough sleep
Drinking leads to sleep-wake disturbance, especially for those suffering from cirrhosis
They face a high burden of sleep abnormalities that result in substantial implications for their quality of life and physical health.
Getting proper sleep helps you return to a normal sleep pattern, and you can see the difference in your hunger as well.
Manage stress
Do more yoga, meditation,exercise so that your stress level can lower.
Managing stress becomes extra essential if one has reached the alcoholic hepatitis stage.
It could lead to more cravings for alcohol consumption and cause damage to our liver.
Avoid toxins
A healthy liver helps remove harmful toxins from the blood, but the moment the liver gets damaged due to excess alcohol consumption.
Thus For a healthy liver, it is vital to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, as they can further harm the already damaged liver.
Stop the intake of these harmful chemicals and solvents for liver health.
- Medications: Non-prescription painkiller drugs can cause liver damage.
- Incorrect Supplements: Accidentally taking large doses of supplements can be harmful to the liver.
Also, avoid taking nutritional supplements or medicines without a prescription if your liver is damaged by alcohol, as they may contain some harmful toxins.
Conclusion
Those who have had liver damage from alcohol should take the steps mentioned to heal the liver naturally.
Start with little steps, stop drinking alcohol, keep track of your liver, have a balanced diet, and maintain a healthy weight.
If you feel any symptoms that we have mentioned then immediately visit a doctor.
The sooner a liver issue is identified and cured, the better for the liver. Don’t wait before its too late!
Being a journalism student, I had the chance to explore diverse fields, but my fascination with Ayurvedic herbs and medicines led me to become a specialized content writer in the Ayurveda niche.
Fueled by my passion for understanding Ayurvedic herbs and their benefits, I leveraged my educational and professional background to create content on a wide array of Ayurvedic topics, from wellness tips to herbal remedies and personalized health advice.
Juggling a career in content writing with my role as a dedicated blogger, I’m committed to unraveling the mysteries of herbs, remedies, and lifestyle changes associated with Ayurveda. My goal is to inspire, educate, and guide individuals on the path to a healthier life through the wisdom of Ayurveda.