Hepatomegaly

See also :

• Hepatosplenomegaly
• Liver Diseases

Symptoms

Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an enlarged liver. It is a nonspecific medical sign having many causes, which can broadly be broken down into infection, direct toxicity, hepatic tumours, or metabolic disorder. Often, hepatomegaly will present as an abdominal mass. Depending on the cause, it may sometimes present along with jaundice. Possible causes of enlarged liver include alcohol abuse, congestive heart failure, hepatitis, sarcoidosis and certain types of cancer.

Home remedies

• Milk Thistle : also known as Silybum marianum, is an herb that may be helpful in treating your enlarged liver. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, milk thistle, a member of the aster family, has been used for over 2,000 years to help treat numerous health problems, including liver and gallbladder conditions. Milk thistle is a stout plant native to the Mediterranean that now grows throughout the world. Milk thistle has a bitter taste. The seed of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that milk thistle helps protect your liver and restore its health. Milk thistle, notes Smith, is specific for infectious, inflammatory and degenerative diseases of your liver, including liver diseases that cause hepatomegaly. Milk thistle contains significant amounts of antioxidant flavonoids.
• Dandelion : Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that dandelion, a member of the aster family, is a choleretic, or a substance that stimulates bile production in your liver, and is beneficial to your liver. Dandelion, also known as Taraxacum officinalis, is a hardy perennial plant that may be particularly helpful in treating liver congestion and, over time, your enlarged liver. Dandelion has a bitter taste and possesses drying and cooling tendencies. Practitioners of herbal medicine use the whole plant -- roots, leaves and flowers -- medicinally to help treat liver problems, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have bile duct obstruction, acute gallbladder inflammation, acute gastrointestinal inflammation or intestinal blockage, you should avoid taking this herb, cautions Tilgner.
• Turmeric : a member of the ginger family, is an herbal supplement that may be beneficial in treating your hepatomegaly. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, turmeric has been used to help treat poor liver function, arthritis, menstrual irregularities, eczema, acid indigestion, stomach ulcer and gallstones. Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, is a shrub that has a bitter, pungent taste and cooling and stimulating tendencies. The rhizome, or underground stem, of the shrub is used for medicinal reasons. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory that has been used for centuries in India to help treat liver disorders and jaundice, or yellowing of your skin. Tilgner states that turmeric is a hepatoprotective, or a substance that supports normal liver function and protects your cells from damage caused by alcohol abuse and other conditions that lead to enlarged liver.

Warnings

• Possible causes of enlarged liver include alcohol abuse, congestive heart failure, hepatitis, sarcoidosis and certain types of cancer. Before taking herbal supplements to help treat your enlarged liver, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.