Liver Fibrosis

Fibrosis of the liver is excessive accumulation of scar tissue that results from ongoing inflammation and liver cell death that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. Nodules, abnormal spherical areas of cells, form as dying liver cells are replaced by regenerating cells. This regeneration of cells causes the liver to become hard. Fibrosis refers to the accumulation of tough, fibrous scar tissue in the liver.
See also : Liver Diseases.

Causes

Fibrosis occurs when excessive scar tissue builds up faster than it can be broken down and removed from the liver. Chronic infection with hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus (HCV or HBV), heavy alcohol consumption, toxins, trauma or other factors can all lead to liver fibrosis. Only in rare instances is liver fibrosis the primary problem; more often, it is secondary to some other liver disease such as cirrhosis.
Normally, the body’s response to injury is the formation of scar tissue. In the case of fibrosis, the healing process goes haywire. When hepatocytes (functional liver cells) are injured due to a virus, alcohol, toxins, trauma or other factors, the immune system goes to work to repair the damage. During the fibrosis process, the injured hepatocytes cause substances to be released into the liver causing the buildup of the scar tissue.

Symptoms

In the early stages of liver fibrosis, few people experience symptoms because the liver functions relatively well. Fibrosis is the initial stage of the formation of scar tissue in the liver. An individual may have no symptoms and live a normal, sometimes very active life, for decades, and remain unaware that he or she has liver disease.
As scar tissue builds up, due to inflammation and the continuance of liver injury, it connects with existing scar tissue, which can eventually disrupt the metabolic functions of the liver. If the disease progresses, it can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver is severely scarred, its blood flow is restricted, and its ability to function is impaired.
If poked, a healthy liver is very soft. A liver that has developed fibrosis is firmer, and if the condition progresses to cirrhosis, the liver can be almost rock-hard.

Home Remedies

The process leading to cirrhosis can often be slowed and sometimes even halted. The liver has an amazing ability to regenerate itself once the underlying cause of the fibrosis is controlled or cured.

• Abstain from drinking alcohol (drinking alcohol may cause further liver damage)
• Treat any infections promptly (avoid people who are ill, use good hygiene by frequent hand washing, get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumonia)
• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet including lots of fruits and vegetables/avoid raw seafood (good nutrition is important to liver health). People with liver concerns should avoid eating raw seafood due to the risk of infection.
• Eat a low sodium/low fat diet (excess salt can cause the body to increase fluid retention in the abdomen and legs)
• If diagnosed with hepatitis, take medications to treat it which can slow disease progression and possibly reverse fibrosis
• Avoid inhaling toxic substances by wearing a protective mask
• Avoid the use of recreational drugs
• Use over the counter medications carefully avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others). When in doubt, consult a physician or pharmacist
• Get regular exercise and rest
• Milk Thistle
• SAM-e
• Green Tea
• Cordyceps : Researchers from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine proposed the use of Cordyceps sinensis on liver fibrosis. In a study, they induced liver fibrosis in rats with dimethylnitrosamine and then they treated the rats with Cordyceps sinensis. They found that the content of metalloproteinases-2 in Cordyceps sinensis-treated group was significantly higher than that in the untreated group. Thus, cordyceps sinensis promoted collagen degradation.
• Blueberry : new research show that blueberries could help relieve people suffering from liver damage or liver diseases – especially hepatic fibrosis.
• Coffee is a potent weapon against liver cancer and fibrosis.