Hepabex
R&D Team of Varuna Herbo
Biotec has standardised the formulation of the renowed ayurvedic scholar and
practitioner who used this formulation with great success in the cases of viral
hepatitis and fatty liver disorders for more than 5 decades.
Biomarkers have been identified
and a proprietary enzymatic extraction technique is employed for bringing
better bio-activity in Hepabex.
Varuna
emphasises in using wild crafted raw materials and sourcing of herbs is
controlled on the basis of contents of medicinal principals.
Therapeutic use:
Jaundice, Liver cirrhosis, Fatty liver, Viral Hepatitis, Drug and chemical induced hepatitis, Alcohol induced liver damage
Dosage:
Liquid – 2 to 4 teaspoonfuls twice daily with before meals or as directed by the physician.
Capsules – 1 to 2 capsules twice daily before meals or as directed by the physician.
Presentation:
Liquid: In pilfer proof pet bottle of 200 ml.
Capsules: 30 capsules in HDPE containers.
Precautions:
Intake of fats, alcohol, and spicy foods must be restricted as per individual patient.
Safety:
Hepabex is safe for long term use. No untoward side effect has been reported so far.
The
liver plays an astonishing array of vital functions in the maintenance and
performance of the body. Some of these major functions include carbohydrate,
protein, and fat metabolism, detoxification, and secretion of bile. Therefore,
the maintenance of a healthy liver is vital to overall health and well being.
Unfortunately, the liver is often abused by environmental toxins, poor eating
habits, alcohol, and prescription and over-the-counter drug use, which can
damage and weaken the liver and eventually lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and
alcoholic liver disease. The most common cause of liver disease is
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (‘fatty liver’). Cirrhosis is the end-result
of many liver conditions and involves severe scarring of the liver (with liver
nodule formation). It is associated with a progressive decline in liver
function resulting in liver failure.
Functions
of the liver
Some
of the many functions of the liver include:
- Drugs, including alcohol, are filtered through the liver and neutralised or converted into other forms by special enzymes.
- Bile, produced by the liver, is stored in the gall bladder and used to help break down dietary fats.
- Fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K need bile in order to be absorbed by the body.
- The liver converts carbohydrates into glucose for instantly available energy and converts glucose into its storable form (glycogen). When blood sugar levels drop, glycogen is converted back into glucose.
- Amino acids from protein are sent to the liver for the production of body proteins such as hormones.
- The liver changes ammonia (a toxic
by-product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is then excreted in
urine.
A range of disorders
Some disorders of the liver include:
- Fatty liver – this is the most common of the
alcohol-induced liver disorders. Fat accumulates inside the liver cells,
causing cell enlargement (steatosis) and sometimes cell damage
(steatohepatitis), and can lead to cirrhosis. Similar changes are also
seen in people who do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol but are
overweight, obese or have diabetes. The liver becomes enlarged, causing
discomfort on the upper right side of the abdomen.
- Cirrhosis – this has many causes but is
commonly due to hepatitis infection or excessive alcohol intake. The cells
of the liver are progressively replaced by scar tissue, which seriously
impairs liver functioning.
- Hepatitis – a general term meaning
inflammation of the liver. It is also used to refer to infections of the
liver by specific viruses (hepatitis A to E).
- Haemochromatosis – this inherited disease makes
the body absorb and store higher than normal amounts of iron. This damages
many organs including the liver, pancreas and heart.
- Autoimmune liver disorders – an abnormal increase in immune
cells damages the liver cells. These rare conditions include autoimmune
hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis (mostly women affected) and
primary sclerosing cholangitis (more common in men).
- Cancer – primary cancers can arise in the liver, most often
from chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. Stray cancer cells from a tumour
elsewhere in the body may cause a secondary tumour in the liver.
- Galactosaemia – the body’s reaction to
particular milk sugars damages the liver and other organs. This is a rare
inherited disorder.
- Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency – another rare inherited disorder
that can cause cirrhosis of the liver.
- Wilson’s disease – the liver can’t excrete copper.
Various organs of the body, including the liver and brain, are affected by
the excessively high copper levels.
Complications of liver disease
Without treatment, a person with liver disease is
susceptible to a wide range of complications, including:
- Hepatic encephalopathy – scar tissue prevents the proper
flow of blood through the liver, so that toxins remain. These circulating
toxins, particularly ammonia, affect brain functioning and can lead to a
coma.
- Ascites – liver disease can cause a
build-up of body sodium (‘salt’), which leads to fluid retention in the
abdominal cavity (ascites) and in the legs, feet and back (oedema).
- Liver failure – the liver cells are destroyed
faster than the liver can replace them, until the organ can no longer
function adequately.
- Cancer – cirrhosis or some forms of hepatitis can make the
liver more susceptible to primary cancer (cancer that originates in the
liver).
- Gastrointestinal bleeding – the veins that normally travel
through the liver may be blocked because of cirrhosis. These veins then
bypass the liver and may travel along the stomach or oesophagus lining,
where they may rupture and bleed.
Diagnosis
Liver disease is diagnosed using a number of tests, including:
- Physical examination – the liver may be enlarged.
- Medical history – including medications and
lifestyle factors such as diet and alcohol consumption, exposure to
hepatitis viral infections, blood transfusions, tattoos or family history
of liver disease.
- Blood tests – to check the levels of liver
enzymes and jaundice (‘yellowness’) and to assess the protein production
capability of the liver).
- Ultrasound scan of the abdomen
(‘belly’) – a
three-dimensional ‘x-ray’ using sound waves. This is used to look at the
liver and other organs, including check their size and shape, check the
liver for abnormal lumps and assess fluid accumulation.
- Other scans – including computerised
tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Biopsy – a small piece of liver tissue is removed and
examined under the microscope in a laboratory.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause, but may include:
- Rest
- Avoiding alcohol and any drugs
that might damage the liver
- A well-balanced, nutritious diet –
some people require a modified diet (for example, low salt)
- Medications, such as antiviral
drugs to treat viral infections
- Specific medications to manage
Wilson’s disease
- Periodic removal of blood to bring
iron levels down to normal (in patients with haemochromatosis)
- Surgery, chemotherapy and
radiotherapy, or liver transplantation are the usual treatments for liver
cancer
- In cases where the liver is
failing, a liver transplant is an option.
Limitations of modern treatment:
There is no specific medicine for
cure of hepatic disorders particularly fatty liver disorders and viral hepatitis.
Currently Interferon treatments are being tried with some success for treatment
of viral hepatitis but it has significant side effects and is expensive.
