Several studies in the recent past revealed that 3 to 5 percent of adult Indians are carriers of Hepatitis B. Its prevalence is decided by cultural, ethnic, geographical, religious and socio-economic conditions. About 90 percent of children in India are exposed to Hepatitis A virus by the age of six.
Hepatitis is the latin word for inflammation of liver and is distinguished by the presence of inflammatory cells and destruction of liver cells. When this condition lasts more than a month, it is known as chronic hepatitis. While Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted during blood transfusion or by use of intravenous drug or through body piercing by contaminated needles, Hepatitis A usually spreads through faecal-oral contact, contaminated food and water, drinking contaminated water by infected faeces and through blood-borne infection.
To detect the kind of Hepatitis virus, blood tests are carried out. Though there are no symptoms found in most patients, quite a few of the patients affected with Hepatitis complaint of general tiredness and joint pain or pain below the right ribs. Enlargements of Liver and Spleen are also common signs of this disease. People with depressed immune systems or viral hepatitis or HIV are at a greater risk for liver failure though this is not very common.
Naturopathy recommends application of gastro-hepatic mud packs and castor oil on the right side of the abdomen, or hip baths with cold water for twenty minutes every day. Also going on a diet of liquids like coconut water, soups, buttermilk, sugarcane juice are good.
Ayurveda recommends a diet that is low in fat content, high in carbohydrates and drink of jeera (cumin seeds) water, tender coconut water and applications of certain herbal preparations suggested by Ayurvedic physicians on the right abdominal area.
Acupuncture treatment is also said to help strengthening the condition of the liver.