Fatty Liver (NAFLD) Ayurvedic: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Fatty Liver (NAFLD)?

Fatty Liver (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) is the accumulation of fat in liver cells not caused by alcohol. It ranges from simple steatosis (fat) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with inflammation and fibrosis. Risk factors include obesity, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, metabolic syndrome and sedentary lifestyle.

Ayurvedic Strategy for Fatty Liver

Our clinic follows an integrated, staged protocol:

• Metabolic correction: Strengthen Agni, improve insulin sensitivity via diet, herbs and lifestyle.
• Detoxification (Shodhana): Virechana (therapeutic purgation) when indicated to clear Pitta & Ama burden from liver and blood.
• Supportive therapies: Kashaya Dhara (herbal decoction dhara), Abhyanga and gentle Swedana to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage.
• Rejuvenation & maintenance: Rasayanas, liver-supportive herbs and an individualized diet & exercise program to prevent recurrence.

Important: if labs/imaging suggest NASH, fibrosis or cirrhosis, we coordinate care with your hepatologist — Ayurveda complements but does not replace indicated medical therapies.

Clinic Therapies Useful for Fatty Liver (with reference photos)

Below are the therapies we commonly use for liver support and metabolic detoxification — images are provided for reference. Each therapy is chosen to improve metabolism, clear Ama, support liver circulation, and reduce systemic inflammation.

Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation) Liver

What it is: Supervised herbal purgation therapy that clears Pitta and Ama from the digestive tract and blood, with strong downstream effects on liver detoxification.

• Helps remove accumulated toxins and metabolic waste that burden the liver.
• Improves bile flow, reduces hepatic inflammation and can lower transaminases when used appropriately.
• Performed after preparatory oleation (snehapana) & sudation (swedana); requires medical screening and monitoring.
• Frequency: one supervised course (varies by severity) with maintenance strategies afterwards.

Basti (Medicated Enema) — Supportive Liver

What it is: Therapeutic enema with herbal oils or decoctions used to pacify Vata and support systemic detox and gut-liver axis health.

• Improves gut motility and supports elimination — key for reducing enterohepatic recirculation of toxins and improving liver load.
• Used as a supportive therapy in metabolic rebalancing courses, often following Virechana or in maintenance phases.
• Requires clinical evaluation — given as a planned course under supervision.

Kashaya Dhara (Herbal Decoction Pouring) Liver

What it is: Continuous pouring of warm, liver-supportive herbal decoctions over the upper abdomen / whole body to calm inflammation and improve local circulation.

• Helps reduce localized congestion and promotes gentle detox through improved circulation and lymphatic flow.
• Useful adjunct during cleansing cycles and for symptomatic relief of hepatic discomfort.
• Choice of decoction customized to liver stage (anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective herbs chosen by physician).

Abhyanga (Warm Oil Massage) Liver

What it is: Full-body warm oil massage tailored to reduce Kapha and improve circulation, lymphatic drainage and metabolic tone.

• Stimulates peripheral circulation and lymphatics to assist detox pathways and reduce systemic congestion.
• Helps reduce stress and improve sleep — both important for metabolic health and liver recovery.
• Often used daily during preparatory phases and tapered during maintenance.

Shirodhara (Nervous System & Stress Modulation)

What it is: Continuous pouring of warm medicated oil over the forehead to calm the nervous system and reduce stress.

• Reduces cortisol/stress responses that worsen insulin resistance and hepatic fat accumulation.
• Improves sleep, mental balance and recovery during detox programs — useful adjunct to metabolic therapy.

Njavara Kizhi (Rejuvenative Bolus)

What it is: Warm boluses of Njavara rice cooked in herbal decoctions applied over body to nourish tissues and improve metabolic resilience.

• Supports systemic rejuvenation, helps reverse metabolic sluggishness and bolsters tissue repair.
• Used in later phases of a detox/rejuvenation program to consolidate gains and rebuild strength.

Herbal Medicines & Nutritional Support

We combine clinically-informed Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle interventions to improve liver fat metabolism and reduce inflammation. All internal medicines are individualized and monitored.

Herbal prescriptions should be coordinated with blood tests (liver enzymes, lipid profile, fasting glucose/HbA1c). We adjust therapy if conventional medications are being used (statins, anti-diabetics).

Sample Clinic Plans for Fatty Liver

Below are example courses; individual plans are created after assessment and baseline labs.

Virechana and related Panchakarma require medical screening (CBC, LFTs, ECG if age/comorbidity indicate) and are performed under physician supervision.

Quick Reference — Therapies & Roles

Safety, Tests & Medical Coordination

• Baseline tests: LFT (ALT, AST, GGT), lipid profile, fasting glucose/HbA1c, abdominal ultrasound as indicated.
• Virechana is contraindicated in uncontrolled systemic disease, pregnancy, recent cardiac events — full pre-assessment is mandatory.
• If on conventional medicines (statins, anti-diabetics), we coordinate with your prescribing physician before initiating Panchakarma or certain herbs.
• We track labs pre- and post-therapy to objectively measure benefit and adjust therapy.