Interview of Dr. Vikram Chauhan (MD-Ayurveda)
Interviewer – Hello Dr. Vikram. Today I will take your some time as patients of liver diseases have many queries and we want you to tell us about it in detail. So the first question and very basic one that why are people suffering from so many liver problems?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Liver is a very important organ. It is known to be a vital organ because it is a place of Agni, metabolism of the whole body including metabolism of hormones, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, conversion of one dhatu to another dhatu happens by the liver. So it is very important. The Liver is like an immigration officer, when we eat anything than any toxins, chemicals, bacteria or virus present in it goes through the liver. It is our digestive organ, all the juices after digestion go through it to blood through liver. Every toxic substance is neutralized by the liver, so it is very important organ. Nowadays intake of alcohol and packaged food is increased in people. Due to intake of alcohol, alcoholic liver disease occur and the liver damages. Intake of packaged food and high carbohydrate food causes fatty liver. So these are the liver diseases from which we should protect ourselves.
Interviewer – We can say that people are not aware of importance of the liver and these kinds of things damages it. So this information will help many people. Dr. How can a common person identify the symptoms of these diseases to know if there is problems with the liver?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – The very first of all symptoms is tiredness in body which is a very basic symptom. There can be many other reasons too for tiredness. Feeling tiredness, abnormal appetite like loss of appetite, untimely hunger, improper digestion of food, gas in abdomen, nausea, constipation, undigested food particle in stool, indigestion, pain in abdomen, acidity and other symptoms of indigestion. Sluggishness of liver. Sometimes there is pain in right side as Liver is situated here. There can be heaviness at this place and heaviness in stomach. These kind of symptoms are of fatty liver. When liver fails, there are clear symptoms like water in abdomen.
Interviewer – Means fatty liver is at first stage?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Fatty liver is at first stage, it should be identified at that time only. Fatty liver is treated easily if ayurvedic medicines are given. The Liver cirrhosis is a condition when liver completely fails. In Ayurveda there are good results of liver cirrhosis too.
Interviewer – Dr. Here I want to ask you, is there any test one has to go for it if suffering from liver cirrhosis? How is it diagnosed?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Usually, Fibro scan is done for liver cirrhosis. Otherwise Liver cirrhosis can be diagnosed clinically. Suppose there is a patient, he had vomiting of blood. Mostly it is alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Some people due to their sedentary life style has to face liver failure. But the main symptoms are vomiting of blood, pain in upper right side of abdomen, collection of water in abdomen, which symptoms I told earlier. We see through endoscopy if there are any esophageal varices. In Ayurveda we can diagnose through Pitta. In Ayurveda we can diagnose through pulse. Vata, pitta, kapha. Place of pitta. We can analyze if there is any deposition of fat in liver, liver is sluggish or not.
Interviewer – Dr. I have seen testimonials of many of your patients. Many patients with liver issues of initial stages have been treated successfully, as they said.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Patients with final stages have also been treated successfully as well.
Interviewer – Many patients with cirrhosis also have much relief. So mainly which ayurvedic medicines you prescribe for this?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – There are many effective ayurvedic medicines for this. In liver cirrhosis main symptoms are accumulation of water in abdomen, albumin level decreases, platelets decrease. So it is very necessary to increase albumin level. In Ayurveda there is a herb called Gokshura, I give Tribulus. For males I give Tribulus and for females Shatavari. This I have. Shatavari I give for females, to increase albumin because it is protein rich herb. It is purely natural. Root of this herb is good for female health. So I give shatavari for females. It can be given to males as well. Generally it is given to females to increase albumin. This Tribulus is to increase albumin in males. Commonly we tell to increase intake of protein in diet. White of egg is given to increase protein. In place of egg white I tell to take sprouts.
Interviewer – Tell us about diet in detail.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Here I have mentioned about wheatgrass. Sprouts of wheat is made. Sprouts of moong dall moong bean. Apples, guava, papaya and pear can be taken. Dates can also be taken in small amount. Dates are hot in property and much hot things are not to be taken in this disease. But dates can be given in small quantity, one or two.
Interviewer – Dr. we get very basic queries of people telling about collection of water in abdomen and it troubles them a lot. If they go to remove of this water, it also creates many other problems. Do you give any Ayurvedic medicines for this collected water so that this water is drained naturally?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – To drain collected water of abdomen, when water gets collected in abdomen. As I told, when there is deficiency of albumin in body. When liver doesn’t work, water is collected in abdomen which is called ascites. To increase albumin I give these medicines and ask them to take protein. I don’t tell to take artificial protein. Powder protein damages liver more. Usually in hospital protein powder is given. Instead of this you can take Besan protein also. I want to tell ingredients of a special flour. Take 40% flour of wheat, besan 20%, oat 10%, soyabean 10% and 10% millet. Within one month with this only you will notice a good change in your albumin.
Interviewer – This is a very good combination you told us.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Yes! This is a combination and you can make it at home with besan.
Interviewer – Dr. When water gets collected, patient says that water is collected in abdomen, legs and feet are swollen.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – I am going to tell about that. This Punarnava is an ayurvedic herb. Punarnava means starting from the beginning. It makes liver cells new again. It makes whole body cells new again. Latin name of Punarnava is Boerhavia diffusa. The extract of this herb, around 500mg of extract makes one capsule. I use this in high dose. 2 capsule in morning, 2 capsule in afternoon and 2 capsules in evening. Usually doctors use detour or other types of diuretics. These diuretics causes much weakness and it creates burden on kidney. Water gradually comes out but Punarnava do not creates burden on kidneys. It rejuvenates kidney, gives strength, increases Hb and along with it eliminates toxins and water from body. It decreases swelling. 2 capsules each in morning, afternoon and evening. Some people prescribe decoction of Punarnava but I don’t because in decoction extract of Punarnava is not much. It is concentrated extract. In that concentrate is less and water is more. In this disease less liquid should be taken.
Interviewer – Already there is water in abdomen.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – In this I tell to take 1 liter water maximum if you take it.
Interviewer – Dr. In this patients complaint of stiffness in hands and legs.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – It is due to decreased level of calcium. We have natural calcium. In this Pitta balance there is Praval Pishti, Jahar mohra pishti, Akik pishti. The pearls and coral are natural cooling herbs that is why it is known as Pitta shyamak. Pitta balance. Pitt is at the place of Pitt which is liver. So to pacify Pitt there is Pitta balance which contains all these things. Extract of Giloy is present which pacify pitta and patient’s problem is solved.
Interviewer – Ascites, i.e. water collected in abdomen is a great discomfort in itself, so in how much time it can be treated?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – it takes 3-6 months as liver recover slowly and gradually.
Interviewer – Sir! Does Fibro scan test gets normal?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Fibro scan is a test which measures stiffness of liver. 75 k.p.a is its maximum value. In my career I have seen many patients and uploaded the videos and reports where value from 75 k.p.a to 30, 20 or 15 and patients having lesser values like 50 has come down to 8-10 k.p.a. All these videos I have uploaded on internet my channel at YouTube. You can watch them. Fibro scan value comes down.
Interviewer – Dr. There is one very basic question that if one is diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and be treated by ayurvedic medicines completely and there is no relapse of the disease.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – In Ayurveda it is said that liver is the organ which can be regenerated but if you have damaged it again than it can’t be regenerated. Many patients came to me on stature and their fibro scan value was 75 k.p.a. I gave them ayurvedic medicine like Kalmegh and others herbs. They became completely fine. After being completely fine they start repeating the same mistakes. They start taking alcohol and think that ayurvedic treatment will help them again. I want to say to all my viewers that never take alcohol. Your liver has failed so never consume alcohol again. It can be treated, many patients have been treated successfully.
Interviewer – Your this information will help lots of people. Kalmegh is one of your favorite herb. You have told us many times.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – I am going to tell about it. Its Latin name is Andrographis paniculata. It is the bitterest herb in the world. It is known as king of the bitter in English. It is much bitter and pacify Pitt very fast. Liver is the place of pitta, i.e. Pittashaya. Kalmegh regenerate liver cells. Research has been conducted on this and literature is also available. If allopathic doctors want to know that which herb can regenerate liver cells, so I request you to search Andrographis paniculata on Google. Andrographis paniculata herb you can find. You can give to the patients in the form of juice, tablet or capsule. Best way is to give in the form of extract. Kalmegh is very good.
Interviewer – Dr. There is one very general question, many people ask to me too that what is the best method to take Yakrit Plihantak churna? Tell us something about it. It is very bitter.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – It is very bitter because it consists of Kalmegh. It is in extract form and it is in churna form.
Interviewer – It is in capsule form so can be taken easily.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – But in this there is only Kalmegh because in liver failure high dose of Kalmegh is required. These are extract capsules. We need many more herbs to treat liver so there is Bhumi amla. Bhumi amla is miracle for it. For hepatitis B or swelling in liver due to any reason. There is Bhumi amla herb in this. Yakrit Plihantak churna. Liver is known as yakrit and spleen is known as Pliha. So it is churna to treat any disease of them. It consists of Bhringraj, Sharpunkha, Kaasni, Katki. Kutki is also miracle, Mucoy, Punarnava. It is formed from mixture of these herbs. If there is someone near you to tell you about these kind of herbs like Bhumi amla, Kalmegh, Bhringraj.
Interviewer – You can take fresh herbs too.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Fresh herbs, any of these if you get like Sharpunkha, Kaasne, Kutki, Mucoy and Punarnava. So you can use these herbs too in less quantity. But you can take this by mixing it with juice, fresh juice. Take some juice around 20 ml not much because too much fluid cannot be taken.
Interviewer – Many patients tell that after taking for few days one becomes habitual of it which is good.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Gets well with the use of it. There are very good results. There are some more products about which I wants to tell you. I necessarily use Phyllanthus which is Bhumi amla. as I told in this also. Phyllanthus niruri is its Latin name. Its extract have been. In this liver detox there are same kind of herbs like Kaasni, Mucoy, Kalmegh. There extracts are also. It’s the extract. I give these all in combination because I want higher dose. Patient cannot take its actual dose in powder form so we have to give its extract in capsule form. Fatty liver can be treated with the use of these medicines.
Interviewer – There is wide range of products which you use for liver ailments at Planet Ayurveda.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – There is a classical product Arogyavardhini Vati. It also consists of herb like Kutki. This can also be used in the treatment. Now I want to tell something about diet.
Interviewer – Yes sir many people have asked about it.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – We use Shatras, i.e. madhur, amla, lavan, katu, pitt and kashaya. Amal ras is not to be used in this.
Interviewer – Sour things are not to be used.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Amal ras is Agnivardhak. There is already agni in liver. Due to agni there is inflammation. We are pacifying Pitt by giving Pitta balance. As I told we give Pitta balance to pacify pitta. In the same way we give Kutki to eliminate Pitt……. We are eliminating Pitt from the body, so we have to not take Pitt vardhak ahaar, i.e. Food increasing Pitt. Very much spices, much strong spices. Alcohol is also Pitt vardhak. Don’t take Pitt containing things. Amal things increases Pitt. Amal things, sour things like lemon, orange, citrus limetta and vinegar. These type of Pitt consisting things. Many people takes apple cider vinegar, don’t take that vinegar. Don’t take any Pitt vardhak things like alcohol. Don’t take spices.
Interviewer – Many people asks about curd, that if they can take it or not.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Curd is also Amlaki so you cannot take it.
Interviewer – Curd made at home which is not sour in taste, many patients ask about it.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – No I will not recommend it in liver failure. Due to its protein content some doctors of modern medicine recommend it, but I won’t recommend it because due to it Amal ras is formed. So I will not recommend it.
Interviewer – In diet vegetables.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – In diet vegetable like bottle gourd which provide Tikta ras. I am giving these Tikta ras providing medicines. There is Tikta ras providing diet like bottle gourd, ridge gourd, apple gourd, pumpkin, ash gourd, turnip, radish, carrot. All these things provide Tikta ras. I have much ash gourd at my home, it pacifies Pitt quickly. Juice of ash gourd can be given. 2 spoons in morning and evening can be given.
Interviewer – Or you can eat boiled ash gourd.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Milk and milk products, Indian cheese (paneer) is given for protein. I don’t recommend protein. Liver cannot digest it as it is already failed. You can give sprouts. Like I told mixture of besan flour with wheat flour. Sprouts of moong daal, Khichdi of moong daal can be given.
Interviewer – Do you recommend not to use pulses, grams and kidney beans too?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Do not use it in large quantity. It can be used in cooked form but in small quantity. Don’t use it in large quantity. I don’t recommend to take it daily. I recommend khichdi.
Interviewer – Dr. beside all these things do you want to share anything else with the liver patients?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – as I said for liver patients to take care of diet. Do not take alcohol again. You have taken much already. There is list of few things to be avoided like canned vegetables, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and onion. Avoid lemon, watermelon and cucumber as they have high water content. Patient can take steam bath as this can help to eliminate water from body but it is time taking process.
Interviewer – Steam bath is one of the excretory method.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Body will perspire by steam and usually in patients of liver failure sodium level decreases which causes weakness. Keep checking sodium regularly. If sodium is less than salt can be given. Usually salt is not given as there is ascites, water can be collected. So salt is not given. I have seen patient decreases sodium intake to so much extent that sodium level of body falls down. This is an emergency situation.
Interviewer – They feel weakness and sleepiness.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – So they feel weakness. Check sodium level every month and if sodium is less than you can give them normal amount of salt. Give them steam bath or Sun bath. Sun bath is more better because from sun you will get vitamin D, energy, immunity is increased and collected water will also dry up.
Interviewer – Dr. How Yoga and exercises can be helpful in this?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – You can do some walk. Do not do Kapalbhati. Kapalbhati cannot be done in this. You can do Vastrika pranayam, Alom vilom, deep breathing, meditation and take out stress from mind.
Interviewer – Dr.Vikram all the things you told us like diet chart or instructions, from where can we get these?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – We have our site www.planetayurveda.com, you can study about this topic over there or if any question arises in your mind regarding liver failure, what to do or what not to do.
Interviewer – Sometime there are few queries.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – You can ask from me in the comment section of this video. I have a team of doctors and many times I myself answer them.
Interviewer – Is diet chart also available on the website?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Yes diet chart is also available on website or you can just put a query on our website and get the diet chart.
Interviewer – Thank you Dr. we took much of your time today. This will be very helpful. Many people will get the complete information about it on a single video. Thank you sir!
Dr. Vikram Chauhan – Thank You!
