I was diagnosed with
N.A.S.H (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitus) after having received a biopsy during
surgery for a Pheochromacytoma. It has been 4 years since I was diagnosed. I
had my left adrenal gland removed and now seem to have no other issues with the
tumor. I do still however have an on-going challenge with the N.A.S.H. I
understand I have to lose weight and exercise and I do my best. I also take
milk thistle to assist my liver and do not drink anything alcoholic. I stay
away from chemicals and try to eat organic, lots of whole grains. Is there
anything else I should be doing or can do to assist my liver? My father passed
away from liver problems although he was a heavy drinker for many years and I
am not. I understand the causes are different however, I believe the effect is
the same. I have been told I am boarder line cirrhosis. I take a anxiety
medication because I periodically are afraid of suffering the same fate as my
father. Do you have any thoughts or ideas you can share? Thank you very much
for your time.
NASH is often associated
with a prediabetic state called “metabolic syndrome,” and so it is very important
to do as you suggested, lose weight and exercise more. There are supplements
that I add to help with the diet and weight loss, when appropriate. I won’t go
into those, since I do not have a detailed medical history for you. I would
mention that we do have a weight loss clinic we operate, in which we
individualize diets for people based on their metabolic type, and their food
likes and dislikes. I take a thorough medical history, and usually order some
laboratory testing, then our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Charlo Vogt, works with
me to develop a diet (really more of a lifestyle change) personalized for you.
I usually suggest alpha
lipoic acid to help protect the liver, as well, in doses up to 600 mg. daily.
It comes in a sustained release form that makes that dosage easier to manage.
Alpha lipoic acid can cause hypoglycemia, if you already have tendencies in
that direction. If hypoglycemia is a problem, I would suggest checking the
archives at www.futurevisionsfoundation.org for the “ask the doctor” topic of
hypoglycemia. That was archived many years ago, but should still be pertinent.
If you have
gastrointestinal symptoms of bloating, excessive gas, alternating diarrhea and
constipation, colon cramping, etc., I would also suggest getting a complete
digestive stool analysis, in particular, a culture which will look at the
amount of beneficial organisms in your gut, as well as any pathological
bacteria and/or yeast you might be growing. Some of these organisms are toxin
producers, and the toxins go straight to the liver via the portal vein.
Treating abnormal organisms growing in the gut with appropriate natural
treatments, antibiotics, or antifungals, plus adding probiotics, can be very
helpful and quite important in treating NASH. This type of stool analysis is
done by only a handful of specialty laboratories around the nation.
Sometimes a hepatic
function profile, which you have no doubt had done, will also show signs of
obstruction of bile flow, indicated by elevated alkaline phosphatase and
bilirubin levels. There are herbs like dandelion root and globe artichoke which
help promote the healthy flow of bile in that case.
My most recent patient who
had NASH now has completely normal liver function studies, and is doing quite
well. It is definitely reversible for many people. While yours has advanced to
cirrhosis, and may not be fully reversible, it is probably possible to help it
considerably. It’s certainly worth the effort to try.
I hope you find this
hopeful. I could give you even more specific information at an appointment for
medical evaluation. Call 870-741-9596, if you would like to pursue this more
Sincerely,