Worst Menopause Symptoms May Start in Brain

Study challenges old notion that menopause starts in the ovaries.
Some of the most unpleasant symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats, have long been believed to originate in the ovaries.

But new research challenges that assumption, and instead suggests that menopausal symptoms, at least in part, may begin in the brain.

That's because the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland stop reacting normally to estrogen in some women, suggesting they may have developed a reduced sensitivity to estrogen, researchers at the New Jersey Medical School report in the Dec. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"This is an important new concept: Menopause doesn't just originate in the ovary, but also in the brain," said Laura Goldsmith, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at the New Jersey Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

These findings may lead the way to further research that will ultimately help doctors predict the type of menopausal transition a woman might have, and help to design non-estrogen medications that could help reduce symptoms that women experience as they enter this phase of life, said Dr. Gerson Weiss, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at the New Jersey Medical School.

Menopause refers to the time when menstruation stops. A woman is not considered menopausal until she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months, according to the North American Menopausal Society. The time before menopause, which is often rife with symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations, is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, common symptoms include hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood swings and irregular periods.

This study stemmed from research done for the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, that examined women's' health as they approached menopause.

The SWAN study included more than 3,300 women between the ages of 42 and 52 at the start of the study. A subset group of 840 women provided daily urine samples, which were tested for hormone levels. The samples were collected daily for one full menstrual cycle or 50 days, whichever came first.

From that group, the researchers learned that 160 did not ovulate. After further analyzing the hormone levels from the non-ovulating women, the researchers discovered that these women fell into three distinct groups.

The first group had an increase in their levels of estrogen, and then had an appropriate surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that should have triggered ovulation, but didn't. According to Weiss, this lack of response indicated a problem originating in the ovary.

In the second group, estrogen levels peaked, but there was no correlating surge in LH, which Weiss said should be triggered by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland responding to higher estrogen levels.

The third group had similar estrogen levels early in their cycles, but didn't have an increase in estrogen later as the first and second groups did. LH levels didn't surge, but were higher for most of the cycle than they were in the other groups.

According to Weiss, this is "clear evidence that the brain is not responding to hormones," suggesting the second and third groups showed different kinds of decreased sensitivity to estrogen in the brain.

The women in the third group were also the ones most likely to report symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Goldsmith said the researchers hope to continue studying these women. She said they'd especially like to learn how the timing of menopause correlates with their findings. For example, the researchers would like to see if the women in the third group were, perhaps, further along in the menopausal process.

"It appears that what's going on in menopause isn't only ovarian," said Dr. Steven Goldstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine. "We thought the pituitary responded to lower levels of estrogen, but there may be a lack of sensitivity to estrogen in the hypothalamus and pituitary."

What's important for women to know, said Goldsmith, is that there are "real biochemical changes occurring during menopause." Researchers are beginning to understand how those changes start to occur, which is the first step in trying to come up with more effective treatments.

SOURCES: Gerson Weiss, M.D., professor and chairman, obstetrics and gynecology and women's health; Laura Goldsmith, Ph.D., professor, obstetrics and gynecology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark; Steven Goldstein, M.D., professor , obstetrics and gynecology, and obstetrician/gynecologist, New York University School of Medicine and Medical Center, New York City; Dec. 22/29, 2004, Journal of the American Medical Association

More information about Menozac for menopause treatment

Plant and natural supplements for menopause symptoms

One of best plant and natural supplement for menopause symptoms are Menozac.
Their ingredients such as Vitamin E (as d-alpha-tocopherol acetate), Soy (Glycine max) (seed), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) (root), Damaiana (Turnerna diffusa) (leaf) ease the way through the turmoil of menopause.

How those ingredients works and benefits you can check on their site.

Some of menopause symptoms:
Mood swings (often mistaken for bi-polar or mental illness).
It's really not that bad and can be controlled.

Hot flashes & night sweats (one time you are stoking hot, the next you are chilled to the bone.)

Changes in skin (dark patches on the face of some women caused by hormones) pimples, more moles, skin tags on the body. Moles and skin tags are more in the heridity factor so if the women in your family don't have them you probably won't.

Breast swelling, water retention, weight gain (in some women), thinning hair (in some women), thinning of the vaginal tissue and other parts of the body, thinning skin (can bruise easier), depression (in some women), feelings of discontentment, insomnia (in some women) and some others thing.

Menozac is natural formula with several herbal extracts. Their plants have long story for helping relief menopausal symptoms and supporting the balance of body's hormonal.
See more detail how they work in their site

Croton Oil

Croton Oil Fights Prostate Cancer


PISCATAWAY, N.J.
An active ingredient found in the oil of the Southeast Asian croton plant--12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, commonly known as TPA; may inhibit the growth of new prostate cancer cells, according to researchers at Rutgers University.

We demonstrated TPA could simultaneously stop the growth of new prostate cancer cells, kill existing cancer cells and ultimately shrink prostate tumors, said Allan Conney, Ph.D., one of the study's authors. The researchers also tested the effect of TPA in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a vitamin A derivative that has been shown to effectively treat leukemia.

Mice with induced prostate tumors received a daily dose of TPA, ATRA or a combination of the two for 46 days. After 21 days of treatment, tumor regression became apparent in 62 percent of mice treated with TPA, compared to 31 percent of mice treated with ATRA. All mice receiving the combination treatment showed signs of tumor regression. Researchers also found TPA and the combination treatment continued to inhibit tumor growth for the duration of the study, compared to ATRA inhibiting tumor growth only for the first 28 days of treatment.

Our studies are an important early step in a long process, and we are planning additional testing in humans, Conney said. Further research with these compounds and others could provide hope for the half million new cases of prostate cancer each year.

The study is published in the March issue of Cancer Research (64, 5:1811-20, 2004) ( cancerres.aacrjournals.org)

Hypothyroidism causes early menopause

Menopause can be a difficult time for many women.
Reductions in circulating estrogen hormone levels result in a number of physical and physiological changes, which in turn may lead to mental and emotional stress.
While short-term hormone replacement therapy helps many women, most symptoms of menopause can be relieved with the use of thyroid curing medicine that is thyromine.

Thyromine works very well for people who have 'hypothyroidism’ a key cause of early start of menopause.
All the ingredients of thyromine (For example L-Tyrosine, Guglipid, Adrenal Powder from Bovine, Piper Longum Extract and Ginger extract) work to stimulate the metabolism, bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol help regulate body's stress levels, increase the production of thyroid hormones and stimulate the immune system.

Weight gain during menopause can be distressing.
Shifting to a low fat, high-fiber diet and controlling overall dietary intake can help control weight gain. Diets rich in phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, may offer additional relief. But the linseed product like thyromine is also a good source of phytoestrogens.

Thyroid treatment system i.e. Thyromine, works by stimulating the body to produce normal levels of thyroxine, because the supplements are all natural this may be done without side effects such headaches and insomnia.
The body is also provided with necessary nutrients that help it to function properly. Thyroid treatment supplements may also help to restore deficient iodine levels, as adequate amounts are vital to a healthy thyroid gland.

Many women suffer from irritability, mood swings, and depression during the onset of menopause. While some of this may be attributable to the stress of undergoing a major life change, any such symptoms should be carefully evaluated by a physician and appropriately managed. Depending on the severity of symptoms, thyromine dosages can be prescribed.

With a healthy diet and exercise, menopausal women can improve distressing symptoms such as weight gain and mood swings through the thyroid treatment. Many women experience a noticeable improvement in their overall physical condition within a few weeks of thyromine intake. Everyone tends to experience slightly different results due to individual body chemistry and composition.

Prostate cancer and natural treatment

Dietary changes should be on the prescription pads of doctors treating men with prostate cancer.
New research shows that eating more whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and legumes while eating less meat, dairy, and refined carbohydrates could slow the progression of the deadly disease.

Studies have associated the Western diet not only with prostate cancer incidence but also with a greater risk of disease progression after treatment, said Gordon A. Saxe, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and assistant professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego.
Conversely, many elements of plant-based diets have been associated with reduced risk of progression.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a marker for prostate cancer recurrence and often the earliest sign of spread of the disease beyond the prostate gland, even in people with no symptoms.
Saxe and colleagues conducted a six-month preliminary study to investigate whether a plant-based diet, reinforced with stress-management training, could prevent or lessen a rise in PSA among ten men with recurrent prostate cancer.

The men and their spouses or other support person participated in intensive group and individual diet and stress-reduction trainings.
The men were taught to shift their diet to more whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and legumes and to eat less meat, dairy, and refined carbohydrates (such as white rice, white flour, and sugar).
The people took cooking classes, participated in group discussions and meals, and were counseled regarding calorie intake (1,600 calories per day) and portion sizes.

Compared with the rate of PSA rise in the prestudy period, there was a significant reduction on the rate of rise throughout the intervention period.
Nine of the ten men had a slower progression of PSA levels.
Four of the ten men had a lower PSA level than when they started the diet.
The time it took the men's PSA levels to double increased nearly tenfold over six months, suggesting a strong protective effect.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men in the Western world after skin cancer.
About 35% of men who are treated for the disease will experience a recurrence within ten years. These men are at higher risk for life-threatening metastases.
Prevention of such recurrences is, therefore, an essential element of therapy. Unfortunately, the conventional treatments to prevent recurrence, such as hormone therapy, cause many undesirable side effects, such as hot flashes, loss of libido, and loss of bone mass.

These findings have significant therapeutic potential for recurrent prostate cancer, concluded Dr. Saxe. A natural dietary and lifestyle based approach may serve as an adjunct or alternative to hormonal therapy.

Prostacet as a natural treatment for prostate cancer provide lot of strong ingredient extract based on the expert research. You can see more detail how the work and what kind of ingredients they used in their site here.

Other mention should not ignored is general lifestyle. It is also contributes to the health of the prostate.
Exercise also promotes circulation and relieves tension in the body, which enhances the odds of a healthy prostate.

Alternative treatment for localized prostate cancer

New research suggests that green tea may help prevent the spread of prostate cancer. Specifically phytochemicals in green tea, called polyphenols attack growth factors and proteins, interrupting growth processes of tumors, thus preventing them from spreading to other organs.
Since earlier studies suggests that the same natural plant substances might also help prevent the start of prostate cancer, researchers indicate that more studies are needed on green tea’s affect on fighting this common cancer.
The best way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer still lies in eating a mostly vegetarian diet.

Studies on diet and cancer also show that green tea when tested with mice with an aggressive form of cancer can decrease the spread or metastasis of prostate cancer to liver, bone, and other parts of the body.
Additional study of green tea may help develop a treatment to prevent the dormant, non threatening type of prostate cancer many men have in their 70’s & 80’s from becoming aggressive and fatal.

Around six cups of green tea per day would contain the equivalent amount of polyphenols for individuals to help block the spread of cancer.
Other data shows that the phytochemicals in green tea could inhibit the early phases of prostate cancer development.

The phytochemicals seem to increase the number of enzymes that help convert carcinogens to dormant, harmless forms.
Many questions remain about the amount and frequency of green tea necessary to affect the formation of prostate cancer.
Black tea has shown similar benefits to green tea, although they appear to have lower levels of the beneficial substances than green tea.
Whatever the benefits of green tea, it would be a mistake to rely on tea alone for prevention.

Studies suggest a variety of nutritional influences on prostate cancer risk. The use of Vitamin E may offer some protection.
The antioxidant mineral selenium also seems protective.
Most Americans get adequate amounts of selenium, but these studies used nutrition supplements, so the study participants achieved higher intake levels.
It waits to be seen whether men can protect themselves by taking supplements, including multivitamins, with selenium. If total selenium intake exceeds 400 mcg per day, nerve damage and other side effects can occur in the individual.

Other good foods for natural nutrition are blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, flaxseed, soybeans, and tomatoes.
Cooked tomatoes are actually a far better source than raw tomatoes because the cooking process releases the lycopene from cells.

Prostacet that provide such extract ingredients also combined with fiber, omega3, croton oil and much more is one of best option as a treatment for localized prostate cancer.
You can see more detail about how they work and ingredients the used in their site, here.

Lastly general lifestyle also contributes to the health of the prostate.
Exercise also promotes circulation and relieves tension in the body, which enhances the odds of a healthy prostate.

Liver Cirrhosis

This is the end stage of any chronic liver disease.

Cirrhosis is a condition that refers to irreversible scarring ( fibrosis ) of the liver. As scar tissue replaces normal tissue, blood flow through your liver is affected. This makes it increasingly difficult for your liver ( liver failure ) to carry out essential functions, such as detoxifying harmful substances, purifying your blood and manufacturing vital nutrients.

Cirrhosis rarely causes signs and symptoms in its early stages. But as liver function deteriorates, you may experience fatigue, nausea, unintended weight loss, and swelling in your legs and abdomen. In time, jaundice — a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes — and intense itching can develop. You may also experience bleeding from your digestive system that could be severe.

Excessive use of alcohol and chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus are the leading causes of cirrhosis. But other factors — including damaged bile ducts, immune system problems and prolonged exposure to certain environmental toxins and fatty liver — can cause liver scarring, too.

Although liver damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, the disease usually progresses slowly and symptoms are often controllable. Specific treatment for cirrhosis depends on the underlying cause, but anyone with cirrhosis must avoid alcohol and other substances that harm the liver. When damage is so severe that liver function is seriously impaired, a liver transplant may be the only option for treatment.

Symptoms

You may not have signs and symptoms of cirrhosis in the early stages of the disease. But as more scar tissue replaces healthy tissue and liver function declines, you may experience some of the following:

Lack of appetite
Weight loss
Nausea
Spider veins under your skin or easy bruising
Weakness
Fatigue
Yellowing of your skin and eyes
Bleeding from engorged veins in your esophagus or intestines
Loss of interest in sex
Fluid in your abdominal cavity (ascites)
Itching on your hands and feet and eventually on your entire body
Swelling of your legs and feet from retained fluid (edema)
Mental confusion, such as forgetfulness or trouble concentrating (encephalopathy)

Causes of Cirrhosis

Many people associate cirrhosis with alcohol abuse, and in fact, chronic alcoholism is the primary cause of cirrhosis in the United States. Alcoholic cirrhosis usually occurs after a decade or more of heavy drinking, although the amount of alcohol that can injure the liver varies from person to person. The liver is particularly vulnerable because it breaks down alcohol into highly toxic chemicals. Some of these chemicals trigger inflammation that eventually destroys liver cells. In time, web-like scars and small knots of abnormal tissue replace healthy liver tissue. In the initial stages of cirrhosis, the liver swells, but it later shrinks as larger areas of scar tissue form.

Other causes of cirrhosis include:

Chronic hepatitis B and C. The serious liver infection hepatitis C ranks second only to alcoholism as a cause of cirrhosis. Nearly a quarter of people with chronic hepatitis C develop cirrhosis — often as long as two decades or more after infection — and many with cirrhosis eventually progress to end-stage liver disease or to liver cancer. Infection with another hepatitis strain, hepatitis B, also can lead to cirrhosis.

Autoimmune hepatitis. In this disorder, the body's immune system attacks liver cells, causing inflammation similar to the inflammation that occurs in viral hepatitis. Normally, your immune system protects you from viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms. It's not clear why the body sometimes attacks its own cells, but researchers believe a virus or bacteria might trigger this response in people with a genetic predisposition to develop an autoimmune disorder. Many people with autoimmune hepatitis also have other autoimmune problems such as thyroiditis, Graves' disease or ulcerative colitis. Autoimmune hepatitis can affect people of any age, although it's more common in women than in men. Because the inflammation is usually severe and chronic, it may lead to cirrhosis and eventually to liver failure.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). In this disorder, fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and occasionally to scar tissue. Although the exact cause isn't known, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease seems to be associated with diabetes, obesity and elevated levels of fat in the blood.

Inherited diseases. These include disorders that cause high levels of certain minerals such as copper (Wilson's disease) or iron (hereditary hemochromatosis) to accumulate in the liver. Other inherited conditions that may cause cirrhosis include cystic fibrosis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency — a disorder in which abnormal protein damages liver cells.

Blocked or inflamed bile ducts. Bile is a fluid that aids in the digestion of fats. It's produced in your liver and travels to your gallbladder and small intestine (duodenum) through thin tubes called bile ducts. Diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis can cause the ducts to become inflamed, scarred or blocked. This forces bile back into the liver, where it damages tissue and eventually may lead to cirrhosis. Complications from surgery on the liver, bile ducts or gallbladder (secondary biliary cirrhosis) also can lead to blocked bile ducts. Babies sometimes develop cirrhosis as a result of biliary atresia — a condition in which the bile ducts are closed or missing at birth.

Prolonged exposure to toxic materials. Your liver is the primary clearinghouse for alcohol, drugs and other toxins. Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins such as arsenic and severe reactions to some drugs — including prescription drugs — can sometimes cause severe liver disease.

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects you have cirrhosis w he might order the following tests:

Liver blood tests. A damaged liver releases certain enzymes. Measuring these enzymes may help determine whether you have liver damage.

Bilirubin test. Bilirubin, a red-yellow pigment that results from the normal breakdown of red blood cells, is metabolized in your liver and excreted in your urine. But in advanced cirrhosis, your liver can't process bilirubin, leading to high blood levels of the pigment.

Ultrasound. This noninvasive test uses sound waves to produce a picture of internal organs, including the liver. Ultrasound is painless and usually takes less than 30 minutes. While you lie on a bed or examining table, a wand-shaped device (transducer) is placed on your body. It emits sound waves that are reflected from your liver and transformed into a computer image.

Computerized tomography (CT) scan. This test uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of your body. It can provide an accurate look at internal organs, but it generates more radiation than conventional X-rays do.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Instead of X-rays, MRI creates images using a magnetic field and radio waves. Sometimes a contrast dye also may be used. The test can take from 15 minutes to an hour.

Liver biopsy. Although other tests can provide a great deal of information about the extent and type of liver damage, a biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose cirrhosis. In this procedure, a small sample of tissue is removed from your liver and examined under a microscope. Your doctor is likely to use a thin cutting needle to obtain the sample. Needle biopsies are relatively simple procedures requiring only local anesthesia, but your doctor may choose not to do one if you have bleeding problems or severe abdominal swelling (ascites). Risks include bruising, bleeding and infection.

Complications

Complications

Because cirrhosis disrupts the normal function of your liver, it can cause a number of serious complications:

Increased pressure in the portal vein. Blood from your intestine, spleen and pancreas enters your liver through a large blood vessel called the portal vein. If scar tissue blocks normal circulation through the liver, this blood backs up, leading to increased pressure within the vein (portal hypertension).

Enlarged veins (varices). When circulation through the portal vein is blocked, blood may back up into other blood vessels — mainly those in your stomach and esophagus. Sometimes veins also form around your navel and at the rectum. The blood vessels are thin-walled, and because they're filled with more blood than they're meant to carry, are likely to bleed. Massive bleeding in the upper stomach or esophagus from these blood vessels is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical care.

Fluid retention. Liver disease can cause large amounts of fluid to accumulate in your legs (edema) and abdominal cavity (ascites). Edema is especially common in alcoholic cirrhosis. Several factors play a role, including portal hypertension and changes in the hormones and chemicals that regulate fluids in your body. Ascites can be uncomfortable and may interfere with breathing. In addition, abdominal fluid may become infected and require treatment with antibiotics. Although not life-threatening in itself, ascites is usually a sign of advanced cirrhosis.
Bruising and bleeding. Cirrhosis interferes with the production of proteins that help your blood clot and with the absorption of vitamin K, which plays a role in synthesizing these proteins. As a result you may bruise and bleed more easily than normal. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is particularly common. Cirrhosis may also lead to a drop in platelets. Platelets are also needed for blood clotting, and low levels may also lead to bleeding.

Jaundice. This occurs when your liver isn't able to remove bilirubin — the residue of old red blood cells — from your blood. Eventually, bilirubin builds up and is deposited in your skin and the whites of your eyes, causing a yellow color. Excreted bilirubin may turn your urine dark brown and your stools a pale clay color.

Itching. Bile salts deposited in your skin can cause intense itching.

Hepatic encephalopathy. A liver damaged by cirrhosis has trouble removing toxins from your body — normally one of the liver's key tasks. The buildup of toxins such as ammonia — a byproduct of protein digestion — can damage your brain, leading to changes in your mental state, behavior and personality (hepatic encephalopathy). Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy include forgetfulness, confusion and mood changes, and in advanced cases, delirium and coma.
Weak bones (osteoporosis). Cirrhosis interferes with your liver's ability to process vitamin D and calcium, both of which are essential for bone growth and health. As a result, weak, brittle bones and bone loss are a common complication of the disease. Taking calcium and vitamin D may help prevent osteoporosis.

Liver cancer. Cirrhosis can increase the risk of liver cancer, which occurs when malignant cells begin growing in the tissues of your liver.

Liver failure. This occurs when extensive damage to liver cells makes it impossible for your liver to function.


Treatment

Although liver damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, treatment can often help prevent further damage and reduce complications. The treatment used depends on the underlying cause of the cirrhosis.

Treating alcoholic cirrhosisAbstaining from alcohol is the main treatment for alcoholic cirrhosis. Therapy is tailored to the individual and may involve a chemical dependency evaluation, counseling, an outpatient treatment program or a residential inpatient treatment program.

Nutrition is also often a key part of therapy because people with cirrhosis, and especially alcoholic cirrhosis, are frequently malnourished. A doctor or dietitian is likely to recommend a high-calorie, nutrient-dense dietary plan to help liver cells regenerate.

Researchers are also studying certain substances that may prove useful in treating alcoholic cirrhosis. These include drugs that block factors that contribute to liver inflammation and a soybean extract (polyunsaturated lecithin) that may stop the progression of liver scarring.
In addition to treating the cause of cirrhosis, your doctor will focus on preventing or improving any complications:

Portal hypertension. Your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications such as beta blockers to help lower portal vein pressure and prevent bleeding from enlarged blood vessels.
Bleeding blood vessels. To help stop actively bleeding blood vessels, you may be given drugs such as octreotide (Sandostatin), a derivative of a natural hormone that constricts blood vessels. You may take these medications alone or in combination with certain procedures. One such procedure, endoscopic variceal band ligation, treats bleeding in the esophagus. In this procedure, latex bands are used to pinch off the blood supply to bleeding blood vessels. If successful, you will need to go back for at least one more endoscopy to apply additional bands if necessary to flatten the esophageal varices. For bleeding veins in the stomach (gastric varices), treatment is more difficult. Most recently, doctors have been injecting glue into these veins with good success. If these methods are not successful, your doctor may use a catheter with a balloon on the end to compress the veins and stop the bleeding. When bleeding is severe or recurs often, you may need a procedure to create a bypass (shunt) between the venous system in your liver and your general venous system. Called transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, the procedure, which is performed through a vein in your neck, is a fairly low-risk alternative to more-invasive surgeries.

Fluid retention. Sometimes avoiding alcohol and salt are all you need to reduce fluid buildup in your legs or abdomen. If not, your doctor may prescribe diuretics such as spironolactone (Aldactone) or furosemide (Lasix). Severe cases may require paracentesis — a procedure in which large amounts of fluid are removed through a thin tube inserted in the abdomen.
Itching. Doctors often prescribe antihistamines or other medications such as cholestyramine (Questran) and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) to reduce itching caused by metabolites in the blood.

Treatments for hepatic encephalopathy. The medication lactulose, a synthetic sugar, can help lower blood ammonia and other toxin levels by changing the type of bacteria in your intestine and decreasing the absorption of ammonia and other toxins. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to reduce the number of ammonia and other toxin-producing bacteria in your intestine.

Liver failure. When complications can't be controlled or liver function is severely impaired, a liver transplant may be the only option for some people. Although liver transplantation is often successful, the number of people awaiting transplants far exceeds the number of donated organs. But several new developments in transplantation may make it possible for more people to receive the organ they need.

These developments include the donation of liver segments from living donors, splitting one donated liver between two recipients, new organ allocation policies and, especially, new approaches to liver transplants for people with hepatitis C. Until recently, hepatitis C-infected livers were routinely discarded. But studies show that people already infected with hepatitis C who receive livers from hepatitis C-positive donors do as well as if they had received a liver not infected with the virus. This may mean that many more livers will become available for people with hepatitis C. Nevertheless, hepatitis C may recur in the new liver.

Prevention and at-home treatment

Although the damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, the disease often progresses slowly, and you can take steps to reduce further liver damage:

Avoid alcohol. This is the single most important measure you can take to help protect your liver and reduce the risk or severity of complications. Avoiding alcohol is crucial, no matter what type of cirrhosis you have.

Limit medications. Because your damaged liver isn't able to detoxify and eliminate drugs from your system, discuss all medications, including nonprescription drugs, with your doctor. In general, avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and naproxen. If you have liver damage, the best pain reliever is acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) as long as you don't take more than 2 grams a day. Be especially careful not to combine any analgesic with alcohol, even if you take only the recommended daily amount of the drug.

Avoid people who are sick. When your liver is damaged, you can't fight off infections as easily as healthy people. Do everything that's reasonable to avoid getting sick. Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.

Eat a healthy diet. Because cirrhosis can cause a number of nutritional deficiencies along with weight loss, it's especially important to eat a diet high in calories and nutrients. Emphasize fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and small amounts of protein. These foods are high in nutrients, including vitamins A, C and E, which tend to be depleted in people with cirrhosis. Your doctor may also prescribe vitamin supplements.

Restrict salt. Because the sodium in salt causes your body to retain water, it can contribute to or increase fluid buildup in your legs and abdomen. In addition to not adding salt to your food, it's best to avoid high-sodium prepared foods, such as canned soups and cold cuts, and condiments such as soy sauce, catsup and mayonnaise. Lemon juice and herbs make good salt substitutes.

Alternative medicine

A number of complementary and alternative therapies — many of them herbs and nutritional supplements.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum). In Europe, the herb milk thistle has been used for centuries to treat jaundice and other liver disorders. Today, scientific studies suggest that the chief constituent of milk thistle, silymarin, may aid in healing and rebuilding the liver. Silymarin seems to stimulate the production of antioxidant enzymes that help the liver neutralize toxins. It also seems to increase the production of new liver cells and may even improve the severe scarring of cirrhosis. Milk thistle is available in capsule or alcohol-free extracts at many natural food stores and some drugstores. Check with your doctor before trying this or any other herb to make sure it won't interact with other medications you're taking.

Vitamin C: Potent Antioxidant.

Catechin: Powerful antioxidant.

N acetyl cysteine: Precursor to Gluthathione. This compound should help the remaining liver cells to detoxify substances.

Reishi Extract: Mushroom known for its antioxidant properties.

Green Superfood drink: For helping with the Detoxification.

Always consult a doctor before starting any treatment with herbs as many of these could impair the effect of allopathic medicines.