Fatty Liver
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a build-up of fat in the liver, closely linked to excess weight, diabetes, high cholesterol and inactivity. It is often found on an ultrasound and usually causes no symptoms at first, but can progress to inflammation and scarring. In Ayurveda it relates to Yakrit (liver) disorders with Kapha (a body energy linked with weight and fluid) and Meda (fat tissue) involvement. This page is for people with fatty liver found on a scan who want Ayurvedic support alongside their doctor’s care.
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The foundation is weight loss where needed, regular activity and a healthier diet, with a weight target agreed with your doctor. Ayurvedic care supports this with:
- Consultation and review of liver tests and ultrasound.
- A Kapha-reducing diet, meal timing and activity plan.
- Herbal medicines chosen for you.
- Therapies such as Udvartana (a herbal powder massage) and Virechana (a bowel-clearing therapy, only if your doctor agrees and your liver tests and fluid levels are checked first). No study on this page tests either therapy in fatty liver.
Precautions & When to See a Doctor
Fatty liver needs monitoring by your doctor, including liver tests and sometimes scans. Do not stop any prescribed medicine, such as those for diabetes or cholesterol, without talking to your doctor. Ayurvedic care complements, not replaces, your doctor’s care. Tell us about every medicine and supplement you take, as herbs can interact with them. Some herbal products can harm the liver: take only prescribed, quality-assured medicines. See a doctor urgently for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, itching, leg or belly swelling, easy bruising or bleeding, or abdominal pain. Get emergency help at once for vomiting blood, black stools, confusion or unusual drowsiness. Avoid alcohol.
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What the Evidence Shows
- A systematic review found that curcumin supplements improved liver ultrasound findings, liver enzymes, cholesterol and BMI in NAFLD [1], and a randomised trial linked curcumin to reduced liver fat [2].
- A randomised, placebo-controlled trial found that a mixed-herb powder (Sharapunkhadi) taken with lifestyle changes gave better results than lifestyle changes alone. The authors call the powder promising [3].
- A single-arm trial with no comparison group, in people with NASH (a more serious form of fatty liver with inflammation), tested Katukyadi churna, a herbal powder. Liver stiffness and some blood tests moved towards normal, but it is unclear how much of this was due to the powder. The authors call the results promising and say more studies are needed [4].
- A review of the traditional use of Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki, a bitter herb) for the liver. It is not a trial, and its authors say its efficacy and safety for fatty liver still need to be established [5].
Herbs are an addition to, not a substitute for, weight loss and activity.
Prepared by the AyurSoul Healthcare team from the published research listed below. Medical review by Dr. Hemlata Soni, BAMS is in progress. This page is for education and does not replace individual medical advice. Medical disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fatty liver be reversed?
Early fatty liver can improve with weight loss, activity and diet changes, and your doctor can track this with repeat liver tests.
Are herbs safe for my liver?
Some herbs can harm the liver, so only take herbs prescribed after consultation. We check your liver tests and current medicines first.
Do I need to stop all fat?
No. The focus is on overall diet quality, portion size and activity.
Clinical Research
5 studies: 1 systematic review / meta-analysis, 2 randomised trials, 1 clinical study, 1 review article.
Show the 5 studies
Numbers in the text refer to this list. Each study is labelled by type: systematic reviews and randomised trials are stronger evidence than pilot studies or single case reports.
- Ngu MH, Norhayati MN, Rosnani Z, et al.. Curcumin as adjuvant treatment in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary therapies in medicine, 2022. Systematic review / meta-analysis PubMed
- He Y, Chen X, Li Y, et al.. Curcumin supplementation alleviates hepatic fat content associated with modulation of gut microbiota-dependent bile acid metabolism in patients with nonalcoholic simple fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2024. Randomised controlled trial PubMed
- Remya E, Goyal M, Varsakiya J. Efficacy of Sharapunkhadi powder (a polyherbal formulation) and lifestyle modification in the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ayu, 2020. Randomised controlled trial PubMed
- Tarapure S, Tubaki BR, Khot S. Elastographic liver evaluation of Katukyadi churna in the management of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) – A single arm clinical trial. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 2021. Clinical study PubMed
- Raut A, Dhami-Shah H, Phadke A, et al.. Picrorhiza kurroa, Royle ex Benth:Traditional uses, phytopharmacology, and translational potential in therapy of fatty liver disease. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 2023. Review article PubMed