Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and may result from a number of blood and liver disorders. Two major causes of jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis, also occur with weight loss. Consult a doctor for treatment because jaundice-related conditions pose serious health risks and can be fatal if left untreated. If your jaundice results from a tumor or gall-stone, surgery is necessary to correct the problem.
Definition
Jaundice is yellowing of your skin and eyes, which results form a build-up of a yellow-brown substance called bilrubin. Bilrubin is byproduct of red blood cell break down that your liver normally removes from your blood stream. Jaundice is not a disease but a symptom of a more serious medical problem, though it is also common in healthy newborns. Baby livers are not fully developed, so some degree of jaundice is common in newborns, especially in premature babies.
Liver Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a liver disorder that results form numerous conditions such as alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C, cystic fibrosis, fatty liver disease, bile duct hardening or damage, galactosemia, hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, parasites, glycogen storage disease and excess blood copper. Galactosemia is an inability to process sugars in milk and hemochromatosis is iron build-up. Over time these medical conditions damage your liver, creating scars that hinder functioning. Other symptoms of cirrhosis include fatigue, bleeding or bruising easily, excess abdominal fluid, swollen legs, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Hepatitis
Yellow skin and weight loss may also result from hepatitis, or swelling and inflammation in your liver. Several types of hepatitis exist, including viral hepatitis, bacterial hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and alcohol or drug-induced hepatitis. Symptoms of hepatitis include abdominal pain or swelling, male breast development, dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, fever, itching, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. You may have hepatitis if you traveled abroad recently or took excessive doses of acetaminophen or other drugs.
Complementary Treatment
Try holistic therapies for jaundice with your doctor's approval. Use burdock root or red clover to help cleanse your blood, or try dandelion to aid proper liver functioning. Eat only raw fruits and vegetables for a week and drink juices from lemons, beets and beet greens, dandelion or black radish. Avoid raw or undercooked fish, meat and poultry, which can cause bacterial infections, viruses and parasite infestations. Do not drink alcohol, which strains your liver.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 1997
- MayoClinic.com; Cirrhosis; January 2011
- National Institutes of Health; Hepatitis; November 2010
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