How to restore the liver after prolonged alcohol consumption?
The liver is one of the most vulnerable organs to the action of ethanol. With the systematic or use of these products in large quantities, it is necessary to seek help from specialists who will decide how to cure the liver after alcohol. Doctors carry out strict monitoring of the patient in order to assess whether the liver is recovering after alcohol.
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Can the liver recover?
Ethanol causes the activation of hepatic enzymes, which contribute to its decomposition and excretion through metabolites. With a single or rare use, the amount of enzymatic substances is sufficient, which quickly removes intoxication. But, the regular intake of toxic products slows down these processes, which causes not only stagnation of bile, but also the formation of an excess amount of tissue components.
Many patients are concerned about whether the liver recovers after giving up alcohol.
With untimely measures taken, destructive processes progress, as well as such dangerous pathologies as cancer or cirrhosis.
How to restore the liver after prolonged alcohol use is determined only by a specialist. It is based on the functionality and degree of damage to the organ.
Recovery time
It is the question of duration that solves the problem of how long the liver recovers after giving up alcohol.
Rapid recovery of the liver after alcohol is possible in cases where the binge was of a one-time nature and the patient has not yet abused alcohol for a long period.
Recovery procedures in such situations can be carried out at home. For this, various folk methods are used. A prerequisite is the absence of pain and severe symptoms of intoxication, with impaired functioning of the main systems. The duration of the recovery period will take up to a week. Karsil is used as a herbal remedy that will enhance the therapeutic effect. Drinking alcohol for more than two days may delay the recovery period.
Home care is possible provided that the condition is in good condition without a drop in pressure and pronounced signs of intoxication. Medicinal therapy is also connected to plant therapy, which will be based on the removal of toxic components and the launch of regenerative processes that decide how much the liver recovers after alcohol. The average period of this stage is 4 months. Prolonged and recurrent binge drinking, as well as systemic alcohol use for more than one year, requires careful recovery. To do this, all the main directions apply. On average, the replenishment of the liver is from one to two to three years.
Most patients are concerned about how long it takes for the liver to recover after alcohol. It is impossible to answer it precisely, since this process is strictly individual.
Stages of liver recovery
Liver pathologies caused by the action of alcohol require the implementation of a whole range of various procedures that will be aimed at removing intoxication, improving the functioning and further functioning of cells. The main stages should include:
- Stimulation of recovery processes in functioning cells. This moment involves the use of drugs that will restore damaged tissues, starting regeneration processes.
- Stimulation of the formation of new hepatocytes. Since the liver is an organ with a high regenerative capacity, stimulation of this mechanism will help to remove intoxication for a shorter period and remove all products formed during the breakdown of ethanol.
- Compensatory increase in functioning cells. When the liver loses a large amount of tissue, it takes a certain time to replenish it. That is why the cells begin to increase in size in order to do more work due to the increasing load on them.
- Formation of connecting elements. The affected and necrotic liver tissue does not strike, it remains in the body, and the dead cells gradually decrease in size, remaining in the form of connective tissue strands. It does not perform any functions and, with a small volume, does not cause malfunctions. Only in those cases when its mass becomes significant, various pathological symptoms can occur.
Symptoms of liver damage
For patients who drink alcohol, it is necessary to know that the manifestations of liver damage that have begun now can be asymptomatic for a long time.
They are not visible using laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods. That is why, at this stage, it is important to start treatment in a timely manner so as not to achieve the progression of pathologies. Their appearance will raise the question of whether it is possible to cure the liver after alcohol, since in some cases the clinical manifestations are irreversible. In cases where the clinical picture of organ damage begins to develop, its main manifestations should be distinguished:
- The development of pain syndrome, which is localized in the right hypochondrium and is periodic. The pain is dull or aching in nature.
- The appearance of dryness and thirst in the oral cavity, which forces the patient to drink large amounts of liquid.
- The development of nausea and vomiting without connection with the use of food.
- The formation of malaise, weakness, general fatigue. This condition is associated with the development of intoxication, which causes damage to the nervous system.
- Change in the color of the skin, which is characterized by yellow staining.
In this case, it is necessary to resolve the issue of how to restore the liver after alcohol.
dietary activities
In order to determine whether the liver is restored if you stop drinking, you need to change your diet. This is due to the participation of the liver in the processes of digestion and the production of an enzyme in response to the use of certain foods. That is why, at the initial stages of alcohol abuse or the treatment of severe forms of organ damage, measures aimed at changing nutrition play a significant role. It is they who help to solve such a problem as to restore the liver after prolonged use of alcohol. Cleansing the liver after alcohol involves a gradual change in diet. These include:
- Changing the diet. You need to eat food with frequent breaks. The average number of meals should not be less than 5.
- Eating foods in small portions. They help restore the liver after drinking. Its preparation involves boiling or stewing, it is forbidden to use frying as a heat treatment.
- Of the necessary nutrients, preference should be given to proteins and healthy fats, the amount of carbohydrate products should be reduced to a minimum.
- Animal fats are replaced with vegetable fats.
- Salt is removed from the diet as much as possible.
- Extractive substances are reduced to a minimum.
Recommended foods that help restore the liver:
- From meat products, preference should be given to low-fat varieties of beef, chicken or rabbit meat.
- Eggs contain a sufficient amount of protein, but for liver recovery, intake is limited to 4 per week.
- Useful varieties of fish are cod.
- Buckwheat, rice and any cereals should be used as a side dish.
- Among vegetable dishes or fruits, it is preferable to include cabbage, broccoli, apples or pumpkin in the diet. Citrus fruits remove toxins and toxins, but it is not recommended to eat them in large quantities.
The above products help to eliminate such a problem as clean the liver after alcohol.
Drug therapy
In order to restore the liver in case of prolonged alcohol use, it is necessary to include drugs. They help solve the problem of how to restore the liver after drinking. The mechanism of their action is aimed at the following processes:
- Elimination of toxins. Removal of harmful products accumulated in the body, as well as factors that cause irritation of the systems, contributes to the rapid restoration of the preserved cellular composition.
- The appearance of new cells. This process is the longest, since it takes a long time to form a new cell and perform all its functions.
- Increase in cellular composition. Since liver cells completely disappear under the influence of adverse factors, an additional reserve is required for the full functioning of the organ.
The initial therapeutic measures in the treatment of the liver after alcoholism are to take vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant.
To do this, a person should consume up to 1 g of acid per day. In addition, activated charcoal also has a detoxifying effect. It removes accumulated waste and toxins. To create the desired effect, you need to use up to 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight.
Medicines should be used only after consulting a specialist, undergoing a complete diagnosis and assessing the functional state of the liver.
Most drugs in this group belong to phospholipids of natural or synthetic origin. They help to replace the structural elements of the hepatocyte cell wall and prevent its destruction. The most popular means include Karsil, Essentiale or Hepatrin. They form the basis in the treatment of the liver after alcohol. As a symptomatic treatment, a group of drugs can be used that improve the outflow of bile from hepatocytes or relieve spasm with pain.
In case of insufficiency of the enzymatic function, substitute therapy is prescribed. Treatment prescribed by a specialist requires full compliance with all norms and regulations. The patient is not allowed to change the course of treatment and dosage. An absolute contraindication is the use of alcohol at this stage. Violation of the recommendations can cause the development of serious consequences and complications. Dynamic control over the treatment process will help solve the question of how long the liver recovers after alcohol.
Folk remedies
To restore the liver, these methods are effective at the initial stages of the development of diseases. In addition, they should be used in combination, in conjunction with drug therapy. The selection of the main components must be carried out together with a specialist. Among the most popular methods are:
- Milk thistle decoction. This plant has many irreplaceable functions for the body, among them the restoration of the liver after prolonged alcohol consumption. To prepare it, a dry mixture in the amount of one tablespoon is poured into a glass of water. After insisting for several minutes, the mixture is filtered and consumed.
- A decoction of a mixture of medicinal herbs. For its manufacture, it is preferable to choose the dry parts of cumin, artichoke, St. John's wort and knotweed. They help the liver after alcohol. They are mixed in equal concentrations and used in the amount of one tablespoon. This mass is poured with half a liter of hot water. The mixture is brought to a boil and left to infuse for several hours. The daily dosage is 200 ml of solution, which is divided into three doses.
- Oats. A decoction of it has many healing properties, among them the restoration of the liver after hard drinking. To prepare the resulting solution, the plant in the amount of one tablespoon is poured with boiled water. In a water bath, the mixture is prepared until its volume is reduced to 250 ml. After that, the mixture must be filtered and diluted with water to 500 ml. It is necessary to use a decoction of oats for 300 ml daily. This volume is divided into several steps.
- Beetroot infusion. It helps to remove accumulated toxins from the body, including helping the liver after alcohol. Fresh beets are pre-washed, cleaned and rubbed to small sizes. Water, a small amount of sugar and salt are added to the mass, after which it is left until foam appears.
- A single dosage is equal to one tablespoon. Pure water can be added to the container with the solution as it is consumed until the color of the contents is preserved.
- Radish. The root helps to restore the liver due to many vitamins and nutrients, in addition, it helps to cleanse the liver after alcohol. To obtain healing juice, you need to make a cavity and fill it with honey. After a certain time, juice will approach the honey and the substances will mix. Up to two tablespoons of the mixture are consumed daily.
- Pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds are one of the most effective remedies that can cleanse liver cells of accumulated toxins. In addition, they start recovery processes, including solving the problem of how to quickly restore the liver after alcohol. In addition to seeds, juice can also be used. To do this, it is necessary to make fresh juice from vegetables, which should not be subjected to heat treatment. The average daily volume is 300 ml. In order to enhance the effect, it is recommended to add celery juice to them.
- Kalgan. Root tincture is made for three days. To do this, the root is mixed with vodka. The volume of the daily dose is 90 drops, which are divided into three doses. It is used for various pathological processes, but is very popular for conditions such as helping the liver recover from alcohol.
Untimely refusal of alcohol and lifestyle changes lead to the development of irreversible changes that cause death.