What is Fibrosis?

Fibrosis is the accumulation of collagen fibers in the liver. These accumulations are caused by chronic liver damage.

What are the Stages of Fibrosis?

Progression from one stage of fibrosis to the next is characterized by an increase in collagen deposits. As fibrosis grows, these deposits spread and intrude into the liver tissue. Eventually, the fiber deposits will interconnect. Linked deposits cause two major issues:

1. Stiffening of the liver structure.

2. Restriction of blood flow through the liver.

Causes of fibrosis:

  • Viral infection
  • Alcohol
  • Obesity
  • Autoimmune disorders

Normally, the liver heals from damage much like the development of a scab on a surface wound. But, over time, collagen fibers deposit faster than they can be processed and removed. That is when liver fibrosis occurs. Liver fibrosis is not a disease in itself. It is a progressive structural change in the liver. Fibrosis can be seen and measured in a tissue sample taken by biopsy and viewed under a microscope.

Symptoms of fibrosis:

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis may include:

  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • A dry cough
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Aching muscles and joints
  • Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes (clubbing)

Diagnosing pulmonary fibrosis:

It’s important to identify the cause of your symptoms if possible, and what type of pulmonary fibrosis you have, as it will influence your treatment. The doctor will ask questions about your medical and work history, listen to your chest, and order some blood tests to rule out possible known causes. Further tests used to diagnose pulmonary fibrosis are described below - you might not need to have all of them. Your consultant will assess this when they see you.X-rays and scans: 

You will have a chest X-ray. If your doctor thinks you might have pulmonary fibrosis, this will be followed by a CT (computed tomography) scan, which uses X-rays to produce a very detailed image of your lungs. For some types of pulmonary fibrosis, the results from the scan can be very clear. On a CT scan, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often shows up as a distinctive pattern on the lungs. You might hear your doctor call this ‘honeycomb’ lung, as the image shows lots of empty pockets or bubbles appearing where more solid-looking lung tissue would normally appear.

Breathing tests: These are also known as lung function tests. There are different types, but most involve breathing into a machine through a mouthpiece or tube. The equipment measures how well you can breathe in or out.

Blood tests: Doctors may also order blood tests to evaluate your liver and kidney function, and to test for and rule out other conditions.

Role of homeopathy for fibrosis: 

Homeopathic treatment for fibrosis can also aid in achieving a significant reduction in dependence on bronchodilators and steroid medications. Every medicine prescribed in homeopathic treatment for fibrosis can relieve patients from their distressing symptoms without the fear of producing any adverse reactions or side effects. Treatment is gentle, natural and holistic. Different manifestations of the disease are treated with different homeopathic medicines depending on which one matches the most. 

Food to eat: Choose high-fat ground beef. Opt for whole milk instead of skim. Sprinkle bacon and cheese on salad, into eggs, and other prepared dishes. Make smoothies packed with peanut butter, whole milk, and bananas. Fry eggs with extra butter. Spread an extra layer of mayonnaise on sandwiches. Eat pasta with olive oil and freshly-grated parmesan cheese, with Alfredo sauce, or with added bacon. Snack on high-quality dark chocolate.