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The medical name for jaundice is as icterus - the word jaundice is derived from the French word jaune which means yellow, and jaundice typically causes yellowish discoloration of the skin, the whites of the eyes, and the mucous membranes.. Jaundice by itself is not a disease but the symptom of an underlying pathological disturbance of the normal process of metabolism of bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by red blood cells (after they are destroyed) and jaundice occurs when an excess amount of bilirubin is being produced in the blood and the liver cannot remove it, or there is a defect in the liver which stops the removal of bilirubin from the blood. Jaundice can also occur when there is a block in the bile ducts resulting in a reduced flow of bilirubin and bile from the liver into the intestines. This blockage is generally caused due to gallstones or inflammation of the ducts.
There are a number of precautionary measures that you can take against jaundice, which are described in brief below - but a complete detoxification of the liver and gall bladder is needed to cure the jaundice completely. A deficiency in vitamin E has been identified as a contributing factor to an attack of jaundice. The vitamin is helpful in strengthening mature blood cells, thus allowing them to last longer and reducing the chances of over production of bilirubin. Therefore consuming foods that contain vitamin E, such as nuts and leafy vegetables, will be helpful. Huge doses of vitamin C and choline can also be used to treat jaundice as both vitamin C and choline help the liver to detoxify. Choline also helps in the production of lecithin which breaks down fats and oils inside the body.
Another preventive measure that can be taken is increasing the intake of calcium, vitamin B6 and magnesium, as a deficiency in these three nutrients is known to cause nervous disorders that lead to spasmic movements in the bile duct and thus a rise in the jaundice and its symptoms. You can also strengthen your liver by including beet leaves in your diet. Drink a juice of the beet leaves twice a day (mix the leaves and the root in a cup of boiling water.). Liver function can also be helped by using herbs like St. John's wort, nettle and boldo plant. It is important that you get adequate bed rest, eat a diet free from oily and spicy food and avoid eating food prepared in unhygienic conditions.
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