Home Remedies for Jaundice

Jaundice commonly develops in babies, usually soon after birth. However it can affect adults also.

It occurs due to an increased level of the yellowish bile pigments, known as bilirubin, in the blood. Bilirubin is a by product of the body’s natural process of breaking down and removing old and damaged red blood cells.

It is usually flushed out of the body by the liver, just like many other naturally occurring waste products. When the liver cannot do so for some reason, the level of bilirubin in the blood rises and causes jaundice.

Jaundice can be of different types and can be caused by infections, use of certain drugs, or other underlying conditions such as blood disorders, gallstones, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, pancreatic cancer, etc. The condition is often a sign of a problem with the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.

The most common symptom of jaundice is yellowing of the skin, eyes, tongue and urine. Depending on the underlying cause, other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, skin itching and pale-colored stools.

There are several home remedies that can help treat jaundice by stimulating liver functioning and increasing the flow of bile in the bile duct.

Here are the 10 home remedies for jaundice.

These remedies can speed up recovery from jaundice. Plus, a person suffering from jaundice should seek immediate medical advice and be sure to get proper rest, do light exercise and get fresh air to speed up the healing process.

1. Lemons

Lemons can help treat jaundice due to their liver-healing properties. Being diuretic in nature, lemons encourage urine production so that harmful waste products, including bilirubin, get eliminated from the body. Plus, they stimulate the liver’s bile production and boost mineral absorption.

• Dilute the juice from half a lemon in one glass of water and drink it three or four times a day for two to three weeks.
• You can also mix the juice of one-half lemon and a pinch of salt in one-half glass of water. Drink it three times a day for a few weeks.
• Alternatively, add eight to 10 lemon leaves to a cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for about five minutes. Strain and drink it twice daily for weeks.

2. Sugarcane

Another popular remedy for quick recovery from jaundice is sugarcane. During jaundice, there is sudden drop in glucose level. The easily digestible sugar found in sugarcane helps keep your energy level high and ensures faster recovery.

Plus, as sugarcane is completely alkaline in nature, it helps maintain low acid levels in your body and keeps the body hydrated.

• Make a glass of sugarcane juice and squeeze the juice from half a lemon into it. Mix well and then drink this juice two or three times daily for two to three weeks. This will help you to pass urine properly and nourish your body.
• Alternatively, you can have a cup of sugarcane juice with one teaspoon of basil leaves paste twice daily for several weeks.

Note: You can extract sugarcane juice using a sugarcane juicer as most home juicing machines cannot stand up to the stress of juicing sugarcane.

3. Barley

Another effective jaundice remedy is barley. Barley acts as a diuretic and helps wash away harmful toxins as well as bilirubin out of the body.

• Add one cup of barley to about 6 pints or 3 liter of water. Simmer it for a few hours, strain it and allow it to cool. Add lemon juice, salt and sugar for taste. Drink four to five glasses of barley water daily until the symptoms go away.
• Alternatively, you can mix one teaspoon of roasted barley powder in one cup of water. Add one teaspoon of honey, mix it well and drink this twice a day until the jaundice subsides.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is high in a compound known as curcumin that helps in the liver detoxification process. Curcumin prevents alcohol and other harmful toxins from damaging the liver. Plus, its medicinal and healing properties ensure faster recovery.

• Mix one-quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm water. Dink this solution two or three times daily for a few weeks.
• Alternatively, you can mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder, freshly extracted juice from one lemon, a pinch of cayenne pepper and one teaspoon of honey in one cup of warm water. Drink this once daily for several weeks.

5. Ginger

Ginger is a natural detoxifier and also protects the liver from different problems and ensures normal and smooth functioning.

1. Extract the juice from a small piece of ginger.
2. Mix one-half teaspoon of this juice with one teaspoon each of mint juice and lime juice. Add one tablespoon of honey.
3. Consume this mixture three or four times daily for two weeks.

6. Radishes

Radishes are very good for the liver and hence a good remedy for jaundice. They also act as a powerful detoxifier to purify the blood and help eliminate harmful toxins and waste, including bilirubin, from the body. Both radishes and radish leaves can be used in the treatment of jaundice.

• Extract the juice from some fresh radish leaves. Drink one glass of radish leaf juice twice a day for about 10 days to ensure a faster recovery. You can also add one teaspoon of crushed basil leaves in it.
• Alternatively, eat fresh radishes, especially black radishes every morning for two weeks. You can eat them in salads or soup.

7. Tomatoes

The high amount of lycopene present in tomatoes can help reduce damage to the liver and facilitate recovery from jaundice. Also, tomato acts as a potent detoxifier, which means it can effectively eliminate harmful toxins from the body.

1. Boil five fresh tomatoes in two cups of water for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Remove the skin and blend the tomatoes.
3. Press them on a sieve to extract the juice.
4. Add a pinch of pepper and salt to the juice.
5. Drink one glass of this juice every morning on an empty stomach.
6. Follow this remedy once daily for at least two weeks.

8. Almonds

Almonds help remove waste from the blood, fight infection and play an important role in supporting healthy liver functioning. Plus, almonds are rich in nutrients like fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium that are good for the liver.

1. Soak eight to 10 almonds, along with two or three dried dates and three or four small cardamoms in water overnight.
2. The next morning, remove the skin from the almonds and the seeds from the dates.
3. Put all the ingredients in a blender to make a fine paste.
4. Mix in two teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon of butter.
5. Eat this mixture once daily for two weeks.

9. Carrots

Carrots are another effective home remedy for jaundice. This orange vegetable is very effective in cleansing the liver and repairing any damage. Plus, carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, a nutrient required for a strong immune system and faster recovery.

• Drink a glass of carrot juice every day to improve the condition of your liver.
• You can also eat carrots in pureed, boiled or salad form to speed up the healing process.

10. Licorice

Licorice is considered a great liver detoxifier. Licorice can remove buildup of toxic metabolic substances in the body by increasing the liver’s ability to filter out these harmful wastes.

• Make a fine powder of one teaspoon each of crushed licorice root, chicory seeds and rock salt. Take one-half teaspoon of this mixture with water twice daily for at least two weeks.
• Alternatively, you can add one tablespoon of crushed licorice root and one teaspoon of ground ginger to one and one-half cup of boiling water. Allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the solution and add one teaspoon of lemon juice. Drink this once daily for a few days.

These remedies can speed up recovery from jaundice. Plus, a person suffering from jaundice should seek immediate medical advice and be sure to get proper rest, do light exercise and get fresh air to speed up the healing process.

Expert Answers (Q&A)

Answered by Dr. Javier Meza Cardona, MD (Gastroenterology)

Does jaundice cause any long-term problems?

Jaundice is the yellowish pigmentation of the skin, sclera, and conjunctivae due to the elevation of something called bilirubin. The abnormal elevation of bilirubin is associated with a liver problem in most cases. When it appears, the person should go to a doctor to find out what is causing it. Depending on what is causing jaundice, it might be dangerous for a person´s health.

Can jaundice be cured without any medications?

The treatment would depend on the cause. In cases where it is caused by an acute viral hepatitis, then you are likely to recover gradually as the liver gets better, without any medication.

Is jaundice in newborns dangerous?

A majority of full-term newborns develop jaundice during the first week of birth. The condition normally resolves within one or two weeks. However, if the bilirubin levels become too high then it may lead to kernicterus, which is a type of brain damage caused by too much bilirubin in the brain. This condition is dangerous and is more frequent in premature babies. The damage can cause seizures, development delay, cerebral palsy.

What dietary changes should be made when suffering from jaundice?

You should eat healthy food, like fruits (banana, papaya, mango), vegetables, and high fiber foods. Try to avoid food with conservatives, and canned food. It is recommended to take a lot of water, 2-3 liters per day.

Is taking turmeric harmful during jaundice?

Turmeric is used as an alternative medicine in many cultures for the treatment of jaundice. The best thing to do first is to go to the doctor to see the cause of jaundice to have a directed treatment for it.

Are bananas good for jaundice?

Bananas are a great fruit. It has vitamins and antioxidants that can help you feel better and recover faster.

How long does it take for jaundice to heal completely?

In newborns, if the jaundice is physiological it will disappear in 8-12 weeks. In adults, it would depend more on the cause of jaundice. If it is caused by acute viral hepatitis A, it can be resolved in 4-6 weeks. If the jaundice is caused by a chronic liver disease, then it may not disappear at all.

What precautions should be taken while suffering from jaundice?

Jaundice can be physiological, can be transient, but also can be really dangerous as it can put a life in danger. It is recommended to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, eat healthy food, and avoid alcohol or other things that can damage the liver. When a person sees that the color of the skin and eyes changes to a yellowish, it is imperative that they visit a doctor to see what is causing the jaundice.

About Dr. Javier Manuel Meza Cardona, MD: Dr. Cardona is a gastroenterologist/hepatologist with 10 years of experience as a medical doctor, supervisor, and researcher, both in Canada and Mexico. He completed his MD from Universidad La Salle, Mexico City, Mexico and Research fellowship in liver diseases from University of Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Cardona uses innovative drugs to manage liver diseases such as PBC, PSC, NASH, HCV, HBV.