Integrated Healthcare Practitioners’ Dietary and Nutritional Supplement, and Herbal Remedies Management Program

Introduction Cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for almost 30 thousand deaths per year (Starr 2011). !e leading causes of cirrhosis include chronic alcohol abuse and viral hepatitis; however cirrhosis is the common end pathway of several types of liver injury, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune hepatic or biliary disease, and obstructive tumors of the liver or biliary ducts (Starr 2011). Liver cirrhosis or “scarring” leads to gradual loss of liver function and the eventual emergence of decompensated liver disease, including hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. !is paper will discuss naturopathic strategies that can assist in the management of cirrhosis, particularly decompensated cirrhosis. Intervention with a selection of natural agents o"ers the potential for delaying and/ or alleviating some of the symptoms associated with this condition, for which conventional treatments remain limited.