Viral Hepatitis and Kamalahar

Kamalahar is combination of Ayurvedic herbs formulated for the treatment of hepatitis. It contains Tecoma undulata (rohida), Phyllanthus urinaria (chamber bitter), Embelia ribes (false black pepper or white-flowered embelia), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (night-flowering jasmine), and Terminalia arjuna (arjun).

Kamalahar may help improve liver function in people with acute hepatitis.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 52 people with acute hepatitis were randomly assigned to receive placebo or Kamalahar at a dose of 500 mg, 3 times daily, for 15 days. The results indicate that Kamalahar improved liver function to a significantly greater extent than placebo.⁴⁴

In the study featured here, patients with acute hepatitis were given Kamalahar at a dose of 500 mg, three times daily, for 15 days.

Ayurvedic practitioners support their patients with a combination of herbs, lifestyle modifications (including diet), and a variety of other methods. In the United States, there is no widely accepted licensure for the practice of Ayurvedic medicine. Graduates of schools such as the following are generally regarded as well-qualified: The Ayurvedic Institute, California College of Ayurveda, and the American Institute of Vedic Studies.

An important part of managing hepatitis is making sure that the liver does not endure any additional damage. Even some natural remedies such as Ayurvedic herbs could potentially be harmful to the liver. Be sure to consult with your doctor about your use of any medicines (over-the-counter and prescription) and supplements. Choose an Ayurvedic practitioner who is well trained and acquires his or her herbs from a high-quality source.

For more information, see the Safety section of the Ayurveda article.

1. Das DG. A double-blind clinical trial of kamalahar, an indigenous compound preparation, in acute viral hepatitis. Indian J Gastroenterol. 1993;12:126-128.