Effect of Phalatrikadi ghana vati in a patient of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case report

A 39-year-old male patient presented with complaints of decreased appetite, generalized weakness, nausea, gastric distension of the abdomen on and off, and mild pain in the upper abdomen. Ultrasonography of the whole abdomen revealed hepatomegaly with grade II diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Such disorders of the hepatobiliary system are categorized as Yakritroga in Ayurveda. A drug, Phalatrikadi ghana vati, which is a combination of eight herbs known to pacify and normalize the functions of the three doshas, was prescribed to the patient for 12 weeks along with lifestyle modifications (pathya ahara–vihara). The individual contents of this drug are known to possess hepatoprotective activity. The patient showed significant relief in subjective parameters Udarasula (pain in the abdomen), Utklesa (feeling of nausea and vomiting), Aruchi (loss of appetite), and Klama (fatigue). The elevated liver enzymes were also reported to be in the normal range after the treatment, along with improved fatty liver grading. This single case report of NAFLD was managed satisfactorily with significant improvement with no side effects.