Many people today will be associated with someone with the hepatitis C virus. before blood screening many innocent people contracted this virus through receiving blood or donating blood. Thankfully blood today is screened in most countries.
The virus today is mostly contracted through sharing injecting needles, unhygienic tattooists, in fact any way that blood is exchanged from person to person through an open wound. The hepatitis C virus is considered one of the fastest growing viral infections in the world today. It is a communicable (contagious) disease which affects liver function. The term “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver; Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is one of several viruses in the hepatitis family. If the liver becomes inflamed, its function is decreased and the affected person will suffer from various health complaints, depending on the different stages of liver damage. Often the infected person is unaware that he has contracted hepatitis C until he seeks medical help for symptoms that may be directly or indirectly related to the virus, the virus is usually detected through a routine blood test. There is no specific warning that you may have the virus, it may just be that you have experienced a flu like illness and not really taken any notice of it, and just put it down to having a cold or flu.
Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily through contact with infected blood. It is not spread through coughing, sneezing, food or water, or casual contact. To date in the Western world there is no cure for hepatitis C the medical treatment available today for more serious cases is Interferon and Riboflavin, these are harsh drugs and not all people with the virus can withstand the treatment due to the side effects from these drugs. There are however a percentage of people who eradicate the virus naturally.
Many people with HCV are using Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine either to complement other alternative treatments or in conjunction with western medicine. TCM will use a number of therapies which include:
- Chinese herbs
- Dietary changes
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Hepatitis C and B
In the past few decades Chinese doctors have developed two herbal medicines for treating Hepatitis C, Fu Zheng and jie du yang gan gao. These medicines were originally developed for use in cancer patients in the 1970′s, today they are being used in the treatment of chronic viral infections and other infectious diseases.
Herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat hepatitis C
Fu Zheng is based on a traditional Chinese formula of herbs that are meant to restore balance to the body, although it doesn’t treat the virus or infection it helps to strengthen the body’s immune system in order to fight the virus.
herbs used in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine:
- Schizandra – (magnolia vine), the ripe fruit of this plant is a stimulant and effects the central nervous system, it increases energy levels and mental acuity, beneficial for those affected with fatigue. This tonic strengthens the kidneys and lung function, reduces sweating, edema, and chronic diarrhea.
- Ganoderma - (fungus – (Reishi mushroom), an immuno-supportive herb, increases T cell and macrophage activity. Studies with hepatitis C patients show that it improved symptoms of insomnia, liver swelling, malaise and anorexia. It reduces lipids and cholesterol, reduces blood pressure and effective in the treatment of ulcers.
- Astragalus – (plant native to Asia), helps to build immunity and enhances the functions of the lung and spleen
- Ligustrum - (fruit found in China and the far East), it is a kidney tonic, an antibacterial and helps raise white blood cell count.
- Atractylodes - (root), has a protective effect on the liver, improves digestion, reduces fatigue, increases appetite helps with nigh sweating and dizziness.
- Codonopsis – (root), used as a substitute for Ginseng (good quality ginseng can be quite expensive). It enhances the growth of red blood cells, t-cell formation, it also increased the levels of IgG (antibody molecules) antibodies in the bloodstream.
- Glycyrrhiza Uralensis – (Licorice), it is used as an anti bacterial and antiviral agent. It is used to treat chronic viral and acute hepatitis, infections and fevers, it activates the body’s own natural interferon mechanism and nourishes the adrenal glands.
Jie du yang gan gao – A mixture of herbs used in Chinese medicine for the past few hundred years – found to be effective in treating hepatitis B. A list of Chinese herbs and their uses.
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Use of Herbal Supplements for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C patients who do not respond to conventional drug therapy, or cannot tolerate its side effects, or simply want to support their body’s fight against the disease may try herbal products. For example, a survey of 1,145 participants in the HALT-C (Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis) trial, a study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that 23 percent were using herbal products at the time of enrollment. Although participants reported using many different herbal products, silymarin (milk thistle) was by far the most common.
Milk thistle (scientific name Silybum Marianum) is a plant from the aster family. Silymarin, the active extract of milk thistle, is believed to be responsible for the herb’s medicinal qualities. Milk thistle has been used in Europe as a treatment for liver disease and jaundice since the 16th century. In the United States, silymarin is the most popular herb used by people with liver disease.
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