Hepatitis B information
and alternative therapy with vitamins, herbs, and supplements
Chronic hepatitis B and C are similar kinds of liver infection that are caused by
viruses. These infections are named after the viruses that cause them. A virus called
hepatitis B causes chronic hepatitis B infection. A virus called hepatitis C causes
chronic hepatitis C infection. Chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C are long-term
infections of the liver that develop after a bout of acute hepatitis.
Natural therapies for hepatitis
There's very little research available on the
natural or herbal therapy of viral hepatitis.
We mention a few possibilities but much more research needs to be done before
making any firm recommendations.
Carnitine decreases the severity and type of fatigue induced by interferon-alpha in the
treatment of patients with hepatitis C.
Silymarin is a derivative from the
milk
thistle
plant with few side
effects that has been used for centuries to treat liver ailments. Research results of some
small studies suggest silymarin has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative
properties producing a beneficial effect for some types of hepatitis. It is unclear,
however, whether silymarin might interfere with the effect of interferon, and there is
little research regarding the role of
silymarin in the therapy of chronic viral hepatitis.
The Chinese herbal compound Baicao Rougan
Capsule has been tested in the treatment of hepatits B with some improvement of liver
fibrosis and early cirrhosis.
Phyllanthus amarus may have positive effect on
antiviral activity and liver biochemistry in chronic HBV infection.
Wogonin
isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis can suppress HBV surface antigen production in
vitro.
St. John's wort has not been found to be
helpful in hepatitis C.
Q. I read your hepatitis virus page
and noticed that you do not mention a fairly well known plant, variously known
as "Seed Under Leaf", "StoneBreaker" and "Chanca Piedra" with Latin name
Phyllanthus niruri in your natural remedies section. This plant has many useful
therapeutic properties, but has recently been recognized in research as the only
plant / drug that can bring hepatitis B antigen levels back to normal (with no
side-effects). Current research on P. niruri is looking into to its effect on
the HIV virus as well as cancer. A daily intake of a simple decoction of P.
niruri will completely dissolve renal calculi within 20 days - proved from
research. This plant is also used widely in Ayurvedic medicine, in their
well-known Triphala and Chaywanprash remedies. Perhaps, with all its positive
research results, this plant deserves a mention in your hepatitis overview.
Hepatitis E
virus infection
Although commonly considered a virus capable of causing only acute disease,
hepatitis E virus can cause chronic hepatitis in organ-transplant recipients.
Hepatitis E virus related acute hepatitis is endemic in developing countries and
the disease is becoming more common in industrialized countries.
Hepatitis C and
marijuana smoking
In patients with chronic hepatitis C, daily marijuana smoking is associated with
more severe fatty degeneration, or steatosis, in the liver.
Acute and chronic hepatitis
After a person has recovered from acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis can set in.
Chronic hepatitis occurs when the liver has been damaged from the acute illness and
doesn't recover from the damage. Chronic hepatitis develops in 10 to 20 percent of people
who have hepatitis B and in 30 to 50 percent of people who have hepatitis C. People with
chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C may not have any symptoms at all. But in some
people, chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the
liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The liver stops working and can't
cleanse the body of wastes. People in the early stages of cirrhosis may not have symptoms.
When cirrhosis gets worse, symptoms begin. They may include weight loss, fatigue,
jaundice, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite . Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure (the
liver stops working) and liver cancer.
Hepatitis Research
People chronically infected with hepatitis
C virus have a significantly increased rate of thyroid abnormalities.
Hepatitis B natural
therapy questions
Do you have any information on UVBI and it's effect on treating chronic
hepatitis c and cirrohsis? What alternative therapies are out there for this
type of illness?
We were not familiar with UVBI but search the internet and fount
some info. Apparently, UVBI stands for ultraviolet blood irradiation and also
referred to photophoresis, photoluminescence. Apparently, UVBI is a process
where a quantity of blood (usually 125 ml) is drawn from the body, exposed to a
particular wavelength of ultraviolet A light, usually for a duration of between
10-30 minutes. It is then reintroduced back into the body. Proponents claim that
UVBI treatment stimulates the immune system and various enzyme systems to
"learn" how to fight bacteria, viruses, and cancer. We have not seen any actual human research published in medical
journals on this topic so we don't have an opinion. UVBI does seem like an
unusual treatment and theoretically it is difficult to see its mechanism of
action or effectiveness. We did a search on Medline for the term UVBI but could
find no published studies. The following term was not found: uvbi.
I am a hepatitis B carrier for many
years. Last summer before taking various propolis
extracts, my ALT was 171 IU/ml and my hepatitis virus count was 56,000,000
copies/ml. I started taking
Propolis extracts since last Dec. 2007. My blood test
results on April 10, 2008 were a big surprise to me and my physician. My ALT was
33 and my virus count was 19,000 copies/ml. I'll continue to take propolis
extracts to see if my virus count will go to near undetectable. I feel better
and look better also.
This is quite interesting.