Herbal Remedies
For Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an extremely serious liver disorder that
afflicts roughly four million Americans each year. Hepatitis C
is caused by a viral infection that damages the liver and that
can greatly increase the risk for liver failure.
HepC can also greatly increase the risk for certain types of
cancer. Hepatitis C is usually treated by prescribing a very
powerful antiviral drug called interferon, along with a whole
slew of other medications. Most cases of hepatitis C are
treated in the span of one year.
The treatment lasts roughly one year and it can cause the
patient to experience many flu-like symptoms, including muscle
aches, fevers, and other common flu symptoms. About 60 percent
of the people who undergo hepatitis C therapy will experience
these symptoms.
However, the conventional treatment for hepatitis C is not
always effective. Even if the virus appears to be conquered, it
is still not clear whether the patient is safe from
experiencing liver failure.
Many practitioners of traditional or alternative medicine
believe that there are many other kinds of natural therapies
that can be used to treat HepC. Some traditional herbalists and
naturopathic doctors believe that the use of interferon and
other conventional medications may actually be responsible for
delaying the healing process. To that end, many practitioners
of traditional or alternative medicine recommend strengthening
the body, and especially the liver, by prescribing herbal
remedies that help protect the liver.
Along with herbal treatments, many herbalists and
naturopathic doctors also prescribe nutritional therapies to
patients suffering from hepatitis C. Always speak to your
doctor before beginning any type of Hepatitis C herbal therapy
on your own.
Perhaps the most important herb for treating hepatitis C is
milk thistle. Milk thistle is known to contain a group of
chemicals known as silymarin.
Silymarin is known to stimulate the synthesis of protein in
liver cell. It is also believed that silymarin actually helps
the liver regenerate itself. Most herbalists recommend taking
two 150 milligrams of milk thistle extract capsules or tablets
three to four times a day.
An Interesting Herb Fact
Cleansing Herbal Remedies Made from Burdock
The Burdock plant has long been used in herbal remedies to treat a variety of ailments. Burdock has traditionally been thought of as a good plant for creating cleansing remedies. The Burdock plant is well known of its hooked burrs, which are notorious for attaching themselves to clothing. This aspect of the Burdock plant is registered in its Latin scientific name, Arctium lappa, which is derived from the Greek lappa, which means to seize. Burdock has also traditionally been used as a blood...
Make certain that the milk thistle you take is standardized to
contain 70 to 80 percent of silymarin. Another option when
designing your herbal therapy program is to consider the use of
a multiherb supplement. Look for a multiherb supplement that
contains other liver-protecting herbs such as artichoke leaf,
gentian, turmeric, and ginger. Make sure that the multiherb
supplement you choose is standardized to 10 to 50 percent of
silymarin extract. Also make sure to follow the dosage
guidelines on the label.
There are several other herbs that are
recommended to help combat the effects of hepatitis C. Some of
the most potent liver-protecting herbs include lemon balm,
Shiitake mushroom, garlic, St. John’s wort, and Schisandra.
There are many easy ways to prepare these herbs.
If you find yourself forgetting things, then
a drop or two of sage oil on the wrist or neck
can help a long way.
Menstrual pains and premenstrual headaches
can be greatly reduced with a sage, lavender
and geranium mix of essential oils in a sweet
almond carrier oil.
|
For instance, you can take a lemon balm tea
each day, take one 300-milligram capsules of St. John’s wort
two times a day, and take Shiitake capsules two times a day
with meals. You can also take garlic in all of its forms to
boost the immune system.
|