Alternative Treatment For Hepatitis C

[Tom_K]

Rational Treatments for Hepatitis

Combination therapy

We have used this anti-viral combination therapy most often in people with established hepatitis C. However, it should assist someone with newly-acquired hepatitis as well. This treatment was developed by Dr Berkson, a pioneer in the use of lipoic acid for liver failure, so I will let him tell about it in this abstract of his paper.

"Three patients randomly chosen from 50 with chronic hepatitis C were treated with lipoic acid 300 milligrams twice a day, silymarin 300 milligrams three times a day, selenomethionine 200 micrograms twice a day, B-100 twice a day, 1500 milligrams vitamin C daily, vitamin E 400 units daily, a mineral supplement, a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and water, and a 1 mile walk three times a week. There are no remarkably effective treatments for chronic hepatitis C in general use. Interferon and antivirals have less than a 30% response rate and because of the residual viremia, a newly transplanted liver usually becomes infected again. The triple antioxidant combination of alpha-lipoic acid, silymarin and selenium was chosen for a conservative treatment of hepatitis C because these substances protect the liver from free radical damage, increase the levels of other fundamental antioxidants, and interfere with viral proliferation. The 3 patients presented in this paper followed the triple antioxidant program and recovered quickly and their laboratory values remarkably improved. Furthermore, liver transplantation was avoided and the patients are back at work, carrying out their normal activities, and feeling healthy. The author offers a more conservative approach to the treatment of hepatitis C, that is exceedingly less expensive. One year of the triple antioxidant therapy described in this paper costs less than $2,000, as compared to more than $300,000 a year for liver transplant surgery. It appears reasonable, that prior to liver transplant surgery evaluation, or during the transplant evaluation process, the conservative triple antioxidant treatment approach should be considered. If these is a significant betterment in the patient's condition, liver transplant surgery may be avoided." [1]

To comment upon this, remember that most people with chronic hepatitis C are feeling well and not actively seeking medical treatment. The people he is writing about were among the minority so severely affected that they were considering a liver transplant. The results of Dr Berkson's treatment were so good that the patients no longer needed a liver transplant. My thought is, why wait until a person reaches that point? This treatment is much less expensive, and if the self-destructive liver process is halted early on, then the person is much more likely to lead a normal life.

Alcohol increases damage from Hepatitis C

Forty-five consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were classified according to alcohol intake over the 3-month period preceding study entry: Twenty-three patients consumed over 10 g alcohol per day (about one beer), and 22 consumed more than that. After about 4 months, those patients who had reduced their alcohol intake below one beer a day experienced a significant decrease is viral counts and measures of liver inflammation.[2]

Licorice

Licorice helps the body clear viral infections, and helps the liver to clean itself. The Japanese use intravenous licorice extracts with patients with hepatitis C. Of 453 patients with severe hepatitis C, those given intravenous licorice developed liver cancer less often than those not given licorice.

  Liver cancer 10 years later Liver cancer 15 years later
Intravenous licorice 7% 12%
Other treatments 12% 25%

Incidentally, these patients given licorice wore also given the amino acids glycine and cysteine. Glycine reportedly prevents the aldosterone-like action (loss of potassium, high blood pressure) of glycyrrhizin (an active substance in licorice), and cysteine has been found to have an antiallergic and detoxifying effect. Patients needed to be monitored for high blood pressure and loss of potassium.) [3]

More about licorice

The Japanese have another herbal mixture containing licorice that they call TJ-9. It also contains ginseng, ginger, and scutellaria. They find that it improves symptoms and liver function in people with hepatitis C.[4]

Because licorice is absorbed well by mouth, you will probably get all the benefit of licorice from taking it by mouth as well. In the study reported above, the Japanese give TJ-9 by mouth. If you do take licorice, you need to supplement with potassium and check the dose with your physician. Glycyrrhizin (the active ingredient) is generally well-tolerated at 100 milligrams daily, while doses above 400 milligrams are not.

Other treatments

Yes, there are other effective treatments for hepatitis C. Patients with advanced hepatitis C report that intravenous vitamin C improves energy and reduces symptoms. Experience years ago indicated that intravenous vitamin C helped clear the virus with other forms of viral hepatitis, and may do the same with hepatitis C. The Russians report improvement with S-adenosine-L-methionine (also known as SAME),[5] although the Italians compared SAME with ursodeoxycholic hemisuccinate and found the latter to be superior.[6] The Germans find polyunsaturated phosphatidyl-choline (phosphatidyl-choline is also called lecithin) reduces the relapse rate after treatment with interferon.[7] N-acetyl-cysteine, (an antioxidant) has been shown helpful, as has amantadine, an anti-viral agent.[8] A company in Canada called Matol produces a patented combination of colostrum and astragalus that some physicians report of use in patients with hepatitis C. Thymus extracts are helpful for hepatitis B and may be for hepatitis C as well.[9] Beta-sitosterol reduced liver inflammation in people with hepatitis C.

Antioxidants and Hepatitis C

People with chronic hepatitis C are usually deficient in glutathione. Glutathione and lipoic acid are the major antioxidants inside the cell. We'll talk about lipoic acid in a minute, but enough to know now that glutathione is required for us to keep free radicals in check, and that it is hammered in people with severe hepatitis C. And the worse their liver disease, the lower the levels of glutathione.[10] To repeat, hepatitis C virus seems to cause the most harm when the liver reacts to it with excessive inflammation. Most people carry the virus for decades with little reaction on the part of their liver, so that their overall health remains good.

One anti-oxidant that can help the liver maintain normality in the face of the virus is vitamin E. For example, a group of six patients whose excessive liver response was not responding to interferon were given 1200 units vitamin E daily for eight weeks. Microscopic and biochemical measurement involving the stellate cells showed reduced oxidative stress and a decreased tendancy to initiate inflammation and scarring. To be sure, there was little change in the gross measures of liver inflammation, but the study ran only 8 weeks. [11]

Nutrient Deficiencies in people with hepatitis C

Nutrient deficiencies reported in people with hepatitis C include not only glutathione but acylcarnitine.[12] Acylcarnitine is a substance that moves fats into the mitochondria to be used as fuel.

[Helen]

Thats great info Tom, 
 I've just started back on my regimen as I was sick with bronchitis and then a sinus infection for a long time and didnt take anything but the prescribed meds. I just started back up taking my suppliments and this article has given me a few ideas about some of the things Ill change up a little. I was due for bloodwork in December but since I was on so many different meds decided against it as I KNOW the number would have been high and would have made me crazy, 30 days of anti-biotics Im sure wreaked havoc on my system so Ill be waiting for about another month before I go for bloodwork.

 Thanks for the article. 

[Ella]

Thanks Tom - that's re-inspired me also to start the alternatives again.  I'd given up on them in favour of just dropping 3 oxymatrine every day.  I'm a bit confused about lipoic acid.  Most (actually, all that I've seen) of the lipoic acid available in Oz is the 'alpha' type, but I have read that this is synthetic and the more natural and effective type is the R-lipoic acid. Anyone know anything about this?

I think you're wise to put off the blood test until the antibiotics are out of your system Helen (I know you would already be taking heaps of acidophilus and bifidus).  Have you ever thought of using a neti pot for sinus?  I've always suffered with chronic sinus infections, but since I've been using that every morning my sinuses have been clear. 

[willy]

Likewise......I have been slacking for a variety of reasons but am also ready to jump back in again.  I feel a tad more symptomatic in the RA or possible very minor neuropathy area.  It's still so slight I don't know whether it's just imagination combined with "old" age.  I'm 53.

I've also considerd adding NAC to my regimen.  I can't seem to find a low cost source in town.  Very likely I should just buy em all on line and save the driving.

Willy

[Helen]

Ella,
 Thanks for bringing up the "Alpha" factor, I didnt even think about that. Ill see if I can find anything out and if anyone else does, please post it.
 
 And yes I considered the neti pot but ended up buying a saline spray for irrigation that seems to work the same, it was just easier and available at the time, Ive never had sinus problems OR bronchitis before hopefully I wont ever again.  But I have read how the irrigation is a good thing and my ENT agreed so I think Ill probably doing that on a more regular basis just to be on the safe side.

[countrygirl]

I have pretty much stayed with the same regimen since spring of "04.

Once in a while I'll read that it is good to take a breather from the supps, especially the astragalus. But it seems as soon as I do, if there are any bugs around to catch, I start to sniffle and my throaty feels scratchy. As soon as I resume the supps, the symptoms disappear.

My thoughts now are not to mess with a good thing, what's right for me. I think too, there comes into play that positive thinking thing...if I believe it is helping, it will.

My lft's have remained only slightly elevated these last few years. I KNOW, I spazzed out last year after my Fibrospect II results, but as Willy pointed out back then, since it was the first, I don't really know for sure if if it was pointing in a negative direction or not. Time soon to get another to compare values and see if I am holding my own or even maybe seeing an improvement.

Pam

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[Lynne]

Hi Tom,
That is great information you provided.  I have been trying to research this new med now used in Russia called Molixan.  It comprises of organic salts like L-cysteinyl and L-glutamate and some other things I can't pronounce.  It is on the web but mainly in Italian.  It looks like people are going to start using it in Europe.  I wonder if my husband wants to take a vacation to Italy, hmmmm.......

Lynne