The Hepatitis Epidemic

[Tom_K]

Monday, December 24, 2007
The Hepatitis Epidemic

Today, an estimated 5 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C - and most of them don't know it. That is 1 out of every 50 people.....and some will be people you know. One out of every 10 Veterans is infected, 62% of Vietnam Vets have it. Three people with Hep C die every day, two of them are Veterans.

Hepatitis C is considered an epidemic and is now killing more people than Aids/HIV...30,000 a year and it's going to get much worse. The number of adults seeking liver transplants for hepatitis C infection will skyrocket in the next 20 years. An estimated 10,000 to 30,000 Americans die from this disease each year. Deaths are estimated to increase because of the increasing risk of infection, and the resulting cirrhosis, portal hypertension, thrombocytopenia, bleeding from varices, and liver cancer. Five years ago, 20% of hepatitis C patients were candidates for liver transplantation and today the number has increased to about 50%.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), by the year 2008, the cases of decompensation will increase 279%, liver-related deaths 223% and the need for liver transplantation 528%. Considering that we don't have enough organs now and people die on transplant lists, far too many of those precious lives will be lost. For those fortunate enough to find a donor, the process costs roughly $300,000 during the first 3 months, and can be painful and incapacitating. Add to this the thousands of dollars for anti-rejection drugs and the costs of aftercare more frequent visits to health care facilities. The other option, debilitating and woefully ineffective chemo, runs into the tens of thousands of dollars and more and has success rates in the mere single digits

Hepatitis C is called the dragon, because it sleeps for many years and one day, suddenly, it wakes up and ends your life (people who got infected 20-30 years ago may just now find out). The Hepatitis C virus is very old and very smart.....it doesn't kill quickly like the old HIV virus or like the Ebola virus. Hepatitis C has chosen to infect the liver. The ONLY organ capable of regeneration. It simmers for many years, keeping its host alive. It is so smart it uses our own immune system against us.

Nobody knows exactly where it came from. During World War II, an unlicensed yellow fever vaccine was released to immunize our troops who were going to the South Pacific. To stabilize the vaccine, scientists used serum from Australian Aboregenese, hoping they were immune to endemic illnesses and that immunity would then be passed to our troops. Years later, it was discovered that 50% of the Aboregenese had Hepatitis B and C. A study done by the Veteran's Administration later PROVED that over 320,000 of our troops were infected. Thousands of them fell ill with hepatitis and hospitalized or quarantined in their barracks. When they came back home, they were encouraged to donate blood. A monster, with the power to mutate, had just been unleashed.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood only. That means blood transfusions with contaminated blood before 1992 (because blood was not screened), tatoos, body piercing, needle sticks, IV drugs with contaminated needles, manicures that made you bleed (instruments are not sterilized), sharing razors, toothbrushes, anything that could pass infected blood to your blood. Even doing IV drugs once could have given you the virus or sharing straws with someone that had nasal sores or bleeding.

A mutating virus for which there is no vaccine. It has many strains and substrains. By the time they figure something about it, it's already mutated into something stronger. 70-75% of people have genotype 1, the strain most difficult to treat. 95% of Veterans who have Hep C have genotype 1. The success rate with traditional modern medicine treatment is only about 50% and treatment is a whole year and side effects from the medications are cruel. For Veterans, success rate is only 19%....and sadly, even that treatment is approved for only 11.8% of them.

The Hepatitis C virus causes diabetes (40% of genotype 1 have diabetes), it affects the brain causing depression, it causes lung problems, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, Sjogren's, cardiac problems, skin problems, arthritis, stomach problems, anemia, fatigue, and of course, cirrhosis. After cirrhosis comes DECOMPENSATION. The liver stops working, the skin and sclera become yellow, your belly looks like you're pregnant, you're unable to process protein, you get anemic, confused, the kidneys stop working and many bleed to death.

Many of the people that are infected already have severe liver damage and don't know it....and they are going to be looking at herbal products to treat the symptoms they are having. What many people do not know is that there are at least three excellent inexpensive supplements that can be used for hepatitis. First of all, an aqueous extract of the oleander plant made according to the directions in the book "Cancer's Natural Enemy" (written by the author of this article) has had excellent results in treating hepatitis-C (the extract, commonly called "Oleander Soup", is best known as a remedy for treating cancer).

Secondly, the product Colloidal Silver has been used by a great many people who testify that it is second to none in treating hepatitis.

There is also an excellent herbal supplement treatment regimen for hepatitis that is all natural, inexpensive and extraordinarily effective. Most people in the United States are not familiar with the Berkson Clinical Study on Hepatitis-C, a study that was never published in the United States, despite Dr. Berkson's impressive credentials that include Rutgers, the Max Planck Institute and the Center for Disease Control (CDS) in Atlanta.

It has been suggested that the real reason the study has never been published in the states is due to the fact that liver transplants are highly profitable for mainstreams medicine, costing over $300,000 in the first three months alone, plus many thousands of dollars afterwards for anti-rejection drugs and aftercare.

In Doctor Berksons study, which was 100% effective in a limited study on advanced hepatitis-C patients who were facing either transplants or chemo, he used a combination of three commonly available and inexpensive natural supplements, along with healthy modificatioins in diet, exercise and lifestyle.

And what are the supplements? Milk thistle (silymarin), alpha-lipoic acid and selenium - all commonly available and inexpensive. I have used milk thistle for years, after reading long ago that it was deemed effective at not only protecting the liver but also in regenerating damaged livers by the German E Commission (their equivalent of the FDA). Now I take all three supplements to help offset a fondness for another natural substance - blue agave (smile).

In treating any disease or illness, it is usually an excellent idea to cleanse the body of toxins (toxins help promote disease and retard healing). A liver cleanse is a very good procedure to use to help treat hepatitis as well as a good one for anyone to use as part of a healthy anti-disease lifestyle. And, since good health begins in the gut, the same holds true for cleansing the colon. Liver and colon cleanses are widely available online and at retail natural health product outlets.

More information about the Berkson Clinical Study can be found at http://www.rose-laurel.com/Berksonstudy.htm

The author, Tony Isaacs, is a natural health researcher and author of books and articles about natural health and alternative remedies including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and "Collected Remedies" (http://www.rose-laurel.com)Vogel Verjagen

[willy]

 What many people do not know is that there are at least three excellent inexpensive supplements that can be used for hepatitis. First of all, an aqueous extract of the oleander plant made according to the directions in the book "Cancer's Natural Enemy" (written by the author of this article) has had excellent results in treating hepatitis-C (the extract, commonly called "Oleander Soup", is best known as a remedy for treating cancer).

Secondly, the product Colloidal Silver has been used by a great many people who testify that it is second to none in treating hepatitis.

And what are the supplements? Milk thistle (silymarin), alpha-lipoic acid and selenium - all commonly available and inexpensive. I have used milk thistle for years, after reading long ago that it was deemed effective at not only protecting the liver but also in regenerating damaged livers by the German E Commission (their equivalent of the FDA). Now I take all three supplements to help offset a fondness for another natural substance - blue agave (smile).

In

Thanks for posting this Tom.  It has some interesting information.  I think some of it may not be cutting edge accurate and some of the writing may play a little loose with whether it is providing FACT or opinion.  Still, an interesting read.

I don't think I have ever seen any compelling information which would lead one to conclude that Colloidal silver helps anyone with HCV but it seems to me that I've seen studies which have shown it to be ineffective with treating HCV or its symptoms.  I'm more than a little surprised that this guy is promoting its use.  It leads me to question some of his other suppositions or "facts".

There is a recent study that I may drop a link for that showed Milk thistle to be of benefit.  In the scientific world "one study does not a proof make"  I've seen studies which seem to conclude it is ineffective but a current one provided at the AASLD in November 2007 showed good results.

Thanks again and I'll provide a link.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2007icr/aasld/docs/120407_b.html

Best,
Willy

[Hank's mom]

Hi Tom -
Thanks for posting this article. I have one problem with the findings, well two actually

1) Would that it were so simple. I think many times people who have cirrhosis don't realize that nothing can dissolve the scarring. While the liver can regenerate does not mean that the degeneration is stopped by these treatments. I worry for heppers who might let this important piece of their puzzle gets glossedd over by the eradication of the live viral load.

2)The biggest problem I have seen to date, having explored some of these very supplements, is that as far as I can tell and I might be wrong, is that finding someone or article or listing of the supplements doesn't have a dosage by weight or times per day. There are recommended dosages, but they really don't cover the real nuts and bolts of how much and when.

3) Lastly, what do people do if they have allergies to any of the supplements. Is there another similar item that can be used - haven't found that info either. Many of the herbals available now are not inspected carefully enough for freshness or natural invaders such as molds and mildews and other tainting issues. Oleanders are poisonous so they would have to be really closely to prevent problems.

Sorry don't mean to disbute hope, but I would want to know the answers to these questions.

momxfive

[willy]

3) Lastly, what do people do if they have allergies to any of the supplements. Is there another similar item that can be used - haven't found that info either. Many of the herbals available now are not inspected carefully enough for freshness or natural invaders such as molds and mildews and other tainting issues. Oleanders are poisonous so they would have to be really closely to prevent problems.


momxfive

Oleanders are poisonous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleander

Thanks Mom; Has anyone ever seen the movie; "White Oleander"?  In the movie Michelle Pheiffer ends up killing a beau with the plant.   Indeed; one needs to be VERY careful with the plant.

best,
willy

[Mongo]

Mom & Willy,

You both make very good points.  I would like to add one additional word of caution regarding the colloidal silver.  If taken in excessive amounts, (keep in mind, this goes back a few years), the silver could change a persons skin color...it brings out a yellowish quality in your skin.

Again, I don't know if that is still a risk; this goes back almost ten years ago.  But it is note-worthy...


Kind Regards,


Kerry

[willy]

  I would like to add one additional word of caution regarding the colloidal silver.  If taken in excessive amounts, (keep in mind, this goes back a few years), the silver could change a persons skin color...it brings out a yellowish quality in your skin.

Kerry, you are partially correct.  The color issue is blue; not yellow and if you do a search on this forum of either "colloidal silver" or "argylia" there are a few articles on it.  I believe that the issue exists either for overuse of colloidal silver or improperly prepared colloidal silver.

There are still a few things that i like about the article.  One is mentioning this;
"And what are the supplements? Milk thistle (silymarin), alpha-lipoic acid and selenium - all commonly available and inexpensive"

I'd say that these three supplements are good choices based on what is known today.  I'd qualify it by possible mentioning that selnium should possibly not exceed 200 mg per day and that there are various types and qualities of milk
thistle.  Once again, using the search engine in this forum will provide you with numerous mentions of both supplements.

best,
willy

[Mongo]

Willy,

Thanks for the correction...




Fixing my memory-one brain-f**t at a time.


Good Night,

[Rainbow]

Willy et all:

I wrote it.  But it was meant to WARN people about supplements, NOT promote them.  But somebody "borrowed" what I wrote and added their own ending without my permission.

This is the original......



The Dragon
October 2007

Today, an estimated 5 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C - and most of them don't know it. That is 1 out of every 50 people.....and some will be people you know. One out of every 10 Veterans is infected, 62% of Vietnam Vets have it. Three people with Hep C die every day, two of them are Veterans.

Hepatitis C is considered an epidemic and is now killing more people than Aids/HIV...30,000 a year and it's going to get much worse. The number of adults seeking liver transplants for hepatitis C infection will skyrocket in the next 20 years. An estimated 10,000 to 30,000 Americans die from this disease each year. Deaths are estimated to increase because of the increasing risk of infection, and the resulting cirrhosis, portal hypertension, thrombocytopenia, bleeding from varices, and liver cancer.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), by the year 2008, the cases of decompensation will increase 279%, liver-related deaths 223% and the need for liver transplantation 528%. Considering that we don't have enough organs now and people die on transplant lists, far too many of those precious lives will be lost.

Hepatitis C is called the dragon, because it sleeps for many years and one day, suddenly, it wakes up and ends your life (people who got infected 20-30 years ago may just now find out). The Hepatitis C virus is very old and very smart.....it doesn't kill quickly like the old HIV virus or like the Ebola virus. Hepatitis C has chosen to infect the liver. The ONLY organ capable of regeneration. It simmers for many years, keeping its host alive. It is so smart it uses our own immune system against us.

Nobody knows exactly where it came from. During World War II, an unlicensed yellow fever vaccine was released to immunize our troops who were going to the South Pacific. To stabilize the vaccine, scientists used serum from Australian Aboregenese, hoping they were immune to endemic illnesses and that immunity would then be passed to our troops. Years later, it was discovered that 50% of the Aboregenese had Hepatitis B and C. A study done by the Veteran's Administration later PROVED that over 320,000 of our troops were infected. Thousands of them fell ill with hepatitis and hospitalized or quarantined in their barracks. When they came back home, they were encouraged to donate blood. A monster, with the power to mutate, had just been unleashed.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood only. That means blood transfusions with contaminated blood before 1992 (because blood was not screened), tatoos, body piercing, needle sticks, IV drugs with contaminated needles, manicures that made you bleed (instruments are not sterilized), sharing razors, toothbrushes, anything that could pass infected blood to your blood. Even doing IV drugs once could have given you the virus or sharing straws with someone that had nasal sores or bleeding.

A mutating virus for which there is no vaccine. It has many strains and substrains. By the time they figure something about it, it's already mutated into something stronger. 70-75% of people have genotype 1, the strain most difficult to treat. 95% of Veterans who have Hep C have genotype 1. The success rate with traditional modern medicine treatment is only about 50% and treatment is a whole year and side effects from the medications are cruel. For Veterans, success rate is only 19%....and sadly, even that treatment is approved for only 11.8% of them.

The Hepatitis C virus causes diabetes (40% of genotype 1 have diabetes), it affects the brain causing depression, it causes lung problems, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, Sjogren's, cardiac problems, skin problems, arthritis, stomach problems, anemia, fatigue, and of course, cirrhosis. After cirrhosis comes DECOMPENSATION. The liver stops working, the skin and sclera become yellow, your belly looks like you're pregnant, you're unable to process protein, you get anemic, confused, the kidneys stop working and many bleed to death.

Many of the people that are infected have severe liver damage and don't know it....and they are going to be looking at herbal products to treat the symptoms they are having and that can be dangerous since many herbs can be toxic to the liver. 
 
This is info on herbs that can affect the liver, especially for those that have Hep C.  It is written by some of the top hepatologists.

Chapter VIII Gastrointestinal......Herbs and Vitamins   Pages 79-84
http://www.projectsinknowledge.com/Init/G/1628/1628-Handbook.pdf 



Back in October when I wrote the original. Mr Isaacs complimented me on it and invited me to visit his website.  After reading about the products he promoted and the study he claimed was "100% effective in a limited study on advanced hepatitis-C patients who were facing either transplants or chemo".....which was done using only 3 PATIENTS, I told him that in the world of research, a study done on three patients means absolutely nothing and he should be ashamed of himself for promoting products that were potentially dangerous. 

So imagine my surprise when I saw my altered story in multiple websites.  It's even on personal blogs.  I just hope people are able to spot the BS.



My Sources:

"One out of every 10 Veterans is infected, 62% of Vietnam Vets have it."
http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule106/apr00/4-13ben/groselle.htm

"Three people with Hep C die every day, two of them are Veterans."
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2007/NewsRev-196.html#2

"During World War II, an unlicensed yellow fever vaccine was released to immunize our troops who were going to the South Pacific."
http://www.gulfwarvets.com/jama2.htm

"A study done by the Veteran's Administration later PROVED that over 320,000 of our troops were infected."
http://darwin.nap.edu/books/0309045487/html/10.html

"For Veterans, success rate is only 19%....and sadly, even that treatment is approved for only 11.8% of them."
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2006/102006_a.html

"70-75% of people have genotype 1, the strain most difficult to treat" and "40% of genotype 1 have diabetes"
http://www.hcvets.com/data/hcv_liver/diabetes.htm

[Hank's mom]

Dear Rainbow -

That is downright wrong and I amy be wrong, but illegal fraud, at least misrepresentation, something that should be reported to the better business bureau.

Your actual report was excellent; factually written and uncluttered. I would pass that version, yours, around. The specifics of sources, WWII being an initial point of HCV impact , and how that sent out tentacles throughout the military. It is very difficult to convince many people, I have struggled against this, type cast Viet Nam vets as IV drug users which explains their high incidence of HCV. It is a national shame as far as I am concerned. That you stated IV drug use and shared straws, etc. fro inhaled drug use last, also draws unwanted attention away from all those who became HCV positive in their day-to-day lives as doctors, nurses, through shared razors , etc.  Needless to say prejudice grows out of every corner when the focus is only on drug use.

Thank you Rainbow, good job.

Susie

[Rainbow]

Thank you Susie....

"I have struggled against this, type cast Viet Nam vets as IV drug users which explains their high incidence of HCV. "

You know what amazes me?  That the CDC contiues to deny that Veterans got infected with the jetguns used to immunize them, even though their own studies showed that jetguns got contaminated with blood and could transmit infection....


http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/meetings/dec2003/Contents/ThursdayPM/Weniger.pdf


"That you stated IV drug use and shared straws, etc. fro inhaled drug use last,"

That's funny that you noticed.  When I write something, I never list IV drug use first.  I suppose it's a subconcious way of saying that I just don't buy the story about everybody getting infected by IV drugs.

Too much emphasis has been put on IV drug use and other risk factors haven't been looked at.  I believe that tattoos is going to end up being a major risk factor.  I just don't believe that tattoo parlors have been sterilizing their equipment all these years.

"prejudice grows out of every corner when the focus is only on drug use. "

And unfortunately, that may cause some people not to want to get tested.

[robin]

I also thing the ear piercing where they use the same piercing gun is probably a source of infection also. One thing the government doesn't recognize is that Hepatitis C has been around for a while...didn't have an official name but I'm sure that there were a lot of vets from previous wars and conflicts that were infected but it wasn't found. The Viet Nam era vets just happen to be the first that fall in the arena of Hepatitis C being recognized. My son was immunized with air guns...10 years ago. Keep your spirits high...robin

[Rainbow]

I agree.  They probably clean the gun used for ear piercing with alcohol.  I doubt that they would clean it with bleach after each use.

"One thing the government doesn't recognize is that Hepatitis C has been around for a while...didn't have an official name but I'm sure that there were a lot of vets from previous wars and conflicts that were infected but it wasn't found."

If they admitted that Vets got infected during service, they would have to pay them benefits.

Jetguns were used until 1999.  Has your son been tested for Hep C?

[robin]

Don't think so Rainbow but he was discharge from the military because he was diagnosed with MS. I am pretty sure they monitor his LFT's, though that alone isn't a true indicator. He takes a form of interferon each week for the MS...IM Interferon-B. Keep your spirits high and thanks for mentioning the above to me...robin

[Pancho and Lefty]

was just looking at the 5% stat used about. . . the CDC uses 1.9%

stats are misunderstood by most who read them. . . few have any value to the individual

[Mongo]

was just looking at the 5% stat used about. . . the CDC uses 1.9%

stats are misunderstood by most who read them. . . few have any value to the individual

Statistics make my brain cell hurt. 

C Everett Koop used to have a pretty good handle on the HepC Statistics...as they refer to "infected persons"