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 by Dr. Rita Louise
First discovered in 1989, Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by a virus. Hepatitis in general is an inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection. The liver becomes tender and enlarged and is unable to function normally. As a result, toxins that would normally be filtered out by the liver build up in the body and certain nutrients are not processed and stored, as they should be.
Unlike Hepatitis A, which is caused by the fecal contamination of food or water or Hepatitis B, which is spread through contact with infected blood or other body fluids, Hepatitis C is spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person. It is not present in body fluids such as semen, urine and saliva.
Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disorder. In its more advanced stages it can lead to serious and permanent liver damage and even death. The symptoms of Hepatitis C are often very mild in the early stages and can be virtually undetectable.
Over time, the most common symptom of this disease is fatigue. Other symptoms can include mild fevers, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, vague abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea. Many cases go undiagnosed because the symptoms just come and go.
When the disease progresses and damages the liver, symptoms are reminiscent of cirrhosis of the liver. These include jaundice, abdominal swelling and coma.
Hepatitis C is transmitted in may of the same ways as the HIV/AIDS virus. The easiest means of transmission is through injection drug use. Heterosexual and homosexual activities, particularly engaging in sex with multiple partners and not using "protection", can also increase one's chances of contracting the virus. Other ways of potentially acquiring this disease include tattooing, body piercing and acupuncture. If you are considering body piercing or tattooing, ensure that you are having it done by a reputable firm and that the equipment used on you is sterilized or better yet, disposable.
At one time, blood transfusions transmitted this disease to others, but recent blood screening techniques have minimized/eliminated this risk.
Currently there are about 200 million people worldwide infected with Hepatitis C. To put this in perspective: for every 1 person infected with the AIDS virus, there are more than 4 people infected with the Hepatitis C virus.
While there is no known cure for Hepatitis C, current drug therapy is limited to the use of interferon alpha and ribavirin. The positive response to this drug combination, however, has been low. There is, however, a number of alternative health ideas you can try to maintain you a state of heath and wellness naturally.
Recommendations for Wellness
- Eliminate all fried and fatty foods from the diet. In addition eliminate or severely restrict all foods that are made with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. The liver is responsible for breaking down and eliminating these non-food items.
- Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses a day to help keep the liver clear of toxins.
- Consume no alcohol.
- Use meditation, or other stress reduction techniques to help rid the soul of anger and hostility.
- Milk thistle has been shown to aid in healing and rebuilding the liver.
- Burdock,dandelion and red clover are important herbs that have historically been used to clean the liver and expel toxins from the bloodstream.
- Chinese Blood Build can also be used help to rebuild a weakened liver and remove toxins from the blood.
- Lecithin protects the cells of the liver and acts as a fat mobilizer, thus helping to prevent a fatty liver.
- Flax seed or omega 3 oil can help reduce inflammation and tissue damage.
This information is provided for educational purposes only.
The descriptions of nurtritional supplements are based on the historical usage of the various ingredients. They are not intended to promote any direct or implied health claims, and actual results of usage can vary.
The statements on this Web site have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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