NATUROPATHIC TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C

PART ONE: Clinical Indications for the use of Lipotrophic Factors.

PART TWO: Vitamins and minerals.

PART THREE: Homeopathic preparations.

Vis Medicatrix Naturae (The healing power of nature) is the guiding principle for Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic Physicians (ND's) receive the same four years of premed as MD's and the same four years of basic medical training. MD's go on and receive further training in disease care in hospital settings where as ND's receive extra training in Clinical Nutrition, Chinese medicine, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, homeopathy, botanical medicine and counseling. Naturopathic treatment of chronic diseases like Hepatitis C is very successful because it supports the body's own defense and repair mechanisms.

The liver is a complex and remarkable organ. It acts as a blood reservoir and destroys bacteria and endotoxins. This protects us from infections and poisoning by our own waste. The liver destroys antigen antibody complexes which protect us from allergies and autoimmune diseases. It also stores vitamins and minerals, produces bile, removes steroids and protests us from drugs, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals. The liver has many other functions as well so it is easy to understand how any impairment of liver function can lead to ailments associated with hepatitis.

In many cases of Hepatitis C liver enzymes are normal on lab tests yet the patient feels unwell. This is due to subclinical hepatic dysfunction. Subclinical means that one or many of the above mentioned liver functions is impaired but not enough to register on a lab test.

In chronic hepatitis, inflammatory changes can lead to bridging fibrosis, which can lead to cirrhosis.

PART ONE:

Several substances offer significant liver protection: antioxidants, membrane stabilizing compounds, choleretics, ( stimulate bile secretion of liver ), compounds that either enhance or inhibit certain functions of the liver microsomal enzymes, and compounds that prevent depletion of non-protein sulfhydryl compounds such as glutathione.

A diet rich in dietary fiber increases cholesterol and bile acid circulation in and excretion from the liver. Anti-oxidants such as Vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium are essential in protecting the liver from free radical damage secondary to viral activity.

Methionine is an essential sulfur- containing amino acid. Methionine works in conjunction with vitamin B12 and folate to help protect the liver from damage from alcohol, endotoxins, steroids, drugs, chemicals and viral hepatitis.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that oral administration of liver hydrolysates

(extracts) can be quite effective in the treatment of chronic liver diseases, including chronic active hepatitis. Numerous scientific investigations into the efficacy of liver extracts have demonstrated that these extracts possess a lipotropic effect, promote tissue respiration and liver regeneration, and have anti-fibrotic activity. It is fibrotic activity secondary to viral activity that leads to cirrhosis of the liver.

Dandelion is one of the best liver remedies, both as food and medicine. It has a Vitamin A content higher than carrots. Studies in humans and laboratory animals have shown that dandelion enhances the flow of bile, improving such conditions as liver congestion, bile duct inflammation, hepatitis, gallstones and jaundice.

Catechin is a flavonoid formerly know as Vitamin P. It has demonstrated a variety of liver protective actions possessing antioxidant, free radical scavenging, choleretic, membrane stabilizing and immunostimulatory effects. Catechin has been shown to be quite effective in treating a variety of acute and chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis.

The common milk thistle plant (silybum marianum) contains some of the most potent liver protective substances known. Silybum's effect in preventing liver destruction relates to it ability to inhibit factors that are responsible for the damage (free radicals and leukotrienes). The most exciting effect of silybum components on the liver is their ability to stimulate protein synthesis. The result is an increase in the production of new liver cells to replace the damaged old ones. In human studies, silymarin has been shown to have significant positive effects in treating cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.

Lack of space prohibits discussion of the full scope of Naturopathic treatment of Hepatitis C. Suffice to say there is huge potential for invoking the body's natural healing ability. I strongly recommend that the use of the above mentioned substances be done so under the supervision of a Licensed Naturopathic Physician.

Stay tuned for more on vitamins, minerals, and homeopathic medicines.

David Bayley, BScK., N.D.

©1997 Dr. David Bayley for HepC BC.

All Rights Reserved.

Correspondence can be directed to Dr. David Bayley.

Dr. Bayley can be reached at the Delbrook Naturopathic Clinic in North Vancouver at (604)986-9191.

Naturopathic Treatment 2

HepC BC