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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: HEPATITIS
Description: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, in which 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. There are different types of hepatitis, classified according to the virus that causes the condition. Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis, is easily spread through person-to-person contact and contact with food, clothing, bed linen and other items. It is contagious between two to three weeks before and one week after jaundice appears. Hepatitis B, also referred to as serum hepatitis, is spread through contact with infected blood; i.e., through the use of contaminated syringes, needles and transfused blood, and some forms of sexual activity. Hepatitis C can also be contacted through intravenous drug use, sexual contact and broken skin or mucous membranes. Tests can now detect antibodies against hepatitis C in donated blood, but an infected individual may take up to six months to develop the antibodies, so it is still impossible to identify all infected blood.
Symptoms: In the early stage, there is usually loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, fever, nausea and vomiting. Extreme fatigue is a key sign. Rashes and pain in the joints may occur. In three to ten days, the urine may become dark, and this may be followed by jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Jaundice usually takes one to two weeks to build up and then two to four weeks to fade. The liver is usually enlarged and tender to the touch. However, symptoms can occur in a wide range from mild flulike symptoms to severe liver failure and brain coma.
Incidence: It is estimated that up to 5 percent of all Americans, and as many as 85 percent of gay men, are infected with hepatitis B. However, most hepatitis B infections come and go unrecognized. In some 10 percent of cases, the disease becomes chronic, scarring the liver and making it more vulnerable to cancer. Hepatitis B is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S. Hepatitis C accounts for 20 to 40 percent of all hepatitis and 90 to 95 percent of hepatitis contracted through blood transfusions.
Causes: Hepatitis is usually caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis A can be contracted by person-to-person contact. Hepatitis B and C are contracted through blood contamination. Hepatitis C can also be contracted through intravenous drug use, sexual contact, and broken skin or mucous membranes.
Treatments: See Recommendations and the Nutrients chart below.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Free-form amino acid complex |
As directed on label. |
To supply necessary protein. Takes strain off the liver. |
|
Glutathione Plus L-cysteine And L-methionine |
500 mg. twice daily, on an empty stomach. 500 mg. each twice daily, on an empty stomach. Take with water or juice, not with milk. |
Protects the liver.
Detoxifies harmful hepatotoxins and protects glutathione. |
|
Milk Thistle |
|
See under Herbs, below |
|
Raw liver extract or desiccated liver |
As directed on label. |
Promotes liver function. |
|
Coenzyme Q10 |
60 mg. daily. |
Counteracts immunosuppression and enhances tissue oxygenation |
|
Lecithin granules or capsules |
1 tbsp. 3 times daily before meals; or 1200 mg. capsules 3 times daily, before meals. |
Protects cells of the liver and aids in preventing fatty liver. |
|
Multivitamin complex with Vitamin B complex. |
As directed on label. 50-100 mg. 3 times daily, with meals. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg. vitamin B3 (niacin in any one day until healing is complete. |
All nutrients are necessary. All B vitamins are essential for normal liver function. Injections (under a doctor’s supervision) may be necessary, especially of Vitamin B2 and folic acid. |
|
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids |
5000-10,000 mg. daily and up. |
A powerful antiviral agent. |
|
Vitamin E |
Start with 400 IU daily and increase to 1200 IU daily over the course of 1 month. |
A potent antioxidant. |
|
Calcium And Magnesium |
1500 mg. daily. 1000 mg. daily. |
Essential for blood clotting, which is a problem for people with liver disease. |
|
Essential fatty acids. (primrose oil and salmon oil are good sources) or shark liver oil. |
As directed on label. |
Combats inflammation of the liver and lowers serum fats. |
|
Multi-enzyme complex with betaine hydrochloride (HCl) |
As directed on label |
Important for proper digestion. |
Herbs:
 | Burdock and dandelion are important in cleansing the
liver and bloodstream.
| Studies have shown licorice to be effective in
treating chronic hepatitis, due to its antiviral activity. Caution: Do
not use this herb on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row. Avoid if
you have high blood pressure.
| Milk thistle extract contains a flavonoid that has
been shown t aid in healing and rebuilding the liver. Take 200 to 400
milligrams three times daily.
| Other herbs beneficial for hepatitis include black
radish, green tea, red clover and yellow dock. | |
Recommendations:
Avoid the following:
| All Alcohol. |
| All fats, sugar and highly processed foods. |
| Raw fish and shellfish. |
| All animal protein. |
| All chemicals and foods additives. |
| Eat a raw vegetable and fruit diet for two to four weeks. |
| Include artichokes in the diet. They protect the liver. |
| Drink plenty of pure water, as well as vegetable juices, such as carrot and beet juice. |
| Get plenty of rest. |
| Keep a person with hepatitis A in isolation to avoid spreading the infection. Wash hands and all clothing often. The clothing and bed linens of a person with hepatitis A require special handling. Wash them separately in hot water with chlorine bleach or a disinfectant added. Also clean toilets and floors frequently with a disinfectant. |
| When traveling, especially abroad, be aware of contaminated water or foods from polluted waters. The best known safeguard is to boil water before drinking it or washing with it. |
| Do not take any drugs that have not been prescribed by your physician. Read package inserts carefully for information regarding liver toxicity. |
Considerations:
| Liver supplements contain a nutritional substance that
aids liver regeneration. Only liver from organically raised beef should be
used.
| In laboratory experiments, injections of whole liver
cells have rapidly repaired liver tissue in experimental animals with lethal,
acute liver failure.
| Vaccination against Hepatitis B is recommended by the
American Medical Association for all newborn babies, sexually active gay men,
drug users, pregnant immigrants. | |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No. 59618- |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
NS6ONS |
Amino Acid-Free Form 600 mg. Capsules |
As directed on label. |
$17.95/100 |
|
631-12 TW |
L-Cysteine 500 mg. |
2 tablets daily in divided doses |
$11.86/60 |
|
994-15 |
Milk Thistle Extract 140 mg. capsules |
As directed on label |
$8.99/100 |
|
946-12 |
Coenzyme Q10 30 mg. Capsules |
2 capsules daily |
$13.95/60 |
|
921-15 |
Lecithin 1200 mg. softgels |
1 softgel daily |
$4.50/100 |
|
982-15 |
One a Day Maximum Tabs. |
As directed on label |
$6.95/100 |
|
970-12 |
C 1000 mg. w/ Rose Hips Tablets |
Three tablets daily. |
$5.75/60 |
|
091-15 |
Citrus Bioflavonoids Tabs. 1000 mg. |
Three tablets daily |
$5.95/100 |
|
234-15 |
E 400 IU (D-Alpha Tocopheryl) |
Start with 1 softgel daily and increase to 3 softgels daily over the course of 1 month. |
$8.95/100 |
|
112-17 |
Calcium Oyscal 500 mg. with D Tablets |
3 Tablets daily in divided doses |
$5.75/120 |
|
232-15 |
Magnesium 200 mg. Caps. |
3 Capsules daily, taken with calcium |
$4.95/100 |
|
239-15 |
Evening Primrose Oil |
As directed on label |
$7.95/60 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive GuideCompiled by Burton Goldberg
