Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the infection of the Hepatitis C virus. This is a contagious disease that spreads through infected blood to blood contact. If Hepatitis C is not treated in a timely fashion, it may advance to cause liver scarring and lead to Cirrhosis.
Since ancient times, many natural supplements have been used for hepatitis C treatment. Anything we eat or drink or apply on the skin goes through our liver. One needs to be very cautious when using natural supplements for the treatment of hepatitis C because the supplements may worsen the already poor condition of liver. One needs to make sure that the supplement is completely safe and check with the physician and get the physician’s opinion about using natural supplements for hepatitis C treatment.
There are a number of herbal supplements that are found to be beneficial to the liver. While some supplements have helped treat hepatitis C, others have had no effect at all. The usage of a particular supplement and the dosage to be taken is determined based on the severity of hepatitis C.
The top natural supplements for hepatitis C treatment are:
Milk thistle which contains a chemical silymarin is known for its medicinal properties. This herb has been used as a natural supplement in the treatment of jaundice and some liver diseases. This supplements helps in preventing the oxidation damage to the liver cells and promotes growth. It reduces inflammation and pain as well.
Licorice, which contains a chemical glycyrrhizin, is found to have some beneficial effects in the treatment for hepatitis C. This supplement has shown to prevent the occurrence of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis C patients.
Other natural supplements including thymus extract, ginseng, schisandra, and sophora roots are also used in hepatitis C treatment. However, laboratory studies have not proven the health benefits of these supplements.
The natural supplements that should be avoided are kava, vitamin A, beta carotene, and iron, since they can get deposited in the liver and cause complications. High doses of essential fatty acids can cause fatty liver and should be avoided. Some of these natural supplements contain contaminants like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, thallium, and lead. These are all toxic substances that can cause harm to the body.
Pregnant or nursing women, liver cirrhosis patients, patients with serious co-morbidities, infants and organ transplant recipients are recommended to stay away from natural or dietary supplements for hepatitis C treatment unless advised otherwise by a qualified physician. Some supplements have bleeding risk and some do not go well with anesthesia.
The dosage of the natural supplements in the treatment of hepatitis C is important. High doses may cause side effects like, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and can worsen the liver condition.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.