Help Heal Hepatitis C with Herbal Remedies

Hepatitis C is an extremely serious liver disorder that afflicts roughly four million Americans each year. Hepatitis C is caused by a viral infection that damages the liver and that can greatly increase the risk for liver failure. Hepatitis C can also greatly increase the risk for certain types of cancer. Hepatitis C is usually treated by prescribing a very powerful antiviral drug called interferon, along with a whole slew of other medications. Most cases of hepatitis C are treated in the span of one year. The treatment lasts roughly one year and it can cause the patient to experience many flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches, fevers, and other common flu symptoms. About 60 percent of the people who undergo hepatitis C therapy will experience these symptoms. However, the conventional treatment for hepatitis C is not always effective. Even if the virus appears to be conquered, it is still not clear whether the patient is safe from experiencing liver failure.

Many practitioners of traditional or alternative medicine believe that there are many other kinds of natural therapies that can be used to treat hepatitis c. Some traditional herbalists and naturopathic doctors believe that the use of interferon and other conventional medications may actually be responsible for delaying the healing process. To that end, many practitioners of traditional or alternative medicine recommend strengthening the body, and especially the liver, by prescribing herbal remedies that help protect the liver. Along with herbal treatments, many herbalists and naturopathic doctors also prescribe nutritional therapies to patients suffering from hepatitis C. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any type of hepatitis C herbal therapy on your own.

Perhaps the most important herb for treating hepatitis C is milk thistle. Milk thistle is known to contain a group of chemicals known as silymarin. Silymarin is known to stimulate the synthesis of protein in liver cells. It is also believed that silymarin actually helps the liver regenerate itself. Most herbalists recommend taking two 150 milligrams of milk thistle extract capsules or tablets three to four times a day. Make certain that the milk thistle you take is standardized to contain 70 to 80 percent of silymarin. Another option when designing your herbal therapy program is to consider the use of a multiherb supplement. Look for a multiherb supplement that contains other liver-protecting herbs such as artichoke leaf, gentian, turmeric, and ginger. Make sure that the multiherb supplement you choose is standardized to 10 to 50 percent of silymarin extract. Also make sure to follow the dosage guidelines on the label.

There are several other herbs that are recommended to help combat the effects of hepatitis C. Some of the most potent liver-protecting herbs include lemon balm, Shiitake mushroom, garlic, St. John's wort, and Schisandra. There are many easy ways to prepare these herbs. For instance, you can take a lemon balm tea each day, take one 300-milligram capsules of St. John's wort two times a day, and take Shiitake capsules two times a day with meals. You can also take garlic in all of its forms to boost the immune system.