Although I am extremely cautious about making claims for "getting rid of the damn virus" I am certain that Chinese Herbs can help at all other levels. They can boost immune levels in ways that Western Medicine cannot touch. We can lessen the seriousness of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We can improve your physical complaints particularily gastrointestinal and energy problems.
One of the biggest decisions a hepatitis patient will have is whether or not to take interferon. Most patients will express that they "just want to get rid of the damn virus!" For about 40 percent of the patients who complete the therapy, interferon treatment with a ribaviron supplement will show a undetectable level of the virus 6 months after completing the therapy. (Many people drop out because of the side-effects.) You will know about a month (through an RNA test) into the therapy whether you should continue. However it is uncertain whether a person infected will ever be completely free of the virus. Hepatitis C in particular hides deep within the body and often re-emerges.- You may be unable to continue your previous day to day life. Some people give up their jobs even part-time. Interferon is now given for 9 months or longer. Although often the side effects go away immediately they sometimes go on for weeks or months after therapy discontinues.
- Despite what the doctors may say, the side-effects can get worse through the therapy.
- Doctors are now prescribing Prozac before and during therapy to head off the depression that seems to come.
- You will be under the care of a doctor. Some people have such extremely low blood counts that they are given supplemental drugs.
- You can take Chinese herbs with or without interferon.
- You may develop problem involving your thyroid or an auto-immune disease.
If you decide to take Chinese Herbs:Some studies have shown that properly given, Chinese herbs have the same rate of long-term effectiveness as interferon treatments. At this time, I cannot make such a statement for your case. There are two reasons for this.
One is that there are not enough studies to show this. There are several genotypes of Hepatitis C and we do not know which respond better to Chinese Herbs.
If you decide not to take interferon then you have a chance to beat any side effects of the virus with Chinese herbs. We can improve your entire health. If you should decide to take interferon then Chinese Medicine can help you before, during and after treatment. If you decide to take Chinese Herbs, it is still a major committment and not especially cheap for most people. On the other hand, it may be the best health investment you can make.
If you decide to take Chinese Herbs you should really, really, really talk to the person who is selling them to you. Preferably you should see them face to face but someone who sells you a (quote/unquote) Hepatitis Formula without any discussion is really treading lightly on ethics.
Any formula for Hepatitis will be relatively expensive. Around $90-150 a month. This will in addition to taking Milk Thistle. (sorry, I cannot at this time recomend a favorite brand.) Taking too little of the herbs may not do you any good. You may have to take these for several months if not years. Get a good practitioner before you shell out the money. You can look at Gancao.net for a licensed practitioner near you.