Is Hepatitis C a Death Sentence?

[Guest guest]

Today's Question

I have hepatitis C from a blood transfusion 16 years ago. I've read

many articles about hep C (even one titled " C Is for Confusion " ),

and my transplant surgeon has led me to believe this disease is a

death sentence.

I've followed your advice about milk thistle and schizandra. Is

there a test that will tell me about the activity of the virus? What

about interferon as a treatment? Should I have a liver biopsy?

Confused and concerned.

 

-- Gerald R. Earl, Las Vegas

 

Today's Answer

(Published 05/21/1996)

While some people die as a result of complications from chronic

hepatitis C, it's not a death sentence. I'm often asked about

natural remedies for liver problems, and I'm unhappy to report that

Western doctors don't know anything about them. Anyone with a liver

problem (like chronic hepatitis) should take milk thistle regularly;

it enhances the metabolism of liver cells and protects them from

toxic injury. Schizandra is a Chinese medicine that also helps the

body heal chronic hepatitis. Both these remedies have specific liver

regenerative properties. I have known a number of patients who have

reversed hepatitis C using natural therapies like these. Milk

thistle products (also called silybum or silymarin) are available in

all health food stores. Follow the dosage on the label. I prefer

standardized extracts in tablet or capsule form. You can take milk

thistle indefinitely.

Regarding your other questions: You can monitor the condition of

your liver through regular liver function tests, which can be done

easily in any medical lab. A liver biopsy may be of more benefit to

your doctor than you, and you shouldn't consent to it without

carefully weighing the pros and cons. As for interferon, it's not

terrific -- the percentage of favorable responses to it is low, and

the side effects (flulike symptoms and fatigue) are significant.

Interferon is the only treatment most docs have to recommend, and if

that fails, they talk to you about getting a liver transplant, which

is really a last resort.

 

We don't understand all the ways that hepatitis C is transmitted. In

fact, many people don't find out they have it until they are found

to have abnormal liver function on a routine blood test. Often, they

have no idea how they got it; we do know that it is a disease of

sexually active adults (and teens!).

 

In my experience, many people can live with chronic hepatitis and

live well. Good luck.

 

http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.html-command=TodayQA-

questionId=4023-pt=Question

[Guest guest]

Mr. Earl, first of all what do you believe is your greatest

possibility? and second of all what is your greatest desire about

this situation? If you forget for a moment that you " have " something,

that is release ownership for a moment, than what exactly is your

experience that stands in the way of your greatest potentional?

Peace, Jeff

 

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Today's Question

> I have hepatitis C from a blood transfusion 16 years ago. I've

read

> many articles about hep C (even one titled " C Is for Confusion " ),

> and my transplant surgeon has led me to believe this disease is a

> death sentence.

> I've followed your advice about milk thistle and schizandra. Is

> there a test that will tell me about the activity of the virus?

What

> about interferon as a treatment? Should I have a liver biopsy?

> Confused and concerned.

>

> -- Gerald R. Earl, Las Vegas