Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Recently I have been contacted by two people with similar problems with different manifestations. I thought that I might discuss some of the issues in general and give some of my thoughts on this very important and often misdiagnosed issue. I recently mentioned that I believe there is an epidemic of Hepatitis that is just now being recognized. This epidemic has been building up for the past thirty years and in the Western countries and Japan it is becoming a major health problem. As the `baby boomers' age this disease is reaching a critical phase for many. They are the near source of this epidemic – in the early days of the sexual revolution there was much traveling and interacting between individuals from many parts of the world - plus there was the introduction of certain sexual practices – this aided by the intravenous drug use that was becoming common during those days - all of this led to the establishment of a world wide epidemic – which is spreading further afield and deeper into society every day. The epidemiology of HBV and HCV pathogens and HIV disease is very similar and occurs in the same risk factor groups. In discussions with experts around the world it is clear to me that the epidemiology of Hepatitis C is not clearly understood – I believe that HCV is a much easier disease to contract than is presently recognized. This is essentially a sexually transmitted disease with a large percentage of non- – sexual cases contracting through intravenous routes. I have interviewed many people and have a strong hunch (not studied) that HCV is contracted sexually in other ways than have historically been assumed. Regardless of that – more and more cases are being reported and I believe that in the future we will see an explosion in these cases. There are many who have been infected for 20 to 30 years and are just now being diagnosed. Many of these cases were diagnosed as CFS and FM and other exhaustive states like depression – but the correct diagnosis has opened many up to more useful therapeutic protocols and I have seen several cases cured – meaning that the ALT has been brought into normal range and the viral load remains undetectable for six successive months. This can be achieved in even advanced cases of cirrhosis. There are many techniques for doing this but all take some very authoritative advisors. The simplest and most effective technique I have heard of is being done by Dr. Q C Zhang in New York – his technique is not particular to him it is based on modern research being done in China – this technique is dependent on herbal extracts and extracts of active principles in herbs – so this research is a completely new application of traditional Chinese herbal treatments for Hepatitis C. Traditional therapies for Hepatitis have always been effective much more so than western medicine which has basically nothing to offer patients with chronic liver disease. These new understandings are proving even more effective than traditional medicines. Dr. Zhang has written a book on Hepatitis therapy but it is mainly a book for his patients which explains the medicines – he does this from a modern western perspective since this is the common language – but in doing this it allows one to get a good understanding of the way that a master scientist trained in both Eastern and Western medicine looks at herbal medicine. Dr. Zhang is becoming famous in the alternative community for his ability to heal this serious and dangerous disease – he can work miracles where others are left lost. His protocol is simple and easy – just take some herbal capsules – but it is relatively expensive – it averages from $250 to $350 per month – but nothing else is as effective and rapid – some totally recover their lives within six months to a year – it is necessary to take the herbs for two to three years. After that a maintenance dose of Dr. Zhang's or more traditional medicines will be necessary for life. I have not personally seen anyone else get these kinds of results with such a difficult to manage disease. In traditional medicine they do the same things Dr. Zhang does but he uses new forms of herbs to achieve the goals. The traditional understanding of healing stagnant Liver with dampness and heat is to course or drain the Liver and Gallbladder – open circulation in the Liver – suppress the pathogens – and support the rebuilding of the Liver functions – the common symptoms of Liver disease should be treated as they arise. Once the Liver is cleared out and the pathogens suppressed the infectious and inflammatory processes will begin to resolve leaving one with the Liver that is damaged but ready to repair itself -–the Liver has an amazing ability to recover from even severe assaults. The limiting factor is the scar tissue that is left after years of infection – but the Chinese have developed herbal products that can even resolve the scaring to some extent – it does this by making the scars smaller and less swollen – if the damage is not overwhelming then the Liver might be able to repopulate the spaces between the scar tissue with healthy cellular structures that can perform near normal Liver functions. Milder cases can have excellent results. I have seen two cases of long standing HCV completely resolved after the age of 62. This is the reason why I sing the praises of traditional medicines in HCV disease. Modern TCM has developed a `cure' for one of the most difficult disease processes yet few know about it in the west. Dr. Andrew Weil was where I first heard of Dr. Zhang as he is a big promoter of Dr. Zhang's Hepatitis treatment – Dr. Weil appeared on TV with Dr. Zhang praising his herbs as the only cure for Hepatitis he knows of. If one has the opportunity to meet Dr. Zhang please do so, as he is a person of great personal spiritual achievement. He is the scientist/healer – as sweet gentle man – not common. If you have read Dr. Zhang's book you can have a free phone consultation with him – where he will recommend which of his herbal formulas he thinks you should take. Those in New York or near by can see Dr. Zhang in his clinic. Some people even move to New York for a few months to consult with the doctor. One can order the herbs on one's own without consulting with Dr. Zhang – they can be ordered at www.hepahealth.com. I do recommend reading the book if you do not consult with Dr. Zhang. Here is the link to Dr. Zhang's clinic web site - http://www.dr-zhang.com/index.htm One should contact hepahealth if one wants to order from a foreign country and they probably can give you info about whether the herbs can be imported into your country. Here is link to an article by Dr. Weil on Hepatitis C – he gives many recommendations for Hepatitis patients. http://hepahealth.com/Hepatitis-1998_Dr_andrewaugus.PDF? iDocumentID=188 & iBDC=2256 & iPageNumber=8 Diet is the most important factor for chronic Liver disease. The diet should be low fat and low protein. The issue of protein is tricky but important. People with Liver diseases need good high quality protein but protein is a stress for an underfunctioning Liver – one of the most important functions of the Liver is the conversion and transformation of many proteins – including hormones and peptides – so a compromise must be made – this is a therapeutic need not necessarily a lifetime choice – later perhaps the Liver will be able to process proteins better and we can eat more. Animal protein is often the only efficient way to get easily utilized proteins – this is the best source for the much needed Yin in chronic Liver disease – so the recommendation is to eat animal protein every other day – about three ounces – or the same three ounces can be broken into several servings and taken throughout the day – another option could be taking about one ounce of animal protein twice a day. One should eat several small meals a day to keep the blood sugar stable – if hypoglycemia is an issue then make sure you never miss your small meals and snacks – do not use sweets as snacks they will create hyperglycemic effects. Do not eat vinegar and citric acid foods (like sodas, etc.) All spices – stimulants – and chemicals must be minimized as all stress the Liver. Once the Liver is significantly healed it will be possible to be a little more liberal in diet – but chemicals are a stress in general even for those with healthy Livers. Eat natural organic foods as much as possible since all hormones, insecticides – pesticides are stressful to the Liver. Dr. Zhang says that after a few months on his herbs protein synthesis starts functioning again – and albumin levels normalize. This is vitally important since the inability to synthesize proteins is a major disease and is the source of many debilitating symptoms. Another cause of the many symptoms that HCV patients suffer is the inability of the diseased Liver to transform hormones – since this is an essential function of the Liver improving these transformation functions will make all of the stressed hormones and peptide functions more normal – like the Adrenal hormones which are dependent on the Liver for their proper metabolic pathways – when the Liver is sluggish or stagnant these processes will be greatly inhibited. Improving this will improve general functioning. Anyone with chronic fatigue symptoms who has been diagnosed with depression – CFS – FM and other exhaustion diseases should have antibody tests to all three of the Hepatitis viruses – HAV – HBV – HCV – as well as an ALT test. A large percentage of these cases are actually diseases of chronic Liver disease. This information is helpful whether the tests are positive or not. Here are some quotes from a letter someone sent and my comments - " " In relation to hepatitis c,I contracted that probably 25 years ago,gnotype 3a. I did the interferon/ribavirin treatment 2 years ago,a 6 month course,viral load undetectable during treatment ,relapsed after treatment ,so I didnt clear it. " " Interferon therapy is not a cure for Hepatitis C in the vast majority of cases – in fact Interferon is a huge Liver stress and should only be used if there are no other options but please do not expect more than months of suffering and trial – the studies on Interferon and combination therapies is not good. In Japan some Kampo practitioners use a combination of Kampo and Interferon with inconsistent results – but full studies need to be done on the various options. Another quote - " " liver functions are elevated 90alt 70ast ,not to bad considering they were up in the 3-400s a few years back. Cholestrol levels extremely low all other blood tests,thyroid,diabetes etc etc are in normal ranges,with the acception of slightly lower than normal platelets 114,000. Viral load is moderately high at 7 million copies per ml of blood. liver pulse deep and feint spleen knotty kidney feint stomache slightly weak heart- quite strong Thats about all I can remember from last pulse diagnosis tiredness/dopeyness mid afternoon-eyelids(left lower eyelid had lesions on it with blepharitis/forehead become hot,lower back aches,strong overwhelming desire to get to bed and rest,if I ignore this and try and push through it I get frustrated irritable and fly off the handle (gallbladdr?) Digestion is much better recently sleep well last few days I made a decision to get out of the pattern I had been in which was getting up at 10 am in the morning,burning out by 3pm having a sleep from 4-6pm then hot bath and meal bed at 1-2am!!! not good eh? Obviously just looking at the correspondences regarding TCM theory I could tell that I was cooking myself!! So I have made a new start up at 7am breakfast 8am, lunch 1pm ,rest 2pm-3.30pm ,dinner 6.30pm, bed at 10.30am This feels alot better and is perhaps the best course of action combined with my qigong/meditation practice. I still get the low back sypmtoms a little but nowhere as intense as before. So time for a new updated approach herbally.. any takes on this? My own take on this is that my adrenals are depleted- Yin and yan kidney deficieny/damp heat? Liver needs tonifying especially yin Spleen needs tonifying no fire toxin in blood overall qi needs strengthening " " ALT should not be elevated and this combined with 7million copies of the virus show a definite active phase of the virus – this must be stopped because this means the virus is actively doing damage to your Liver. Those with controlled HCV do not have elevated liver enzymes – because the virus is in a dormant or controlled state. Perhaps the virus will remain higher than normal ranges but if the enzymes are normal and the albumin and platelet count is normal then we can say that the virus is no longer creating infectious and or inflammatory processes therefore no longer damaging the Liver. The virus must be brought under control – to go on for years with high ALT (AST is not as important as ALT) - high viral lode – low cholesterol – low platelets – etc. is very harmful and does not bode well for the future – if one is under herbal therapy for more than two months and not getting better results than this then the herbal protocol needs reevaluation. Herbs can help this disease (combined with careful dietary restriction) so to go on with no benefit simply means the herbs are not right or they are insufficient. I feel that traditionally trained physicians who are keeping up on the Chinese medical literature are best prepared to deal with these cases. Exercise is very helpful here – but not stressful exercise – gentle movement that twists the center of the body will help to keep circulation moving in the Liver and Spleen – gentle movements while standing will benefit the legs and therefore the Kidneys and Lungs. Kidneys are parent to the Liver and must be given full support – Lungs are parents to Kidneys – please remember that Liver is parent to the Heart and those with chronic Liver disease are bound to have weakness in the Heart – heart should be supported. In fact full Shen support in these cases to help keep the energy stabilized will help everything – a calm spirit is what those with Liver disease need more than anything. Anger and irritability are very common symptoms of Liver stress and indeed can be used as guides to how blocked the energy is in the Liver – if you are angry and irritable please calm and cool yourself as much as possible – this mode is very harmful to you and to those around you. This poster said they did not have toxic heat in the blood – this can not be true if they are having fits of anger and over reactivity – this is caused by overheated toxic conditions caused by the infectious processes – clear out this excess heat and the reactivity states will subside on their own – they can not be controlled with the mind because the reactivity is faster than the rational processes. If the Liver is attacking the Spleen then the Stomach/Spleen should be supported – sometimes digestive enzymes are useful here. I find the most important issue in this regard is to not eat too much food and do not eat heavy fatty foods – this relieves stress on both the Liver and the Spleen. Please do not push yourself – rest is important for active infectious processes. Also when the blood sugar is not regulated activity can create crises in sugar distribution – rest allows the Glycogen stores to try to reestablish themselves. Pushing is very negative as it makes it harder and harder to recover and one feels exhausted from even small activities. Regularity is important – follow routines and rituals – this will help to keep you in the middle of the road. Regularity of the bowels is essential – there is nothing more useful for any over heating conditions than to keep the bowels moving. Dr. Weil recommends hot baths – so as to create sweating – I would give this warning – since Jing MUST be preserved sweating can be counterproductive. The Japanese use a simple technique which is get in a hot tub or sauna and as soon as the sweat breaks on the surface of the body then get out immediately. Because I have found many have trouble doing this I often recommend not taking hot baths. Heat lamps can be used until the sweat breaks. The point is if you sweat – just breaking the sweat is enough – do not become tired. Breaking the sweat should make you feel fresher not tired. This is a subject that I have great interest in and would be willing to discuss the issues in a general way – if anyone would like to discuss this issue in themselves, family members, or patients then simply post with your comments and doubts and if anyone here has anything to say we will. The thing I want to emphasize – many think of chronic Liver disease as a death sentence – be assured that many people throughout the world have recovered from chronic Liver infections and many more have benefited to greater and lesser degrees. Liver disease can end up in very serious processes of decline including cancer and insanity – but these serious complications can be avoided in a large percentage of the cases. Even advanced cases can benefit – but naturally the sooner we start the better the potential results. It is not possible to start therapy if we do not know we have this disease so it is imperative to be tested if we have chronic fatigue especially if we have components of digestive distress and or anger and super reactivity. Traditional therapies and the modern version of these are the only real way other than diet to treat chronic Liver diseases. Modern western medicine has basically nothing to offer and those modalities they do give are not helpful at best and make matters worse for many. Herbs and diet can work miracles in this disease. There is hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 thanks for sharing this info. My hubby also have elevated ALT! We've done several other tests but negative for hepa, the doctor said its just fatty liver and sort of genetic (it runs in their family). All other tests is normal expect for Elevated Insulin Resistance. But I didnt know there's such test to show the viral load (as mentioned in one of the quote). What kind of test it that? marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 >>>thanks for sharing this info. My hubby also have elevated ALT! We've > done several other tests but negative for hepa, the doctor said its > just fatty liver and sort of genetic (it runs in their family). All > other tests is normal expect for Elevated Insulin Resistance. But I > didnt know there's such test to show the viral load (as mentioned in > one of the quote). What kind of test it that? > > marilyn > Fatty Liver is a serious disease process and can certainly be the cause of exhaustive syndromes. In people with fatty Liver it is common to have sugar metabolism problems - one can have hypoglycemia and or hyperglycemia - many have both. This is because it is the Liver that is responsible for the storage, release, and distrubution of glycogen. The fact of one having 'fatty' Liver and Insulin Resistance means that one is under severe Liver stress that the body is not keeping up with. It is very common to find such people in metabolic distress - with the quality of life in decline. The fatty Liver should be agressively treated - it like other Liver diseases is treatable and one can recover many levels of Liver functioning even if the issues can not be fully resolved. Even small improvements in Liver functioning makes life much easier. It is common to see all of these diseases of the Liver misdiagnosed. Many clinicians do not even realize the damage that malfunctions of the Liver do to general metabolic functions. I have met physicians who do not even understand the relationship of Insulin Resistance to Liver disease. Yet ancient scientists had noted these points centuries ago. Many of these cases if there is not elevated bilirubin will get put into the category of 'mysterious' diseases - like CFS, FM, psychosomatic disorder, Eppstein-Barr, Candida overgrowth - etc. But for traditional physicians these diseases are easy to diagnose. Liver diseases should be treated since they are among the easiest diseases to affect some kind of healing response. Even small improvements in Liver functioning improves the quality of life. I have seen many non-functional people get back to work and other levels of better functioning when their Liver issues are ameliorated. Improving Liver functioning as I have mentioned before improves many metabolic pathways. Our Liver needs to be as effecient as we can keep it for us to have good quality of life - this is especially true in these modern times when everyone's Liver is under constant stress from the modern lifestyle. Find someone to help you heal the fatty Liver and you will find many of these other symptoms resolving - like sugar problems. Hepatitis C viral load is a standard test to measure the levels of the virus - this test is not needed unless the antibody test to HCV is positive - then it is not needed unless there is some reason to suspect the virus is in an active phase. In my opinion the main information that a high viral load will give is whether the virus is causing current damage. Elevated ALT and high viral load means the virus is actively stressing the Liver. Many people with long standing HCV - even with advanced cirrhosis - do not have high viral loads - this means the virus is being kept under control by the bodies own immune system. Viral load test is often given in anticiaption of a possible biopsy. Viral load test and biopsy are not actually needed. If one has a positive HCV test then we already know what the problem is and what should be done - knowing viral load levels does not effect this at all. Biopsy should be avoided if possible as it to does not give any more information as far as treatment is concerned plus it has dangers inherant in it. If there is a diagnosis of any type of Liver malfunction then simply start treating it - aggresively and fully. Remember the role that food and chemicals play in Liver disease. I would talk to Dr. Zhang as mentioned in the other post. Since your husband has fatty Liver without antibodies to HCV it is possible that Dr. Zhang's herbs will be helpful - minus the anti-viral parts of the protocol - this would make it much cheaper - maybe worth investigating. Four standard herb products for mild Liver disease is Cordyceps - Schizandra - Xiao Yao Wan - Xiao Chai Hu Tang Wan. I often recomend taking a tea made from schizandra and lycium (simmer for about 20 minutes - make the full days dose in the morning - one can even make up to a three day supply at once) and drinking one cup three times a day with the medicines. Standard dose for a days supply should be about 9 grams of schizandra and about 20 grams of lycium. Sometimes it is best to start medicines that contain buplerum slowly (it can rapidly flush the Liver) - so start with a half dose and increase the dose to full over a one week period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 Thanks for this Vinod CM Etiology and Pathogenesis Traditional views Hepatitis in general, as caused by an epidemic external pathogen and/or pathogenic heat and damp that has accumulated in the interior of the body. Epidemic pathogens infect the liver and gallbladder, which results in heat or damp-heat accumulations that affect the normal flow of liver Qi and secretion of bile and leads to jaundice, nausea, anorexia, and malaise. Improper diet or abnormally damp and/or hot weather can cause a dysfunction of the spleen's transportation and transformation function, leading to retention of damp-heat in the spleen and the stomach, leading to further injury of the liver and gallbladder. Exuberant pathogenic damp-heat accumulated in the interior of the body for a long time impairs the body's vital essence. As a result, deficiency of Yin, Yang, Qi, and/or Blood syndromes may occur. In serious cases, epidemic pathogens and/or damp-heat may invade the pericardium and cause coma or other central nervous system symptom TCM Differentiation of Symptoms Yang versus Yin Jaundice. Affection due to damp-heat is known as Yang Jaundice. It is characterized by a lustrous yellow discoloration of the skin and the sclera of the eyes, fever, anorexia, nausea, dryness, and bitter taste in the mouth, pain in the right hypochondrium, a yellow greasy tongue coating and a taut, slippery, rapid pulse. Affection due to cold-dampness is known as Yin Jaundice and is marked by a dark yellow discoloration of the sclera and smoky-colored skin, lassitude, poor appetite, pale tongue with a thick, greasy coating and a deep, small, weak or slow pulse. Yang Jaundice is usually seen in acute viral hepatitis. Yin jaundice usually occurs in chronic hepatitis. Determination of the preponderance of heat versus damp. Damp-heat is the most common pathogenic influence in jaundice. However, damp-heat invades the body in different ways, so that some patients experience more heat symptoms and others exhibit a preponderance of damp symptoms. Fever, thirst, constipation, and scanty dark yellow urine, reddened tongue with yellow coating and rapid pulse mark cases of preponderant heat. Cases of preponderant damp, on the other hand, are characterized by a heavy sensation in the body, anorexia, nausea, fullness and distention in the abdomen, stuffiness in the chest, loose stool, whitish, thick and greasy tongue coating and a slippery pulse. In protracted cases, pathogenic damp-heat may consume the Yin of the Liver and the Kidneys, leading to Yin deficiency of both organ systems. The symptoms of this condition are feverish sensation in the palms and feet, thirst, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, lumbago, weakness of the legs, reddened tongue with little or no coating and a fine, rapid pulse (in addition to the general characteristics of damp heat enumerated above). Recognition of deficiency versus excess. Most acute hepatitis cases are of the excess type, while a majority of chronic hepatitis patients are in a condition of deficiency and excess. This is usually manifested as weakness, lassitude, poor appetite, nausea and loose stool. In some cases, exuberant damp-heat remains in the interior of the body or virulent epidemic pathogens affect the body attacking the pericardium and producing yin and blood deficiency. This condition is marked by fever, progressive jaundice, restlessness, delirium, distention and fullness in the abdomen, edema, and even hepatic coma. The tongue is usually dry and reddened, covered with a yellow greasy coating and the pulse is small, weak and rapid. This syndrome is mostly seen with fulminant hepatitis or subacute hepatic necrosis. Determination of stagnation of Qi versus Blood stasis. In the early stage of the disease, Liver Qi stagnates, which affects the function of the spleen and the stomach and leads to a disturbance between the liver and the stomach manifested as anorexia, abdominal distention, hypochondriac pain varying with emotional changes and irritability. In some cases, stagnant liver qi leads to blood stasis, manisfested as hepatomegaly with stabbing pain, tenderness, dark purplish complexion and vascular spiders. Stagnant liver qi may cause dysfunction of the spleen in transporting and transforming, thus causing water to accumulate. In addition, blood stasis may also disturb water metabolism and consequently cause edema and ascites. Herbal Treatment Strategies Clear away Damp-Heat. If heat is preponderant, Yin Chen Hao Tang (Oriental Wormwood Decoction) is used to clear away damp-heat. Modifications to strengthen the effect of clearing toxic heat typically include: Huang Qin, Ju Hua, and Ban Lan Gen. For severe nausea and vomiting: add Ban Xia, and Zhu Ru. For hypochondriac pain, add Yu Yin and Yan Hu Suo. If damp is preponderant, the formula of choice is Yin Chen Wu Ling San (powder of oriental wormwood and five herbs with poria). Warm the Middle Burner and eliminate damp. This treatment principle is used to treat Yin Jaundice. The formula used is Yin Chen Zhu Fu Tang (decoction of Oriental wormwood, white atractylodes, and aconite). For cases with spleen deficiency, add: Dang Shen, and Huang Qi to replenish middle burner Qi. Relieve repressed Liver Qi and Invigorate the Spleen. The best formula here is: Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bepleurum Powder for relieving Depressed Liver Qi) and Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). Nourish Yin of the Liver and Kidneys. For yin deficiency of the Liver and Kidneys, the best choice is Yi Guan Jian (Ever effective decoction). For cases with afternoon fever, add: Mu Dan Pi, or Zhi Mu. For cases with thirst and poor appetite, add: Shi Hu, Shan Sha, and Ji Nei Jing. Regulate Liver Qi and Remove Blood Stasis. Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Decoction for removing blood stasis in the chest) is used to treat stagnant liver qi and blood stasis. In severe cases, with stabbing pain in the abdomen, high fever, eruptions and hemorrhages, use Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn Decoction – where water buffalo horn may be substituted). These treatment principles may be used alone or in combination depending on the presentation of symptoms. Acute or subacute hepatic necrosis requires combined TCM and western medicines. Acupuncture Treatment The principal points are: BL-18, Gan Shu, the back-shu point of the Liver, BL-19 Dan Shu, the back-shu point of the Gallbladder, BL-20 Pi Shu, the back-shu point of the Spleen, ST-36 Zu San Li, to replenish strength and regulate the GI tract, GV-9,Zhi Yang The supplementary points are: 1) For accumulation of damp-heat: GB- 34, LV-3, DU-14, PC-5, LI-11 2) For accumulation of cold-damp needle and apply moxa at: BL-48, SP-9, SP-6 3)For deficiency of yin: LV-3, KD-3. 4)For stagnation of qi and blood stasis: LV-3, GB-40, BL-17, SP- 6, LI-4 In conclusions, the application of Traditional herbal and acupuncture therapy in the treatment of Hepatitis and specifically Hepatitis C requires extensive clinical experience. Patients should consult an experienced practitioner of TCM before attempting dangerous self-medication. Current research tends to show that the best results are obtained when TCM and Western medicine are applied simultaneously. Hepatitis C is a relatively newly discovered disease and long-term studies have just barely begun. TCM has the longest and most extensive history of clinical experience with hepatitis in general and should be one of the major alternative therapies applied to ameliorate the symptoms of HCV infection. Much research needs to be done to obtain a cure. Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3 wrote: > > Recently I have been contacted by two people with similar problems > with different manifestations. I thought that I might discuss some > of the issues in general and give some of my thoughts on this very > important and often misdiagnosed issue. I recently mentioned that I > believe there is an epidemic of Hepatitis that is just now being > recognized. This epidemic has been building up for the past thirty > years and in the Western countries and Japan it is becoming a major > health problem. As the `baby boomers' age this disease is reaching a > critical phase for many. They are the near source of this epidemic – > in the early days of the sexual revolution there was much traveling > and interacting between individuals from many parts of the world - > plus there was the introduction of certain sexual practices – this > aided by the intravenous drug use that was becoming common during > those days - all of this led to the establishment of a world wide > epidemic – which is spreading further afield and deeper into society > every day. The epidemiology of HBV and HCV pathogens and HIV disease > is very similar and occurs in the same risk factor groups. In > discussions with experts around the world it is clear to me that the > epidemiology of Hepatitis C is not clearly understood – I believe > that HCV is a much easier disease to contract than is presently > recognized. This is essentially a sexually transmitted disease with > a large percentage of non- – sexual cases contracting through > intravenous routes. I have interviewed many people and have a strong > hunch (not studied) that HCV is contracted sexually in other ways > than have historically been assumed. Regardless of that – more and > more cases are being reported and I believe that in the future we > will see an explosion in these cases. There are many who have been > infected for 20 to 30 years and are just now being diagnosed. Many > of these cases were diagnosed as CFS and FM and other exhaustive > states like depression – but the correct diagnosis has opened many > up to more useful therapeutic protocols and I have seen several > cases cured – meaning that the ALT has been brought into normal > range and the viral load remains undetectable for six successive > months. This can be achieved in even advanced cases of cirrhosis. > > There are many techniques for doing this but all take some very > authoritative advisors. The simplest and most effective technique I > have heard of is being done by Dr. Q C Zhang in New York – his > technique is not particular to him it is based on modern research > being done in China – this technique is dependent on herbal extracts > and extracts of active principles in herbs – so this research is a > completely new application of traditional Chinese herbal treatments > for Hepatitis C. Traditional therapies for Hepatitis have always > been effective much more so than western medicine which has > basically nothing to offer patients with chronic liver disease. > These new understandings are proving even more effective than > traditional medicines. Dr. Zhang has written a book on Hepatitis > therapy but it is mainly a book for his patients which explains the > medicines – he does this from a modern western perspective since > this is the common language – but in doing this it allows one to get > a good understanding of the way that a master scientist trained in > both Eastern and Western medicine looks at herbal medicine. Dr. > Zhang is becoming famous in the alternative community for his > ability to heal this serious and dangerous disease – he can work > miracles where others are left lost. His protocol is simple and > easy – just take some herbal capsules – but it is relatively > expensive – it averages from $250 to $350 per month – but nothing > else is as effective and rapid – some totally recover their lives > within six months to a year – it is necessary to take the herbs for > two to three years. After that a maintenance dose of Dr. Zhang's or > more traditional medicines will be necessary for life. I have not > personally seen anyone else get these kinds of results with such a > difficult to manage disease. > > In traditional medicine they do the same things Dr. Zhang does but > he uses new forms of herbs to achieve the goals. The traditional > understanding of healing stagnant Liver with dampness and heat is to > course or drain the Liver and Gallbladder – open circulation in the > Liver – suppress the pathogens – and support the rebuilding of the > Liver functions – the common symptoms of Liver disease should be > treated as they arise. Once the Liver is cleared out and the > pathogens suppressed the infectious and inflammatory processes will > begin to resolve leaving one with the Liver that is damaged but > ready to repair itself -–the Liver has an amazing ability to recover > from even severe assaults. The limiting factor is the scar tissue > that is left after years of infection – but the Chinese have > developed herbal products that can even resolve the scaring to some > extent – it does this by making the scars smaller and less swollen – > if the damage is not overwhelming then the Liver might be able to > repopulate the spaces between the scar tissue with healthy cellular > structures that can perform near normal Liver functions. Milder > cases can have excellent results. I have seen two cases of long > standing HCV completely resolved after the age of 62. This is the > reason why I sing the praises of traditional medicines in HCV > disease. Modern TCM has developed a `cure' for one of the most > difficult disease processes yet few know about it in the west. Dr. > Andrew Weil was where I first heard of Dr. Zhang as he is a big > promoter of Dr. Zhang's Hepatitis treatment – Dr. Weil appeared on > TV with Dr. Zhang praising his herbs as the only cure for Hepatitis > he knows of. > > If one has the opportunity to meet Dr. Zhang please do so, as he is > a person of great personal spiritual achievement. He is the > scientist/healer – as sweet gentle man – not common. If you have > read Dr. Zhang's book you can have a free phone consultation with > him – where he will recommend which of his herbal formulas he thinks > you should take. Those in New York or near by can see Dr. Zhang in > his clinic. Some people even move to New York for a few months to > consult with the doctor. One can order the herbs on one's own > without consulting with Dr. Zhang – they can be ordered at > www.hepahealth.com. I do recommend reading the book if you do not > consult with Dr. Zhang. Here is the link to Dr. Zhang's clinic web > site - http://www.dr-zhang.com/index.htm One should contact > hepahealth if one wants to order from a foreign country and they > probably can give you info about whether the herbs can be imported > into your country. > > Here is link to an article by Dr. Weil on Hepatitis C – he gives > many recommendations for Hepatitis patients. > > http://hepahealth.com/Hepatitis-1998_Dr_andrewaugus.PDF? > iDocumentID=188 & iBDC=2256 & iPageNumber=8 > > Diet is the most important factor for chronic Liver disease. The > diet should be low fat and low protein. The issue of protein is > tricky but important. People with Liver diseases need good high > quality protein but protein is a stress for an underfunctioning > Liver – one of the most important functions of the Liver is the > conversion and transformation of many proteins – including hormones > and peptides – so a compromise must be made – this is a therapeutic > need not necessarily a lifetime choice – later perhaps the Liver > will be able to process proteins better and we can eat more. Animal > protein is often the only efficient way to get easily utilized > proteins – this is the best source for the much needed Yin in > chronic Liver disease – so the recommendation is to eat animal > protein every other day – about three ounces – or the same three > ounces can be broken into several servings and taken throughout the > day – another option could be taking about one ounce of animal > protein twice a day. One should eat several small meals a day to > keep the blood sugar stable – if hypoglycemia is an issue then make > sure you never miss your small meals and snacks – do not use sweets > as snacks they will create hyperglycemic effects. Do not eat vinegar > and citric acid foods (like sodas, etc.) All spices – stimulants – > and chemicals must be minimized as all stress the Liver. Once the > Liver is significantly healed it will be possible to be a little > more liberal in diet – but chemicals are a stress in general even > for those with healthy Livers. Eat natural organic foods as much as > possible since all hormones, insecticides – pesticides are stressful > to the Liver. Dr. Zhang says that after a few months on his herbs > protein synthesis starts functioning again – and albumin levels > normalize. This is vitally important since the inability to > synthesize proteins is a major disease and is the source of many > debilitating symptoms. Another cause of the many symptoms that HCV > patients suffer is the inability of the diseased Liver to transform > hormones – since this is an essential function of the Liver > improving these transformation functions will make all of the > stressed hormones and peptide functions more normal – like the > Adrenal hormones which are dependent on the Liver for their proper > metabolic pathways – when the Liver is sluggish or stagnant these > processes will be greatly inhibited. Improving this will improve > general functioning. > > Anyone with chronic fatigue symptoms who has been diagnosed with > depression – CFS – FM and other exhaustion diseases should have > antibody tests to all three of the Hepatitis viruses – HAV – HBV – > HCV – as well as an ALT test. A large percentage of these cases are > actually diseases of chronic Liver disease. This information is > helpful whether the tests are positive or not. > > Here are some quotes from a letter someone sent and my comments - > > " " In relation to hepatitis c,I contracted that probably 25 years > ago,gnotype 3a. I did the interferon/ribavirin treatment 2 years > ago,a 6 month course,viral load undetectable during > treatment ,relapsed after treatment ,so I didnt clear it. " " > > Interferon therapy is not a cure for Hepatitis C in the vast > majority of cases – in fact Interferon is a huge Liver stress and > should only be used if there are no other options but please do not > expect more than months of suffering and trial – the studies on > Interferon and combination therapies is not good. In Japan some > Kampo practitioners use a combination of Kampo and Interferon with > inconsistent results – but full studies need to be done on the > various options. > > Another quote - > " " liver functions are elevated 90alt 70ast ,not to bad considering > they were up in the 3-400s a few years back. Cholestrol levels > extremely low all other blood tests,thyroid,diabetes etc etc are in > normal ranges,with the acception of slightly lower than normal > platelets 114,000. Viral load is moderately high at 7 million copies > per ml of blood. liver pulse deep and feint spleen knotty kidney > feint stomache slightly weak heart- quite strong Thats about all I > can remember from last pulse diagnosis tiredness/dopeyness mid > afternoon-eyelids(left lower eyelid had lesions on it with > blepharitis/forehead become hot,lower back aches,strong overwhelming > desire to get to bed and rest,if I ignore this and try and push > through it I get frustrated irritable and fly off the handle > (gallbladdr?) Digestion is much better recently sleep well last few > days I made a decision to get out of the pattern I had been in which > was getting up at 10 am in the morning,burning out by 3pm having a > sleep from 4-6pm then hot bath and meal bed at 1-2am!!! not good eh? > Obviously just looking at the correspondences regarding TCM theory I > could tell that I was cooking myself!! So I have made a new start up > at 7am breakfast 8am, lunch 1pm ,rest 2pm-3.30pm ,dinner 6.30pm, bed > at 10.30am This feels alot better and is perhaps the best course of > action combined with my qigong/meditation practice. I still get the > low back sypmtoms a little but nowhere as intense as before. So time > for a new updated approach herbally.. any takes on this? My own take > on this is that my adrenals are depleted- Yin and yan kidney > deficieny/damp heat? Liver needs tonifying especially yin Spleen > needs tonifying no fire toxin in blood overall qi needs > strengthening " " > > ALT should not be elevated and this combined with 7million copies of > the virus show a definite active phase of the virus – this must be > stopped because this means the virus is actively doing damage to > your Liver. Those with controlled HCV do not have elevated liver > enzymes – because the virus is in a dormant or controlled state. > Perhaps the virus will remain higher than normal ranges but if the > enzymes are normal and the albumin and platelet count is normal then > we can say that the virus is no longer creating infectious and or > inflammatory processes therefore no longer damaging the Liver. The > virus must be brought under control – to go on for years with high > ALT (AST is not as important as ALT) - high viral lode – low > cholesterol – low platelets – etc. is very harmful and does not bode > well for the future – if one is under herbal therapy for more than > two months and not getting better results than this then the herbal > protocol needs reevaluation. Herbs can help this disease (combined > with careful dietary restriction) so to go on with no benefit simply > means the herbs are not right or they are insufficient. I feel that > traditionally trained physicians who are keeping up on the Chinese > medical literature are best prepared to deal with these cases. > > Exercise is very helpful here – but not stressful exercise – gentle > movement that twists the center of the body will help to keep > circulation moving in the Liver and Spleen – gentle movements while > standing will benefit the legs and therefore the Kidneys and Lungs. > Kidneys are parent to the Liver and must be given full support – > Lungs are parents to Kidneys – please remember that Liver is parent > to the Heart and those with chronic Liver disease are bound to have > weakness in the Heart – heart should be supported. In fact full Shen > support in these cases to help keep the energy stabilized will help > everything – a calm spirit is what those with Liver disease need > more than anything. Anger and irritability are very common symptoms > of Liver stress and indeed can be used as guides to how blocked the > energy is in the Liver – if you are angry and irritable please calm > and cool yourself as much as possible – this mode is very harmful to > you and to those around you. This poster said they did not have > toxic heat in the blood – this can not be true if they are having > fits of anger and over reactivity – this is caused by overheated > toxic conditions caused by the infectious processes – clear out this > excess heat and the reactivity states will subside on their own – > they can not be controlled with the mind because the reactivity is > faster than the rational processes. If the Liver is attacking the > Spleen then the Stomach/Spleen should be supported – sometimes > digestive enzymes are useful here. I find the most important issue > in this regard is to not eat too much food and do not eat heavy > fatty foods – this relieves stress on both the Liver and the Spleen. > > Please do not push yourself – rest is important for active > infectious processes. Also when the blood sugar is not regulated > activity can create crises in sugar distribution – rest allows the > Glycogen stores to try to reestablish themselves. Pushing is very > negative as it makes it harder and harder to recover and one feels > exhausted from even small activities. Regularity is important – > follow routines and rituals – this will help to keep you in the > middle of the road. Regularity of the bowels is essential – there is > nothing more useful for any over heating conditions than to keep the > bowels moving. Dr. Weil recommends hot baths – so as to create > sweating – I would give this warning – since Jing MUST be preserved > sweating can be counterproductive. The Japanese use a simple > technique which is get in a hot tub or sauna and as soon as the > sweat breaks on the surface of the body then get out immediately. > Because I have found many have trouble doing this I often recommend > not taking hot baths. Heat lamps can be used until the sweat breaks. > The point is if you sweat – just breaking the sweat is enough – do > not become tired. Breaking the sweat should make you feel fresher > not tired. > > This is a subject that I have great interest in and would be willing > to discuss the issues in a general way – if anyone would like to > discuss this issue in themselves, family members, or patients then > simply post with your comments and doubts and if anyone here has > anything to say we will. > > The thing I want to emphasize – many think of chronic Liver disease > as a death sentence – be assured that many people throughout the > world have recovered from chronic Liver infections and many more > have benefited to greater and lesser degrees. Liver disease can end > up in very serious processes of decline including cancer and > insanity – but these serious complications can be avoided in a large > percentage of the cases. Even advanced cases can benefit – but > naturally the sooner we start the better the potential results. It > is not possible to start therapy if we do not know we have this > disease so it is imperative to be tested if we have chronic fatigue > especially if we have components of digestive distress and or anger > and super reactivity. Traditional therapies and the modern version > of these are the only real way other than diet to treat chronic > Liver diseases. Modern western medicine has basically nothing to > offer and those modalities they do give are not helpful at best and > make matters worse for many. Herbs and diet can work miracles in > this disease. There is hope! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 his seems to be a very good description of the hep c infection in TCM terms CHINESE MEDICAL ANALYSIS OF HEPATITIS C Physicians in China were alerted to hepatitis C mainly through the international medical literature. Due to the lesser availability of funds for testing compared to the situation for American and European doctors, Chinese physicians primarily investigate hepatitis C and its treatment in patients who are notably symptomatic for the disease and are seeking relief of symptoms. By contrast, many tens of thousands of Americans with asymptomatic disease may seek treatment simply because the virus showed up after routine examination indicated mildly elevated liver enzymes. Because Chinese doctors mainly deal with symptomatic patients and because testing of these patients is also limited, the analysis of symptoms and the alleviation of symptoms are a primary concern. For traditional doctors, the fact that the virus now involved is " C " rather than " B " has little significance in relation to treatment. Rather, the important factors are the symptom manifestation and the fact, known from modern science, that a virus is involved. In an article by Chen Lihua (1), a traditional Chinese medical analysis of hepatitis C was presented. The author makes these three points about the disease characteristics and treatments: ******************************************************************** 1. Toxic pathogens directly enter the nutritive (ying) and blood (xue) levels: most people are infected via blood or plasma transfusion, and the respective pathogen therefore immediately enters the nutritive layer (rather than slowly making its way through the outer defensive layers of the body). The clinical symptom picture seems to support this traditional way of reasoning, since patients usually exhibit little or no symptoms of disease entering the qi level (typically manifesting in fever, jaundice, and digestive symptoms). In response, one should vitalize the blood and resolve toxin: the author suggests the use of herbs that can both move blood and resolve toxin, such as lithospermum, hu-chang, moutan, red peony, rhubarb, curcuma, and oldenlandia. 2. Toxic stasis accumulates easily, smolders chronically, and is hard to disperse: hepatitis C is different from other types of liver disease in that it does not manifest like a warm disease. Although the pathogen directly enters the blood, there are usually no symptoms of rashes, red tongue, bleeding, loss of consciousness, etc. On the contrary, it can be classified as a yin type disease, a damp toxin, which causes damp stagnation, yin coagulation, toxic accumulation, clogging of the collaterals, and obstruction of yang. In response, one should disperse the liver qi and transform phlegm. Due to the characteristics of toxin, blood stasis, phlegm, and dampness, there is usually a chronic disease process that does not respond well to treatment. The author recommends qi-regulating herbs, such as bupleurum, blue citrus, citrus, cyperus, magnolia bark as well as phlegm-transforming herbs such as kelp, laminaria, fritillaria, pinellia. 3. Kidney deficiency promotes infection, and middle aged and old people are primarily afflicted. Since the distinguishing factor of older people is their declining kidney qi, kidney qi weakness seems to have something to do with being prone to the development (worsening) of the disease. [note: this characteristic of affecting older people is mainly due to the long duration of viral quiescence or slow disease progress before significant liver disease causes one to seek medical testing and treatment. However, the situation is changing: diagnosis is being made earlier; still, it is currently rare to receive a diagnosis of hepatitis C prior to age 40]. In older patients, one should tonify the liver and kidney: since there usually are more symptoms of kidney qi deficiency and kidney yang deficiency involved, some of the following herbs should be added in moderate amounts: morinda, epimedium, curculigo, cuscuta, and fenugreek. At the same time some yin tonics should be added to prevent a overheating effect by the yang tonics, such as rehmannia, lycium fruit, and ho-shou-wu. In a study reported by Jin Shi and Chen Quanliang (2), the researchers examined 85 patients with hepatitis C and 37 patients with hepatitis B and compared their general symptom profile. The differential categories used were the following five that have been standardized for all kinds of hepatitis since 1992 by the Liver Disease Committee of the Chinese Association for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology: * damp heat obstructing the middle burner; * liver qi depression affecting the deficient spleen; * yin deficiency of liver and kidney; * stagnating blood obstructing the collaterals; * yang deficiency of spleen and kidney. A general comparison showed that hepatitis C patients were generally older and had a history of blood transfusion; hepatitis B patients often had a close relative afflicted with the same disorder. At the same time, symptoms were much less severe in patients with hepatitis C. A comparison of TCM symptom complex showed equal distribution between the two types in relation to liver qi stagnation, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency, but a markedly higher incidence of blood stasis among patients with hepatitis C, and a markedly higher incidence of damp-heat among patients with hepatitis B. However, these results may not reflect much on the difference between hepatitis B and C disease. Those with hepatitis C tended to have a higher incidence of blood stasis, but were also older: the elderly tend to have blood stasis. Those with hepatitis B tended to have higher incidence of damp-heat, but damp-heat is probably the main manifestation of more severe hepatitis (see below), which was the condition of those in the study with hepatitis B. In the opinion of the authors of that report, TCM treatment protocols for hepatitis C should focus on the following: 1) clear pathogens and resolve toxins; 2) remove toxins by strengthening the righteous qi; and 3) transform stasis to prevent cancer formation (liver cancer is a major cause of death from chronic hepatitis). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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