More Hepatitis comments

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Here are some comments on a letter sent privately where the

correspondent is relating to my posting on Hepatitis and Dr. Zhang-

 

>>I do know from my own research most of the constituent herbs in

his formulas,all mainly based on traditional tcm formulas.The reason

that he gets good results I feel is due to the fact that the herbal

extracts are a much higher concentration(higher than the standard

1:5 powdered extracts)also I know that in some of the formulas

highly concentrated extracts of the herbs are also utilised,such as

ligustrine,Schizandrine etc.>>

 

The concepts of the formulas that Dr. Zhang uses are `similar' to

but at the same time different from traditional formulas – but

beyond the formulas themselves the most important factor is the

forms of the herbs – they are `new' standardized, concentrated,

extractions – many produced through freeze drying techniques that

preserve the active constituents in ways that decoctions never could

do – these forms of herbs are revolutionizing herbal practice

throughout the world. I am looking forward to the time when all of

the classic formulas are reformulated using these techniques of

preparing herbs and formulas and using the western scientific

analysis of what are the active principles in herbs – the herbology

of the future I believe will be much greater and more predictable in

it's results than the herbology of my grandfather.

 

Another quote from the letter -

>>In regard to lowering/normalising liver functions ,as I mentioned

before I feel that (and this is based on alot of networking with

online friends with hepc) that it does take time to normalize them

if one had had the condition for a long time,so normalising alt s

etc in a few months is a bit too much,even with zhangs protocol my

alts dropped from 200s down to 150 that was in a year.>>

 

Normalizing ALT in those with active HCV disease is IMPOSSIBLE!!!! –

I believe – without absolutely controlling diet. Herbs are a great

help but they can not overcome constant stressing of the Liver by

food and drink indiscretions. Good herbs and perfect (or near

perfect) diet can work wonders – diet by itself can perform miracles

but I have seen the best results from a combination of herbs and

diet. I have seen many bring their ALT into range in less than a

month. In old cases the determining factor is the damage that has

been done already. Those with severe damage might have great

difficulty recovering at all – but in these cases what we are trying

to do is improve the quality of life and trying to avoid the most

serious consequences of Liver damage – cancer, Liver failure,

insanity – etc. – These are all diseases of stasis and Liver stasis

over long time can be devastating – anything we can do to get

circulation moving in the Liver will be helpful.

 

Another quote –

 

>>There again I know people with hep c who have normal liver

function ranges who are on transplant lists.. also I know people who

have very high viral loads and feel energetic healthy and fine !So

it can be quite baffling. >>

 

The current activity of the virus is not the determining factor in

many cases of long standing HCV infection it is the previous damage

done – many with severely damaged Livers that are destroying their

lives do not have active viral infections – as shown by ALT and

viral load. This is why in the previous post I emphasized that HCV

virus is a weak non-aggressive pathogen. In it's active phases

either generally or in isolated pockets the virus can do great

damage – but the fact is that many people with HCV do not have

active phases of the virus any more – as stated here many HCV cases

with Liver failure do not have high levels of the virus or other

signs of infection. I have seen also many people in early stage who

have very high viral load who have no symptoms of disease at all.

The issues with HCV have to do with long-term, undetected, untreated

infection which has slowly over a many year period damaged the

Liver – if this disease is detected early it is relatively easy to

manage. The problem of course is that because many never have an

infectious crisis they do not know they are infected until the

damage has already been done. It is the damage that will cause the

many symptoms of HCV not the pathogen itself. Even if we control the

virus completely we will still be left with the scarring and the

stagnation processes which are causing the Liver condition to

deteriorate. In treating HCV the virus is only one factor – coursing

the Liver and supporting it's function will be the greatest

challenge – in one sense the autoimmune processes will be the key

issue – for many coursing the Liver and removing the stagnant damp

and toxic heat will be sufficient to control the virus. In studying

infectious processes I have felt that many of the problems of HCV

infection have to do with the nature of the solid organs like the

Liver – the stagnation processes can bring Liver functions almost to

a halt and this keeps the body from dealing with the infection well –

this is difficult for many to deal with because of their already

slow metabolic processes. This allows even a weak virus like HCV to

hide and do undetected damage overtime. Many of the cases that were

contracted from skin punctures and blood transmission before we used

disposable syringes (20 or thirty years ago – depending on where you

live) are just now being diagnosed.

 

Another quote –

 

>>As Zhang says the aim is to stop inflammation and improve liver

histology etc. I have been to quite a few TCM practitioners,alot of

them I found knew less about hep c than I did,and eneded up giving

me herbs that caused more problems.>>

 

This is a big problem – I have been a physician for over 40 years

and have studied medicine in many schools of thought ancient and

modern and have actually only met a handful of people who have a

broad enough vision of disease and health to help people come out of

serious chronic disease processes. Some can relieve superficial

symptoms but can not heal disease. One factor in clinical practice

of medicine is that most of the healing process is not in the

control of the clinician – it is in control of the patient – and

fate. So even for great clinicians the healing and recovery of

disease is not always their objective. Unfortunately in the western

countries training and clinical experience is not adequate. I have a

prejudice for classically trained physicians - but – even that does

not guarantee good clinical practice – I have met many physicians

trained by great traditional teachers using the highest classical

training techniques who are not very good healers. In health

recovery the greatest challenge is often finding someone qualified

to help. Healing is a science and a art – and there are very few

true scientist/artists.