by Jackie Hart, MD
Q: I was diagnosed with hepatitis C a year ago and have heard that there are herbal supplements that can help treat it. Is this true?
A: Hepatitis C is a virus that causes chronic inflammation of the liver and affects approximately four million Americans. Many people are unaware that they have hepatitis C, because it can be present without causing symptoms. Unfortunately, 80% of people with hepatitis C ultimately develop chronic liver failure; more than 20% of liver transplant operations are performed on people with hepatitis C.
Standard treatment includes the use of a drug called interferon, which eradicates the virus in only 15-20% of people who take the drug. In addition, interferon can sometimes produce serious side effects, including extreme fatigue, severe depression, and dangerously low levels of platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting
Because of interferons side effects, many people are looking to alternative and complementary medicine for additional options, including herbal supplements. There are many herbal supplements on the market that are touted to improve liver disease, but the only one with enough positive study results behind it right now is milk thistle (also called silybum or silymarin).
Laboratory studies have shown that milk thistle may exert a protective effect on normal liver cells and may even regenerate liver cells. A human study published in the Scandinavian literature many years ago showed that the microscopic appearance of the liver (when measured by biopsy) was improved in people with liver disease from any cause who received silymarin.
Milk thistle also appears to be safe. In Germany, where the medicinal use of herbs is more widely studied, health authorities have endorsed the use of milk thistle as a supportive treatment for inflammatory conditions of the liver.
Be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking milk thistle or any other dietary supplement to treat hepatitis C or any other form of liver disease.
Q: I was diagnosed with hepatitis C a year ago and have heard that there are herbal supplements that can help treat it. Is this true?
A: Hepatitis C is a virus that causes chronic inflammation of the liver and affects approximately four million Americans. Many people are unaware that they have hepatitis C, because it can be present without causing symptoms. Unfortunately, 80% of people with hepatitis C ultimately develop chronic liver failure; more than 20% of liver transplant operations are performed on people with hepatitis C.
Standard treatment includes the use of a drug called interferon, which eradicates the virus in only 15-20% of people who take the drug. In addition, interferon can sometimes produce serious side effects, including extreme fatigue, severe depression, and dangerously low levels of platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting
Because of interferons side effects, many people are looking to alternative and complementary medicine for additional options, including herbal supplements. There are many herbal supplements on the market that are touted to improve liver disease, but the only one with enough positive study results behind it right now is milk thistle (also called silybum or silymarin).
Laboratory studies have shown that milk thistle may exert a protective effect on normal liver cells and may even regenerate liver cells. A human study published in the Scandinavian literature many years ago showed that the microscopic appearance of the liver (when measured by biopsy) was improved in people with liver disease from any cause who received silymarin.
Milk thistle also appears to be safe. In Germany, where the medicinal use of herbs is more widely studied, health authorities have endorsed the use of milk thistle as a supportive treatment for inflammatory conditions of the liver.
Be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking milk thistle or any other dietary supplement to treat hepatitis C or any other form of liver disease.