Hepatitis C - An Epidemic that Didn’t Need to Happen & What You Should Know......
There is a virus stalking the world that already infects 170 million people worldwide, 3% of the world’s population, and is more than four times those infected with AIDS. 14 years ago it didn’t even have a name. There is as yet no vaccine and no cure, according to conventional medicine. It doesn’t kill with the virulence of AIDS but it kills just the same. In Egypt up to 25% of the population are infected because of the re-use of needles in government health campaigns to eradicate schistosomiasis. In Europe and the US it is already epidemic. 4 million Americans are infected and in the UK 5,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. In Russia the number of infected has quadrupled in ten years.
Of those who contact the disease about 15% of patients mount a strong enough immune response to completely kill off the virus, but the remaining 85% can have the disease for life. Of these 20% to 50% may go on to develop liver cirrhosis and of those 20% to 30% will develop liver cancer or liver failure. In America Hepatitis C infection kills some 10,000 people every year and that number is expected to triple by 2010.
And yet 14 years ago the Hepatitis C was unknown. Fortunately it is hard to catch, unlike other forms of Hepatitis. So how in God’s name did it become the worldwide scourge that it is today? The answer is a sad one because it could so easily have been avoided. The overwhelming cause of Hep C infection comes from unscreened blood transfusions and the use of shared needles. In Europe and North America public health officials only began screening blood supplies in the early 1990’s. So anyone who received a blood transfusion prior to that date could be infected. In the West that is the prime cause of Hep C infection. That, and to a lesser degree IV drug use. Much less common causes are, working in a medical environment and sexual contact. To become infected requires blood to blood contact. Often the infected individual has no idea how they contracted this potentially lethal disease.
The insidious thing about Hep C and which has health officials really worried is what is going to happen over the next 20 years. The Hep C virus (HCV) can lie dormant in the bloodstream for decades and millions of people who are already infected, don’t know it and may become ill. The rates for liver failure will skyrocket and demand for liver transplants will soar. In developedcountries costly drug treatments will put even more pressure on already creaking medical coverage systems and in the poorer countries medicines for it just won’t be available. The only good thing that can be said is that with the routine screening of blood and a decrease in repeat use of needles the disease is likely to peak and progressively decline in 20 years time. Compared to other killer diseases that is something, but this one didn’t need to happen.
How Much Am I at Risk?
If you ever shared a needle while shooting up, you are at risk. If you had a blood transfusion before 1994, you should check. Since the virus can lie dormant for decades it makes absolute sense for people to take a blood test to see if you are positive for HCV antibodies. If positive it’s a good idea to take a further PCR Test, which identifies and measures the overall viral load, and tests for liver function. A positive test does not mean you have a serious form of the disease. You may experience no symptoms or mild ones. In serious cases 20% to 30% go on to develop major liver disease. Hep C usually becomes active with people over 40.
The major symptoms of Hep C is fatigue. Others are loss of appetite and weight loss; rashes and joint pain; fever and nausea; an enlarged and tender liver and flu like symptoms. Quite a number of diseases have similar symptoms so it is always wise to check liver function.
Here’s why Hep C is so nasty. The HCV does most of its damage by latching onto iron molecules and causing massive free radical damage to liver cells. These free radicals can mutate cellular DNA or in other words, cause liver cancer. Extensive scarring and inflammation of the liver results in cirrhosis and impaired liver function. You only have one liver and liver dysfunction wreaks havoc throughout the entire body.
What Can I do About it?
While medical scientists are working hard on a vaccine they are not there yet. And, even if one were available today, that’s not going to help those already infected. The best news is about all this is the conventional medical wisdom, that it is not possible to eradicate HCV once contracted, is untrue. Successful eradication of HCV from the body requires that iron levels in the blood be at very low levels. High stores of iron in the liver precludes any successful therapy against HCV.
It is mandatory to reduce iron levels before initiating the standard drug therapies. Innovative or integrative physicians using antioxidant supplements in addition to anti-viral therapies can not only protect the liver against damage, regenerating growth and function, but can also totally eliminate the virus. The fact that Hep C often becomes active after the age of 40 indicates that age-related immune decline plays an important part in the progression of the disease.
The conventional drug therapy for Hep C is to administer alpha-interferon by injection of 3 million IU subcutaneously 3 times weekly over a 6-month period. The thing about interferon is that while it can reduce the incidence of liver cancer as much as 75% it has only a 20% chance of working overall. Like chemotherapy, it is also a very nasty drug with brutal side effects, including aches, pains, malaise and depression. Many patients refuse it because of itstoxic effects and low rate of success.
However with the addition of the drug ribavarin the response rate can improve dramatically, as much as tenfold. The standard regimen is 800 to 1200mg per day in a divided dose over 6 months. A point you need to know about this is that in the US the FDA refuses to acknowledge the effect of ribavarin for this purpose and insists that interferon be used by itself for the first 6 months. Since this only works in 20% of cases and has such nasty side effects it is an absurd requirement. You need to find a doctor who is fully aware of the need for the dual approach.
While ribavarin is a comparatively safe drug there is one drawback to it which has to be seriously considered. Ribavarin, which is a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug, which incidentally can be very effective against flu, can cause anemia in 10% of cases. This is a key factor in the treatment of Hep C since low iron levels are vital. Anemia poses risks for those with coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease or a pre-existing blood disease. Against that, anemia ceases once treatment with ribavarin is concluded and the risks of anemia can be prevented by taking folic acid (0.8mg - 1.6mg) , vitamin B12 (1mg to 3mg), melatonin (0.5mg). Let’s be clear tho, if anemia is present already do not use ribavarin. Nor should it be used by pregnant or lactating women.
The Natural Approach
As noted antioxidants are a vital part of eradicating HCV. Here is what works:
The best anti-oxidant multi you can find with a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phyto-nutrients. Beta-carotene possesses unique immune enhancing benefits that can help suppress the HCV. Sufferers of Hep C should in any case be aware of their liver enzyme levels, but in rare cases vitamin A, Beta-carotene and niacin can cause them to become elevated. The best multis will have much of what follows in therapeutic amounts.
High doses of green tea polypherols (300mg to 900mg p/day) and high-allicin garlic (2gm to 4 gm p/day) to reduce serum and liver iron levels.
Liver-protecting nutrients and immune-boosting therapies such as milk thistle extract (silymarin or silibinin, 200mg 2 x p/day); licorice extract (500mg, 3 xp/day); selenium 800mcg p/day; N-acetylcysteine, 1200mg p/day; and Vit C, 4g to 10g per day.
One of the most effective means of all for protecting and restoring liver cell function destroyed by HCV is SAMe, which is co-incidentally a major anti-depressant agent. The suggested dose for SAMe is 200mg 3 xp/day with the methylation enhancing agents TMG (trimethylglycine) in a dose of 1000mg 2 x p/day, plus Vit B12 in the form of methylcobalmin in a dose of 5mg p/day taken sublingually. While this is an extremely effective therapy the cost of SAMe is comparatively high at $1.60 per 50mg tab.
Boosting glutathione levels is a key factor in eradication of HCV and 250mg of Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA) 2 p/day will do this. ALA is a major antioxidant and also boosts mitochondrial (cellular) energy. L-Glutathione, 500mg 3 x p/day.
Whey protein isolate (whey is the best form of protein to be found) at 30gm to 60gm 2 to 3 x p/day protects against free radicals in the liver. Ensure you get a high quality make as heat during processing will totally denature the product.
Grape seed extract, 85% to 95% proanthocyanidin, 100mg 2 to 3 x p/day protects against free radicals in the liver.
Melatonin at 500mcg to 3mg before bedtime. A major antioxidant, sleep and well being/mood aid, plus protection against anemia. Also Folic acid and Vit B12 as noted earlier for anemia protection.
In conclusion.......
For now, until newer cheaper drugs and a vaccine is available, the natural approach is the best and cheapest approach. When your liver enzymes are working right you can function, even with Hep C. And for those who don’t have the virus, remember, you only have one liver so you need to look after it. It is a colossal workhorse with wonderful regenerative capacity given half a chance and you need to help it function. Don’t abuse it! An easy way to do this is to supplement with milk thistle. That, and to test for antibodies and liver function.
Paracelsus
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