Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a condition in which the liver becomes inflamed, mostly because of a virus, but sometimes because of medicines or toxic substances, generally alcohol. At least five viruses, A. B, C. D, and E are responsible for five types of hepatitis, all of which are differentiated by their respective modes of infection, development, and prevention.

The five types of hepatitis

• Hepatitis A spreads through direct contact or in dirty water. It is easily contracted in countries where hygiene is dubious, but also in close communities, and in summer holiday resorts. Those affected are only contagious during the incubation period, which is 15-60 days. In the West, with improvements in hygiene, there are fewer and fewer viruses in circulation, but people are becoming more and more susceptible to the Hepatitis A virus. Vaccination has been available for some years
• Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood (blood transfusion, improperly sterilized syringes), or through sexual contact, as are Hepatitis C and D. In 60 per cent of cases this disease affects young people between 15 and 30. The virus persists in the blood for a long time. Of the many hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of chronic virus carriers in the world, around ten per cent will develop complications
• Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood or soiled material. It mainly occurs after transfusions or is contracted by drug addicts
• Hepatitis D can only occur in persons already infected with hepatitis B. It can therefore be prevented by vaccinating against hepatitis B
• Hepatitis E is not common in the West. It is very severe in pregnant women, and is seen especially in India, Nepal. and North Africa.

The symptoms of the disease

At the start the symptoms are often not very suggestive of hepatitis in particular: fever, aches, and headaches, which might be attributed to a bout of 'flu. Nor are the digestive upsets involved (nausea and vomiting) any more specific. A diagnosis of hepatitis is strongly suspected when jaundice appears, accompanied by darkened urine and light-coloured stools. However, these signs are absent in 90 per cent of cases, which means that most of the time the disease is not noticed.

A diagnosis is possible when blood is taken: transaminase levels are found to be raised.

The disease normally progresses towards recovery with a disappearance of symptoms and when examination indicates the restoration of normal biological values. Most fortunately, complications are rare.

Recovery from hepatitis A is almost always without after-effects. Hepatitis B and C sometimes become chronic and may even produce cirrhosis. The classic treatment based on interferon is sometimes necessary to arrest development. but the virus does not disappear Currently, there are vaccines against hepatitis A and B, but not against hepatitis C

Dietary advice

The diet is self-imposed because the symptoms of the disorder spontaneously suppress the desire for certain foods.

Homeopathy

Phosphorus

Four granules at 15c, to be sucked like sweets, once a day between meals, for some weeks.

Research with humans and laboratory animals has shown that phosphorus may be useful in encouraging the normalization of transaminase levels.

Phosphorus

-Mineral origin: white phosphorus
-Specific homeopathic remedy for hepatitis

Herbal treatment

Artichoke and milk thistle provide powerful protection and regeneration for the liver.

• You can use Cynara Artichoke, a dried artichoke extract (320mg):
  -Available in packs of 30 capsules
  - One capsule daily, preferably before meals
• You can also use Lamberts@ Artichoke 8000mg:
  - Available in containers of 60 tablets
  - One tablet daily, preferably before meals
• You can ask your herbalist to prepare 45 capsules made from a heat vaporization of milk thistle, 200mg for a NO.2 capsule (the size of the capsule that the herbalist will use for the ingredients). One capsule to be taken three times a day for some weeks. (It is a little expensive, but useful.)

Artichoke and milk thistle

The artichoke came originally from North Africa. Its leaves contain chemical substances that protect the liver and stimulate the formation and secretion of bile. Milk thistle seeds contain silymarin, a substance that protects the liver from toxins and thus speeds recovery from hepatitis.

• You can take Lamberts@ Milk Thistle 3000mg, which contains 70mg of silymarin:
  - Available in containers of 90 capsules
  - One capsule to be taken daily
• You can also take S.A.T.@ (Thorne) which contains milk thistle 150mg, artichoke extract 150mg and turmeric extract 150mg:
  - Available in containers of 60 capsules
  - Take 1-3 capsules 3 times daily.