Dangers of “alternative” remedies for treatment of Hepatitis C

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Dangers of “alternative” remedies for treatment of Hepatitis C - Viral Spread

brad12345 | 330 | 2008-07-29
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is caused by the Hepatitis C virus. The disease occurs in acute and chronic forms; symptoms can range from mild (or even no symptoms) to severe. There are conventional medical treatments available for Hepatitis C, but some patients also try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. .. This booklet answers some frequently asked questions about on Hepatitis C and CAM, reviews findings from scientific research on various herbal and other supplements that have been used as CAM treatments for Hepatitis C (milk thistle, licorice root, ginseng, thymus extract, schisandra, and colloidal silver), and suggests sources for further information.

Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and registered nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western, mainstream, orthodox, regular medicine; and biomedicine. Some conventional medical practitioners are also practitioners of CAM. CAM, as defined by NCCAM, is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, and whose claims of effectiveness have not been verified in scientific studies..

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a communicable (contagious) disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).The liver, the largest organ in the body, is found behind the ribs on the right side of the abdomen. It has many important functions, including removing harmful material from the blood and converting food into substances needed for life and growth. The term "hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver. There are other viruses in the hepatitis family (such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B), but HCV is not related to them.


Quick Facts About Hepatitis C

* Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne infection in the United States. About 35,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.

* Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily when an infected person's blood comes into contact with the blood of a noninfected person.

o People who are at the highest risk for HCV infection are those who have used or experimented with the injection of drugs; received a blood transfusion, blood product, or organ transplant before July 1992; worked in health care and had a needlestick accident involving HCV-infected blood; or, had multiple sex partners.

o A risk exists but is low (1 to 5 percent) for babies born to a mother with hepatitis C and for people who are in a monogamous sexual relationship with someone with hepatitis C; who have had other sexually transmitted diseases; who have had tattooing or body piercing done with unsterilized tools; or, who have used cocaine intranasally (i.e., "snorted" it).

o Hepatitis C is not spread through sneezing, coughing, kissing, hugging, food, or water, or casual contact.

* People who are newly infected have what is called acute hepatitis C. For about 15 to 40 percent of this group, the infection is short-term, goes away, and does not return. Others develop chronic (or long-lasting) hepatitis C, in which the virus stays in the liver, replicates itself, and injures the liver over time.

* Among people with chronic hepatitis C, most show no symptoms for up to 20 to 30 years; some have mild symptoms; and, some have more serious symptoms.

* Chronic hepatitis C can cause liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and liver failure. However, persons who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C need to know that serious illness or death from the disease is by no means inevitable--especially if they take proper care of themselves and get the health care they need.


We appreciate your interest in learning about the dangers of “alternative” remedies for treatment of Hepatitis C.

With this booklet, you will learn about:

* Hepatitis C, the disease
* The Hepatitis C virus, and its many forms
* The variety and efficacy of tests to detect the presence of the Hepatitis C virus
* What affect the form of the Hepatitis C virus has on medical treatment strategies
* The various drugs used for the medical treatment of Hepatitis C
* The rate of success of medical treatment of Hepatitis C
* The factors that influence the rate of cure of Hepatitis C
* How diet and lifestyle can help if you have Hepatitis C
* What phony promises the sellers of alternative remedies use to sell their product
* A review of various alternative remedies, including their dangers and side effects
* Steps YOU can take to protect yourself from the sellers of phony remedies