Treating Hepatitis C (Notes sent to Michael from herbalist, Alan Tillotson, AHG)
Introduction
I have had 100% success in relieving elevated liver enzymes associated
with hepatitis C and even advanced cirrhosis by using Planetary's Bupleurum
liver Cleanse together with Dandelion root tea. --- Michael Tierra
Thanks for sending the articles to review. I am far from being an expert,
but this is what I think is happening. I think that non A -non B (herein
called nanb) hepatitis exists. I think that Hepatitis C as such does not
exist. In the condition of nonb, the patient has damage to their liver in the
form of a scarring or inflammation, which is localized to one or two areas in
the liver, then slowly spreads whenever the liver is depleted or stressed.
There may be another virus (not Hepatitis C) present or perhaps not. The
condition is hot and dry, which slowly cooks the cells. Glutathione levels
are probably down. Toxic dampness can also be present.
The stressed cells in the damaged hardened area leak out pieces of human RNA, which is what the test picks up. The numbers on the HCV RNA PCR test show how
much leaking there is going on. This RNA leaking is a symptom, not a cause.
There is a chronic depleted condition (liver yin deficiency)
as well as
inflammation there. In this condition, the Yin depleted areas gradually get
harder, and this hardness is what is called cirrhosis eventually. The areas
that are not hardened function normally, dealing only with the inflammation,
which they show on the liver enzyme numbers, which go up and down. If the
inflammation gets low, and the nutrient levels gets up somewhat, the hardness
remains, but does not spread much because there is enough moisture and
lipids. If a stress appears resulting in more depletion, the liver begins to
leak out the RNA, showing that soon some more hardening of the leaking cells, which gradually spread. If the stress causes only inflammation, the enzymes
go up. The cells within the hardened areas do not get normal nutrition so they begin to change shape, and eventually can become cancerous.
This why the two sets of numbers, RNA PCR and liver enzymes seem to function independently at times in namb patients. It also explains why a severe stress
like alcohol speeds up progression. It also explains why there is a long
incubation time, with little symptoms (the rest of the liver not hardened
functions pretty normally until the hardened area reaches critical size).
Actually there usually is some fatigue and pallor and sexual weakness, the
results not of the hardened areas, but of the mildly inflamed liver. Because
the hardened areas, like scars, do not easlily go back to normal, even if the
patient is treated well and the rest of his liver gets better, the RNA PCR
numbers will jump up whenever a stress causes further stress leakage.
Milk thistle and other anti-inflammatory herbs help with symptoms, liver
enzymes and slowing progression, but they do not repair the hardened areas.
Cholagogue herbs also work only on removing inflammation. To deal with the
hardness, I have been using, in addition to the above, flax oil and lipoic
acid, to provide the softening omega three oils along with this lipid
soluble. Dick Noble just sent me some info on SAMe/S-adenosyl-L-methionine, which seems to directly cause softening. I have no
experience with it. From a TCM perspective you would use white peony, salvia, Turtle shell and Curcuma tuber, perhaps rhubarb for this aspect.
Licorice is also useful, as a Japanese study showed halving of liver cancer
with an extract.
Taking out the liver heat is easier, and everyone knows how to do that I
think. It also may work to use some enzyme like herbs to soften, like
bromelain and pippili. Eclipta is a deobstructant to the liver, and also
nourishing as it makes hair grow. Silajatu nourishes the liver also.
Because all of us, patients and doctors, have been hypnotized by the PCR
numbers, patients get spooked as do we, so we change or give up or they bolt.
The Ayurvedic perspective makes it clear that the key is to use gently
nourishing liver tonics over a long period of time, up to two years or more.
Eventually the constant mild nourishing tonification, combined with strict
avoidance of coffee and alcohol, perhaps will begin to soften the hardened
cells. I've has two cases (one documented one undocumented) of Hep C return to normal. The one case, had a very healthy lifestyle prior to taking the
tonics I got him from Nepal.
I am not impressed by the interferon and riboviran treatments. For all I
know, riboviran (sic) may cook the cells further, like chemotherapy always
does, and block leakage of the detectable pieces of genetic information.
The big queston is what is causing all this liver damage. I think we can
round up the usual suspects - alchohol, (western and recreational),
pesticides, chemical solvents, fatty diets etc., though probably from some
chemical subset within them. With all this, why should we be surprised there
is a epidemic of sick livers? What scares me is cholesterol drugs, which
knocks down glutathione like crazy. There may be a genetic predisposition for
some people's cells to leak this piece of genetic material, further confusing
the issue. In a phone conversation I had with Donna O. on the list, she
revealed that the normal needle exchange controls which slow down HIV do not work with Hep C. This knocks one more tile out of the viral belief system.
We all may still be pawns of our biochemical beliefs. I wonder if viruses,
non-living but animated pieces of information, are not better understood from
an electrical point of view. What about two years of acupuncture, magnets and
diet?
Alan Keith Tillotson, MA, AHG - Medical Herbalist
Naixin Hu Tillotson, OMD, LAc - Chinese Medicine
Chrysalis Natural Medicine Clinic
1008 Milltown Rd., Wilm., DE 19808 USA
(302) 994-0565 (302) 995-0653 fax
email: AlanT3@aol.com / Website:
www.oneearthherbs.com
One of several cases of Hepatitis C treated at Michael's East West Herb and Acupuncture Clinic 912, Center St., Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060, (831)429-8066