What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis is a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the liver. It sometimes causes severe liver damage.

There are several types of hepatitis. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E.

In hepatitis B, the liver is infected with the hepatitis B virus. This causes inflammation. The liver isn t able to work properly.

Hepatitis B can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).

Acute hepatitis B - This is a brief infection (6 months or less) that goes away because the body gets rid of the virus. 
Chronic hepatitis B - This is a long-lasting infection( it lasts more than six months.) that happens when your body can t get rid of the virus. Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver cirrhosis liver failure and liver cancer. 
The causes of hepatitis B -

Hepatitis B is caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus. People pass the hepatitis B virus to each other. This happens when you come into contact with another person s infected:

Blood 
Semen 
Vaginal secretions 
Saliva
Common ways this virus is spread are through:

Needle sticks 
Sharp instruments 
Shared razors and toothbrushes 
Unprotected sex with an infected person 
Sharing drug supplies
Babies may also get the disease if their mother has the virus. 

Who is at risk for hepatitis B? 

Anyone can get hepatitis B by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is infected with hepatitis B.

Some people are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B. They include:

Children born to mothers who have hepatitis B 
People who have a blood-clotting disorder, such as hemophilia 
People who need dialysis for kidney failure 
People who use IV (intravenous) drugs 
People who have unprotected sex. 
People who have a job where they are in contact with human blood, body fluids, or needles 
People taking medicines(immunosuppressant) that weaken (suppress) the body s infection-fighting system (immune system) 
People with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or hepatitis C infections
Pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B. 

Symptoms of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B has a wide range of symptoms. It may be mild, without symptoms, or it may cause chronic hepatitis.

Each person s symptoms may vary. The most common symptoms of hepatitis B is as follows.

Loss of appetite 
Nausea 
Extreme tiredness (fatigue) 
Fever 
Muscle soreness 
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) 
Dark urine 
Clay-colored or light-colored stools
Belly (abdominal) pain, discomfort. 
Easy bleeding and bruising 
Confusion 
Swollen belly - fluid accumulation.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis B -

Blood tests can detect signs of the hepatitis B virus in your body. 
Liver ultrasound. 
Liver biopsy
Complications of hepatitis B -

1. Liver failure can lead to death.

2. The risk of liver cancer is higher in people with hepatitis B.

3. Long-term or chronic hepatitis B can cause severe liver damage. The most severe liver damage is called cirrhosis. The liver stops working properly.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Hepatitis B -

Ayurvedic treatment mainly boost the immune system to get the rid of Hepatitis B virus. Specially ''Rasayan'' Ayurvedic treatment that is very effective to rejuvenate each and every cell of our body and mainly liver tissue. Nectar like Ayurvedic medicine help to slow down or stop the virus from damaging the liver.

Ayurvedic Treatment is helpful to decrease the amount and destructive energy of virus in the blood, Rejuvenate liver tissue, reduce complications.

Important points to prevent hepatitis B?

A vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B. The vaccine is suggested for everyone age 18 years and younger, as well as for adults over age 18 who are at risk for the infection.

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis B by:

Using condoms during sex 
Making sure any tattoos or body piercings are done with tools that have been cleaned properly and do not have any germs (sterile) 
Not sharing needles and other drug supplies 
Not sharing toothbrushes or razors 
Not touching another person s blood or body fluids unless you wear gloves.
Though there are treatments available in Ayurveda, it is advisable to consult an Ayurvedic liver specialist before opting for any treatment.

Hepatitis B And Its Ayurvedic Treatment!

Autoimmune Hepatitis is a condition in which the liver gets inflamed. This occurs when the immune system of the body attacks the liver cells. Still, the actual cause of Autoimmune Hepatitis is still unknown. 

In general, environmental and genetic factors trigger this condition. It is one of the chronic diseases which when left untreated can lead to Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or the worst Liver Failure. Still, if it is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated by using certain medications. 

Although there are many ways by which it can be controlled or treated, the Ayurvedic approach is one of the best ways to treat this condition without any side effects. Ayurveda works on the principle of balancing the doshas and energies of the body.

Before understanding how Ayurveda helps in treating Autoimmune Hepatitis, let's explore the functioning of the liver.

Liver and Its Function:

The liver is an important organ and gland of the body that participates in the process of digestion. It secretes bile juice that helps in the digestion of fat. Apart from this, the liver also plays an important role in the filtration mechanism. It filters unprocessed components and toxins. It prevents the toxins from going into circulation and damaging the important organs of the body. It also filters the toxins from circulating the food essence coming through the portal circulation (circulation of blood from the small intestine, spleen, and right half of the colon to the liver). The liver is one of the hematopoietic organs that help in the process of cell maturation.

In Ayurveda, the liver is known as Yakrit, which forms  channels that carry mature blood throughout the body (Rakta Vaha Srotas). The liver is the chief site of Ranjaka Pitta i.e., one of the subtypes of Pitta. The Ranjaka Pitta is responsible for the force by which the heart pushes the blood to other parts of the body. It also helps in blood circulation.

If the Pitta is vitiated in the liver, it may cause inflammation of the liver and generate an autoimmune process leading to a condition called Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Autoimmune Hepatitis And Ayurveda:

Among the three doshas (Pitta, Vata, and Kapha) in Ayurveda, Pitta participates in the activities related to the digestion process. If it gets imbalanced, it starts destroying the components and cells of the body, mainly the organs or areas in which it is produced and stored. This also affects the channels and areas where it is functional and all the parts which come in contact with impaired Pitta.

When Pitta is imbalanced in the liver, it will interrupt the normal functioning of the liver making it unable to differentiate between self and non-self immunity and damage the cells of the liver. This process is known as autoimmune process and one of the main causes of Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Take Away:

Ayurveda works on the principle of balancing the Pitta dosha to limit the symptoms of Autoimmune Hepatitis. However, it is advisable to consult an Ayurvedic Liver specialist before going for any medicines.

Autoimmune Hepatitis - Knowing The Ayurvedic Approach!

HepatitisThe problem of hepatitis is related to an inflammatory condition of liver. It occurs mainly due to infection caused by virus but there are other possible causes as well. Hepatitis can be temporary or viral. Temporary hepatitis, which is acute in nature, gets resolved on its own. Viral hepatitis can be of five types, A, B, C, D and E.

Now, let us discuss about the causes behind each type of hepatitis, which results in liver problem.

Causes

The fact that we have identified five types of Hepatitis, A, B, C, D and E, let s take a look at the causes behind the occurrence of all these types:

Hepatitis A: The most common way through which this type of virus gets transmitted, is through consuming food or water contaminated by wastes from a person infected with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B: One can suffer from Hepatitis B, if one comes in contact with infectious body fluids like blood, secretions from vagina, semen, taking drugs through injections, containing the virus of Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C: This is also transmitted when someone comes in direct contact with fluids of an infected person, through injection drugs and sexual contact. As per the reports of Union Health Ministry, about 1.2 crore people of India are suffering from Hepatitis C, with the worst affected region being North India.
Hepatitis D: It is a rare form of hepatitis, also known as delta hepatitis, occurs as a result of coming into direct contact with infected blood. Hepatitis D is rare because it only takes place in conjunction with hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis E: This virus is mainly caused in areas of poor sanitation.  It is a waterborne disease, resulting from ingesting faecal matter that contaminates water supply. Cases of Hepatitis E have been mainly reported in Middle East, Asia, Central America and Africa.
Symptoms Of Hepatitis

Hepatitis, in its initial phase is called the acute phase. The following symptoms along with mild flu are visible:

Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Joint pains
Pain in the abdomen
Nausea
Weight loss
Jaundice
Though this phase is not really dangerous but for some patients, it can result in liver failure leading to death. 

Treatment for Hepatitis

Treatment options for different types of hepatitis are:

Hepatitis A: This doesn t require treatment as it is short-term in nature. In case the symptoms cause a lot of discomfort, then bed rest is recommended. Vaccine is available to prevent this infection.
Hepatitis B: Acute Hepatitis B doesn t require treatment either. Its chronic form can be treated with antiviral medications. This can be prevented with vaccination.
Hepatitis C: This type of hepatitis, both in its acute and chronic forms, is treated through antiviral medications.
Hepatitis D: According to a study in 2013, a drug known as alpha interferon is used to treat this type of hepatitis but unfortunately this only comes to the rescue of 25-30% people.
Hepatitis E: This acute form of hepatitis gets resolved on its own. Adequate rest, drinking sufficient amount of water and taking enough nutrients in their food are some of the ways to get healed from this disease.

Hepatitis - Know The Types & Their Signs!

Hepatitis B is the most severe liver infection due to hepatitis B virus. The virus attacks the liver, causing liver failure, cirrhosis or liver cancer. It spreads via infected blood and bodily fluid. Health care workers, emergency personnel, primary assistants, persons who have given birth to infants and have infected partners are in danger of getting infected with the virus. If you are associated with a hazardous group, then you need to know how to save yourself from infection and transmittal.

How do you know if you are at danger of Hepatitis B infection?
If you are a healthcare worker or you need to manage blood, blood products, and body fluids at your work, then you are in contact with hepatitis B virus.

How to safeguard yourself?
All healthcare personnel, primary carers, casualty worker and others who are prone to blood and bodily fluids in the work need to get hepatitis B vaccination. In a period of six months, the vaccine is given in three doses. It is advisable to test your Hepatitis B antibody level once in 6 weeks after completing the immunization series. This aids you to make sure that you get adequate safety against hepatitis B virus. If the defending antibiotics have not been growing in your body even after completing the immunization series, and then you have to repeat the chain.

What are the extra careful measures?
It is recommended to avoid direct contact with blood and body fluid. If blood spreads, then clean those using thin bleach solutions. If you have any cuts or open wounds, then cover them properly before taking care of the infected person. Avoid sharing sharp objects like blades, nails, slippers, and earrings. Make sure whether or not the new and sterile needles are used during the treatment of certain diseases. Wash hands with soap and warm water after possible risk.

How to get your Hepatitis B status?
You can determine even if you are infected with Hepatitis B virus and the condition of the virus by 3 part blood test. Hepatitis B virus is a dangerous blood born pathogen that can cause fatal disease. Avoiding getting in touch with this virus is the measure to save you from diseases.

If you are prone to Hepatitis B virus and if you are not vaccinated then you should immediately take medical attention. The doctor usually advises you to obtain Post Exposure Prophylaxis as soon as possible. It is worth getting the first dose of vaccine within 24 hours of exposure. To determine whether you have developed defending antibiotics, you have to test.

Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer therefore investigation is necessary.

Family should be screened as it can be in family Pregnant mother with hepatitis B can transmit infection to newborn. All pregnant females should be screened and precaution should be taken to stop transmission to newbor

Hepatitis B - How Can You Protect Yourself?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection, resulting in the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B is considered to be acute when it lasts up to six months and is tagged as chronic when the timeline exceeds six months. Some of the common symptoms of this disease are dark urine, queasiness, stomach ache, weakness and joint ache. Ayurveda is known to be an effective agent in treating Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is diagnosed by presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and IgM antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc IgM) which develop in the serum in the early stages of infection at the time symptoms appear. Antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) develops after active infection and serves as an indicator of immunity. 

Anti-HBs + - individual has been vaccinated, has received immune globulin, is immune, or is an infant who has received antibodies from his/her mother. Anti-HBc + - indicates past or present infection and lasts indefinitely. May be detected in an infant who has received antibodies from its mother. IgM anti-HBc + - indicates recent infection with HBV, usually within 4-6 months. HBeAg + - indicates active viral replication and high infectivity. HBsAg + HBV - acute or chronic HBV; persistence for 6 months after acute infection indicates progression to chronic HBV. 

Treatment for Hepatitis B - 

While there is no approved treatment for acute hepatitis B, few herbs which works as anti viral to HBV DNA and few as antioxident and heaptocytes protector from antigen now give the name of herbs you have given Infected individuals should practice safe sex. Avoiding contact with infected blood or other body fluids directly or on objects such as needles, razors, toothbrushes, etc., may reduce the risk of transmission. Sores and rashes should be covered with bandages and blood on any surface should be cleaned up with household bleach.

Listed below are some of the natural herbs that help in fighting Hepatitis B:

Katuki: The scientific name of the herb is picrorhiza kurroa. Studies have shown that katuki increases gall bladder shrinkage. It helps in digestion by curing liver ailments. It can be consumed every alternate day to fetch fast recovery.
Kalmegh: This Indian herb is better known as andrographis paniculata in the scientific community. It helps in raising the level of serum and the globulin component of protein.
Poerhavin diffusa: This is part of the actual plant and is better by the name of Punarnava. It addresses blandness and dyspepsia.
Tamarix gallica: Owing to its sugary taste, this herb is easily accepted by children. They have a cleansing effect on the intestine and assist in smooth blood flow of a patient suffering from hepatitis B.
Terminalia chebula: This is also known as Haritaki in the Indian subcontinent and helps in decreasing the level of liver spleen. This herb should be consumed with honey on alternate days.
Eclipta Alba: This herb is more commonly known as bhringraj. It helps in reviving the liver cells and clears toxins from the body. This herb has a certain rejuvenating effect on patients suffering from hepatitis B.
Chicory: This is considered to be a miraculous drug, owing to its ability of revitalising the liver and kidney. It cleanses the blood and speeds up the recovery of hepatitis B.
Solanum indicum: This herb has the ability to counter alkaline phosphate that damages the liver. They also have the capability to renovate the liver cells in a very quick time.
Capparis spinosa: This herb has the ability to address viral hepatitis. Apart from addressing liver problems, they are also known to be extremely effective in countering anxiety and itching. It suits elderly persons. They can be consumed 2  3 times a week in the form of an extract.
Echinacea purpurea: This herb is more commonly known as the echinacia. They have the unique ability of eradicating liver ailments in a short span of time. Apart from being a favourable liver agent, echinacia can bring down swelling of the liver and also safeguard a person from getting the flu. This can be consumed as extract or mixed with fruit juice.

Best Ayurvedic Medicines for Hepatitis Treatment - Effective Remedies

Hepatitis B is characterized by the inflammation of the liver tissue, caused due to hepatitis virus B (HVB). If the infection stays for a short time span, it is called acute Hepatitis B, but in case the infection stays for a longer duration, it is called chronic Hepatitis B. The cause of Hepatitis B is infection with the hepatitis B virus. However, this disease is transferable and may be passed on from one person to another through shared needles for injecting drugs, unprotected sex with an infected person, or sharing of personal items such as a toothbrush or a razor.



Ayurveda, involves the use of herbs in the most natural and unadulterated form and can easily treat Hepatitis B. There are certain herbs that help the body to recover from the disease and also strengthen it, thereby improving the overall health. Before we discuss the herbs that are said to help in case of Hepatitis B, let s first explore its symptoms.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B

The symptoms can range from mild to severe, such as

Weakness and exhaustion
Pain in the stomach
Pain in the joints
Yellow or pale eyes
Dark urine
Nausea
Ayurveda for treating Hepatitis B:

Patients suffering from Hepatitis B can greatly benefit from herbal treatment, which involves the use of specific herbs. Ayurveda recommends the use of certain herbs for the treatment of hepatitis B. For chronic Hepatitis B, it is highly recommended that patient take proper treatment under Ayurvedic doctor to stop further damage of liver tissue and avoid Liver failure. 

There are no home remedies for treatment of Hepatitis B, only a proper line of treatment under guidance of Ayurveda doctor should be followed.

Hepatitis B - How Ayurvedic Remedies Can Help Treat It?

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