Hepatitis C - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Hepatitis B and C, both can cause cirrhosis of liver and liver failure. Till recently, there was no effective medication for Hepatitis C infection. Hence, it was considered a more serious problem than hepatitis B. With latest medications, the latest cure for Hepatitis C has dramatically changed the management of this disease. Earlier, patients who were doomed for liver failure and liver cancer beacuse of Hepatitis C now have a definite cure available.

The liver plays a significant role in the body’s various metabolic processes. Infection with hepatitis C virus causes inflammation of the liver, popularly known as Hepatitis C. It is a relatively new discovery (the late 1980s), but there are a significant number of cases identified. The challenge in identifying this disease is that the patient does not manifest with any symptoms and can be carrying the virus for years without any signs. This makes diagnosis very difficult and in most cases, it is discovered when diagnosing for some other disease. It is transmitted via blood through use of drug needles, tattoo needles, or sexual when the virus is present in the vaginal fluid.

Homeopathic Treatment For Hepatitis C -

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using a holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat Hepatitis C infection but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved medicines are available for Hepatitis C treatment that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensation and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person.

Homeopathy offers a remedy for hepatitis C by detoxifying and neutralizing viral cells, improving immunity, and stimulating the production of healthy cells. The following compounds are useful in this.

1. Chelidonium Majus: Prepared from the flowers of Celandine, it acts on the hepatobiliary system and restores overall liver function. The patient’s presenting symptoms include jaundice with pain, bloated abdomen, significant lethargy, weakness, reduced appetite, nausea and vomiting.

2. China Officinalis: This is useful in patients who are down with intermittent fevers, headaches, gallstones, dyspepsia and hemorrhages. The patient could also have debility, trembling, ringing in the ears, flatulence in the abdomen, gassy feeling and vomiting of bile.

3. Bryonia Alba: This is prepared from the plant known as wild hops after potentization. It works on multiple systems including the digestive, hepatobiliary, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems. This is useful in patients who suffer from dyspepsia, migraine, bronchitis, joint pains, back pain, menstrual issues, and respiratory tract infections. The patient could also experience a burning sensation and soreness in the abdomen, which is extremely tender to the touch, along with nausea and vomiting. The symptoms are aggravated during summer months and with heat.

4. Kali Carbonicum: The active ingredient acts for multiple body systems including kidneys, liver, digestive, blood, bones, lungs, etc. It is widely used in liver dysfunctions like nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, and hepatitis C. The patient may have liver atrophy, cirrhosis, heaviness in the abdomen or jaundice. He or she could be restless, excitable and nervous. Extreme weakness and reaction to changes in light, sound, touch and odors are some other symptoms. The pain could be relieved by rubbing.

Other medicines like Lycopodium, Belladonna, Nux Vomica, and Aconite are also useful. However, as with all homeopathy medicines, self-medication is not advisable. The doctor will check for accompanying symptoms and your overall health status and will then determine what is best for you.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver which may often progress to dangerous complications. There are many types of hepatitis and each has its own particular set of causes, symptoms, mode of contraction and treatment procedures. Here are the main types of hepatitis as well as some of the factors which may cause hepatitis:

Types

1. Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A virus infection causes this condition. The Hepatitis A virus comes from food or water contaminated with the feces of someone contaminated with hepatitis A. This is not a chronic form of hepatitis.
2. Hepatitis B: This is a chronic form of hepatitis. It spreads through body fluid such as blood, saliva and semen. The possible causes of hepatitis B include injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner and sharing razors or other intimate articles with someone who is infected.
3. Hepatitis C: This is also a chronic form of hepatitis.The most common causes of hepatitis C are injection drug use or having sex.
4. Hepatitis D: This is a not a chronic form of hepatitis and is also very uncommon. It is usually contracted along with hepatitis B. It is usually caused due to puncture wounds or contact with infected blood.
5. Hepatitis E: This is the most uncommon form of hepatitis. It is due to poor sanitation and ingesting fecal matter. It is usually found in developing countries.

Causes

1. NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. It is part of a group of conditions called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. 
2. Virus: This is the usual way of contracting hepatitis. The virus attacks the liver and causes inflammation leading to the breakdown of a number of body systems.
3. Alcohol and other toxins: Alcohol and certain prescribed medications cause the liver to swell and that is why this form of hepatitis is known as alcoholic hepatitis.
4. Autoimmune disease: This is the rarest cause of hepatitis.  The immune system malfunctions and begins destroying its own tissues. It attacks the liver because it perceives the liver to be a foreign object.

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Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic and progressive condition in which the liver gets damaged and healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, ultimately causing dysfunction of the liver. Liver damage obstructs the circulation to the liver and also hinders the processing of nutrients, hormones, drugs, toxins as well as the production of proteins and other substances made by the liver. Liver cirrhosis is caused due to hepatitis C, fatty liver, alcohol abuse, viral infections, inherited diseases, and as a toxic reaction to drugs and environmental waste products. The modern management of this condition involves diet modification, reduction in salt intake, total abstinence from alcohol, and avoiding all the causative factors of this condition.

Cirrhosis of liver causes multiple symptoms in the body including fluid collection in the abdomen, bleeding varices in the stomach, chronic heart failure, damage to the central nervous system, and various metabolic disorders in the body. Advanced cirrhosis of liver is ultimately fatal.

Ayurvedic  Treatment

1. It is therefore of prime importance to commence treatment at the earliest possible. It is of utmost importance to treat the known cause of the condition. Ayurvedic herbal medicines have a definite action on the hepatic cells and can effectively treat inflammation within the liver. Ayurvedic medicines can also treat infection as well as metabolic dysfunction of the liver, and protect it from the toxic effects of drugs and environmental wastes. Ayurvedic medicines can therefore be effectively used to treat all the known causes of liver cirrhosis.
2. Liver damage causes healthy cells to be replaced with scar tissue. This is preceded by a process of inflammation, swellingand gradual death of the liver cells. Early institution of Ayurvedic treatment can help dramatically reduce inflammation and swelling and thereby preserve the liver cells and prevent unnecessary damage. Even in the early phase of scar deposition. Ayurvedic herbal medicines can help remove scar tissue, minimize permanent liver damage, and help regenerate damaged or near-dead cells Ayurvedic herbal medicines therefore form a comprehensive treatment therapy for liver cirrhosis.
3. The other symptoms resulting from liver cirrhosis such as ascites, esophageal varices, congestive cardiac failure and metabolic disorders start improving automatically when the obstruction in the liver is treated and removed. However, Ayurvedic medicines can treat these symptoms independently too, if these are observed to be severe in the affected individual and require urgent medical care. Improved functioning of the liver also helps to improve the overall metabolism and nutrition of the body and metabolize toxic substances within the body. Prompt and aggressive Ayurvedic treatment, therefore, helps comprehensively treat liver cirrhosis and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality resulting from this disease.
4. Cirrhosis can also adversely affect the central nervous system and cause psychotic symptoms and permanent nerve damage. Prompt treatment with Ayurvedic herbal medicines also helps to preserve the brain function and treat the associated symptoms. If required, brain damage can be treated separately with herbal medicines which strengthen the nervous system and help rejuvenate nerve cells. Medicines which act on the nervous system also help improve confidence and self-control and are therefore equally useful in helping the affected individual abstain completely from alcohol, which is a known and predominant cause of cirrhosis.
5. Depending upon the severity of the condition, most individuals affected with cirrhosis require regular and aggressive Ayurvedic herbal treatment for periods ranging from six to eighteen months, in order to obtain significant benefit and a possible complete cure from the condition. Ayurvedic treatment thus has a definite role to play in the management and treatment of cirrhosis.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hepatitis B and C are both viral infections of the liver caused by Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus respectively. Though the viral infections mostly affect children, adults are equally susceptible, if not more. The condition, if left untreated can have serious consequences on the liver (liver damage, scarring, liver cirrhosis and even cancer).

The symptoms for hepatitis B and C are almost similar and include:

• Abdominal or belly pain.
• Jaundice is one of the common and most important symptoms or medical condition associated with hepatitis B and C. The infection often interferes with the ability of the liver to filter out the bile pigment, bilirubin (the breakdown product of hemoglobin).
• Extreme tiredness and exhaustion.
• Nausea, loss of appetite.
• There may be a fever and vomiting in case of hepatitis B.

In both hepatitis B and C, the infection causing virus can spread through

• Unprotected sex.
• From the affected person (through their blood, body fluids or open sores).
• Use of infected needles and syringes.
• In the case of hepatitis C, the virus can also spread from the pregnant women to her child.

Though conventional medications and treatments are available, many people go for the Ayurvedic treatments instead. Ayurveda adopts a holistic approach in treating the ailment or disease. The treatment is 100% natural and thus, have negligible or no side effects at all. The Ayurvedic treatment may be time-consuming, but it treats the condition from the base (it works towards identifying and eliminating the very underlying factor responsible for the ailment). The approach is similar in the case of hepatitis B and C. In addition to treating hepatitis, the medications also bring about a remarkable improvement in the associated symptoms (like jaundice, fatigue and nausea).

Some of the Ayurvedic medicines used to treat hepatitis B include

1. Bhumi Amla (Phyllanthus Niruri): Bhumi Amla can be used to treat Hepatitis B and the associated symptoms successfully. The medicine lowers the bilirubin level in the blood, thus providing relief from jaundice (one of the characteristic symptoms of Hepatitis B and C). It is also an effective medicine to deal with liver failure or liver problems.
2. Echinacea (Andrographis): The medicine has anti microbial properties and, thus, checks and prevents the growth of the HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). It also enhances the overall functioning of a person's immune system (immune booster).
3. Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna): People with Hepatitis B can benefit immensely from this medicine. Like Echinacea, Arjuna is also known to be an immune booster.
4. Kaasni: The medicine is used to treat hepatitis B and liver problems. Kaasni is also an excellent blood purifier.

The ayurvedic medicine for Hepatitis C include

1. Kalmegh (Andrographis Paniculata): The medicine comes as a relief for people with hepatitis C and liver problems. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Kalmegh further enhances its effectiveness.
2. Guduchi (AMBROSIA), Haritaki (TERMINALIA CHELUBA), CURCUMA LONGA are few other Ayurvedic medicines that are equally effective in treating Hepatitis C.

There are wonderful medicines in Ayurveda for improving immunity and liver function. All the Dipana pachana drugs stimulate liver. Medicines like Arogya vardhini and Puta pakwa vishama jwaranthak loha tabs significantly improve liver function. Single drugs like bhringaraj katuki punarnava are also beneficial.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!