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Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that requires the help of a qualified health practitioner. However, it also greatly benefits from the use of natural therapies. There are several types of viral Hepatitis, with types A, B and non-A, non-B being the most common. Hepatitis C is more serious and caused by infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A usually causes temporary liver inflammation, and most people recover without any long-term liver problems. Hepatitis A is the most common type of viral hepatitis. The virus is spread mainly by oral contact with stool (faeces) containing the virus. If contaminated stool gets into the water or food supply, the virus may infect anyone who drinks the water or eats the food. This is how most people around the world become infected with hepatitis A. Some people become infected through contact with a household member who has the virus or a sexual partner who is infected. Sometimes a large group of people who eat at the same restaurant become infected. This usually happens when an employee with hepatitis A does not wash his or her hands well after using the bathroom and then prepares food. In rare cases, hepatitis A can be spread through sexual contact or contact with blood from a person who has the virus circulating in his or her bloodstream. The virus is present in the blood before symptoms appear. Transmission through blood transfusions, while possible, seldom occurs.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A may include:
Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
Fever.
Sore muscles.
Headache.
Pain on the right side of the abdomen, under the rib cage, (where the liver is located).
Nausea.
Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eyes (jaundice), sometimes along with dark urine and clay-coloured stools. Jaundice is less common in children and young adults than in older people.
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually last less than 2 months. You can spread the virus to other people for at least 2 weeks before symptoms develop. Hepatitis A is not treated with medication. The infection goes away on it’s own in most cases. Home treatment, such as eating balanced meals and drinking plenty of water, may help your body recover.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is one of the most easily spread (contagious) forms of viral hepatitis, which includes hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. However, hepatitis has many other causes, including some medications, long-term alcohol use, and exposure to certain industrial chemicals. All types of hepatitis damage liver cells and can cause the liver to become swollen and tender (liver inflammation). Some types can cause permanent liver damage. Hepatitis B can be a short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) infection. Less than half with acute HBV infections have symptoms and most people have none.
1. An acute infection usually goes away on its own without treatment. Most people who develop symptoms feel better in 2 to 3 weeks and recover completely after 4 to 8 weeks. Other people may take longer to recover. Once an acute infection is over, you are no longer contagious. You also develop antibodies against HBV that provide lifelong protection against future infection. Most people who have hepatitis B have acute hepatitis B and do not develop chronic hepatitis B.
2. Chronic infection occurs when the hepatitis B virus continues to be present in your liver and blood for 6 months or more. Chronic hepatitis B puts you at increased risk for developing serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. When you have chronic HBV, you can easily spread the disease.
Symptoms include:
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). Jaundice usually appears after other symptoms have started to go away.
Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
Mild fever.
Headache.
Loss of appetite.
Nausea and vomiting.
Constant discomfort on the right side of the abdomen, under the rib cage, where the liver is located. In most people, the discomfort is made worse if their bodies are jarred or if they overwork themselves.
Diarrhoea or constipation.
Muscle aches and joint pain.
Skin rash.
The hepatitis B virus is spread from one person to another through body fluids, including blood, semen, and vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood). Contact with a body fluid can occur from sexual contact, sharing needles or other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) to inject illegal drugs, handling blood or instruments used to draw blood, sharing razors or toothbrushes, and getting tattoos or body piercings with needles that were not properly cleaned. The virus also can be passed from a mother to her newborn baby during delivery. In most cases, acute hepatitis B goes away on it’s own. You can relieve your symptoms at home by reducing your activity level, eating healthy foods, avoiding dehydration, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B depends on whether the virus is multiplying and whether liver damage exists or may develop. If your liver is severely damaged, a liver transplant may be considered.
Hepatitis C
This virus enters the body through infected blood (much less commonly through other body fluids) and then multiplies in liver cells. It causes liver inflammation, which interferes with proper liver function. Hepatitis C can eventually lead to severe, permanent liver damage and cirrhosis and may be complicated by liver cancer. Because the initial symptoms are mild, hepatitis C often goes unnoticed until years later when liver damage is discovered. However, 80% of people with Hep C have no symptoms, or they feel just generally unwell or not quite up to par.
Common signs and symptoms of Hepatitis C include:
Fatigue and/or drowsiness
Flu-like symptoms, with headache and muscle or joint pain
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
Dark urine
Abdominal pain and/or nausea and/or vomiting
Light-coloured stools or diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Low grade fever, enlarged liver
Elevated liver enzymes in the blood
Itching & dry skin
Irritability
Anyone who tests positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is presumed to be contagious. HCV spreads through contact with blood, most commonly by sharing needles and other equipment used to inject drugs. Health care workers face a low risk (less than 2%) of infection from accidental needle sticks and other occupational exposures. The virus can spread through sexual contact, but the risk is low, especially for long-term monogamous couples. Risk increases for those who have multiple sex partners. Having a sexually transmitted disease or being infected with HIV may increase the risk of becoming infected with HCV.
The following steps will help you if you are infected with the virus that causes hepatitis, whether it is A, B or C.
Nutrition
Eat regular, nutritious meals. Ask for more information on ‘liver foods’ and cleansing, to feed and nourish the liver, and encourage better digestion and overall health. Even though food may not appeal to you at times, it is important to get adequate nutrition. For most people, nausea and loss of appetite don't set in until later in the day, so try eating your largest meal early in the day and lighter meals later on. Try to maintain a balanced diet while eating foods that appeal to you.
Avoid saturated fats like butter and margarine (use extra-virgin olive oil instead), simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour, fruit juice, honey, processed foods), oxidised fatty acids (fried foods) and animal fat (red meat in particular).
Cut out spicy, hot foods such as cayenne, hot peppers, curries, which can irritate the liver.
Include plenty of fibre (preferably from whole grains, legumes and vegetables, especially greens and artichokes).
Include foods containing the amino acid methionine in your diet. High levels of methionine can be found in spinach, green peas, corn, navel and mandarin oranges, peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, kidney beans, black turtle beans, tofu, and tempeh.
‘Superfoods’ rich in micro-nutrients and high-quality protein is essential. These include nettles, spirulina, grasses … ‘The Green Stuff’ Herbal Vitamin & Mineral Food Concentrate is a high in protein, easily digestible, and supplies good nutrition in an easily assimilated form.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Hepatitis impairs your liver's ability to break down medications and alcohol. The effects of drugs and alcohol may be more powerful and last longer when you have hepatitis.
Increase your intake of Vitamin C - large doses (up to 1000mg) have been found to improve viral hepatitis greatly. Please note large doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhoea in some people, so take up to bowel tolerance.
Also increase your intake of Vitamin B12 and Folic acid or B Complex (5 x recommended daily dose) – all found in ‘The Green Stuff’.
Lecithin / Choline (1g 3 x daily) has also been found to be helpful for Liver health.
Natural Healing
Slow down. Reduce your activity level if you feel tired.
With all liver diseases, liver, and sometimes colon, cleansing is advisable. Ask for more information.
Regular ‘castor oil packs’ over the liver area will ease pain and reduce inflammation, as well as aid in detoxification. Please enquire.
Exercise if you feel up to it; aerobic exercise can help you feel stronger and can improve depression caused by the infection. ‘Working the liver’ with activities such as chopping wood (if you’re right handed) is helpful.
De-stress by gentle yoga, tai chi or meditation exercises. Take time out each day to relax and connect with your ‘Well-Being’.
Herbs
Try to control itching. People with hepatitis sometimes develop itchy skin. Try Skin-eze Salve.
Depression may develop in anyone who has a long-term (chronic) illness. This can be an ‘emotion’ associated with a ‘sick’ liver. By gently cleansing and supporting the liver, feelings of depression are addressed, and herbs like St John’s Wort are helpful. Seek professional advice from a qualified herbalist. You can also seek counselling for support, if you feel this is necessary.
Herbal Formulae Suggestions
‘The Green Stuff’ Herbal Vitamin & Mineral Food Concentrate - supplies all your daily nutrition A-Z
Liver Cleanse & Support Formula
Five Spice Digestive Herbal Tea
Taraxa Café
St John’s Wort herb for mild depression (following liver cleansing)
Skin-eze Salve for external itching and dry skin
Castor oil for castor oil poultices.
Metaphysical
On an emotional level, which is linked very much to any physical imbalance within the body, it is important to acknowledge that the liver represents the seat of anger, rage and primitive emotions within us. Bearing this in mind, Hepatitis itself represents ’Resistance to change. Fear, anger, hatred, rage.’
A positive affirmation to correct this imbalance on the emotional level (thereby affecting the physical healing process) is “My mind is cleansed and free. I leave the past and move into the new. All is well.” Say this as often as you feel moved to, during the day, every day.
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