Home Remedies for Hepatitis C



After a diagnosis of hepatitis C infection has been made, certain lifestyle changes may be recommended. These will enable you to stay healthy and will also help to protect others from the infection. Here are some home remedies for Hepatitis C:

  • Since alcohol aggravates liver damage, it can quicken the progression of the disease. Therefore, it is important to avoid the consumption of alcohol.
  • Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter medications you are taking. Certain medications may lead to liver damage and your doctor will be able to tell if you need to stop taking them.
  • Follow a healthy diet consisting of nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. You may find it easier to eat smaller meals frequently during the day instead of just three large meals. Those with hepatitis C may also be more prone to diabetes and hence a proper diet will also help to regulate blood sugar levels.
  • Exercise regularly to improve your strength and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise also helps to improve appetite, boosts immunity and brings about a sense of well being. In addition, exercise helps to alleviate some of the side effects of the medications.
  • Get an adequate amount of sleep daily.
  • To avoid spreading the infection to others, cover all wounds and cuts properly with bandages. Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors or fingernail clippers. Despite your good intentions, it should be kept in mind that you cannot donate body organs, blood and semen. Whenever seeking medical advice or treatment, make it a point to inform health care workers that you have the hepatitis C virus.

Among the potentially beneficial herbs for Hepatitis C, milk thistle is known to be the most promising. Other herbs include ginseng, ginger, St. John's wort and licorice root. Studies have shown that milk thistle may help to protect the liver from damage due to toxins. These toxins include alcohol, drugs, viruses and radiation. Laboratory studies have even shown that milk thistle enables the growth of certain liver cells and protects the cells from damage due to oxidation. However, milk thistle may lead to certain side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor before using any herbal remedies or supplements.


References
  1. Alajos Pár, László Telegdy, Lajos Dalmi, Eva Müller, Hungarian Viral Hepatitis Treatment Study Group, Therapy for chronic hepatitis C, Journal of Physiology-Paris, Volume 95, Issues 1–6, January–December 2001, Pages 399-405, ISSN 0928-4257, 10.1016/S0928-4257(01)00054-7.
  2. Jacqueline Rhoads, Natural History and Epidemiology of Hepatitis C, Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS care, Volume 14, Issue 5, Supplement, September–October 2003, Pages 18S-25S, ISSN 1055-3290, 10.1177/1055329003254854.
  3. Samer S. El-Kamary, Michelle D. Shardell, Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, Soheir Ismail, Mohamed El-Ateek, Mohamed Metwally, Nabiel Mikhail, Mohamed Hashem, Amr Mousa, Amr Aboul-Fotouh, Mohamed El-Kassas, Gamal Esmat, G. Thomas Strickland, A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis, Phytomedicine, Volume 16, Issue 5, May 2009, Pages 391-400, ISSN 0944-7113, 10.1016/j.phymed.2009.02.002.