How to Naturally Treat Your Hepatitis C

Both the National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic clearly state there is no alternative medical treatment that will cure hepatitis C, but patients often use herbal supplements and complementary treatments in conjunction with traditional medicine or as a substitute if they are unable or unwilling to undergo the standard drug therapy. According to a small study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, nearly half of all hepatitis C patients use alternative and complimentary medicine to manage symptoms. The most commonly used herbal supplement is milk thistle. However, the study reports that few patients consult with an alternative medical practitioner before starting complementary therapy, and many do not tell their physicians they are taking supplements. Always get professional advice before beginning any standard or alternative drug therapy.

Things You'll Need

• Journal to record test results
• Milk thistle supplement capsules

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Instructions

• 1

  Have your doctor run the full sequence of hepatitis C tests to determine your starting enzyme levels, platelet and white blood cell counts, viral load and other data related to the virus. Record this information in your journal.

• 2

  Find a trusted and reliable source for milk thistle supplements and make sure the supplements do not contain any additives. Don't read just the supplier's literature. Go to the manufacturer's website (or call the manufacturer) and check their dosage consistency and their source materials. Although herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, reliable manufacturers disclose their protocols regarding manufacture and potency of preparations.

• 3

  Find out the amount of silybin (the main active ingredient of silymarin) that is in each capsule. Your goal is to take a minimum dose of 240 milligrams of silybin each day, according to a study cited by MaximumMilkThistle.com. Higher doses (up to 360 or 420 milligrams) have shown no adverse side effects, so your alternative medical practitioner may recommend higher doses. HealthyHepper.com states that 420 milligrams of silybin per day reversed liver cell damage and lowered enzyme levels after long-term use.

• 4

  Retest your enzyme levels every three months or as recommended by your medical practitioner. Record the results in your journal.

• 5

  Follow the prescribed protocol for several months. Some patients may experience immediate effects, but for most people it takes time for the benefits of milk thistle in treating hepatitis C to build up.