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Are Homeopathic Remedies for Hepatitis C Safe?

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) affects more than 3.2 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Many who contract the virus spontaneously recover, but it becomes a chronic infection in 75 to 85 percent of the cases. Hepatitis C is typically treated with anti-viral medications, but patients who don't respond to the therapy or can't live with the side effects, have turned to alternative therapies.

  1. Supplements

    • The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has identified several supplements which are used either instead of traditional therapies or are used by HCV patients to augment these therapies. The supplements identified are milk thistle, ginseng, colloidal silver, licorice root or glycyrrhizin, an extract of licorice root. Some of these are safe to use, while other are not.

    Colloidal silver

    • Colloidal silver is not a safe homepathic remedy for hepatitis C. There is no evidence that this has any effect on HCV, and serious side effects are documented. Silver can build up in your system and cause a condition called argyria, which causes a bluish-gray discoloration of the skin, nails and deep tissues. It can also cause kidney damage. This damage is irreversible.

    Licorice Root

    • Preliminary studies have shown that licorice root may be beneficial, but further studies still need to be done. Licorice root is used for its extract glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin in high doses can cause high blood pressure, water retention and low potassium levels. It can affect prednisone levels and could cause preterm birth in pregnant women.

    Ginseng

    • Ginseng is sometimes used for hepatitis C, though there have been no studies supporting this therapy. Taken by mouth, Ginseng is safe but the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests that side effects can develop if used for more than three months. Side effects include headaches, sleep disruption and gastrointestinal problems. Asian Ginseng may lower blood sugar, so this supplement should not be used by diabetics. It can also cause allergic reactions.

    Milk Thistle

    • Milk thistle has shown some beneficial effect on the liver in the limited clinical trials that have been performed. There has been no evidence of adverse side effects associated with this supplement, though allergic reactions have been reported by people with sensitivity to chrysanthemum, marigold, ragweed and daisies.

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