You can have chronic hepatitis due to viral infections, exposure to certain chemicals or drugs exposures, or prolonged alcohol abuse. Chronic hepatitis can cause severe liver inflammation that can lead to death. Certain herbal remedies may help to treat your symptoms or even reduce liver damage related to chronic hepatitis. Many herbs can cause bad side effects or interact negatively with prescription and over-the-counter medications, so you should ask your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.
Licorice
The herb licorice may help to treat your chronic hepatitis. It contains glycyrrhizin, which has been shown to inhibit the hepatitis A virus in test tube studies, says the University of Michigan Health System. Injections of licorice and some amino acids are used in Japan for treating chronic hepatitis, but no clear evidence suggests whether the injections were effective, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A study published in the "Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine" in 1984 found that taking 2 ½ grams of licorice three times daily worked better in treating acute and chronic hepatitis than the medication inosine polylC.
Astragalus
Astragalus is another common natural remedy for chronic hepatitis, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Taking astragalus root for at least one month may help to treat your chronic hepatitis, according to preliminary clinical trials conducted in China. You can take a tea made from boiling 9 to 15 grams of astragalus root in water, says the University of Michigan Health System.
Cordyceps, Reishi & Shiitake
The medicinal fungi cordyceps, reishi and shiitake may help to reduce the liver damage that you could suffer from chronic hepatitis. Three clinical trials conducted in China and published in Chinese medical journals during 1990, 1992 and 2000 found that taking 3 to 4 ½ grams of cordyceps capsules twice daily decreased fibrosis while boosting immune-system and liver function in people with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis. Reishi and shiitake mushrooms may also help to treat chronic hepatitis B, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Phyllanthus
Traditional herbal remedies used in Ayurvedic medicine in India for treating chronic hepatitis often include Phyllanthus amarus or P. urinaria as one of the primary ingredients, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Phyllanthus appears to fight the hepatitis B virus. For example, one clinical trial found that taking Phyllanthus over the course of 30 days eradicated the hepatitis B virus in 59 percent of the study participants, says the University of Michigan Health System.
Sho-Saiko-To
In Japan, the herbal formula sho-saiko-to is a treatment for chronic hepatitis that's approved for use by the country's health ministry, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Sho-saiko-to's main ingredient is the herb bupleurum, which may help to reduce blood liver enzymes and ease symptoms associated with chronic viral hepatitis, notes the University of Michigan Health System. A six-month-long, double-blind clinical trial involving 222 individuals with chronic hepatitis found that sho-saiko-to substantially improved liver function when compared with placebos. The typical dosage of sho-saiko-to for treating hepatitis is 2 ½ grams taken three times per day, the University of Michigan says.
Milk Thistle
The flavonoid called silymarin contained in milk thistle may help to protect your liver from damage. Taking 420 mg of silymarin from milk thistle each day may lessen liver damage due to chronic hepatitis, and combining silymarin with phosphatidylcholine may help even more, says the University of Michigan Health System. A 2007 review of studies on milk thistle and another review conducted in 2008 of 19 clinical trials found that milk thistle offered little to no benefit in treating hepatitis and liver disease, however, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. More targeted and larger-scale studies are needed to determine whether milk thistle's silymarin is an effective herbal remedy for acute or chronic hepatitis.
Schisandra
Taking the herbal remedy schisandra may help you to regrow liver tissues damaged by chronic hepatitis, says the University of Michigan Health System. A controlled clinical trial studying people with chronic hepatitis in China found that taking 500 mg of schisandra extract three times per day along with B-complex vitamins helped to reduce certain blood levels associated with liver inflammation. Researchers also found that the participants who took schisandra experienced less stomach cramping, fatigue, diarrhea and insomnia than those who didn't take the herb.
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