Milk Thistle For Hepatitis C Treatment

Hepatitis C is a chronic viral infection that causes inflammation in your liver. You may not even know you are infected, because many people with hepatitis C are asymptomatic. According to a 2004 review in "Annals of Internal Medicine," about 2 percent of adult Americans have been infected with hepatitis C, and fewer than half of these individuals are aware of it. No herbal remedy is approved for treating hepatitis C, but many people use herbs as part of their approach to this chronic disease.

Hepatitis C and Liver Damage

In most cases, the hepatitis C virus remains in your liver after you have become infected. Your body cannot completely eradicate hepatitis C, although your immune system recognizes its presence and attempts to rid your liver cells of the virus. This ongoing, low-grade immune activity promotes inflammation in your liver, and approximately 20 percent of infected persons develop severe liver scarring, or cirrhosis, as a result. If you do develop cirrhosis, the June 2010 issue of the "American Family Physician" reports that your risk of getting liver cancer is 20 times higher than that for non-infected persons.

Hepatitis C Treatment

The goal of conventional hepatitis C treatment is to reduce chronic inflammation and to slow the progression of scarring. Currently, the medications used to treat this infection include some form of interferon, which is an immune messenger molecule that enhances immune response, and ribavirin, an antiviral drug. Many patients with hepatitis C also use herbs that are reputed to reduce inflammation in the liver and improve its function. Although it is not approved for treating hepatitis C, milk thistle is one popular herbal remedy.

Milk Thistle

Silymarin is the compound in milk thistle seed that confers protective effects on the liver. Studies in the mid-1990s demonstrated that silymarin possessed several beneficial properties, including antioxidant effects, an ability to block toxin-binding sites and the promotion of glutathione production, which improves the liver's detoxifying capabilities. A 2005 review in "Journal of Viral Hepatitis" concluded that silymarin decreased serum markers of liver inflammation, but it did not appear to reduce viral numbers or decrease liver scarring. However, a 2011 study in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics" demonstrated that silymarin did slow the progression of liver scarring, although it did not change overall clinical outcomes. Silymarin is not approved for treatment of hepatitis C at this time.

Considerations and Precautions

Hepatitis C is a chronic infection that can cause serious liver damage. Currently, available medical regimens evoke a "cure" in about one-half of treated patients. Milk thistle's role in hepatitis C infection is unclear, and it has not been shown to improve the course of hepatitis C. Milk thistle may interact with medications and other herbal remedies, such as phenothiazines and yohimbine. If you think milk thistle would be helpful for you, talk to your physician.