Ayurveda is the time-honored healing system of India, which has recently skyrocketed in popularity in the West. Traditional Ayurvedic herbs such as licorice, andrographis paniculata, guduchi and haritaki are recommended for hepatitis C, according to Ellen Shearer of the California College of Ayurveda. Ask your physician which herbal remedies are appropriate for you.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, a contemporary global health concern, is transmitted through infected blood. For example, you can get hepatitis C from a needle-stick wound or by injecting drugs with a contaminated needle. Symptoms of initial infection include vomiting, exhaustion, jaundice and unusually dark urine, explains the Centers for Disease Control. While chronic hepatitis C is not curable, your physician will try to control and prevent symptoms with drugs. In conventional medicine, hepatitis C is treated with pharmaceutical drugs such as ribavirin and interferon. Both medications often cause you to experience serious side effects and are effective in less than 50 percent of cases.
Andrographis Paniculata
Andrographis paniculata, or kalmegh, is a wild plant native to the South Asian subcontinent. It is a commonly used herbal remedy in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, according to Ayurvedic physician Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa in his 2008 book "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs." It contains a phytochemical called andrographolides, which appears to possess anti-inflammatory and antipyretic or cooling qualities. Andrographis paniculata has been the subject of multiple research studies. The most significant scientific findings point to its ability to stimulate your immune system and to protect your liver. Both actions are important if you have hepatitis C.
Haritaki
Haritaki is one of three fruits in triphala, the most popular herbal compound in India. The haritaki tree, or Terminalia cheluba, thrives in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia. It has a tonic, astringent and restorative effect on your tissues. Khalsa explains that it is recommended for conditions such as inability to digest food, swollen abdomen, tumors, heart disease and jaundice. In addition to its gentle laxative qualities, it provides sustenance for the nerves and brain, and has a calming effect. If you are pregnant, do not use haritaki, cautions Khalsa. The use of haritaki is not an adequate substitute for treatment from a qualified health-care provider.
Guduchi
Guduchi is also known as amrit or ambrosia, a testament to its highly-valued therapeutic properties. Also called heart-leaved moonseed and Tinospora cordifolia, it is employed specifically for hepatitis and jaundice in Ayurveda medicine. It is also used to treat diabetes, fever, tuberculosis and heart disease. Guduchi contains berberine, a phytochemical that enhances immune system function and stops liver cancer cells from proliferating, according to a 2011 research study in the journal "PLoS One." Berberine is a constituent in another Ayurvedic herb called jaundice berry or barberry. Jaundice berry, or Berberis vulgaris, is another highly recommended liver tonic. These herbs contain active ingredients and their safety is not assured in all users.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals
- "PLoS One"; Berberine Inhibits Human Hepatoma Cell Invasion Without Cytotoxicity in Healthy Hepatocytes; Bing Liu; June 2011
- "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World's Oldest Healing System": Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, et al.; 2008
- California Ayurvedic College; The Role of Ayurveda vs. Western Medicine in the Treatment of Hepatitis C; Ellen Shearer
