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Dr. Zhang / Interferon

I'm told that the Dr. Zhang Chinese medicine can dramatically reduce side effects from INF and RIB during treatment.  Any truth to this?
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Avatar universal
This is an old thread but just in case any newbies come across it. SAVE YOUR MONEY! The only thing that will cure Hep C is pharmaceutical drugs.

The original posters message should of read:

"Dr. Zhang Chinese medicine can dramatically reduce the money in your wallet"  
Helpful - 0
1497794 tn?1337195576
You might want to check out the National Liver Association's website. There rather lengthly list of what NOT to take while on and off treatment.

Remember, Chinese herbs are not FDA approved. Despite the side-effects, interferon/rib and/or Boc/telap is
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Avatar universal
Hi Califa,

Good to see you popping up.  This is Cindy in Texas, we spoke on the phone a few years ago.  I'm so glad you cleared.  I'm still on the fence re: tx.  I hope you're able to deal with post tx challenges.  Please let me know how you're doing.

Helpful - 0
229003 tn?1193701924
ditto!
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Avatar universal
www.hcvadvocate.org
search for the fact sheet on  
HCV & CAM Dietary Supplement to Avoid
It is informative
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Unless someone can guarantee you 100% that the herbs will NOT interrupt your course of treatment and will NOT in any way hurt the success rate of the interferon.......it's just not worth taking the chance.

There have not been many (or any as far as I've seen) studies done to show that chinese herbs do not hurt the efficacy of the interferon/ribavirin combo - so nobody really knows.

I would not take ANYTHING in addition to these treatment meds at ALL during treatment.

You can't know for sure what will or won't happen.
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Avatar universal
Hello, dear friends!  I hope everyone knows that it's one particular herb Niceguy is referring to, and not each and every herb in the Chinese pharmacopeia.  That plant's name is bupleurum.  In Chinese medicine it's called Chai Hu and usually prescribed in Minor Bupleurm Combination; in Japanese, this same formula is called Sho Saiko To.  It should definitely not be taken along with interferon.   (A google on bupleurum / interferon should bring up ample research as to why.)   I avoided bupleurum-containg products but did definitely take Marrow Plus, an herbal chemotherapy formula designed by Misha Cohen, all through my 60 weeks on Pegasys/Riba, and while I can't say that I managed to avoid side effects--uh no, not hardly--I did maintain healthy WBC and platelet levels.   Did  become anemic, but had to resort to Procrit only every other week to keep the HgB up.   Obviously I'll never know whether I would have maintained the same biochemistry profile while herb-free, but my intuitive take is that I wouldn't have.  And by the way, I cleared, and continue to rely on regular acupuncture and herbs for post-tx cleanup.  
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215858 tn?1420171556
I've just started the new edition of Dr Cohen/Gish's book.  It's good and well balanced.  I'm also taking Chinese herbs.  My question to you is how did you find your HEP?  It seems most HEPs won't treat unless you stop taking the herbs.

Thanks,
V.
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Avatar universal
I have been on Dr. Zhang's herbs for 4 years. They are wonderful. First, they got rid of all my exhaustion. Since last Sept. I'm taking some of his herbs plus INF/RIBA and I have no itching or rash at all. Sides are not bad. Dr. Zhang's herbs reduce inflammation so your liver doesn't get any worse.  Except for hepa #2 and circulation P, the other herb you take while on tx is copmine. The latter keeps me from having to take much Procrit. I do take it now and then. 5 more weeks to go now.

Dr. Gish's book with Misha Cohen has been updated and revised. They made a lot of changes.
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229003 tn?1193701924
I have 20 more shots of poison to go!  I'm on the decline FINALLY LOL

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86075 tn?1238115091
He's the one I experimented with, ironically, I hated the way heroin felt, and barfed my guts up too, but I tried it again or so, and that was it...that's all it took though, and he was the one I tried it with, along with one of his weird friends, the trials of youth!...

anyway, fast forward, I get tested and the doc tells me that I will prob need a transplant in 3 years, my enzymes were slightly elevated back the, in the mid-forties..... long ride home, thank God for the net and places like this! Got on Janis chat room right away asking question, and the members told me my doc was all wet, there was no way he could predict that...swear, was that a panic attack or what! anyway, that was all what, 8 years ago? Anyway, good to see you! how many months do you have left?
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86075 tn?1238115091
yeah, but once youre svr and there for awhile, they'll be in the teens!
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229003 tn?1193701924
what prompted them to do a test for HCV if you had normal enzymes?
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229003 tn?1193701924
wow - your enzymes are in the 20"s, without treating?  mine have never got below 30 and I am UD...
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86075 tn?1238115091
I understand your concern, and I'm still working out things with my doctor as to what I can take on treatment, and what not to (at least what their opinions are) no herbs though...

but just like to say, as far as taking a few herbs and supps ******w/out treating,***** something I'm much more familiar with,

it's like tx I guess, they do work better for some people-then others, from what I can see...

And that could depend on a lot of things too, which ones you took, who prescribed them, your particular physical make-up, etc etc....I've never taken herbs and supps to clear the virus, never been that naive, but I do think they have helped me keep my inflammation down, along with a good diet, etc etc...the 3 months I took off once - my enzymes actually went up to 70, the highest they've ever been....on my regimen, I'm testing out with alts and asts in the 20's for a long time now...my viral load has never been over 200,000, most times way less.....and I have relatively low damage, with my other labs very good....(having had this for over 30 years) Not to say this is all to do with my regimen, but I know others who have results like mine....I also think that too many people take too much of this shite, and could get into trouble there too...and of course, you can only do this for so long, and then you want to just get rid of it...but if I had treated and relapsed, whatever, I'd definitely look into some of these with the right experts, to keep the inflammation down till the next best thing...

I also believe that some of these herbs are toxic, all the more reason not to go into this with a phone or over the counter consult...my doc is actually cool with my regimen, and he checked it out and knows something about these things, I should also say that i don't take a lot of chinese herbs...just to reiterate, I'm talking about not on tx though, with tx a lot changes, but I'll still take supplementation, etc on tx....tx depletes a lot of vitamins, from all i have read...but with all of this, you 've got to know what youre doing, and I of course am going to consult my docs on this one too...good to see you here and be well! We might just have a little difference of opinion on this, or not! lol...

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Avatar universal
dont take eastern/chinese/japanese herbs on tx.  some people actually died in japan while taking herbs with interferon.
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229003 tn?1193701924
when I first found out I have HCV I went the Chinese Herb route - BIG MISTAKE!!!! My enzymes tripled

My Liver Clinic does NOT want anyone on tx to use any kind of herbs including Sam-e and milk thistle

Please consult your Doc before you take anything - some Chinese Herbs are toxic to the liver - I got a list of that from my Hep Nurse - I will try to find it and post it later.

*dip*
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Avatar universal
I have heard good things about Dr. Zhang, and I believe Dr. Andrew Weil recommends his alternative treatments highly. Don't believe Zhang claims to 'cure' HCV, but it's possible he may be able to reduce VL, improve enzymes, and as you say reduce sfx from treatment. Another alternative practitoner I've heard good things about is Misha Cohen in CA.

Copy...Did you end up going to Zhang? If so, obviously he didn't help you much.

-- Jim
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Avatar universal
NONE! save your money
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