Improvement for liver functioning

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

I thought there was supposed to be a pill coming out to reverse the liver damage done by the virus.
Then I stumbled upon a little info from Chinese medicine via a government website. It's about Rhaponticin found in rhubarb tested on mice has reversed fibrosis.
(Livers of rhaponticin-treated mice had relatively normal cellular size and decreased fibrosis and steatosis. In addition, rhaponticin administration caused a remarkable increase in the hepatic glycogen content and a significant reduction in the hepatic triglyceride content. ) I hope this doesn't get moved if I put this here. Oh well here is a little dibby on it. Nothing major. Just a thought. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19235684

I might add that eating the rhubarb leaves could be toxic and only the pulp is good. It's normally good for constipation and in pies as a fruit.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Rhaponticin found in rhubarb tested on mice has reversed fibrosis.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Statins have been proven to cause Cataracts. Just read it yesterday.

[Sarah1949]

I showed the article to my PCP awhile back and she asked my hepatologist about it. They say wait for more research because the study was funded by a drug company. Besides, statins can have really bad side effects.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

OK I stand to be corrected by missing the details. Glad you caught it.

[jules2551]

the article you posted in your original post is about diabetic mice and that the rhubarb rhizomes deemed effective.  Not the pulp of the rhubarb.  Major difference between rhizomes and pulp.

Have a great day!

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

It's speculation as the article says "might be protective of the liver".
Might be........
But hey it's something to watch and see if it pans out. Let's give it a little time to see what it can do for portal hypertension. Wouldn't that be a relief if it was proven to work.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Yes I read it and the section I referred to is at the bottom of the read. Care to check it? Yes the article is suggesting a possibility of liver improvement but no real time statistical are currently available and this statin usage has yet to be proven as stated in the article. It's still a mystery. We'll see how it pans out over time. This new possible result is still in it's infancy and not even in a trial stage. Read the bottom paragraphs for their disclosure of not being "sure". Basically it targets the fact that those on statins who have liver issues need not discontinue them. The long term results (effects) are still unknown.

[can-do-man]

May 22, 2012 (San Diego, California) — Statin therapy is not only safe for people with cirrhosis, it might be potentially beneficial, according to research presented here at Digestive Disease Week 2012.

"We found less progression of liver disease in patients taking statins, and a lower mortality rate. This is contrary to prior beliefs that statins may not be safe in patients with cirrhosis; in fact, they may be beneficial," said lead investigator Sonal Kumar, MD, from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Patients with cirrhosis have decreased hepatic clearance, and thus could be at increased risk for complications, specifically hepatic decompensation. Statins lower portal pressure and, therefore, might be protective of the liver, she explained.

Statins Cut Decompensating Events in Half

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/764237

Then there is this.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843734

[jules2551]

Did you read the article?  Your last three comments are confusing.  You might want to read it again.

Have a great day!

Jules

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

I would do the pills if I had a chance of healing my liver though.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

PS-as for myself, I do not do pills at all-ever. I do not want to tax my liver anymore than it has been. Open wide. What is that the government is trying to stick in your mouth.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Statins have NOT been in trial for compensated liver. Those taking statins should continue but there is no data on long term use for cirrhotics. There may or may not be a better cure rate for those taking statins during treatment. It has not been proven that statins help ascites, portal vein hypertension, fibrosis, steatosis, or esophageal bleeding

[jules2551]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/-Statins-Associated-with-Lower-Risk-of-Death-and-Liver-Decompensation-/show/2691448

This is from Can-do's post which you should read.  I'd rather take a pill than eat rhubarb (yuck).  

[Livelife777]

Sarah.    Let's hope for everyone affected by this horrible disease new health and vitality.
Stay well
.....Kim

[Sarah1949]

I think I base a lot of my belief that my liver is healing on my labs and my general sense of well being. For the first time in years my platelets have gone up rather than down. I know this is related to the spleen and portal hypertension and blah blah but for the spleen to get better the liver has to get better. I moved to Oregon almost two years ago because I felt I was dying and I was miserable during treatment and for six months after. Now, I have a strong sense of well being and actually have some energy.

I believe this radical change is due to my liver healing. I realize studies say it takes years if ever but honestly every other part of our bodies heal if not under attack and so too will the liver.
With the caveat if your liver is still compensated.

[Livelife777]

It unfortunately takes many years for the damage to reverse if it will occur at all.  I have been Hep C free for over a year and no improvement thus far according to my scans.  They have ongoing "Clinical Trials" for patients with NASH and believe they are still in phase 2.  So far we have no treatment for reversal other then good healthy living.
Wish we had more!!!!
.....Kim

[48weeks]

I am not sure if it's because the novelty of my recent svr still hasn't worn off or what, but I feel great right now. Not feeling those pains in the side anymore or at least no where near as much, and I have more energy which is helping me to workout 4 to 5 times a month. I also heard of some kind of treatment that works to reverse liver damage, but I don't think it was rhubarb.  That would be great if there was something that could accelerate the reversal of liver damage.

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Too soon to tell yet, despite the over-all remarkable improvement physically. My spleen needs a boost of healing too. Living with this viral attack for all those years battered my spleen. I believe you can feel it but I'm not there lately. Maybe I'll get there soon.

[Sarah1949]

Have you tried it yourself?
Don't you feel like your liver is healing itself the more time goes by since eot? I do and it has only been 8 months. Things stayed bad til 6 months eot and then like magic I started getting better. I've always been compensated though.