do herbal amd homeopathic remedies work

there are alot of herbal amd homeopathic hep-c remedies  do they really work?

[desrt]

There is nothing herbal that will get rid of the virus, though it may someday be proved there are herbs that might help slow the progression of fibrosis. Homeopathy is a scam.

[GrandmaA]

Dr. Zhangs herbs help a lot and control the inflammation that elminates the progression of the disease, but it does not get rid of the virus. I took them for over 4 years recently - they also elminate some of the side effects (sinomedresearchdotorg). I had no itching, no rash, no sores in my mouth and I have no auto immune problem after treating.

[Forseegood]

Hi, just think your question is way to general to really address, you prob need to be a lot more specific...there are herbal remedies and there are remedies for one thing, that only can possibly help the situation, not cure...And many of them are next to worthless....I think a really good diet is super important re all this....

I take mostly supps, and I have studied them for a long time, talked to a lot of experts, etc...it's not something that you do lightly...and I checked em past my doc etc...this usually opens up a can of worms, I can testify to that cause yesterday I jumped into the can with the worms still in there, so I know, lol....

[Charliered]

COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME INFO ON DR.Zhang's products?

[merryBe]

they work, they all work, they sell, you buy, then they don't work cause you gave them your paycheck. I'll stuff some leave in ajar.....how bout you send me 20 bucks?

the key id to find what has been thouroughly and scientifically syudied. with double blind trials just like for real drugs. there are some vitamins minerals and herbs that are helpful, but without studying this in deeph you will A. get taken for a lot of questionable stuff or B. worse still may end up on things doing your liver more harm than good,  

remember just because something is "natural" does not mean it cannot also be a deadly toxin.

[nygirl7]

Nothing will help you clear the virus except interferon and ribavirin.  If there was an easier way believe me..we'd all have taken it.

That is if you have hepC - if you don't then I don't know what you want them to work for?  One member here to Chinese hrbs before treating thinking they would work and they tripled her liger enzymes immediately.

Now she's on the cocktail and doing treatment.

[scratchinghead]

eat well, no matter what

[mremeet]

Grandma you really shouldn't be telling people with hepatitis C that "Dr. Zhangs herbs help a lot and control the inflammation that elminates the progression of the disease..."  There is absolutely no real evidence whatsoever that Dr. Zhang's or anyone else's herbal regimen will "eliminate the progression of the disease." And I don't even believe Dr Zhang himself would make that claim. If you have solid scientific evidence to the contrary, then by all means present it. Otherwise please do not misinform a vulnerable person with hepatitis C who may not know otherwise by leading them to believe they can halt the progression of the disease by using herbs.

Charliered the real and proven way to prevent the progression of the disease is to be treated successfully for it. Many here have treated successfully (including myself) and now their liver fibrosis is no longer progressing towards cirrhosis. In fact, in most cases their fibrosis is actually reversing - their livers are healing after being cured. There are legitimate arguments against current treatment depending on your particular situation, but don't be misled by erroneous "pie in the sky" statements about herbs and supplemental therapy as a way of avoiding interferon and ribavirin treatment.

[Forseegood]

I hope I didn't give of the impression that I recommend these treatments as a replacement for standard therapy, because I don't...I think what mremmet said about looking at what your particular situation first, and then proceeding from there is sound advice...first, get thoroughly tested by a hepatologist, etc...and taking excellent care of yourself is good advice in any situation....

[Frank J. Perrotta]

Also ask your treating doc.

That might be most important.

good luck,
frank

[lanier]

Boy who crowned you the herbal expert?? and your living in a dream world if you think your "fibrosis" is reversing even at 41, maybe if you were 10.  I wonder do you have a health care education to back up your gaggle of baloney and cheese.  I do and I'll tell you your wrong.  and if you think that the things you have written are "legitimate" maybe you should do a little or a bushel and a peck more statistical studies.  There are so many precursors making a clinical case for a "cure" from the treatment your pharmacutical/doctor is giving you that if a person has the ability to process "other" means of healing themselves or at least easing their symptoms then who the heck are you to tell them its all bunk.  I am 50 and I am absolutely sure that the years in my life I spent taking milk thistle and drinking a variety of teas and doing cleanses and juicing, prior to knowing I even had this deadly virus significantly helped my liver function and delayed my disease progression.

It is amazing to me how many people are like blind puppets who think their health care professionals are the holy grail.  when the reality is those same health care workers are so wrapped up in documenting and seeing pharmacutical reps that they many times do not even review your blood work when they hand you that "packet" for treatment...the one the drug company "gave" them with hugs and kisses and perks.

People have to procative about their own care, and obviously you do not understand the reality of just how many people fail in treatment.  check your RNA and see

Lanier
please excuse the spelling errors, I do not edit these kinds of posts sense I am usually livid when I write them, or laughing or both

[ladywhy]

Years ago, I went for a physical to a new PC doc, I had just gotten ins. coverage. I was complaining of fatigue. He did a cursory exam and said it was my thyroid. (I actually found out shortly thereafter, I had HepC) He did take blood, and he gave me a sample of pills (synthroid). His words were, "Start taking them now, I'll eat my hat..if it's not because of your thyroid". I wasn't feelin' very trusting and declined taking the pills. I also changed dr.s real quick. Just a small exerpt in the life of.............

[CockSparrow]

Sorry about this but I  have to side with Mre here. His fibrosis probably is reversing. This is not because he is actually 10 years old, but because he is SVR. Once the cause of liver damage is removed then the liver can repair itself, and fibrosis regress.

It not that we think our Health Care Professional are the Holy Grail, in my case far from it but there is plenty of evidence to support Mre's claims. Evidence is evidence.

HR has discussed using supplements that may protect your Liver but you would have to a brave person to think that anything other than IFN cures. Whether using supplements prior to Tx is benificial to SVR is something I am going to have to spend more time investigating.

Using Herbs from anyone no matter how reputable they are is risky. Even if they did work they can be dangerous. Why because no one knows whats actually in them as they can be contaminated with chemicals and prescription drugs and even be swapped with more toxic ones.
CS

[lanier]

well you know what they say about opinions...;)

mine; the liver has a limited ability to reginerate itself after "injury" but liver function cannot fully recover unless there is a normal circulatory pattern.  cirrhosis is characterized by the replacement of lobules with fibrous tissue.  

within a lobule are hepatocytes arranged in a series of irregular plates like spokes on a wheel. I won't go into the sinusoids and capillaries and all the rest that empty into the central vein.  I am sure you are familiar with the term "bridging" fibrosis and have long ago connected the dots as to why the term is used the fibrosis is a spoke also a spoke to a spoke to a spoke to infinity and beyond (lol) Now if you have one spoke, good for you, but how in the heck could you ever tell that?  a 16 gauge liver biopsy strand is not going to show anything but a "pattern" of fibrosis not the spokes on the wheel covered with a new spoke called fibrosis-bridging this is a pathological clinical estimate.

in my opinion when the circulatory pattern has been disrupted in a person who has chronic liver disease, this pattern had been changed to long to recover. the fibrosis may not increase, but it will not reginerate. which still equals a disruption in the circulatory pattern.

thus my comments regarding the 10year old.  Only my opinion based on cell anatomy.

As far a herbal and homeopathics, you would be surprised at the increase in homeopathic degrees and colleges that are becoming more prevelant in the United States.  If you have a chance look up some information about reflexology, a map of the foot that connects all the organs and systems of the body, extremely interesting.  Also irradology a profession of looking into the iris of the eye and linking the rings and colors, and flecks, to organ systems within the body.

I am not an advocate of for anything I have written here.  I am not pushing shark cartalige by a long shot (lol)   I just think if people investigate other areas, they might be lucky to find a method that is not toxic to their liver function and ease their state of mind because they are involved in their own care.  Clinical medicine is very one sided and leaves little room for the client to get involved or even understand.

I know some of the health food things I did prior to being diagnosed helped my liver function and I believe and remeber feeling better from them juicing and green teas, black teas, fasting, milk thistle and many things I used to do prior to a trip to the Rockies when I knew I would be up around the tree line and the same when staying on a sailboat for 3 months in the Abicos and diving and there would be many bacterial issues.

after diagnosis everything changes and we have to be careful...

regards
Lanier