Hepatitis C

A Survival Guide for Everyday Life

When one is faced with the prospect of living with the hepatitis C virus for the rest of their life, it can be devastating on a psychological level. One of the main reasons for this is that it is difficult to deal with uncertainty, especially when you feel powerless to change anything your self. Well it does not have to be like this because you have the ability to protect your body from this virus to a very significant degree, even if the virus remains in your body. In my experience as a medical doctor, I like to condense things down to vital strategies and for any chronic illness and/or infection these are –

• Make it show results within 4 to 6 months
• Make it achievable for busy people
• Keep it simple and basic, as most people are not capable of making or willing to make huge changes to a diet and/or lifestyle that they enjoy
• Keep it affordable especially for those on a budget
• Keep it honest with realistic expectations

Nutritional Medicine is your best strategy

Protect & Repair your liver with Nutritional Medicine

Thank God that the liver is able to repair and regenerate itself because this is what enables many hepatitis C sufferers to completely turn their life around. Because of this amazing design feature of the liver, there is always hope. It is important to understand that the chemotherapy of Interferon/Ribaviron is designed to eradicate the hepatitis C virus. This chemotherapy does NOT directly help the liver; in other words it will NOT improve liver function or promote liver repair. Thus even if you have used or will use this type of chemotherapy, it is foolish to disregard the power of nutritional medicine.

Nutritional medicine can effectively improve liver function and stimulate the regeneration of new healthy liver cells, as well as repairing damaged liver cells. We have many testimonials from hepatitis C patients who have achieved this using our simple and easy strategies. This is evidence based medicine, as there is a huge amount of research that shows that the use of specific herbs, vitamins, minerals and foods can improve liver function. Of course you should always seek guidance from a professional Naturopath or doctor before trying anything, and remember you can always contact our service via email or telephone.

Vital survival strategies for Hepatitis C sufferers

A 38-year old man with hepatitis C phoned our American office in Phoenix Arizona during October 2003 and complained to one of our naturopathic doctors that he found our approach to hepatitis C too difficult. He was genuinely upset, as he wanted to improve his health quickly, because he had a very high viral load count and a virulent genotype. He had the typical dilemma of whether he should take chemotherapy or not, in view of the awful side effects he was sure to endure, as well as the slim chances of success he was given because of the nasty genotype he had. So he wanted to try nutritional medicine first to see if he could avoid the chemotherapy. However he found the dietary strategies in the Liver Cleansing diet Book, too strict, rigid and foreign for his lifestyle and tastes. He also thought that he would have to take 10 different tablets/supplements to improve his chances of success, and he was unable to afford the cost of this. No wonder he felt angry, confused and powerless!

So here is my reply to this relatively young man, who in all probability faces a lifetime living with the nasty hepatitis C virus.

• You do NOT have to make sweeping or huge changes to your diet and/or lifestyle – only a few vital changes/additions are required
• You do NOT have to take lots of different expensive supplements or products
• You will see results within 4 to 6 months, which will manifest in an improvement in well-being and energy. Many of our patients will achieve a reduction in their liver enzymes within 4 months, which translates into an improvement in liver function.

The vital strategies which you need to follow are –

1 . Include salads in your diet.
Made with fresh raw vegetables such as tomatoes, shallots, sliced red onion, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, endives, radicchio, celery, red radish, avocado, shredded cabbage, carrots and beets and grated horseradish, ginger etc. You can use a dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar and/or lemon and lime juice. Try to have a salad 4 to 5 times a week, or ideally every day.

2. Make yourself raw vegetable and fruit juices regularly .
Ideally you should do this everyday, however even if you make raw juices only two to three times a week, you will see tremendous benefits. Raw juicing is vital – you will need a juice extracting machine, which is a worthwhile investment.

A basic juice to improve liver function can be made with equal parts of –

• Apple
• Carrot and/or beet root
• Cabbage of different colors – one week choose a purple-red cabbage and the next week choose a green cabbage.

It is even better to use different combinations of vegetable and fruit juices and for delicious and powerful healing recipes I recommend that you get my book titled “Raw Juices can save your Life”

Reduce or avoid the use of –

• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Sodas and diet pop

Some people will find that these substances upset their sense of well-being, whilst in others a small to moderate intake of coffee and/or alcohol produces no adverse effects. It really is a trial and error thing. Do not drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks daily and ideally, do not drink alcohol every day. Heavy smoking of cigarettes will weaken your immune system compromising its ability to fight the virus.

Things you do NOT have to do

You do not have to –
Become vegetarian and you can enjoy red meats, pork and poultry. It is advisable to eat only fresh lean good quality meats and poultry. Try not to consume excess amounts of preserved meats such as pizza meats, jerky, salami, provolone, sausages, hot dogs or hamburger meats, as these are often high in unfriendly bacteria.

You do not have to –
Follow the Liver Cleansing Diet unless you want to, as some people will find it does not suit their tastes and/or lifestyle. You will find more recipe ideas in my book titled “The Healthy Liver & Bowel Book.”

You do not have to –
Become obsessive about using organic foods and/or produce or avoiding all fast foods. It is important to enjoy life and the stress of trying to be perfect will weaken the immune system and make you more likely to blow your new found good habits completely. Many people with hepatitis C have financial problems and cannot afford to purchase expensive organic foods and indeed this is not necessary. As long as you purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and consume these regularly you will achieve the desired result in improving your liver function and immune system.

You do not have to –

Purchase an expensive juicer – if you are on a budget, a basic juice extracting machine will do the job very well.

More about Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is classed as the fastest-growing infectious disease in Australia and America, and this upward trend is set to continue. If it does, by the year 2010 we can expect many thousands of people to have developed HCV- related cirrhosis, with many requiring liver transplants. It is an epidemic problem. Infection with the hepatitis C virus is common, and there are around 300 million people worldwide who have contracted this virus.

Researchers estimate that in Australia, 0.5 to 1% of the general population tests positive to hepatitis C virus. In the USA the incidence is estimated to be around 1.8% of the population, while in many parts of Asia infection rates are much higher than this. HCV was only identified in 1988. Previously it was known as non-A, non-B hepatitis. HCV is 10 times more infectious than HIV (the AIDS virus), and unpublished research in Victoria suggests it may survive for long periods on needles and other equipment. In the 1980’s, AIDS was the major public health challenge for community based doctors. Now Hepatitis C has this dubious honor.

How can you catch the Hepatitis C virus?

Hepatitis C is transmitted mainly by blood. This occurs through the sharing of equipment to inject drugs, needle stick injuries in health care workers, and unsafe techniques of body piercing and tattooing. Cocaine snorting is recognized increasingly as a potential mode of transmission through the sharing of contaminated straws.

Only a tiny quantity of virus is necessary for the virus to become established in the case of hepatitis C, and transmission usually occurs when the skin becomes contaminated by injecting paraphernalia, such as spoons, mixing tools, tourniquets, cotton buds or by hands. Razor blades and toothbrushes can become contaminated with blood, so it is important not to share these things. Always wear gloves when wiping up blood spills, using paper towels and good quality bleach. While bleach is an effective surface antiseptic, there is no absolute evidence that it can kill Hep C. In about 10 to 15 percent of cases no definite risk factor is detected and the mode of transmission remains unclear.

The incidence of sexual transmission from a patient with chronic hepatitis C infection seems to be quite low, in comparison with hepatitis B and HIV (AIDS). However, those with an acute hepatitis C infection are possibly more likely to spread the virus sexually. It is important to practice safe sexual techniques to avoid blood to blood contact. The risk of sexual transmission is estimated to be around 4%.

Transmission of the disease from mother to baby also occurs but much less frequently than with hepatitis B. This occurs in only around 6% of such cases. Infection of the baby through breast-feeding from an infected mother is very uncommon, however great care should be taken to avoid nipple trauma.

Nowadays the risk of catching hepatitis C from a blood transfusion is extremely low, because blood banks now screen all donated blood. As with hepatitis B it is possible to be a symptom-free carrier of the virus. Hepatitis B sufferers in the acute stage of infection and all hepatitis C patients should consider themselves infectious.

HCV is NOT spread by:

• sneezing
• hugging
• coughing
• food or water
• sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses
• casual contact

The following precautions must be taken by these hepatitis B and C patients.

• Do not donate blood or organs
• Do not share needles, toothbrushes, razors or other intimate articles
• Blood spills should be wiped up with bleach and all cuts and wounds covered with adhesive dressings.
• Bloodstained tissues, sanitary napkins and so on must be disposed of safely.
• “Safer sex” should be practiced, with the use of condoms recommended, especially for anal intercourse. However, in the case of hepatitis C, the need for condom use in heterosexual intercourse with a stable partner is not entirely clear. The risk of oral sex is also not fully known, though oral-anal contact should be avoided. Intercourse during menstruation should also be avoided.

Do you need a test for Hepatitis C?

If you received a blood transfusion or blood products before routine screening of donor blood was introduced (before February 1990), or if you have ever shared equipment (needles, spoons, swabs, tourniquets, etc.) for injecting any drugs, it is important that you ask your doctor for a blood test to check for hepatitis C. If you have been tattooed, had body piercing or needle-stick injuries, you should also consider being tested for hepatitis C.

Initial Effects of Infection with Hepatitis C Virus.

People are generally completely unaware that they have contracted this virus because it does not produce any symptoms in the early or acute stages of the infection. During the first 3 to 6 months after infection, the virus replicates itself rapidly and the immune system tries to fight it by producing antibodies against it. Unfortunately in 80 to 85 percent of infected people, the virus is not eliminated and becomes a long-term inhabitant of the body. In other words, the infection becomes chronic. In a significant percentage of people with chronic infection, there are no signs or symptoms of disease and many are unaware that they are carrying an infection that can be transmitted to others through contact with their blood.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of acute hepatitis infection are similar for all three viruses, although generally less severe with hepatitis C. Initially the patient feels unwell with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headaches, tiredness and a distaste for cigarettes. Fever and upper abdominal discomfort may occur. After one to two weeks the patient frequently becomes jaundiced (the skin and eyes turn yellow), and the symptoms then often improve. The urine may become dark and the bowel motions pale. Most hepatitis C sufferers, however, do not develop this jaundice.

Long Term Effects of the Hepatitis C Virus.

The amount of long term liver damage caused by the hepatitis C virus varies from person to person, and those with a strong immune system and a healthy diet and lifestyle will have a much better outcome.

In those who become infected with this virus we find the following approximate outcomes:- 15 to 20 percent of people will completely eliminate the virus from their bodies within 3 to 6 months (much like we overcome the flu virus).

• 60 percent of people will develop a long-term (chronic) infection that may not cause any problems or may go on to varying degrees of liver damage.
• 20 to 25 percent of people will suffer serious liver damage, although this takes around 20 years to develop. In this group, 10 to 15 percent will remain stable and be able to survive with their disease, while 10 percent will go on to develop liver failure and/or liver cancer. The absolute risk of liver cancer from hepatitis C is not yet clear, but it only occurs if there is already established cirrhosis and generally takes about thirty years after the initial infection.
• Chronic infection may also cause severe loss of liver cells and extensive scarring of the liver which is called cirrhosis. The death rate from chronic hepatitis C infection is around 5 to 10% and is due to end stage liver failure or the development of liver cancer.

Excerpt from “The Liver Cleansing Diet” by Dr. Cabot The LCD will help to repair liver damage in those who drink too much alcohol or those who have taken recreational drugs, especially intravenously. Those who test positive for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C and are chronic carriers of these viruses will have less chance of developing chronic liver disease if they follow the “Liver- Cleansing Diet.”

Testing and diagnosis

1. Antibody detection – The initial screening test for Hepatitis C tests for the antibodies to the virus so it does not look directly for the virus itself. Sometimes this test comes back indeterminate and then a repeat test is required. Antibodies are produced in the body after exposure to the virus. Therefore this test indicates if the body has been exposed to the virus and has produced antibodies to fight it. It doesn’t determine whether or not someone still has the virus or how long he or she has been infected. It takes up to 6 months for antibodies to HCV to form in the blood (this is called seroconversion) It is therefore important to get re-tested 6 months after initial antibody test.

The main tests used are:

• ELISA III (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
• RIBA (Recombinent Immunoblot Assay) These are more expensive than ELISA and are generally used as a confirmatory test.

2. Virus Detection and analysis – The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a test that amplifies the virus genetic material to a level that can be detected so it is useful when the antibody tests are unclear. It is the viral load that the PCR tests for. It is often required to have these tests done to confirm a diagnosis.

Recommended Dr. Cabot Books:

“The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book”
Follow the principles for a Healthy Liver outlined on p 20 -27. This book is essential reading for anyone with liver or bowel dysfunction and contains sections on fatty liver, liver function tests and the implication of the results, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. This way of eating must be followed for life. It is not hard. You can use the recipes in the back as a guide and make your own recipes/meals up as long as they stick to those basic principles

“Raw Juices Can Save Your Life”
Cabot’s new book contains carefully designed juices to help with common health problems such as

• Chronic fatigue
• Liver problems including fatty liver and hepatitis
• Weight excess
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Skin and hair problems
• Allergies and immune dysfunction
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Recurrent infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome & constipation
• Headaches & migraines.

Raw juices are an incredible powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin. The fresh raw vegetable juices are vitally important. It is good to use both whole fruits and vegetables in the diet as well as the juices as the juices provide an easily absorbable form of nutraceuticals that are very beneficial for the liver. Juices made freshly from raw fruits and or vegetables have unique healing & rejuvenating properties. For those who feel they need an extra boost there is nothing better than having a raw juice everyday. It will brighten up the day by providing extra energy & endurance. Juices are unique because they allow the gut to receive very concentrated amounts of phytonutrients that could not be obtained by eating a normal amount of raw vegetables & fruits. Juices are high in – Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, living plant enzymes to aid digestion & vitamin K in green leafy vegetables.

Treatment & General recommendations:

• If you want to improve liver function IT IS ADVISABLE TO AVOID OR AT LEAST GREATLY REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS – dairy foods contain high levels of antibiotics, steroids and artificial growth hormones as this is what the herds are treated with in today’s high tech dairies to prevent disease and boost milk production. As with humans where substances go through into breast milk it is the same for cattle – only they neglect to tell you this in the advertisements when they are telling you how great milk is
• Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
• Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
• Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the livers workload.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners see www.dorway.com – use Stevia

Treatment – Orthodox

Much more research is being done into specific antiviral drugs such as NS3 proteinase and effective vaccines. Large amounts of money are needed to maintain this ongoing research which is essential in the face of this rapidly spreading epidemic. The aim of Interferon treatment is to eliminate hepatitis C virus infection and prevent liver damage and liver cancer. Interferon alone eliminates the virus in only 10 to 20% of patients. Another 25 to 40% respond but subsequently relapse.

The main orthodox drug treatment for Hep C is the Pegylated Combo treatment incorporating Interferon and Ribavirin. Pegylated interferon has a polyethylene glycol molecule is attached to the interferon molecule. As a result, its elimination from the body is slowed and higher, more constant blood levels of interferon alpha are achieved with less frequent dosing. In contrast to unmodified interferon alpha, which must be injected three times a week to treat chronic hepatitis C, peginterferon alpha needs to be injected only once a week. The addition of ribavirin to interferon alpha is superior to interferon alpha alone in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Ribavirin is a synthetic nucleoside that has activity against a broad spectrum of viruses. Subsequent studies showed that the combination of interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin is more effective in achieving a sustained response than interferon alpha-2b alone in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C not previously treated with interferon. This led to FDA approval for this indication in December 1998.

The Interferon/Ribavirin treatment provides the only hope at this stage of complete eradication of the virus however its effectiveness is limited and side effects are not pleasant. Interferon often causes a wide range of side effects such as a “flu like illness,” suppression of the bone marrow, infections, mood changes and immune dysfunction. Some people will experience long term remission but many will relapse. Many people make the choice to avoid the drug therapies and use nutritional medicine to support the liver and immune system.

Nutritional medicine

To overcome these problems, drugs can only play a limited role that is mostly concerned with the control of symptoms. To treat the underlying causes we need to turn to the power of nutritional medicine. Over the past two decades there has been enormous advances in information in the scientific and medical literature linking incorrect nutrition to disease states. Most diseases are associated with nutritional imbalances. Research of the scientific and medical literature gives great insight into the nutritional factors in illness. Dietary changes and the appropriate use of nutrients will reduce the risk of disease and are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of illness.

In many cases it is impossible to eradicate the hepatitis C virus from the body and patients find it difficult to tolerate drug side effects. It is therefore not surprising that sufferers are turning towards nutritional and herbal therapies to fight the virus. Natural therapies will not usually be able to eradicate the virus from the body, however they will definitely help to prevent the virus from damaging the liver. This approach is very successful and can keep the virus in a dormant or harmless state so that it does not damage liver cells.

Although nutritional medicine cannot “cure” the Hep C virus, using Dr. Cabot’s program for Hep C, many people have experienced a great improvement in the function of their liver and have reduced the risk of associated conditions such as cancer, cirrhosis and liver failure. This program needs to be adhered to basically as a way of life. While it is not possible to completely eradicate the virus by nutritional medicine alone, the following results have been seen in Dr. Cabot’s patients:70% have improved function 25% have normalized function 40% have significantly reduced viral load

Weight Loss and Hepatitis C

Weight loss in people with chronic Hep C may experience improved liver function. This was found by researchers in Queensland Australia. After following a group of people with chronic Hep C and fatty liver that were put on a 3 month weight reduction program it was found that the weight loss led to a reduction in fatty liver, improved liver enzymes and improvement in fibrosis despite persistence in the virus

The findings were:

• An average weight loss of nearly 6kg and an average loss in weight circumference of 9cm.
• The average fasting insulin decreased from 16 – 11 mmol/L
• In 75% of patients, ALT levels fell progressively with weight loss(GUT 2002;51:89-94)

In Summary

Excellent results have been achieved by using nutritional programs in many patients with chronic viral infections of the liver. This can also reduce damage caused by any long-term systemic viral infection, including the AIDS virus. The most important strategy is to begin such a program as early as possible and to stay on it long-term. It is possible to restore normal liver function in many chronic viral hepatitis sufferers provided they also stick to a healthy diet and drug free lifestyle. At the very least a significant improvement in liver function and well being will always be achieved, provided you do not wait until end-stage liver disease has set in.

Liver Transplantation

This is the procedure whereby the healthy liver of a donor is used to replace the diseased liver of a recipient. It is often very successful and between 70 and 80% of recipients of a transplanted liver are alive 12 months after the operation. Most of these 12-month survivors become long term survivors. Lifelong immunosuppressant drugs must be taken after a liver transplant. All patients under the age of 65 with advanced cirrhosis are candidates for a liver transplant.