Thank you for your interest in the Natural Medicine approach to treating disease and healthy living! Caring Medical is currently a full time Prolotherapy doctor's office, headed by Ross Hauser, MD and we are blessed to fill the needs of patients seeking an alternative to surgery. We are accepting new patients and athletes suffering from chronic pain, sports injuries, and arthritis for treatment with Prolotherapy. Due to this large demand in Prolotherapy, we are not currently accepting new patients for natural medicine conditions, this includes autoimmune conditions, weight loss, menopause, hormones, or cancer. Through the years, we have seen so many lives turn around for the better with some of the methods discussed on this page, and encourage you to seek a Natural Medicine practitioner at www.acam.org.
The Response of Modern Medicine
Modern medicine offers a hepatitis patient several treatment options, ranging from medication to liver transplant surgery. Hepatitis A has no specific treatment since it generally will go away on its own in 2 to 6 weeks. Thus, the goal of Hepatitis A treatment is to keep the patient comfortable, prevent the infection from being passed to others and prevent further liver damage. Once the patient recovers from the initial infection, there are usually no side effects.
Hepatitis B is treated with medication, such as Interferon, Lamivudine or Adefovir Dipivoxil. Interferon is given by injection for up to 4 months. Thirty to forty percent of chronic Hepatitis B patients respond to therapy. Adefovir Dipivoxil is an oral medication that is taken for about one year. It works by blocking an enzyme that allows the Hepatitis B to replicate. Studies have shown histological improvement within 48 weeks. If, however, Hepatitis B causes the liver to shut down, liver transplant surgery is the only treatment option available to the patient to prevent death.
Hepatitis C treatment involves using the medication Interferon for 24 to 48 weeks. Currently two new medications Pegasys and Copegus, when given in combination, result in 55 percent of treated patients to have undetectable levels of Hepatitis C after 6 months.
A significant percentage of those with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C do not respond to the medication or refuse to take it. Also, the medications do not get to the root of the problem as natural medicine treatments do.
The Natural Medicine Approach to Hepatitis
The goal of the natural medicine treatment for hepatitis is to ease the patient’s symptoms and promote self-healing. Natural medicine practitioners believe that therapies that enhance immune function such as herbal supplementation, and dietary changes all can greatly benefit the patient and prevent further progression of the disease.
For example, the natural herb Silymarin has been shown to reverse liver cell damage and decrease elevated liver enzymes. Silymarin can also improve the symptoms of abdominal discomfort, fatigue and decreased appetite. Nutrients that boost natural killer-cell function can help resolve or control hepatitis infection, including IP-6, DHEA, glutamine and zinc.
Sublingual B12 and folic acid have been shown to shorten the recovery time of hepatitis infections. In addition, two grams of vitamin C daily was shown to be helpful in preventing hospitalized patients from acquiring Hepatitis B.
Food allergy testing may be needed to screen the patient for foods that may aggravate his or her condition. Eliminating alcoholic beverages, fried foods, animal fats and certain medications can help decrease the extra stress that is placed on the liver.
If you are interested in more information about our natural medicine program, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hauser, please contact Caring Medical at 708-848-7789 or online using our contact form.
