Natural Healing Tips
Dietary Principles
Dietary Guidelines
Foods to Consider
Foods to Avoid
Stategies
Body Movement and Excercise Guidelines
Lifestyle Guidelines
Mind-Body Connection
Spirituality and Healing
Herbs and Supplements
Here we will make available pertinent news and information
on Hepatitis B and C. At Hepatitis Junction, we hope to complement,
not replace, your current approach. Below we suggest general dietary,
supplemental, and lifestyle approaches that could help you keep your
hepatitis under control. If you have any questions, news or information
you would like to share with us please send it to us via email.
Note: The recommendations listed here are not a substitute for conventional
care. To determine which herbs, vitamins, and supplements are optimal
for your specific condition, you should speak with one of our licensed
practitioners. Please call 800-449-0770 for a free, confidential phone
consultation.
Dietary Principles
Diet is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.
The idea that what we eat is not important to our well being is one
of the greatest failings of western medicine. Hippocrates, the father
of modern medicine said, "Food is medicine, medicine is food."
My favorite is: "You are what you don't poop out."
The Liver metabolizes the final products of digestion in the blood from
the intestines. From this the Liver removes Glucose, excretes bile,
creates heparin, manufactures cholesterol and carries on dozens of biochemical
processes. It truly is the most complex organ of the body, except the
brain. The liver is well known for the detoxification process. From
the most deadly poison to a glass of pure water, the liver is in charge
of filtering out impurities.
We must eat to live. Many of us act like we live to eat. If you have
not paid attention to your diet then the time has come. We would like
to share some basic eating principles. These are basic guidelines and
should be followed up with a consultation with a physician or nutritionist
knowledgeable with an optimal Hepatitis diet.
Dietary Guidelines:
• Diet should be concentrated with fruits and vegetables because
of their flavonoid compounds, which will benefit the liver. Especially
useful are soups with various green leafy vegetables.
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, coffee, black tea, cola and chocolate,
and sugar are important to decrease the stress load on the liver.
• High protein, lacto-ovo vegetarian diet
• High fiber diet
Foods to consider:
• Dandelion greens, burdock root, mustard greens,
black radish, apples and saffron, watercress, beets, parsley, artichokes,
cherries, grapefruit, parsnips, endive, garlic, onion, chicory, carob,
horseradish, kumquats, limes, quinces, grapes. Include artichokes in
the diet, they protect the liver.
Lemon juice mixed with water, upon rising in the morning 30 minutes
before eating and a teaspoon of olive oil (virgin cold pressed) has
been shown to stimulate the production of bile.
Foods to avoid:
• Saturated fats, meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy
foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods, cow's milk
and other dairy products, white bread, refined foods, processed foods,
sugar and sweets, phlegm-forming foods, meat, ice cream, shellfish,
coffee, caffeine, unpurified water and other foods that don't agree
with you.
• Trans-fatty acids, hydrogenated oils (margarine, vegetable shortenings,
imitation butter spreads, most commercial peanut butters) oxidized fats
(deep fried foods, fast food, ghee, barbecued meats)
• Refined, simple carbohydrates: sucrose, white flour, processed
foods
Consider these strategies:
Get a food allergy (blood) test to see what foods you
may be intolerant to. This can also be done by doing an "elimination
diet" where you will avoid foods that you feel you may be allergic
to, you crave constantly or eat repeatedly (start with some common reactive
ones like dairy, wheat, eggs, gluten, tomatoes, peanuts, corn, citrus,
refined sugars, coffee, tea food additives, alcohol and any foods you
eat more than three times a week). Eliminate them completely for two
weeks, don't cheat. This could be difficult, withdrawal symptoms have
been known to affect people. Take buffered Vitamin C (2000-3000mgs a
day), B-6, drink lots of water and possibly a mild laxative to ease
the symptoms. Reintroduce them one food at a time after two weeks or
so at breakfast with a big helping. If you are reintroducing a food
like cheese don't to it with pizza, it also has wheat and corn oil.
If you eat them and find that you get gassy, bloated, tired, headaches,
depressed, sweats, joint pains or itching then you are probably allergic
to that food. If nothing happens try another large helping at lunch.
If you have no immediate reactions that day stop eating that food for
four days and then go on with the second food. Now you may actually
feel better from a food as you are going through withdrawals and find
that it makes you feel "high" so be aware if are merely reacting
to the reintroduction of that food while going through withdrawals.
Getting the help of a nutritionist or a practitioner knowledgeable with
allergy-free diets is essential.
Take periodic short fasts that allow the liver to rest. The idea of
cleansing the liver by not eating for short periods is a very old and
effective treatment. Many people fast for 1-3 days with each change
of the seasons. You could try a one day liquid fast (water, herbal teas
or vegetable broths and see how you like it. You could also fast one
day a week. Try not to eat before you go to sleep. Giving the liver
10-12 hours to clear itself is very beneficial (breakfast means, literally,
the break of a fast).
Remember that these are only dietary suggestions. They are not intended
to offer any kind of cures, merely ideas on how to detoxify your liver
and have a healthy diet. Once again, getting the help of a professional
or reading one of the books on nutrition on our recommended reading
page can be quite helpful.
Body Movement and Exercise Guidelines:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Life is Movement. Think about it, anything
in nature that does not move is usually inanimate. If we are to keep
our life force vital we must keep active. This does not mean that we
have to work out 4 hours a day, it means we have to have a regimen of
exercise that will keep us flexible with good stamina. For most of us
that means 20-30 minutes of some kind of aerobic exercise a day. Depending
on your current health status that can vary greatly. You are the best
judge of what you are capable of doing. If you are unable to get out
of the house or even out of bed, finding ways to stretch, low impact
exercises, tai-chi, yoga or a weekly massage can help.
Lifestyle Guidelines:
Consider these general guidelines to help support your liver:
Have adequate and balanced nutrition.
Take the appropriate vitamins and minerals.
Check your Thyroid function.
Avoid toxic chemicals such as paint, pesticides, herbicides, fuels or
solvents.
Avoid excessive fat, high proteins, low fiber and fried foods.
NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR TOBACCO
Avoid pharmaceutical drugs with potential toxicity (example: acetaminophen),
check them with your doctor or pharmacist.
Check for Candida overgrowth and Bowel Toxicity.
Check your home and job for exposure to potentially toxic substances.
Check for gas leaks, chemicals that might be harmful Drink only steam
distilled or non-chlorinated water. There are things you may not think
are toxic, check.
Get plenty of rest.
If stress is part of your life (ha!), find simple ways to defuse it.
Take a walk in nature, meditate, help someone with his or her problems,
work in a garden or just take some deep breaths. You must explore and
find what works for you. The idea is to turn down the inner dialogue
that we all have going on, take a step back and enjoy this life.
If you are in a situation that seems unsolvable, then you might want
to get counseling. Very often we stay in relationships, jobs, homes
or any number of scenarios that are toxic to us. It's easier said than
done to change things, start with small steps.
Mind-Body connection
The famous Chinese physician, Huang Ti (2500 BC) wrote in the Nei Ching:
(The Yellow Emeperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, what some consider
the oldest text of medicine), "If you truly want to heal the body
you must heal the spirit first." This means that we must look in
our hearts if we want to make our transformation complete.
If you have Hepatitis and you have no severe symptoms, you are lucky
and you are also in the majority. This can be a blessing or it could
be an obstacle. Because you don't necessarily feel bad, there might
not be much motivation to treat this disease seriously. That would be
a mistake.
No matter if you are in end stage liver cancer or have no symptoms at
all, you have an opportunity to change the course of this disease. There
is no "magic bullet," no herb, or drug that can completely
"cure" it. Many of us have been taught that our bodies are
machines that can be fixed with the incision of a knife or the ingestion
of a pill. Western medicine has come up with miraculous interventions
that have helped many. But this disease will take more than these procedures
if we are to keep it at bay.
Much depends on you.
Spirituality and healing:
We all know that having a positive mental attitude can only help the
healing process. For many people that has different meanings. It might
mean going to church and praying. It might mean taking a walk in the
woods or helping someone else. The point is, what is it for you and
how can you develop it? We all chase different goals and try and accomplish
what we feel is important in our lives. Unfortunately, many of us have
been taught that those things are material in nature. If only we had
______, (fill in the blank). We all struggle to obtain things even if
it is as basic as the rent or putting food on the table.
Developing a spiritual life is as important as exercise or diet. If
we go through life angry, fearful, jealous or bitter it will effect
us physically. If we already have a condition that is life threatening
we are doing even more damage. Creating harmony is essential in healing.
So how do we develop spirituality? It's not easy. It takes commitment
to work on the negative patterns that have been part of our lives. We
must try to embrace love and reject fear.
Most of our lives are built around fear. The fear of losing what we
have, our homes, our jobs, our lives. Our fear end up controlling us,
blocking out the love we have for others and ourselves. If we find methods
that help us lose that fear, we have a chance. Since this fear is borne
of our mind, practices such as prayer, Yoga, meditation or Tai-Chi can
help us tame the habitual patterns that control us. Most of us have
an" inner dialogue" that we carry on with ourselves, often
worrying about things that never happen. What we are trying to do with
these practices is turn that dialogue down and in time control it. For
you, it might be gardening or cooking, whatever it is, the idea is to
truly relax and curtail the negative patterns that stress us out and
actually make us sick.
Explore. Look for the things that you know relax you and give you peace.
This doesn't mean doing drugs, alcohol or watching TV all day. Get out
of relationships/situations that are toxic to you. Help others who are
suffering. Go out in nature. Remember, life is short.
Herbs and supplements
1. Hepatitis Formula
This formula is a combination of Chinese, Ayuervedic and Western herbs.
We have brought the best herbs these traditions bring and created a
formula that has been successful for us. The herbs in this formula are:
4:1 concentrated powder extracts:Adhatoda Vasika, Eclipta alba,Triphala,
Capillaris,Schizandra,Isatis Root,Isatis leaves,Silajatu,Tinospora,
Cordifolia, Bupleurum,Scute,Yellow turmeric,White Peony,Salvia, Licorice,
Oyster shell,Pippili
Dose: 3 grams twice a day
2. Milk Thistle
Therapy:
Acute and chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatoprotection
(incl.amanita poisoning, ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, other hepatotoxic
solvents and exotoxins such as pesticides), liver complaints associated
with cholangitis, pruritis of pregnancy, psoriasis.
• Specific indications: liver conditions involving inflammation
and toxic insult or overload.
Constituents:
3.Flax Seed Oil:
Function:
Flax seed oil has some of the highest content of essential fatty acids.
These oils envelop every cell of the body in a compound known as phospholipids.
The oil best known in flax seed is Omega -3: They have so many important
functions, many books have been written about them.
There are no known side effects or contraindications.
4. St. John's Wort:
Function:
Known for it's anti-viral and anti- depressant qualities, St. John's
Wort is a good general herb for keeping an emotional balance and suppressing
the hepatitis virus.
Dosage:
• Clinical Trials:
Numerous clinical studies have shown that St. John’s Wort is better
than placebo in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders, and
that it I as at least as effective as standard anti-depressants, and
has less side effects.
• Side Effects and Contraindications:
• No serious adverse effects have been reported with use of St.
John's Wort at typical doses. Photosensitivity, although commonly publicized,
is a rarely reported side effect. Recent studies have shown side effects
with certain medications for HIV. Check with your doctor before taking
this with any medication.
3. Selenium
Function:
Selenium is one of the main anti-oxidants in our diets along with Vitamins
A, C and E. Keshan's disease in China has been associated with a lack
of Selenium in the soil.
Benefits
: o Selenium is involved in the synthesis of the enzyme glutathione
peroxides
• Natural antioxidant
• Vitamin E helps promote normal growth and development
Contraindications:
Take no more than the recommended dosage of between 200-300mcgs.
a day. Toxicity due to ingesting large amounts is the only known side
effect.
4. Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme derived from the pineapple. It has been used
extensively for it's digestive and anti -inflammatory properties.
There are no known side effects.
5.Beta Gluon 123
Considered to be a very powerful anti-oxidant.
There are no known side effects.
6. Choline
Function:
• Choline is required for the proper metabolism of fats; it facilitates
the movement of fats in and out of cells. Choline is essential for proper
liver function due to its key role in the lipotropic effect, i.e., the
export of fat from the liver. In the absence of adequate choline, fats
become trapped in the liver, where they block metabolism. Stagnation
of fat and bile eventually leads to the development of more serious
liver disorders such as cirrhosis.
• No toxicity beyond the side effects mentioned above were found
in any of the sources cited.
7.Inositol:
v Part of the vitamin B complex and associated with choline and biotin
Functions:
• Aids in the metabolism of fats and reduces blood cholesterol.
Required nutrient for cells of brain, bone marrow, eye membranes, and
the intestine
• No known toxicity, interactions
8. Vitamin C
Can use for any type of infection such as Candida, colds, hepatitis,
influenza, mononucleosis, viral pneumonia, herpes simplex and zoster
to name a few.
Contraindications:
• Oxalate stone-formers
• Cystinuria
• Vitamin C has been found to potentate certain chemotherapeutic
drugs in animals
9. Vitamin E:
• Anti-Oxidant: Vitamin E protects cell membranes, especially in
the lungs and red blood cells. It particularly protects fatty acids
against oxidative damage caused by various pollutants, peroxides, and
free radicals formed during metabolic processes. It aids in the prevention
of lipofuscin, oxidized fat that has been implicated in the aging process.
If insufficient vitamin E is present, PUFAs may become oxidized in the
body. This causes various toxins to be formed. These toxins may lead
to chromosomal damage and the formation of cancers. Vitamin E may protect
the liver and the rest of the body against environmental pollutants
such as ozone and other constituents of smog.
Dosage:
Maintenance dose: 100-400 I.U.
Toxicity:
• Sudden supplementation in unaccustomed individuals may raise
blood pressure. Hypertension can develop in certain people with sensitivities
to Vitamin E. Start out with low doses of vitamin E (100 I.U.) and gradually
work up.
Contraindications:
• Chronic rheumatic heart disease (do not start with high doses,
gradually work up)
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan): requires hepatic oxidation for activation;
antioxidants interfere with this process
• Hypertension
10. L-Carnitine:
Overview:
L-Carnitine is a vitamin like substance that is responsible for the
transport of fatty acids to the cells where they are converted into
energy.
Therapeutic uses:
L-Carnitine may help the utilization of fat as an energy source. Since
L-Carnitine is essential in the metabolizing of fatty acids in the liver
it should help in the overall performance of the liver.
Dosages:
Daily dosage is usually between 1500 and 4000 mgs. Best, as always to
start on the low range.
Contraindications:
There are no reported side effects or known adverse interactions.
11. Methionine
Summary:
• S-adenosyl methionine synthesis is one of the most potent methyl
donors and is involved in many methylation reactions. It is intimately
involved in the synthesis of brain chemicals and also in detoxification
reactions.
Applications:
• It may be effective in the treatment of various liver disorders
such as elevated liver enzymes due to alcohol, cirrhosis, hepatitis,
and other liver toxins.
Toxicity:
• Although it rarely occurs, nausea and GI irritation are signs
of methionine toxicity. Use
Contraindications:
• Osteoporosis: large doses increases urinary excretion of calcium
Interactions:
• None known
12.Lipoic Acid:
Lipoic acid is a vitamin-like substance that is involved in the conversion
of carbohydrates to energy. It is an anti -oxidant and is both water
and fat soluble. This makes it effective against a broader spectrum
of free radicals.
Therapeutics:
Possible uses are for detoxification purposes, specifically for hepatitis
and cirrhosis.
Contraindications:
There are no reports of any adverse effects in the use of Lipoic Acid.
13. Coenzyme Q10
CO-Q10 is a vitamin like substance whose actions resemble that of Vitamin
E. There are many substances that are conenzymes but only CO-Q10 is
the one found in human tissue. It plays a crucial role in the production
of energy in the body. It aids in circulation, stimulates the immune
system and increases oxygenation.
Therapeutics:
The benefits to the immune system, the cardiovascular system and its
ability to counter histamine reactions should give an overall benefit
to the liver and its functions.
Contraindications:
None known
14. Glutathione:
Summary:
• It is an antioxidant necessary for the protection of proteins.
It is used by the liver to detoxify formaldehyde, acetaminophen and
many other compounds.
• Protects the integrity of red blood cells.
• Important role in immune function via white blood cell production
Applications:
• Detoxification and heavy metal toxicity: Common toxins that Glutathione
may help protect against are car exhaust, cigarette smoke, aspirin and
alcohol.
• Liver disease including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease caused
by alcohol: Studies show mild effects at large doses
Contraindications:
None Known
15. Ultra Anti-Oxidant:
This formula contains a number if anti-oxidants which are believed to
help support the liver and immune system.
The ingredients are: Vitamins C, E, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5,B-6,Bioflavinoids,
Hesperidin, Rutin, Pycnogonol, Beta- Carotene, INositol, Choline, Zinc,
Selenium, Glutiathione, N- Acetyl- L- Cysteine, Methionine, Dimethlygycine
HCI
