Hepatitis B

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HepatitisAmong the many diseases that can affect the liver the most common is

hepatitis (a viral infection of the liver). Hepatitis can be caused by drugs,

viruses, bacteria, mushrooms, parasites like amoebas or giardiasis. The most

common hepatitis viruses affecting the liver are named for letters of the

alphabet: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E.

Hepatitis A - takes 14 to 21 days after infection to cause symptoms. It is

transmitted through food.Once infected with HAV, some symptoms such as dark

yellow urine and fatigue will begin to appear within 25 days.Hepatitis B - is

on the increase world-wide. It is transmitted through direct contact with

blood, serum, saliva, faeces, urine, and sexual contact. Hepatitis C - is a

truly serious disease with no known effective treatment. It is transmitted

through blood and body fluids in transfusions, injections, the sharing of IV

needles with drug users, and possibly by sexual contact with exposed partners.

Hepatitis D - only occurs in the presence of Hepatitis B virusHepatitis E - is

another common type of hepatitis in developing countries. It occurs in

epidemics. The infection route for it is faecal-oral, the same as the route for

Hepatitis A virus; therefore, again, you must be very careful in what you eat

and drink.Ayurvedic Medicine in Treating Liver DiseaseHepatitis A virus can be

taken care of very easily with herbs. Many of the Ayurvedic herbs have shown

remarkable results in clinical trials and studies. One of these is Eclipta Alba

(Bhringaraj), others are Boerhavia diffusa (Punarnava) , and Picrorhiza kurroa

(Katuki). It is recommend that people take these herbs on a

prophylactic basis when travelling to parts of the world where hepatitis

infection is a risk. HBV and HCV are more serious infections. We must be

careful how we use Ayurvedic herbs for prevention of HBV and HCV. The herbs

mentioned earlier have shown a protective action in HBV, and using them on a

regular basis may be a good way to prevent HBV.Ayurvedic medicines play a

significant role in protecting the liver from cirrhosis and from liver cancer.

Animal and clinical studies done with Phyllanthus Amarus, Phyllanthus Niruri,

and Eclipta Alba have proven their ability to reverse HBV infections in

approximately 60% to 70% of patients. More significantly, with these herbs we

are able to stop the process, which leads to cirrhosis and cancer of the

liver.This means that even if we are not able to make some patients negative

for HBV and HCV, we can still protect them from cirrhosis of the liver, in

which the liver stops functioning, and liver cancer.

Take very good care of your health. To protect your liver, avoid alcohol

and caffeine. Drink green tea, exercise, reduce stress, and use the herbs

mentioned above. Give this hard-working and essential part of your body a rest

and a tune-up, and you will be rewarded with better health, more energy and

higher disease resistance.

Some Herbs for Hepatitis

Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh)Andrographolide, the active constituent

isolated from the plant Andrographis paniculata, showed a significant dose

dependent (0.75 - 12 mg/kg p.o. x7) protective activity against

paracetamol-induced toxicity on ex vivo preparation of isolated rat

hepatocytes. It significantly increased the percent viability of the

hepatocytes as tested by trypan blue exclusion and oxygen uptake tests. It

completely antagonized the toxic effects of paracetamol on certain enzymes

(GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase) in serum as well as in isolated hepatic

cells. Andrographolide was found to be more potent than silymarin, a standard

hepatoprotective agent.[4]Phyllanthus Amaris (Bhuiamala)Phyllanthus Amaris has

been researched for its effects on hepatitis, and in 1988 Thyagaran et al.

(ibid) reported that 22 of 37 cases of

Hepatitis B lost their "carrier" status after using the herb for a month. In the

placebo control group only 1 person out of 23 had equivalent results!Boerhavia

diffusa (Punarnava)An alcoholic extract of whole plant Boerhavia diffusa given

orally exhibited hepatoprotective activity against experimentally induced

carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in rats and mice. The extract also produced

an increase in normal bile flow in rats suggesting a strong choleretic activity.

The extract does not show any signs of toxicity up to an oral dose of 2g/kg in

mice.[7]Eclipta alba (Bhringaraj)The hepatoprotective effect of the

ethanol/water (1:1) extract of Eclipta alba was studied at subcellular levels

in rats against (CCl4) -induced hepatotoxicity. The loss of hepatic lysomal

acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase by (CCl4) was significantly

restored by Ea. The study shows that hepatoprotective activity of Ea is by

regulating the levels of hepatic microsomal drug metabolising

enzymes.[6]Swertia Chirata(Chirayata)Simultaneous treatments with S. Chirata

(in different doses, viz, 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg body wt daily) and (CCl4)

caused improvement at both biochemical and histopathological parameters

compared to that of (CCl4) treatment alone but it was most effective when S.

chirata was administered in a moderate dose (50 mg/kg body wt).[2]Terminalia

belerica(Baheda) Compound I isolated from fraction TB5 of Terminalia belerica

and finally identified as 3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid) was

evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)

- induced physiological and biochemical alterations in the liver.

Administration of compound I led to significant reversal of majority of the

altered parameters. Our results confirm the presence of hepatoprotective

activity in altered parameters. Our results confirm the presence of

hepatoprotective activity in Compound I.[3]Tinospora

cordifolia(Guduchi)Outstanding results in people suffering from jaundice have

been obtained using a herb called Tinospora Cordifolia: In 1993, Rege et al.

(ibid) used the herb in malignant obstructive jaundice: half of the group

received conventional treatment - drugs and drainage - the other half were

treated with drainage plus T. Cordifolia. After conclusion of treatment, 50% of

the drug-treated group were found to have blood poisoning while none of the herb

treated group developed this problem. After surgery, only 40% of the

drug-treated group survived, whereas an amazing 92.4% 0f those treated with the

herb lived.The hepatoprotective

effect of T. Cordifolia has been studied in carbon tetrachloride induced liver

damage in rats. While acute damage was enhanced by prior exposure to the drug,

it proved effective in the prevention of fibrosis, and in stimulating

regeneration of hepatic tissue.[1] Picrorhiza kuroa (Katuki)Picrorrhiza Kurroa

is one of the herbs they recommend to support the liver not only in everyday

situations, but in cases where severe viral infections attack: a 1996 study by

Vaidya found protection against viral hepatitis, and other studies have

demonstrated its helpfulness in protecting against alcohol.[8]The

hepatoprotective activity of picroliv, the irridoid glycoside mixture from

Picrorhiza kuroa, was determined in adult male albino rats. Pretreatment with

picroliv prevented the hepatotoxic effects of paracetamol and galactosamine as

evidenced by varios biochemical and histopathological observations. Maximum

hepatoprotective effect was observed with daily oral doses of 6 and 12 mg/kg for

7 or 8 days. The antihepatotoxic action of picroliv seems likely due to an

alteration in the biotransformation of the toxic substances resulting in

decreased formation of reactive metabolites.[4]

 

Dr.Varrier

Kerala _Ayurvedics

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