The Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines hepatitis as "inflammation of the liver". The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine defines hepatitis as "An inflammation of the liver, with accompanying liver cell damage or death, caused most frequently by viral infection, but also by certain drugs, chemicals, or poisons. Hepatitis may be either acute (of limited duration) or chronic (continuing)".
Acute Hepatitis
This is a common condition, with about 20-30 cases per 100,000 population per year in the US. The most frequent cause is infection with a virus, such as viral hepatitis, type A or type B or non-A, non-B virus. Other causes include overdose with drugs (such as acetaminophen), exposure to certain chemicals (such as dry-cleaning agents), or, rarely, a reaction to certain drugs in normal dosage. Acute hepatitis may also affect heavy drinkers who have progressive liver disease.
Symptoms
The most common obvious sign of acute hepatitis is jaundice. In many cases, it is preceded by a flu-like illness, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, aching muscles, and sometimes joint pain. In uncommon, severe cases, jaundice may be intense and liver failure may develop, with possible effects on other organs (including the brain), resulting in coma.
Chronic Hepatitis
This occurs when a person fails to recover fully from an episode of acute hepatitis, leading to continued liver cell damage and inflammation. This occurs most commonly, but not exclusively, with certain types of viral hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis may also develop insidiously over a number of years without any acute episodes. Heavy alcohol consumption may again be responsible. In some cases the cause is an auto-immune disorder (in which the body's defenses attack its own tissues), a reaction to the medication, or a metabolic disorder affecting the liver.
Symptoms
The symptoms are usually no worse than a vague feeling of being sick. Often the disease remains undetected until the patient has a medical examination and the liver is found to be enlarged, a causative virus or specific antibody is found in the blood, or the results of liver function tests are abnormal.
Hepatitis, Chronic Active
This is a type of chronic hepatitis in which there is intense and progressive inflammation and destruction of cells surrounding certain structures within the liver. Scar tissue forms and leads to liver cirrhosis. It may be caused in any of four ways: as a result of an auto-immune reaction (immune system disturbance), a viral infection, a reaction to a medication (rare), or to a metabolic disorder (rare). In auto-immune reaction, antibodies are formed which inappropriately attack the liver cells. This is the most common cause of hepatitis in Northern Europe and one of the most common causes in the US. Women are affected more often than men. Viral infection is the most common cause in the US. Often due to viral hepatitis, type B, or non-A, non-B virus. Men are affected more often than women.
Symptoms
The disease may cause vague feelings of tiredness, or no symptoms at all. It is diagnosed by liver biopsy.
Hepatitis, Viral
This is any type of hepatitis caused by a viral infection. A number of viruses may secondarily infect the liver, but for certain viruses the liver is a primary target. These are called hepatotropic viruses and include hepatitis viruses type A, type B, and delta viruses. Sometimes a person has obvious symptoms of viral hepatitis, but the type A, type B, and delta viruses cannot be detected; in such cases the illness is called non-A, non-B hepatitis. A few viruses may cause this type, which is a common form among people who contract hepatitis from blood transfusions.
Hepatitis, Type A (formally called infectious hepatitis)
This is thought to be spread by exposure to an infected person's feces directly or indirectly through contaminated food, drinking water, or someone else's fingers. In most parts of the world, a high proportion of the population has been infected with this virus, often without symptoms, and is immune to further infection. Many cases occur among travelers who have recently returned from an area where the virus is prevalent and standards of hygiene are low.
Viral Hepatitis, Type B
This used to be spread mainly by blood transfusions and blood products (and was referred to as serum hepatitis), but the development of tests for the virus has removed this risk. Today hepatitis B is mainly sexually transmitted (being particularly common among male homosexuals) or spread by mechanisms in which an infected person's blood is inoculated into someone else's (needle sharing among drug abusers, razor sharing, ear piercing). This form in many respects is more serious than viral hepatitis, type A. It can persist for years after the initial infection and may lead to the chronic form of hepatitis and eventually to liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. Carriers may have few or no symptoms but can infect others. The non-A, non-B virus is the cause of most transfusion-associated hepatitis cases.
Hepatitis Delta Virus
This can exist only in someone who is already carrying or has recently been infected with hepatitis, type B. In the US, it seems to be spread mainly by needle sharing among drug abusers.
Symptoms
Infection with any of the causative viruses may be symptomless or may cause typical acute hepatitis with a flu-like illness followed by jaundice. About 10% of patients infected with the hepatitis, type B; delta; or non-A, non-B viruses go on to acquire chronic hepatitis. This rarely, if ever, happens with hepatitis, type A.
Medical Treatment
Vaccines are available against viral hepatitis type B. However, vaccination is generally offered to those who are at high risk of infection. For viral hepatitis type B, it includes health care workers, children born to carrier mothers, male homosexuals, and drug addicts. Passive immunization with immunoglobulins (antibodies) directed against viral hepatitis, type A and type B, is also available and can provide some protection. It is recommended for people who will be traveling to high incidence areas on vacation or on short business trips. With Hepatitis type B, immuno-globulin is given immediately after birth to babies who had carrier mothers to prevent infection. Avoidance of viral hepatitis type A is further helped by observing good hygiene, especially food, in parts of the world where sanitary standards are low. The chances of getting viral hepatitis type B can be reduced through use of a condom, not sharing needles, and avoiding activities such as ear piercing or tattooing unless the equipment used is sterile.
Alternative Treatment
Regular physical exercise keeps the blood flowing and is a natural massage for the liver and gallbladder.
Natural, high quality foods are obviously required, but eating simply and avoiding rich and complicated mixtures is best. Lemons, oranges, grapes, black olives, fresh berries and tomatoes are therapeutic. Vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, beets, carrots, celery, leeks, dandelions, radishes, onions, garlic and cabbage are also beneficial.
Massage therapy and sweat baths benefit the liver.
Hot and cold showers are also stimulating.
Breathing deep and low into the abdomen will reduce stress, toxins, and the tightness that retards circulation.
Healing clay is also used internally, and externally as a warm poultice. Redmond Clay greatly enhances mineral absorption and helps solve constipation problems at the same time if you drink plenty of water with it.
Beneficial Herbs Include: Dandelion root is one of the best herbs to clean and heal the liver. Barberry and Oregon grape roots are similar and help to clean out congestion. Various mints have always been beneficial, including fennel, peppermint and spearmint, thyme, and rosemary. Chamomile is excellent for several body systems at once.
A gradual liver flush is advisable. Like dieting to lose weight, the body needs to have enough of the toxins that the flush will release so that the eliminative organs are not overwhelmed, drowning the person in his own wastes.
Eating light foods, getting more rest, putting excessive stress out of your life by meditation, prayer and being alone with Mother Nature, drinking plenty of pure water and mild exercise are a wonderful beginning.
A cup of fresh lemon juice once or twice a day before meals will help cleanse the gallbladder, as will Cascara Sagrada and Barberry root. LBSII is recommended even if the bowels are not sluggish. If the liver is merely under stress and hasn't degenerated into a cirrhosis or hepatitis condition, Oregon grape liquid, LIV-A with Milk Thistle, LIV-J the Chinese formula, LIV-C, and Special Formula #1 are excellent. Food Enzyme Digestive Aid would help relieve stress on the liver while it restores itself with proper nutrition. For a weakened liver, BP-C, AD-C, BP-X, Gentian liquid, Garlic, and Papaya Mint are good, along with the digestive aids mentioned above. Ginger is another marvelous liver herb, even as a poultice. Each of these herbs will have different effects on the system. The strongest formulas for rebuilding a weakened liver are the Chinese formulas BP-C and AD-C.
Vitamin C, B, E, Mineral Maintenance, Zinc, P-14, and LivGuard with Milk Thistle would be part of a support program to increase the speed of healing. Some protein is necessary, but in moderate amounts.
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