New Options For Hepatitis C Patients

Great strides have been made recently in the treatment for hepatitis C. This is life-changing news for the estimated 3.9 million Americans infected with the virus. It is often a silent killer, developing slowly over decades and spreads quite easily because most people aren’t aware they’re infected. Little to no symptoms allow the disease to inflict serious damage while going unnoticed. Without detection, the virus attacks the liver, resulting in liver failure. Some people may develop liver cancer. The more advanced cases of hepatitis C require a liver transplant, which without the person is likely to succumb to the disease. A transplant is not a cure, though, because the virus hides throughout the body and will infect the new liver.

Fortunately, in August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a pill combination to treat all forms of hepatitis C, with cure rates of up to 90 percent. Unfortunately, that medical breakthrough comes with a giant price tag, up to a possible $94,000. Side effects can be mild, but some medication may add to or worsen symptoms already experienced. While there’s no denying hepatitis C drug therapy is saving lives, they’re not the only treatment option.

Over-the-counter therapy is very successful for treating and preventing many conditions, but with something as potentially dangerous as hepatitis C, it is advised for anyone infected to seek medical treatment immediately before the virus causes irreparable damage. A naturopath experienced with infectious diseases will be able to prescribe a more detailed supplement plan for each individual. Milk thistle, selenium, and N-acetyl cysteine are just a few nutrients that may provide support in treating hepatitis C.

In addition to nutrient therapy, intravenous therapy is a great alternative or adjunct to pharmaceuticals. IV therapy can deliver therapeutic amounts of nutrients that could never be taken orally. Another benefit is the total customization available. Someone with advanced cirrhosis will have different needs than someone newly diagnosed. Not only can IV therapy be successful on its own, but when coupled with drug therapy, it can also help reduce or eliminate any side effects. Ozone therapy, or major auto hemo therapy (MAH), involves the intravenous use of medical-grade ozone to hyper-oxygenate a patient’s blood. One of the most important mechanisms of MAH is its ability to kill viruses and bacteria. MAH also stimulates white blood cells, the fighter cells of the immune system.

Anyone infected with hepatitis C has multiple options involving their treatment. They can seek out conventional medicine and rely solely on drug therapy or exclusively receive alternative treatments, or have a combination of both. A while ago, a hepatitis C diagnosis was essentially a death sentence. Now, with the right support, it’s not only manageable, but curable. A consultation with an infectious disease specialist, either in the allopathic or holistic field, is probably the best beginning to treating hepatitis C. 

Paul Stallone, NMD, founded the Arizona Integrative Medical Center, located at 8144 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 820, in Scottsdale. He combines natural/alternative/conventional treatments for each patient’s needs. For more information, call 480-214-3922 or visit DrStallone.com.