Supplements As Hepatitis C Treatments
Along with the drug therapy that is suggested for the Hepatitis C virus many people are also using complimentary and alternative medicine, CAM, to help them through the long treatment regime. Studies have shown that sixty two percent of those using CAM use prayer and natural medications or supplements to help improve their chances of beating this terrible infection. Still, you must remember when deciding which things to try, that although herbs have been around for centuries you must still know how to use them and what effects they may have on the medications you are already using.
Since whatever you do can affect the test results that your health care provider orders periodically, in all fairness, you must keep them informed on what supplements you are using. Do not use herbs to mask other things you are doing to your body that you should not be. This includes smoking, drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs. First, it’s a very bad idea if you have Hepatitis C and continue using any of those and second because the mix of the herbs you use and the other things you put in your body night cause a reaction between the two that could make you very ill.
When deciding which herbs or supplements you wish to try make sure that they are both standardized and regulated. If the doses are standardized that lets you known exactly how much active ingredient is used. That allows the user to know what the dose is that they will be taking. This leaves no questions on how much to take. Equally important is the regulating bodies, any that acknowledge that they have been given the proverbial seal of approval, makes your using them that much safer.
Then, once you have confirmed with your health care provider that the supplements you have chosen interact safely with the drugs you are been given to take by them, then you can start your CAM program. Do not start several herbs at the same time. This will not tell you which ones you may be benefiting from or let you know if one of them if affecting you adversely or if it is the mix of them that is causing you to feel ill. Take one, and then give it a little time to see what it does before adding something else. This is juts common sense. You would do no differently is you were using over the counter medications. Be careful if you have allergies as some of the botanical supplements may act on these causing an allergic reaction.
Though those who in are one the these groups; pregnant women, infant or small children, anyone with a serious medical condition, or someone who has been strongly advised by their health care provide not to, should refrain from trying alternatives. But for others, there is no reason not to research and try some of the options that are open to them when it comes to trying to improve their health.
