Hepatitis C

What CAM therapies are discussed in this Research Report?

There is a range of medical concerns associated with hepatitis C, and the number of CAM therapies that are tried is large. Therefore, it is beyond the scope of this Research Report to discuss all possible CAM therapies used for hepatitis C. The report focuses on a number of dietary supplements that are used: milk thistle, licorice root, ginseng, thymus extract, schisandra, and colloidal silver, Scientific Research Findings: Selected CAM Treatments for Hepatitis C").

Sources for this 2003 update consist of the peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals indexed in the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE/PubMed database, in English, from January 1999 through May 2003.

What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

What is known from the scientific evidence about CAM modalities for hepatitis C?

• No CAM treatment has been scientifically proven to successfully treat hepatitis C.
  
  
• Authors who have done recent analyses of the scientific work have found some results that are intriguing and even promising, but they have noted that more research--especially in the form of controlled clinical trials--is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
  
  
• The authors of a 2003 systematic review of medicinal herbs for hepatitis C concluded that there is not enough evidence to support using herbs to treat the disease. This team identified 13 clinical trials that were of sufficient quality for them to analyze. Compared to placebo, they found that none of the herbs tested showed effects on liver enzymes or reduced the amount of HCV in the bloodstream, except for milk thistle, which did show a significant reduction of liver enzymes in one trial.
  
  
• Two general reviews from 2000 that covered a variety of CAM modalities for hepatitis C concluded that conventional therapies are the only scientifically proven treatments for the disease.
  
  
• NIH released a Consensus Statement in 2002 on the management of hepatitis C. This assessment by a panel of medical and scientific experts found that "alternative and nontraditional medicines" should be studied.

A placebo is designed to resemble as much as possible the treatment being studied in a clinical trial, except that the placebo is inactive. An example of a placebo is a pill containing sugar instead of the drug or other substance being studied. By giving one group of participants a placebo and the other group the active treatment, the researchers can compare how the two groups respond and get a truer picture of the active treatment's effects. n recent years, the definition of placebo has been expanded to include other things that could have an effect on the results of health care, such as how a patient and a health care provider interact, how a patient feels about receiving the care, and what he or she expects to happen from the care.

What should I do to take care of myself if I have hepatitis C?

• Make sure you have received an accurate diagnosis. Hepatitis C can be diagnosed reliably only through sophisticated blood tests used in conventional medicine.
  
  
• See your health care provider regularly.
  
  
• Discuss treatment options with your provider. Ask any questions you have to make sure you understand any treatment and possible side effects. Follow her recommendations for any changes to your diet and/or lifestyle.
  
  
• Tell your provider about any herbal supplements, other dietary supplements, or medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter) that you are using or considering. This is important for your safety. Even if your provider does not know about the actions or interactions of an herbal supplement or other CAM treatment, he can access the most current medical guidance.
  
  
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Infection with hepatitis C does not prevent a person from becoming infected with other types of hepatitis; if this happens, it can be serious, even life-threatening.
  
  
• Be an informed consumer. Seek high-quality, science-based information on any CAM modality that you are using or considering. There is free information from NCCAM, the National Library of Medicine, and other Federal sources to help you distinguish science-based information from other types, including word-of-mouth and manufacturers' claims.
  
  
• If you decide to try herbal supplements, do so with care.
  
  
• If you would like to find out about clinical trials of treatments for hepatitis C, go to or contact the.

Scientific Research Findings: Selected CAM Treatments for Hepatitis C

This section describes six CAM therapies that people have used to treat hepatitis C. More-detailed discussions of individual studies are available in the. Reviews are discussed where available.

Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (scientific name Silybum marianum) is a plant from the aster family. The active extract of milk thistle believed to be responsible for the herb's medicinal qualities is silymarin, found in the fruit. Milk Thistle has been used in Europe as a treatment for liver disease and jaundice since the 16th century.

Summary of the research findings