Cause: May be caused by infection or excessive alcohol.

Useful Supplements: Catechin, Phosphatidyl Choline, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E.

Useful Herbs: Licorice, Milk Thistle, Phyllantus, Reishi, Shiitake Mushroom.

Further information: Hepatitis is caused by one of three virus strains: Types A, B, and C. Type A is most often associated with contaminated foods, while Types B and C are more commonly transmitted via blood. Symptoms of Hepatitis can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin), fatigue, weight loss, nausea, fever, and discolored urine.
People with liver problems (caused by disease or alcohol use) or compromised immune systems (HIV) are at greater risk for Hepatitis, as are those who practice unsafe sexual contacts or come in contact with infected blood.
Because it can exacerbate the situation, alcohol should be avoided by all who are infected with Hepatitis. Good hygiene, safe sexual practices, and care with blood products should be undertaken by anyone who is infected or in contact with someone who is infected.
Vaccines against Hepatitis Types A and B are available, and may be worth considering by anyone who is likely to be in high-risk situations.

The following supplements and herbs may be effective in the treatment of Hepatitis:

The bioflavonoid Catechin has been shown helpful in the treatment of viral hepatitis.¹ Supplementation of 500 to 750 mg three times daily appears effective. Catechin should not be taken with Iron, as the combination may cause red blood cell damage. Long-term supplementation with catechin may also cause problems.²

Liver damage signs appear reduced in Hepatitis B patients who take Phosphatidyl Choline supplements.³ Three grams daily appears an effective dose.

Vitamin B12 may be effective in treating patients with Hepatitis, according to an older study.⁴ No recent studies have been completed, however, to confirm this.

Vitamin C, taken at levels of 2 grams daily, may help the body fight against infection via contaminated blood.⁵

Vitamin E deficiencies are often found in Hepatitis patients.⁶ High dose supplementation (1200 IU daily) appears to reduce liver damage in adult patients.⁷ This is by no means a foolproof preventive measure, however.⁸ More promising is the use of Vitamin C as a treatment in already-infected patients.⁹

The Licorice constituent glycyrrhizin is often injected as a treatment for Hepatitis B and C.^10,11 Laboratory studies show that it may also be useful in preventing Hepatitis A from replicating.¹² Use of glycyrrhizin orally has not been studied, and may not be as effective. Licorice should not be used without consulting a health professional, especially by patients with high blood pressure or heart conditions.

Milk Thistle flavenoids appear the most effective herb in the treatment of hepatitis.¹³ When combined with Phosphatidyl Choline, it appears even more effective.

The Milk Thistle flavenoid, which is called Silymarin, must be taken in a minimum dosage of 240 mg daily.¹⁴ It may help decrease the rate of liver damage.¹⁵ However, silymarin may not be helpful in the treatment of Hepatitis C.¹⁶

Phyllantus may help decrease the amount of Hepatitis B virus found in the blood stream.¹⁷ It does not remove all of the virus, however, and should not be considered a cure.¹⁸ It appears that the variety Phyllanthus urinaria is more effective as a treatment than the variety Phyllanthus amarus.¹⁹

The mushroom Reishi may be helpful in treating chronic Hepatitis B.²⁰ Reishi should not be taken by patients using anti-coagulant medications.

Shiitake mushroom formulations, made from the powdered mycelium that appears before the mushroom cap and stem grow, may make Hepatitis B less infectious.

References:

¹Suzuki H, Yamamoto S, Hirayama C, et al. Cianidanol therapy for HBs-antigen-positive chronic hepatitis: A muticentre, double-blind study. Liver 1986;6:35–44.
²Salama A, Mueller-Eckhardt C. Cianidanol and its metabolites bind tightly to red cells and are responsible for the production of auto- and/or drug-dependent antibodies against these cells. Br J Haemotol 1987;66:263–66.
³Jenkins PJ, Portmann BP, Eddleston AL, Williams R. Use of polyunsaturated phosphatidyl choline in HBsAg negative chronic active hepatitis: Results of prospective double-blind controlled trial. Liver 1982;2:77–81.
⁴Campbell RE, Pruitt FW. The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid in the treatment of viral hepatitis. Am J Med Sci 1955;229:8.
⁵Morishige F, Murata A. Vitamin C for prophylaxis of viral hepatitis B in transfused patients. J Int Acad Prev Med 1978;5:54.
⁶von Herbay A, Stahl W, Niederau C, et al. Diminished plasma levels of vitamin E in patients with severe viral hepatitis. Free Radic Res 1996;25:461–66.
⁷Houglum K, Venkataramani A, Lyche K, Chojkier M. A pilot study of the effects of d-alpha-tocopherol on hepatic stellate cell activation in chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 1997;113:1069–73.
⁸Knodell RG, Tate MA, Akl BF, Wilson JW. Vitamin C prophylaxis for posttransfusion hepatitis: lack of effect in a controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:20–23.
⁹Baur H, Staub H. Treatment of hepatitis with infusions of ascorbic acid: Comparison with other therapies. JAMA 1954;156:565 [abstract].
¹⁰Suzuki H, Ohta Y, Takino T, et al. Effects of glycyrrhizin on biochemical tests in patients with chronic hepatitis. Double blind trial. Asian Med J 1983;26:423–38.
¹¹Yasuda K, Hino K, Fujioka S, et al. Effects of high dose therapy with Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) on hepatic histography in non-A, non-B chronic active hepatitis. In Viral Hepatitis C, D, E, ed. T Shikata, RH Purcell, T Uchida. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1991, 205–9.
¹²Crance JM, L’eveque F, Biziagos E, et al. Studies on mechanism of action on glycyrrhizin against hepatitis A virus replication in vitro. Antiviral Res 1994;23:63–76.
¹³Magliulo E, Gagliardi B, Fiori GP. Results of a double blind study on the effect of silymarin in the treatment of acute viral hepatitis carried out at two medical centres. Med Klin 1978;73:1060–65 [in German].
¹⁴Vailati A, Aristia L, Sozze E, et al. Randomized open study of the dose-affect relationship of a short course of IdB 1016 in patients with viral or alcoholic hepatitis. Fitoterapia 1993;64:219–27.
¹⁵Buzzelli G, Moscarella S, Giusti A, et al. A pilot study on the liver protective effect of silybinphosphatidylcholine complex (IdB 1016) in chronic active hepatitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 1993;31:456–60.
¹⁶Lirussi F, Okolicsanyi L. Cytoprotection in the nineties: Experience with ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin in chronic liver disease. Acta Physiol Hung 1992;80:363–67.
¹⁷Thyagarajan SP, Subramian S, Thirunalasundari T, et al. Effects of Phyllanthus amarus on chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus. Lancet 1988;2:764–66.
¹⁸Leelarasamee A, Trakulsomboon S, Maunwongyathi P, et al. Failure of Phyllanthus amarus to eradicate hepatitis B surface antigen from symptomless carriers. Lancet 1990;335:1600–1601.
¹⁹Meixa W, Cheng H, Li Y, et al. Herbs of the genus Phyllanthus in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: Observations with three preparations from different geographical sites. J Lab Clin Med 1995;126:350–52.
²⁰Hobbs, C. Medicinal Mushrooms. Santa Cruz, CA: Botanica Press, 1995, 96–107.