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Overall, I am rather optimistic. Perhaps I haven’t seen the worst of the worst cases, but all of my patients, even those with significant symptoms, have done very well on a holistic protocol. I also make sure my patients are eating well and avoiding liver-inflaming fats, foods, drugs, alcohol and the like. I also suggest putting castor oil packs on the abdomen, covered with heat when possible, and as often as possible. Fresh vegetable juices are helpful, and regular salads with grated beets, carrots, cabbage and radishes are encouraged.

Willard responds: Several effective approaches are available these days for hepatitis C. Along with recommending specific lifestyle choices, I have had very good success with a supplement that combines herbs [dandelion root, milk thistle extract, black radish and burdock root (Arctium lappa)] and mushrooms (maitake, shiitake and coriolus). The mixture is available in capsule form, and I recommend taking 2 to 3 capsules two or three times a day, depending on the severity and stage of the hepatitis.

Maitake’s active components act as immunomodulators and, as such, are researched for their potential role in hepatitis, cancer and AIDS treatment. I’ve found this mushroom, which helps the body adapt to stress, very helpful for hepatitis.

Coriolus versicolor mushrooms have shown benefit in treating hepatitis. Japanese and American institutions currently are working to develop and fund an independent study of the mushroom’s active ingredients’ influence on chronic hepatitis C. This ruffled, shell-like mushroom is the main herb I have used in my clinic for hepatitis C over the last several years.

The list of studies done on shiitake is impressive. Research indicates that injections of one of the mushroom’s active constituents (lentinan) can help some people with hepatitis. Other human studies have looked at oral shiitake and found it useful for people with hepatitis.

Dandelion root, milk thistle extract, black radish and burdock root are all known to provide liver support. Beside the mushrooms and herbs, hepatitis patients should eat an organic diet that includes no fried foods, alcohol, street drugs, fast foods or foods containing preservatives, dyes and pesticides. People with hepatitis C also need to make sure they get plenty of rest and moderate exercise.

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