Hepatitis C, or “Hep C”, is a viral infection. An estimated 58 million people have a chronic Hep C infection, meaning it has persisted beyond six months and it has become an ongoing problem.
Hep C, which results in the inflammation of the liver, is also dangerous because it is not usually detected until later stages because there are usually no early symptoms.
This can cause concern as many people have died from Hep C, which is a curable and preventable disease.
Since Hep C is a bloodborne virus, most exposure to Hep C comes from drug use through injections, unsafe health care, unsafe sexual practices, and unscreened blood transfusions.
RELATED: Why Hepatitis C Testing is Important
Individuals with Hep C usually display the following:
- Abdomen Pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Loss of Appetite
- Nausea
- Swelling of the Belly (or Ascites)
- Weight Loss
- Yellow Skin and Eyes
There are antiviral medications that can cure over 95% of those with Hep C. But there are treatments in recent years that are easier on the body, including natural remedies and therapies.
Can Hep C be cured without treatment?
There has been a misconception that Hep C can
go away and your body cures itself of it.
This is due to individuals not feeling sick while they have the virus.
This may cause them to think it’s in remission or that they are a part of the small percentage of individuals with the virus who have cleared it from their systems.
Hep C can possibly be cured without treatment, and for some, it can subside on its own, but research from 2018 shows that this only occurs in about 20% of people with the disease. In most cases, Hep C becomes a chronic infection.
Natural Remedies for Hep C
These helpful natural remedies and tips may help and serve as treatments toward your Hep C:
- Change your diet to improve your liver and immune system (eat more fruit, lean protein, whole grains, and veggies)
- Massage therapy to relieve the stress
- Meditation to ease anxiety and help you relax
- Vitamin D to help the immune system, muscles, and nerves
- Yoga to relieve stress and help manage any pain or side effects of Hep C
- Zinc, which is needed to keep your liver and immune system healthy
There have been other popular suggested remedies (acupuncture, cannabidiol (CBD) oil, colloidal silver, glycyrrhizin, probiotics, and milk thistle), but evidence shows that these may not necessarily help after all, with some potentially being harmful.
Research whatever remedy you decide to try to beat your Hep C, and most importantly, get medical advice on what may be best for your stage of Hep C.