|  This section describes six CAM therapies that people
have used to treat hepatitis C.
1.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:
- The results of scientific studies to date do not definitively find
that milk thistle is beneficial in treating hepatitis C in humans.
- Studies in laboratory animals suggest that silymarin may have various
benefits to the liver, such as promoting the growth of certain types
of liver cells, having a protective effect upon liver cells, fighting
a chemical process called oxidation that can damage cells, and inhibiting
inflammation.
- However, in some cases, a consistent pattern of benefit was not
seen, and these studies did not specifically examine the effects of
silymarin on hepatitis C.
- There have been some studies on silymarin or milk thistle in humans.
These studies have generally been small and on liver diseases rather
than on hepatitis C infection specifically, and the results have been
contradictory (with some positive and some negative). A review and
a meta-analysis published in 2001 on silymarin in the treatment of
liver diseases found it to be generally safe, but contained no firm
conclusions with regard to its use to treat viral hepatitis. A 2002
systematic review on milk thistle for liver disease found "no
reduction in mortality (frequency of death as an outcome), in improvements
in histology (tissue studies) observed through liver biopsy, or in
biochemical markers of liver function" and that the data was
too limited to support recommending milk thistle for treatment of
liver disease.
To obtain more extensive and reliable data, NCCAM is sponsoring a
clinical trial on the use of milk thistle for hepatitis C.
- Side effects and other risks
Milk thistle is generally well-tolerated and has shown few side effects
in clinical trials. It can cause a laxative effect; less common effects
include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, fullness, and pain.
Milk thistle can produce allergic reactions, which tend to be more
common among people who are allergic to plants in the same family
(e.g., ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy).
2. Licorice Root
Licorice root is the peeled or unpeeled dried root of
the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra). The primary active component
of licorice root is a substance called glycyrrhizin. Licorice root has
been in use in China since the second and third century B.C. and in the
West since Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times.
Summary of the research findings :
- Laboratory studies of glycyrrhizin in cell cultures suggest that
it may have antiviral properties.
- In a review of several randomized controlled trials, researchers
reported that glycyrrhizin has potential for reducing long-term complications
in chronic hepatitis C in those patients who may not respond to interferon.
Several of the trials reviewed indicated improvements in liver tissue
damaged by hepatitis. Some also showed improvements in how well the
liver did its job after treatment.
- A 1997 study and a 2002 review suggest that long-term administration
of glycyrrhizin might prevent liver cancer in patients with chronic
hepatitis C.
- The use of glycyrrhizin as a complementary therapy (i.e., used
in addition to conventional interferon therapy) has been studied,
but no significant benefit has been found.
- Recent clinical trials have shown that taking glycyrrhizin lowers
the levels of liver enzymes (increased levels of certain liver enzymes
indicate liver damage or inflammation). However, taking the herb did
not reduce the amount of HCV in patients' blood, a critical indicator
of the long-term progress of the infection.
- Side effects and possible risks
Taking licorice over a prolonged period of time can lead to potentially
serious side effects, including high blood pressure, salt and water
retention, swelling, depletion of potassium, headache, and/or sluggishness.
Glycyrrhizin can worsen ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the
abdominal cavity, a condition that can be caused by cirrhosis. The
herb also can interact with certain drugs, such as diuretics, digitalis,
antiarrhythmic agents, and corticosteroids.
3. Ginseng
The herb ginseng comes in two types: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng). Among the Asian forms of ginseng
are Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ginseng. (So-called "Siberian
ginseng" is not a true ginseng.) Ginseng has been used for thousands
of years in Asia. It is usually used with the belief that it will boost
the immune system and increase stamina; such properties are thought
to be more useful for the elderly and those recovering from illness.
Summary of the research findings:
-
The research on ginseng that has been done to
date has been primarily in animal models and human tissue in the laboratory.
Some beneficial effects of ginseng on the liver were seen in these
studies. Researchers concluded that ginseng may also help strengthen
glandular systems and the ability to resist disease.
-
One study found that ginseng may be helpful for
elderly people with liver conditions similar to hepatitis.
-
No conclusions can be drawn about the possible
usefulness and safety of ginseng as a treatment in people who have
hepatitis C, because it has not yet been studied formally in people.
-
Side effects and possible risks
General adverse (negative) effects of ginseng can include insomnia,
headache, nosebleed, nervousness, and vomiting. Prolonged use of caffeine
and a high dose of ginseng may be associated with hypertension, which
is of particular concern for people with cardiovascular disease or
diabetes.
In addition, people with diabetes who use insulin should
be aware that ginseng has demonstrated hypoglycemic effects (lowering
of the blood sugar). Ginseng has been shown in laboratory studies
to inhibit grouping of platelets in the blood, increasing bleeding
risk. Because of this, using ginseng along with NSAIDs (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, should be
discussed with your health care provider.
4. Thymus Extract
The thymus is a gland that is involved in the regulation of the body's
immune response. Thymus extract products consist of peptides taken from
the thymus glands of cows or calves and are sold as dietary supplements.
Often, these products carry claims of boosting immune system functioning
to combat diseases, such as hepatitis C. These over-the-counter supplements
should not be confused with the prescription drug thymosin alpha-1.
Summary of the research findings:
There has been little testing of bovine thymus extract for treatment
of hepatitis C. A small clinical trial of a product called Complete
Thymic Formula, which contains bovine thymus extracts along with vitamins,
herbs, minerals, and enzymes, did not find the product beneficial for
hepatitis C patients who had not responded previously to interferon
therapy. However, this small study does not provide sufficient evidence
to draw firm conclusions about either Complete Thymic Formula or thymus
extracts in general.
Side effects and possible risks
In the study of Complete Thymic Formula, one adverse event was reported:
a patient developed thrombocytopenia, a drop in the number of platelet
cells in the blood; the patient recovered after treatment was stopped.
In general, no adverse effects from thymus extracts have been reported.
However, since thymus extracts are derived from animals, there can be
concern related to possible contamination from diseased animal parts.
Accordingly, people on immunosuppressive drugs or who have suppressed
immune systems, such as transplant recipients or persons with HIV/AIDS,
should use caution about thymus extracts and consult with their health
care provider.
kWith regard to side effects, see "Sources: General," item
F, entry on thymus extract.
5. Schisandra
Schisandra is a plant that has been used (through extracts from its
fruit) in traditional Chinese medicine and in Kampo, traditional Japanese
medicine. There are several species, including Schisandra chinensis,
native to northeastern China and Korea, and Schisandra sphenanthera,
native to China.
Summary of the research findings
-
Research has primarily focused on the various
lignans (a class of plant nutrients) and essential oils in the dried
fruit of schisandra. Major constituents include the lignans gomisin
A, schizandrins and schizandrol, vitamins C and E, and others.
-
Studies of the effects of schisandra in the liver
have mostly been in animal models. These studies have suggested that
extracts of the fruit have a liver-protective effect, a helpful effect
on some liver enzymes, and an antioxidant effect.
-
Schisandra is also used in herbal formulas. For
example, an herbal medicine called TJ-108 (Ninjin-yomei-to is one
of its Japanese names) used in Kampo has schisandra fruit among its
herbal components. In one very small study, TJ-108 was compared with
two other Kampo herbal formulas for effects in 37 patients who had
chronic hepatitis C and had been treated before with interferon. The
findings were that TJ-108 may have antiviral properties, which the
authors attributed to schisandra fruit and its lignan gomisin A. These
findings need to be interpreted with caution because of the study's
small size and because use of an herbal formula, not schisandra alone,
was evaluated; herbal formulas contain many ingredients that could
cause a variety of effects.
-
There are no reports on the safety and effectiveness
of using schisandra alone for treatment of hepatitis C in humans in
the sources reviewed for this report.
-
Side effects and other risks
Schisandra is considered generally safe. In some people, however,
it may cause heartburn, acid indigestion, decreased appetite, stomach
pain, or allergic skin rashes.
lAntioxidants are substances (such as vitamin E) that help prevent
oxygen from reacting with other chemicals in cells (oxidation), a
process that can have negative effects.
6. Colloidal Silver
Silver is a metallic element that is mined as a precious metal. People
are exposed to silver, usually in tiny amounts, through their environment,
drinking water, food, and possibly work or hobbies. Colloidal silver
supplements consist of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid base.
They are often marketed with a variety of unproven health claims, including
for immunity, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS.
Summary of the research findings
Silver has had some medicinal uses going back for centuries. However,
more modern and less toxic drugs have eliminated the vast majority of
these uses. Reviews in the scientific literature on colloidal silver
have concluded that42,43:
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Silver has no known function in the body.
-
Silver is not an essential mineral supplement
or a cure-all and should not be promoted as such.
-
Claims that there can be a "deficiency"
of silver in the body and that such a deficiency can lead to disease
are unfounded.
-
Claims made about the effectiveness of colloidal
silver products for numerous diseases are unsupported scientifically.
-
Colloidal silver products can have serious side
effects.
-
Laboratory analysis has shown that the amounts
of silver in these supplements vary greatly, which can pose risks
to the consumer.
-
Side effects and other risks
Animal studies have shown that silver builds up in the tissues of
the body. In humans, this accumulation can have a serious side effect
called argyria, a bluish-gray discoloration of the body, especially
of the skin, other organs, deep tissues, nails, and gums. How this
happens is not fully known, but silver-protein complexes are thought
to deposit in the skin and then be processed by sunlight (similar
to traditional photography).44,45 Argyria is not treatable or reversible.
Other possible problems include neurologic problems (such as seizures),
kidney damage, stomach distress, headaches, fatigue, and skin irritation.
Colloidal silver may interfere with the body's absorption of the following
drugs: penacillamine, quinolones, tetracyclines, and thyroxine."
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