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Chinese Herbal Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine as a whole is well placed
to address the multifaceted needs of HCV patients. The herbal dimension can
play a particularly important role in the early stages of treatment and can
provide the necessary pharmacological muscle without precipitating the
adverse side effects caused by drug therapy.
The Gateway Clinic in Stockwell, South London, is the leading centre
for the development of TCM treatment for HCV in the West. The treatment
director, John Tindall, has seen hundreds of patients over the years, and
has adjusted classical Chinese prescriptions for chronic hepatitis to suit
the needs of Western HCV patients. He now has a good model of both disease
progression and herbal treatment strategy. Although there have been no
controlled studies of efficacy, systematic analysis of symptoms before and
after treatment indicate significant alleviation.
Tindall has formulated the following herbal prescriptions to treat
patients with hepatitis C, who do not have any other chronic illness and are
abstinent from alcohol and drugs. These indicators reflect common symptoms
in hepatitis C patients in the early and later stages.
Formula 1: Peaceful River
(‘Early Stage’ treatment)
Indicators:
Fatigue, Abdominal Discomfort, Abdominal Gas and Bloating,
Abdominal Cramps and Colic, Loose Stool, Bitter Taste in the Mouth, Pain in
the upper right abdomen (‘Hypochondrial’ Pain in medical terminology), Loss
of Appetite, Alternate Chills and Fever, Hot and Cold Flushes, Irregular
Periods
Contra indicators:
Constipation, Hot and Sweaty at Night; ‘Flu Like Symptoms of Temperature;
Fever and Sweating, Pregnant Patients, or Those Trying to Become Pregnant
Overall effect:
Regulates liver and digestive function.
Clears heat.
Increases the internal energy of the body.
Formula 2: ‘Cool Water’
(‘Late stage’ treatment)
Indicators:
Insomnia, Vivid Dreams, Palpitations, Night Sweats, Thirst, Dry Mouth,
Constipation or Stool Hard to Pass, Liver Pains; Pains in the Chest and
Hypochondria, Hardening of the Liver
Contra indicators:
Phlegm Present in the Lung or Bowel, Loose Stool or Diarrhoea, Pregnant
Patients, or Those Trying to Become Pregnant
Overall effect:
To strengthen the cooling and nourishing functions of the liver and
kidney. To soften the liver and clear toxins. To calm the mind.
These formulations are available in tablet form from
East West Herbs; phone: 0171-379 4414 For further information on use and
contents, fax your name and address to 0171-916 7942.
Further evidence in favour of the efficacy of Chinese
herbs comes from the results of a controlled double-blind placebo trial of
Chinese herbs on HCV patients at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle,
Australia, so far unpublished, demonstrating significant improvements in
liver enzyme levels among patients using a standard Chinese herbal
preparation. Simultaneously analyses of the pharmacological properties of
certain Chinese herbs (25) demonstrate a pharmacological rationale for the
widespread empirical observation by patients of significantly improved
levels of health.
On the cautionary side, it should also be noted that HCV treatment by
herbal medicine requires a skilled and informed practitioner who is fully
aware of the distinct nature of hepatitis C. Some patients have had negative
experiences of Chinese herbal medicine.
http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Nutrition/hepc.htm |
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Evaluating Hepatitis: Chinese Medicine
Chinese Diagnostic Techniques
Chinese Pulse Diagnosis
The Chinese pulse diagnosis most often found in liver disease, especially
when there is liver pain is a wiry pulse. However, other pulses — such as
slippery, weak, hollow — are commonly found as well. It depends on the
patterns found in an individual which will result in their Chinese
differential diagnosis
Tongue Diagnosis
When we look at the tongue in Chinese medicine, we can see what is
organically happening within the body at any given moment. We look at the
size, shape, color, coating, and moisture of the tongue. The tongue patterns
we often see in HCV include purplish tongue, swollen tongue with toothmarks,
and red spots throughout the tongue. In severe cases, we may find purple
lesions or black areas on the edges of the tongue
Abdominal Palpation Diagnosis
Abdominal palpation and diagnosis is common in Japanese style Hara
diagnosis. It is rarer, but used, in Chinese diagnosis. We also palpate the
abdomen to feel for the size and hardness of the liver.
Facial Diagnosis
When we look at the face, we see colors and textures in various areas.
This diagnosis is not always used in Chinese medicine, however Japanese
macrobiotic diagnosis uses it extensively. There are many forms of facial
diagnosis — some are not related.
Chinese Differential Diagnosis
The Organ Patterns primarily disturbed in hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the
Liver Organ Patterns and Spleen Organ Patterns. These Organ Patterns affect
a person’s digestion and energy. According to Chinese traditional medicine,
acute viral hepatitis is generally associated with excess Damp Heat or Damp
Cold conditions.
While in a few cases a person infected with HCV may have or notice acute
symptoms, it is rare. Therefore, the TCM stages at which one is diagnosed
with hepatitis C are often in the chronic stages of Qi Stagnation,
and the Qi and Yin Deficiency stages. Advanced chronic
disease includes a development of the patterns of Xue (Blood)
Stagnation and Xue (Blood) Deficiency.
All HCV is associated with the li qi (pestilence/Epidemic
Factor) Toxic Heat:
Toxic Heat
- Symptoms: Itching, sensations of heat, agitation
- Tongue: Red spots and red body
- Pulse: Rapid
In addition, there are ten syndromes specifically associated with viral
hepatitis.
The following EXCESS SYNDROMES are associated generally with Acute
Hepatitis and increased Liver Enzymes. However, these may persist in chronic
hepatitis (along with additional syndromes that develop as liver disease
progresses)
Excess Syndromes
- Liver /Gallbladder Damp-Heat
- Bright Yellow Face/Eyes
- Fever
- Costal Pain
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Pulse: Wiry
- Tongue: Red w/ Yellow Greasy Fur
- Spleen Damp-Heat
- Bright Yellow Face
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Decreased Appetite
- Pulse: Slippery
- Tongue: Red w/ Yellow Greasy Fur
- Spleen Damp-Cold
- Sallow Yellow Face
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Feels Cold/Often has fever
- Decreased Appetite
- Pulse: Slippery
- Tongue: Pale with Greasy White Fur
The following EXCESS SYNDROME is generally associated with chronic
hepatitis
- Qi Stagnation
- Fatigue
- Costal Pain
- Fullness in Abdomen
- Nausea
- Flatulence/Bloating
- Often Increased Liver Enzymes
- Swollen Liver and Spleen
- Pulse: Wiry
- Tongue: Purplish or Normal with thin white coat
The following DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES are associated generally with
chronic hepatitis:
- Spleen Qi Deficiency
- Fatigue
- Abdominal Tenderness
- Nausea/Queasiness
- Lack of Appetite
- Muscle Weakness
- Loose Stools
- Pulse: Deficient
- Tongue: Pale Swollen w/ Toothmarks
- Liver Yin Deficiency
- Dryness of Eyes, Nails, Throat, and Mouth
- Fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Dizziness
- Muscle Spasms
- Reddish Cheeks and Eyes
- Numb Limbs
- Quick Temper
- Pulse: Thin, Deficient, Wiry, Rapid
- Qi Deficiency (General)
- Fatigue
- Bleeding (such as purpura)
- Leg Edema
- Ascites Pulse: Deficient
- Tongue: Pale, Swollen
- Yin Deficiency (General)
- Fatigue
- Reddish Cheeks
- Nightsweats
- Afternoon Fevers or Hot flashes
- Restlessness
- Wakes up during night
- Pulse: Thin, Deficient, Rapid
The following DEFICIENCY SYNDROME is often associated with cirrhosis
- Xue (Blood) Deficiency
- Pale and Lusterless Face
- General Dryness
- Enzymes often Normalize
- Shrunken Liver
- Pulse: Deficient and Thready/Hollow if loss of blood
- Tongue: Pale
The following EXCESS SYNDROME is often associated with liver cancer
(and is in addition to DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES)
- Xue (Blood) Stagnation
- Sharp Stabbing Costal Pain
- Abdomen Hurts with Movement
- Pulse: Choppy or Wiry (with pain)
- Tongue: Purple or Purple sides
http://www.docmisha.com/
Questions to ask your health care provider about alternative
and complementary treatment (if you are receiving treatment or thinking
about treatment):
Before beginning any type of complementary treatment for hepatitis C, ask
your health care provider the following:
- How do you feel
about complementary and alternative medicine such as Chinese herbs,
supplements, and acupuncture to help treat my hepatitis C?
- Have you read any
research on the benefits of herbs and other complementary or alternative
therapies for hepatitis C?
- Will you work
together (share medical information) with my complementary care provider
should I choose to have one?
- Can you refer me to
a good complementary and alternative medicine provider in my area?
When choosing a
complementary practitioner you should use as much care as when you choose
your health care provider. Here are some useful questions to ask:
- What is your
treatment philosophy or treatment style?
- How did you become
a complementary treatment practitioner? Do you have specific credentials
as a practitioner?
- What is your
experience in treating someone with hepatitis C?
Is this therapy safe and/or effective in treating hepatitis C?
- Are there any side
effects from this therapy?
- How long will
treatment last?
- Can I do this
treatment while being treated with the standard medications (interferon
and ribavirin, or pegylated interferon)?
- What is the cost of
this treatment, and is it covered by health insurance?
- Will you work
together (share medical information) with my primary care provider, and/or
my liver specialist?
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