Herbs that Help the Side Effects

The worst part of the drug therapy for the Hepatitis C virus, aside from not knowing if it will work or not, are the side effects that most people suffer from during this treatment period. Considering that the drug therapy will last a minimum of three months and can remain in progress for up to one year, the side effects can be a very difficult part in the lives of those who are under care. They can become debilitating at times and require a support system of friends and family to offer help to the patient in even the most mundane daily activities.

Stopping the treatments if these side effects get too bad is not an option. One must stay in the treatment program as long as is necessary to either eliminate the virus from a person’s body or to determine that the patient is not one of the thirty to fifty percent of Americans who react positively to treatment. Even those who do not eliminate the virus still have a good chance of diminishing its hold and so improving their day-to-day health.

One very well respected herb that can help with some side effects is ginger. This herb has been used for over two thousand years by the Chinese to take care of problems like nausea. Though not all researchers agree, enough studies confirm that this herb can help prevent nausea and the throwing up that often accompany it. Some people have those side effects after they have injected the interferon. Ginger has particularly been studied in its use with Hepatitis C treatments and been recognized as a safe nausea suppressant. Other reasons to give it a try are that it is inexpensive, easy to find at your local supermarket and can be taken as a tea, if you prefer, instead of in pill form. We all know that it never hurts to have a hot cup of tea when you are feeling ill.

Interferon drug therapy is also known to cause depression. Whether that is from the medication, the situation of having to deal with such a serious illness, or a combination of the two is not clear. But St. John’s Wort is known to be very useful in the treatment of depression related to the use of Interferon. Though researchers are reluctant to pronounce this herb a useful treatment for depression, studies have shown that short-term use of St. John’s Wort definitely has some antidepressant value.

It can be taken in capsule form or as a tea. There is no prescription necessary for the capsules and its certainly less expensive than prescription anti-depressants. Unlike ginger, this herb has a few side effects of its own. Sometimes the patient will notice dryness in their mouths, feel even more tired and dizzy. The last thing you need when trying to counter the side effects of one drug is to find others in what you are using for that purpose so be cautious in your choices.