Hepatitis

Hepatitis and Chinese Medicine

Hepatitis can present in several different ways depending on what stage the disease is progressing through, and if it is presenting in an acute phase or is a chronic condition. Acupressure, essential oils, and herbs are self-care adjunct therapy that may ease suffering for those who have recovered from Hepatitis with the help of medications, or for those who are still suffering with the active disease.

Damp-Heat Hepatitis

This is common during the acute onset of hepatitis, or during recurring flare-ups with chronic hepatitis B or C. Symptoms may include:

Fever
Poor appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Bitter taste
Sticky feeling in mouth
Agitation
Fullness and/or pain in the upper abdomen below the ribs
Tongue with a greasy-yellow coat

Heat in the body would be exacerbated by alcohol and cigarette use as both are Hot in nature. Spicy foods and red meat consumption would also likely worsen this condition. Damp would be exacerbated by the consumption of fried foods, sweets, raw cold foods and juices, and dairy.

Damp-Cold Hepatitis

This pattern is most common during the chronic phases of hepatitis and includes symptoms of:

Acupressure Points for Hepatitis Support

Purchase our Wood Element Acupressure Stick to activate acupressure point Liver 3 to soothe Liver Qi Stagnation!

Liver Qi Stagnation and Hepatitis

With chronic hepatitis Liver Qi Stagnation is presumed, even when the illness is dormant, or inactive. Additionally, the Liver belongs the Wood Element of the Five Phase system and emotional issues related to this theory would likely develop over time.

Jaundice Patterns of Imbalance

Jaundice presents with yellowing of the eyes or skin and indicates bile obstruction in the gallbladder. In Chinese medicine, jaundice can have several different types of symptoms depending on the nature of the disease pattern.

Damp-Heat Jaundice

Fever
Dark condensed urine
Intense bright yellow color of skin or eyess
Furry-yellow tongue coat that looks greasy

Cold-Damp Jaundice

Poor appetite
Nausea
Bloating of abdomen
Greasy white tongue
Dull yellow complexion

Blood Stagnation Jaundice

Acute-sharp pain along right ribs at upper abdomen
Purple tongue body

Acute Hepatitis refers to hepatitis that has been active for less than 6 months, and the time during which people are actively ill. Hepatitis A nearly always presents Hepatitis with acute hepatitis and hepatitis B often does (70% of the time). We are not discussing Hepatitis A as it is addressed well with pharmaceutical medications; whereas, herbal support for chronic Hepatitis B and C can be beneficial.

Chronic Hepatitis includes infection that lasts more than 6 months; although those who have contracted the disease are not acutely ill for prolonged periods of time. As much as 80% of the time hepatitis B and C often lead to chronic liver disease. Hepatitis B causes acute hepatitis as well as chronic hepatitis. Over half of acute cases of hepatitis are from Hep B.

Acute infection of Hep B

The incubation period for HBV varies from 30-180 days, with the average approximately 75 days. The acute illness is usually mild, particularly in children particularly in children. 30% of those infected have no symptoms. Symptoms of acute hepatitis usually develop before jaundice appears and can include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle Pain
Fatigue
Headache
Sore scratchy throat with difficulty swallowing
An acute sensitivity to smell sensations with an aversion to food and cigarettes
Right upper quadrant and epigastric pain

Most symptoms typically disappear with onset of jaundice, but muscle soreness and tiredness often persist.

Precautions with those with Hepatitis B:

Use barrier protection during sexual intercourse if partner is not vaccinated
Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or needles
Cover open cuts and scratches
Clean blood spills with detergent or bleach
Do not donate blood, organs or sperms

If the above precautions are taken, children who are HBA-positive can participate in all activities including social contact; children should not be excluded from daycare or school or isolated from other children and can share food, utensils or kiss others.

References

Liu, C. Y., Chu, J. Y., Chiang, J. H., Yen, H. R., & Hsu, C. H. (2016). Utilization and prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine for patients with hepatitis C in Taiwan: a population-based study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 16(1), 397. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1379-3

Chang, C. P., Su, Y. C., Lin, M. C., & Huang, S. T. (2019). Chinese Herbal Medicine Ameliorated the Development of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2019, 5319456. doi:10.1155/2019/5319456

Marzio, D. L., & Fenkel, J. M. (2014). Complementary and alternative medications in hepatitis C infection. World journal of hepatology, 6(1), 9–16. doi:10.4254/wjh.v6.i1.9

Liu, J. P., Manheimer, E., Tsutani, K., & Gluud, C. (2001). Medicinal herbs for hepatitis C virus infection. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2001(4), CD003183. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003183

Dou, J., Chen, Q., & Wang, J. (2005). Inhibition effect of Chinese herbal medicine on transcription of hepatitis C virus structural gene in vitro. World journal of gastroenterology, 11(23), 3619–3622. doi:10.3748/wjg.v11.i23.3619

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.