Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B Virus General Information
Genome: partial dsDNA
Family: Hepadnaviridae
Related Viruses: Duck Hepatitis B Virus, Ground Squirrel Hepatitis Virus, Snow Goose Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus, Wooley Monkey Hepatitis Virus
Satellite Virus: Hepatitis D Virus (Delta Virus)
Incubation Period: 30 - 180 days
Transmission: Blood and Sexual Contact
Acute Attack: Mild or Severe
Serum Diagnosis: anti-HBc, anti-HBs or HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBe
Treatment: Symptomatic
Prevention: Vaccination with recombinant hepatitis B surface antigens, Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin Post-exposure prophylaxis
TREATMENT FOR ACUTE INFECTION
At present, there are no specific treatments for benign acute viral hepatitis. Current therapy should be directed to support and maintain the patient's comfort. As with most forms of hepatitis, alcohol consumption should be minimized or, better yet, eliminated altogether. This gives the chance for the liver to recover.
Use of adrenocorticosteroids, recommended by some, appears to have no effect for curing the underlying disease. Furthermore, it appears that use of steroids in early treatment of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may result in the development of a persistent infection. Therapeutic effectiveness of Interferon on the prognosis and course of acute HBV infection remains unknown.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS:
Since there is no cure, many individuals have sought other sources of therapy for their damaged liver. Many swear by these alternative treatments, but they should be taken with caution. Though these alternative treatments come from natural sources, harmful side effects may also follow. Most alternative treatments do not target the virus, rather they typically boost the liver's health. The alternatives include:
Dandelion Root
Liquorice Root
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)
Selenium
Vitamin E
A Healthy Diet - Eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet (i.e. food from each of the food groups).
Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet will minimize any excess damage done to an infected liver and may even expedite liver recovery. Always remember that virtually everything we eat must pass through the liver.
Cut down on the intake of deep-fried and fatty foods.
Minimize or abstain from alcohol consumption. The liver detoxifies Alcohol, therefore excessive alcohol consumption results in additional liver damage.
Minimize your consumption of smoked, cured, and salted foods. Try using alternative seasonings when cooking (e.g. lemon juice, onion, vinegar, garlic, pepper, cloves, etc.).
MEAT, FISH, POULTRY & ALTERNATIVES TO MEAT can provide protein, Vitamin A, iron, Vitamin B12, niacin, fiber, and thiamin. However, many physicians believe that consumption of meat and seafood should be reduced, since digesting/processing these forms of food can further tax the liver.
BREAD & CEREALS provide carbohydrates, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and fiber.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES provide vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and folacin.
MILK & MILK PRODUCTS provide calcium, riboflavin, niacin, folacin, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B12.
Increased intake of high-fiber foods (i.e. fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, rice, and cereals) is especially helpful in keeping one healthy.
Avoid uncooked food since it may carry harmful bacteria.
NOTE: The above suggestions should be used as a guideline when eating, but should not be taken as the "be-all-and-end-all"
LIVER TRANSPLANTS
Liver transplants are sometimes required for extensive liver damage due to viral (or non-viral) causes. However, there are many factors to consider before getting a liver transplant. First and foremost, transplantation is a complex operation that requires a suitable donor. Also, there is usually a long waiting list for those wishing to receive a transplant. Moreover, transplanting a liver into an individual who has chronic hepatitis B presents the likelihood that the newly transplanted liver may become re-infected. Transplant operations tend to be relatively expensive procedures. Not all hospitals may be able to perform such an operation.
Despite these problems, for some individuals, liver transplants may offer the only hope for a healthy life. To improve the transplant situation, some researchers are considering using animal organs as possible donors. Others are trying to grow a new liver from other cells found in one's own body, so that an infected individual may one day be able to give a small tissue sample and perfect liver cells can be grown from a person's own cells and used for a transplant. However, this technology is still in its infancy.
A NEW OPTION: ACUPOINT INJECTION THERAPY (AIT):
Acupoint injection is a therapy that combines Chinese herbs and vitamins with traditional Chinese acupuncture . We select certain Chinese herbs and suitable dosages of vitamin B1, B12, B6, or even vitamin C, to inject into certain acupuncture points.
BENEFITS:
1. Protects the liver from further damage by the B virus .
2. Detoxifies the liver
3. Promotes nutrition and oxygen to the liver, which is very important for tissue recovery and improves liver function.
4. Strengthens the immune system's ability to defend against and kill the B virus and reduces inflammation.
5. Improves the patient's general condition.
6. Solves multiple disorders at the same time without involving chemical drugs.
7. Protects the liver from previous drug damage.
8. This therapy has potential applications for both the prevention and treatment of chronic Hepatitis, cirrhosis and their complications.
AIT is safe, more effective, and has no side effects - a crucial importance for chronic disease.
HERBS COMMONLY USED IN ACUPOINT INJECTION TO TREAT HEPATITIS B:
According to each patient's individual situation, suitable herbs and vitamins are selected to perform a stimulating role at the acupoints;
1. Ban Lan Ge-Baphicacanthi radix-Radix isatidis --
Antiviral, antipyretic (reduces fever, clears heat), anti-infectant, detoxifies the liver, eliminates heat and toxins in the blood.
2. Chai Hu-Bupleurum-Radix bupleui --
Antipyretic, anticirrhotic, liver detoxifier, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotector, effects liver, gallbladder, pericardium, removes stagnancy of liver Qi.
3. Yu Xin Cao-Herba Houttuyniae --
Clears heat, anti-infectant, detoxifier.
4. Dan Shen-Radix salviae miltiorrhizae --
Anti-fibrosis, eliminates blood heat, removes stagnancy, promotes cell tissue and organ recovery.
5. Da Huang Teng--Caulis Fibraureae --
Anti-infectant, anticancer, increases white blood cell counts, strengthens
immune system, clears heat.
6. Huang Qin-Radix Scutellariae --
Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer; clears heat.
7. Dang Gui-Radix angelicae Sinensis --
Strengthens liver function, improves blood circulation, increases red blood cell counts.

VITAMINS COMMONLY USED IN ACUPOINT INJECTION TO TREAT HEPATITIS B:
Liver disease patients usually suffer from multiple vitamin deficiency, especially of vitamins B and C.
Vitamin B1:
For the brain and nervous system, liver and spleen, gastrointestinal system.
Vitamin B12:
For pernicious anemia, the immune system, the brain and nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and heart disease. Necessary for production of nucleic acids and makes up DNA - the genetic material of cell-tissue recovery.
Vitamin B6:
Improves appetite, digestion and the immune system.
Vitamin C:
Involved in hundreds of vital biological processes in the body. Helps support and protect blood vessels, bones, joints, organs and muscle. Is necessary in sizeable quantities for healthy skin, tendons, the cornea of the eye, ligaments, cartilage, teeth and bone. Boosts the immune system. Involved in antibody production as well as the white blood cell function and activity. Powerful antioxidant, which plays a vital role in protecting against oxidative damage. Anti-cancer, anti-aging, antiviral.

Case 1: Female, 40 years old, dentitst. I got had hepatitis B for 16 years. When I went to AIT, my blood test showed: HBeAg ( + ) - which means the B virus's replication rate is very high everyday (SGPT 71 IU/L, SGOT 58 IU/L). After 2 months treatment, the test showed HBeAg ( - ), SGPT 62, SGOT 43. I felt very happy that my HBeAg for the first time became negative in so many years, at the same time my liver function improved.

Case 2: Male, 43 years old, businessman. I had hepatitis B for 6 years. Firstly, the Doctor gave me an INTERFERON injection once every 2 days for 52 times. I got very bad side effects - my hair dropped out badly, fever everyday, body-weight loss over 10 Kg, severe depression, and I was angry at others all the time. The worse thing is that the doctor asked me to wear a mask all the time to prevent me from catching cold, because my white blood cell count became very low. Secondly, the doctor changed to let me take SAFIRIC for 2 months everyday, but my blood test was getting worse after that. I felt tired all the time, but it was difficult to sleep. So I gave up. Finally, one of my friends recommended me to try Acupoint Injection Therapy, so I decided to try. I only tried AIT treatment for 10 times and stopped all my medications. Unbelievable! I felt much better after 4 treatments. More energy, sleeping better, hair dropping out much less, better digestion and my blood test SGPT dropped from 93 to 70 after 10 treatments.

Case 3: Male, 33 years. In 1988 I felt tired and dizzy all the time. My blood tests showed that I got hepatitis B. The Doctor gave me an INTERFERON injection 3 times a week for almost one year. Nothing was better, but I had a lot of side effects. So the doctor asked me to quit the injections. I took another drug instead for two years. Nothing improved with that either. Then I gave up for many years. My HBeAg was ( + ) all the time for many years. My brother got liver cirrhosis. At that time AIT helped him a lot, and he asked me to try Acupoint Injection Therapy. I got AIT once a week, or once every 10 days for 2 years. For the first time, my HBeAg became negative.

Hepatitis C , Hepatitis , Hepatitis B