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Home Remedies for Hepatitis B



Home remedies for a hepatitis B infection may help with recovery and coping from an infection, but there isn't really any known natural cure. Make sure that you do not delay or avoid treatment from your doctor, while relying on home remedies as an alternative. Greater research is required into the effects of many natural methods of treatment, and while some home remedies may be proven to work, it's important that you consult with your doctor before trying out any alternative treatments. Studies into the effects of milk thistle, have shown the herb to be useful in the treatment of liver disease and it could be valuable in the treatment of jaundice and other conditions that affect the liver. Milk thistle is available in the form of capsules, infusions or extracts. Not all research studies have shown conclusive results however and it would be best to be cautious. Be particularly careful about the use of any herbal remedies, as they can be just as dangerous as they can be effective.

There are some self-care measures that could help to alleviate the symptoms. Some helpful home remedies for Hepatitis B include:

  • Allow your body to get enough rest. Reduce your levels of physical activity and slow down as soon as you start feeling tired. In addition, it would be advisable to avoid strenuous exercise and any kind of manual labor. Resume work only after you start feeling better.
  • Even though your appetite may be low, it is important to ensure that you receive a healthy intake of food. The appetite loss and nausea may get aggravated during the course of the day and hence it is advisable to eat a substantial and healthy meal in the mornings. Lighter meals during the rest of the day are recommended. A good diet can help to enhance liver health and can also reduce the risk of cirrhosis. Eating healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains will also keep your immune system healthy.
  • Keep the body well-hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water. It would also help to drink fruit juices or broths if you can tolerate them.
  • Hepatitis B hampers the liver's functioning. This makes it difficult to process substances such as alcohol and drugs. Your doctor may ask you stop taking prescription medicines until you recover. Don't make any decision to stop or start medications without your doctor instructing you to do so however.
  • Consult your doctor before taking any new medications, herbal products or dietary supplements.
  • Itchy skin is one of the symptoms of hepatitis B. You can relieve the itching by protecting yourself from sun exposure and wearing cotton clothing.

Treatments
Prevention
References
  1. Robert P. Perrillo, Robert G. Gish, Marion Peters, Emmet B. Keeffe, Alfredo Alberti, Maria Buti, W. Graham E. Cooksley, Michael W. Fried, Stephanos J. Hadziyannis, Yun–Fan Liaw, Nikolai V. Naoumov, Eugene R. Schiff, Chloe L. Thio, Naoky Tsai, Solko Schalm, Chronic Hepatitis B: A Critical Appraisal of Current Approaches to Therapy, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2006, Pages 233-248, ISSN 1542-3565, 10.1016/S1542-3565(05)00983-3.
  2. Emmet B. Keeffe, Acute hepatitis A and B in patients with chronic liver disease: prevention through vaccination, The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 118, Issue 10, Supplement, October 2005, Pages 21-27, ISSN 0002-9343, 10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.07.013.
  3. Samer S. El-Kamary, Michelle D. Shardell, Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, Soheir Ismail, Mohamed El-Ateek, Mohamed Metwally, Nabiel Mikhail, Mohamed Hashem, Amr Mousa, Amr Aboul-Fotouh, Mohamed El-Kassas, Gamal Esmat, G. Thomas Strickland, A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis, Phytomedicine, Volume 16, Issue 5, May 2009, Pages 391-400, ISSN 0944-7113, 10.1016/j.phymed.2009.02.002.