Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by viruses, medications, or toxic agents.

Types-

Currently, there are at least five (5) forms of viral hepatitis:

Hepatitis A
Formerly called infectious hepatitis, hepatitis A is most common in children in developing countries, but is being seen more frequently in people of all ages and in the developed world. Hepatitis A is thought to be spread by a virus from an infected person's feces directly or indirectly contaminating food, raw shellfish, drinking water, cooking utensils or someone else's fingers. The incubation period is two to six weeks after infection. Hepatitis A is considered an acute condition.

Hepatitis B
Formerly called serum hepatitis; hepatitis B is the most serious form of hepatitis.
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusion or exposure to an infected person's blood via cuts, open sores, needle sharing, and razor sharing or ear piercing tools. Additionally, hepatitis B can be spread from mother to child at birth. The incubation period is four to 25 weeks.

Hepatitis C
Formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis, hepatitis C is transmitted primarily by direct blood contact - via blood transfusion or and contaminated needles. Less common ways are through sexual contact or from mother to child at birth.

Hepatitis D
Formerly called delta hepatitis, hepatitis D is found mainly in intravenous drug users who are carriers of the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D can cause both acute and chronic disease.

Hepatitis E
Formerly called enteric or epidemic non-A, non-B hepatitis, hepatitis E resembles hepatitis A, but is caused by a different virus from hepatitis C and is commonly found in the Indian Ocean area. Hepatitis E is considered an acute condition.

There are two main types of non viral hepatitis, called alcoholic hepatitis and toxic/drug-induced hepatitis, and two less common types of nonviral hepatitis, called autoimmune hepatitis and granulomatous hepatitis.

Alcoholic hepatitis is the most common precursor of cirrhosis in the U.S. While it may not develop in many patients until several decades of alcohol abuse, it appears in a few individuals within a year after onset of excessive drinking.

Toxic/drug-induced hepatitis is caused after inhalation or ingestion of a toxin, such as carbon tetrachloride, vinyl chloride, poisonous mushrooms or the use of certain medications. Several widely used drugs can produce an adverse liver reaction: Isoniazid (used for the treatment of tuberculosis), methyldopa (a treatment for high blood pressure), acetaminophen (pain reliever), and antibiotics such as erythromycin, chlorpromazine, oral contraceptives and anabolic steroids.

Symptoms-

Hepatitis produces an initial ?acute phase,? often with few if any symptoms. If there are symptoms, they tend to mimic "flu-like" symptoms such as: 

3. Drink only commercially bottled water or boiled water in places where sanitation and the water supply is questionable and do not eat non-peelable raw fruits or vegetables unless cleaned thoroughly.  

To prevent hepatitis B, remember to:

1.Tell your sex-partners if you are a carrier.
2. Practice safe sex.
3. Don?t share needles, razors, toothbrushes, manicure tools or other items that could bear contaminated blood.
4. Get the hepatitis B vaccination series if you are at risk.
5. Don?t allow yourself to be pierced with non-sterile equipment.

To prevent hepatitis C, remember to:

1. (if carrier) Cover open wounds, don't share razors or manicure tools.
2. Practice safe sex.
3. Don't share needles, razors, toothbrushes, manicure tools or other items that could bear contaminated blood.
4. Don't allow yourself to be pierced with non-sterile equipment.
5. Limit alcohol intake.
6. Never share IV drug needles or other drug equipment.

To prevent hepatitis D:

1.Since the hepatitis D virus cannot infect on its own without hepatitis B, use the preventive measures outlined in hepatitis B.
2.To prevent hepatitis E, remember to:
3.Wash hands well after using any washroom.
4. Eat only well and freshly cooked foods.
5. Drink only commercially bottled water or boiled water in places where sanitation and the water supply are questionable, and don't eat non-peelable raw fruits or vegetables unless cleaned thoroughly.
6. To prevent alcoholic hepatitis, remember to:
7.Limit the amount of alcohol consumption.

To prevent toxic/drug-induced hepatitis, remember to:

1.Be aware of the lethal contents of all chemicals.
2. Face the spray away from the body.
3. Wear protective equipment if applicable.

Remedies-

1. Bryonia. [Bry]
When there are stitching pains in the right hypochondriac region, Bryonia is the first remedy to be thought of, though for these pains we have other remedies, such as Chelidonium and Kali carbonicum. Under Bryonia the liver is swollen, congested and inflamed; the pains in the hypochondriac region are worse from any motion, and better from lying on the right side, which lessens the motion of the parts when breathing. It is one of the chief remedies for jaundice brought on by a fit of anger. Chamomilla has this symptom, but the Chamomilla patient gets hot and sweats, while the Bryonia patient is apt to be chilly, though he appears hot. There is a bitter in the mouth and the stools are hard and dry, or, if loose, papescent and profuse and associated with a colic. Berberis has stitching pains from the liver to the umbilicus. Chelidonium is distinguished by the character of the stools. Bryonia is pre-eminently a gastro-hepatic remedy, and has pain in right shoulder, giddiness, skin and eyes slightly yellow. Hughes says it hardly reaches true hepatitis.

2. Mercurius. [Merc]
This remedy has much sensitiveness and dull pain in the region of the liver; the patient cannot lie on the right side. The liver is enlarged. The skin and conjunctiva are jaundiced. The stools are either clay-colored from absence of bile, or yellowish-green bilious stools passed with a great deal of tenesmus. There is a yellowish white coated tongue which takes the imprint of the teeth and there is a foetid breath, loss of appetite and depression of spirits. Leptandra has aching and soreness in the region of the liver and is especially indicated in the lazy livers of city men; but is distinguished from Mercurius in the stools, which are pitch like and black, accompanied with no tenesmus, but rather a griping and the pains of Leptandra are dull, aching and burning in the posterior part of the liver. The character of the diarrhoea will also distinguish Mercurius from Magnesia muriatica, which is useful in the enlarged livers of puny and rachitic children. Mercurius is the remedy for jaundice arising from abuse of quinine when fever is present. It is a splendid remedy for "torpid liver." It suits well simple jaundice in children.

3. Podophyllum. [Podo]
The principal use of Podophyllum is in liver affections. Primarily, it induces a large flow of bile, and, secondarily, great torpidity, followed by jaundice. It is indicated in torpid or chronically congested liver, when diarrhoea is present. The liver is swollen and sensitive, the face and eyes are yellow and there is a bad taste in the mouth. The tongue is coated white or yellow and the bile may form gall stones. There is loose watery diarrhoea, or if constipation be present the stools are clay-called. It somewhat resembles Mercurius; it is sometimes called "vegetable mercury." There are a number of drugs having the symptom that the tongue takes the imprint of the teeth, namely; Mercurius, Podophyllum, Yucca, Stramonium, Rhus and Arsenic. Another symptom of Podophyllum is that the patient constantly rubs the region of the liver with the hand. Functional torpor of the portal system and the organs connected there with indicates Podophyllum. There is constipation, clay-colored stool, jaundice and langour.

4. Chelidonium. [Chel]
The liver symptoms of Chelidonium are very prominent. There is soreness and stitching pains in the region of the liver, but the keynote for this drug in hepatic diseases is a pain under the angle of the right shoulder blade, which may extend to the chest, stomach, or hypochondrium; there is swelling of the liver, chilliness, fever, jaundice, yellow coated tongue, bitter taste and a craving for acids and sour things, such as pickles and vinegar. The stools are profuse, bright yellow and diarrhoea; they may be clayey in color. It is remedy to be used in simple biliousness and jaundice, and in hepatic congestion or inflammation the character of the stools will distinguish Bryonia. Taken altogether, Chelidonium is perhaps our greatest liver remedy; it causes the liver to secrete thinner and more profuse bile than any remedy; it is a useful remedy to promote the expulsion of gall stones, and to prevent their formation. It affects the left lobe of the liver much less than does Carduus marianus.

5. Phosphorus. [Phos]
Phosphorus is homoeopathic to fatty degeneration of the liver, with well marked soreness and jaundice. The stools are grayish white. Cirrhosis and atrophy may also call for Phosphorus. The jaundice is indicative of organic diseases, and the remedy is a useful one in malignant diseases of the liver. Digitalis has also been recommended in acute yellow atrophy. Jaundice accompanying pneumonia may also call for Phosphorus.

6. Myrica cerifera. [Myrica]
Myrica is an important liver remedy. There is first despondency and also jaundice due to imperfect formation of bile in the liver, and not to any obstruction, comparing here with Digitalis. There is dull headache, worse in the morning, the eyes have a dingy, dirty, yellowish hue, the tongue is coated yellow. The headache is worse in the morning. The patient is weak and complains of muscular soreness and aching in the limbs; there is slow pulse and dark urine. It is more superficial in action than Digitalis. The jaundice calling for its use is catarrhal and this is the form produced by the drug. The throat and nasal organs are filled with offensive, tenacious mucus. Dull pain in right side below the ribs no appetite, and desire for acids; unrefreshing sleep.

7. Nux vomica. [Nux-v]
In liver affections occurring in those who have indulged to excess in alcoholic liquors, highly seasoned food, quinine, or in those who have abused themselves with purgatives, Nux is the first remedy to be thought of. The liver is swollen hard and sensitive to the touch and pressure of clothing is uncomfortable. The first remedy in cirrhosis of the liver. Colic may be present. Jaundice induced by anger also calls for Nux, also jaundice from abuse of quinine, in the former cases reminding of Chamomilla, which is an excellent remedy for biliousness of nervous, irritable women. In the enlarged liver of drunkards, Sulphur, Lachesis, Fluoric acid, Arsenic and Ammonium muriaticum must also be borne in mind, together with Nux. Nux must be compared with China, Pulsatilla in liver affections from over-eating. Iris seems to have a solvent action upon the bile, it is especially useful in torpid liver and when gastric disorders result from perversion of hepatic and intestinal functions. Jaundice and constipation. Aloes has biliousness from torpor of the portal system, distension of the liver, bitter taste and jaundice.

8. Lycopodium. [Lyc]
Lycopodium acts powerfully on the liver. The region of the liver is sensitive to the touch, and there is a feeling of tension in it, a feeling as if a cord were tied about the waist. Cirrhosis. The pains are dull and aching instead of sharp and lancinating, as under Chelidonium. Fullness in the stomach after eating a small quantity. There are no real icteric symptoms, but there is a peculiar sallow complexion. Natrum sulphuricum is useful when the patient has a bad, slimy taste in the mouth and "thinks he is bilious." There is apt to be weight and aching in the liver; he can lie on that side, but on turning to the left side the liver seems to pull and draw.

9. Carduus marianus. [Card-m]
This remedy is indicated in jaundice with dull headache, bitter taste, and white tongue with red edges, nausea and vomiting of a greenish fluid. There is an uncomfortable fullness in the region of the liver, the stools are bilious and the urine golden yellow; there is sensitiveness in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium. Burnett regards a dark brownish patch over the lower part of the sternum as a useful hint for Carduus, and in such cases he observes that both the liver and heart are at fault. The presence of "liver spots seem to be a special indication for the remedy. Biliousness following la grippe has been cured with Carduus. Hydrastis has a bitter taste and chronic torpor of the bowels, lack of appetite, coated tongue and yellow urine. Carduus resembles Aloes.

10. Sulphur. [Sulph]
Sulphur is suitable to chronic affections of the liver; it increases the flow of bile and there is much pain and soreness in the liver. Sulphur often completes the cure commenced by Nux. Liver complaints from abuse of mercury will oftentimes call for Sulphur. If the stools are colorless and if much jaundice or ascites be present Sulphur is contra-indicated. Lachesis, however, has jaundice, as do all snake poisons, and is useful in the enlarged livers of drunkards, with tenderness on pressure and throbbing in the right side. Jaundice from sexual excesses call for Cinchona.

11. Taraxacum [Tarax]
This is a decided liver remedy, and the indications are a mapped tongue and a bitter taste in the mouth, chilliness after eating, pain and soreness in the region of the liver and bilious diarrhoea. The stools are loose and bilious, accompanied with much flatus. The face is yellow and sallow and the tongue takes the imprint of the teeth. Chionanthus has biliousness, sick headache, coated tongue, nausea and complete anorexia. It is remedy highly recommended for biliary calculi. Jaundice and hepatic pain are its indications. It overcomes catarrh, liquifies the bile, prevents the formation of calculi and promotes the discharge of those already formed. Sluggish circulation in the liver with the long train of symptoms resulting therefrom are indications. Ptelea has sharp pains in right hypochondria, distress in liver and constipation.