I am using a natural high potent, not to mention expensive herbs from my chiropractor, who I've known for years, I have used many of his recommendations for over 15 years, for other things. I am newly diagnosed for HCV, just this Jan. and I haven't had my blood retested yet,think it's working ok ,,so far,, because my pressure points are not painful as they were,, my doc says that , that is a good indicator, I will eventually go to my DO who will test the blood again,, I know that this isn't the traditional path that a lot of people take, and I haven't all the answers as yet for my self.. I will see how it goes... but for now this my choice

I cant take TX so do the natural things I can to slow down the virus. You will find many that are on TX do the same diet and supplements to help the liver. Diet is one important factor. Low protein diet is best. Chicken and fish are better than red meet which is harder to digest and higher in fat. Eat a lot of fresh veggies. Watch your sodium intake. You may want to invest in a scale. We Americans dont know what a portion is. A portion of chicken would be about the size of your palm or about 2 oz. depending on if your liver is damaged will tell you how low a sodium diet you would want to be on. A healthy person is ok with 2,400mg of sodium. I have a pretty bad liver so my doctor wants me fewer than 2000mg but I keep it at 1500mg to 1000mg because I can tell the difference in the fluid I retain. This happens because the liver isnt producing Albumin as it should so it find another way out and you then get fluid retention in your stomach. Most Americans eat over 3500mg of sodium due to eating out, processed food, and even caned veggies have high sodium. You will learn to look at the nutrient chart for things like protein, sodium. Iron which is also harder on the liver and what is in a serving size. Drink water and excersize to help keep down the fatigue if you feel it.

The supplements I narrowed down to working for me are milk thistle, livalex (has vit. B6 for the liver) and Total Lipoic Acid. I have stopped the TALA twice for about 4 days and each time felt more pain in my stomach and upper right side under the rib cage. When I started it the pain was relieved so it is a keeper for me. If you would like to read more the supplement it is posted in Recommendations above.

You should get a lot of good responses for this question. There is a lot of advice here to help you in deciding if you want to do treatment to if that is and option.

I wish you the best.

Excellent response PandaBaby. I guess I will add that you should stay away from pop, even if its diet its bad. You need to do all you can to help your liver gotta baby it! Also I stay away from dairy products as it really isnt as good as you think, google it sometime. I drink soy milk, almond milk, calcium can be found in many veggies, beans, nuts ect...Any supplements that you take you should run by a doctor if your taking meds for anything else as there is a chance for reactions and when mixing different herbs talk with a nutritionist. LOTS of water, no alcohol no drugs if you are on lots of meds for other things find alternatives if u can like exercise, good foods, really changing the diet and lifestyle will do amazing things one never thought possible. It is not an easy task but it is so worth it :D Watch out for the things you put on your skin as it all seeps in and the liver is the first filter of toxins in the body! I have always taken probiotics you can read about it on my profile if you want, excellent stuff dont get caught without it! LOL :D My mom had type 3 carcenoma(sp) cancer she went through radiation and chemotherapy and went through Naturopathy and they taught her some pretty amazing stuff which will save your life believe me :S So go become a member of your local Naturopathy Clinic and do a detox program and meet with a nutritionist who will be able to design a diet and lifestyle plan that will help you baby that liver! God Speed :D

I think that would depend on what stage I was in.If your stage 1 yes..if your in advanced stages I would be careful.

To Reply #2:
About "low-protein diet"-- This is very tricky ground. And one of the biggest myths in HepC management. Protein is utterly crucial. Too little protein is as damaging as too much. This is something that HAS to be VERY individualized by the person's doctor, according to that person's specific liver state. For late stage liver disease, too much protein can indeed be quite harmful. But for the rest of us, we need to keep our protein intake up to par.

The 2007 HepC conference in Denver addressed this as one of the most persistent myths - we were all tested on what we believed about protein intake and most of us got it wrong.. So it is best that we not recommend a "low-protein" diet to anyone. What is best is to avoid red meat altogether, and speak to your own doctor about the correct daily amount for you. (For example, I thought I was just fine on protein - ate very little meat and almost no red meat at all -- but turned out I was way too low, and have been working to add much more poultry to my diet.)

RESOURCE: There is a nearly 500 page book, free and readable online, or you can print out the whole thing, (one can also buy a hard copy), provided by the HepC Caring Ambassador Program (at hepcchallenge.org). To read the entire book online, go to www.hepcchallenge.org/choices/disclaimer.htm
Hopefully that whole url showed up - you'll have to copy and paste it. Or try this tinyurl version:
http://tinyurl.com/3laary

Once you are on the website, at the bottom of that "Disclaimer" paragraph is the link "Go To Book". Click on that. Now you will see the book. At the bottom of the page are a ton of links - a bit hard to read - those are the chapter titles.

For protein, go to the chapters titled "Nutrition and Hepatitis C" (this is Chapter 7 in Part 1, though this is not included in the link that you'll see - only the words I've put in quotes are what You need to look for), and also there is much more info about protein in the chapter titled "Nutritional Supplementation" (which is chapter 16 in Part 2, again, these words do not appear in the link, only the words I've put in quotes).

It's too bad the chapter links are not presented in a more clear manner, but this book is an amazing resource and gift provided to us.

I know there was an updated version planned - but I don't know whether it is already done or not. Happy reading!
CloudsDancing

Another thought: I am greatly committed to alternative treatment/supports. HOWEVER, this is not something those of us with HepC can just self-prescribe. It is very crucial you have a professional guiding your choices. And the alternative medicine professional had better have received special training in HepC.

You should never ever take an herb or supplement of any kind without first checking it for any HepC issues or "contraindications".

There is a whole list of herbs that are toxic to the HepC liver. (I've met more than one "alternative practitioner", even with a "Ph.D" after their name, who swear to me there are no herbs risky to the liver. I run the other way fast as I can. I use only licensed naturopaths - and because my state does not yet license them, I make sure I have one who maintains a license in a state that does. Any reputable naturopath will be licensed SOMEwhere. They should also have been trained only at the licensed and/or properly accredited schools of naturopathy, of which there are only a handful in this country.)

There are also interactions between herbs themselves. For example, Milk Thistle changes the potency of St. John's Wort (used in the treatment of depression). Also, St. John's Wort should NEVER be used by anyone who has had a transplant, as it can actually cause rejection of the transplant and death (because it interferes with the anti-rejection drugs).

So BE CAREFUL! Even with something like stress-reducing and health enhancing QiGong, one had better have a teacher who knows something about HepC, since there are certain exercises you need to be very careful about (because they can "agitate" the liver).

RESOURCE: At that same website that I mentioned in my previous reply on this thread, there is a chapter, toward the end of that tiny link list titled "Liver-Toxic Substances" . Or you can go directly to the list here:
http://tinyurl.com/49wldp
Print it out and put it on your fridge!

RESOURCE: DrugDigest.
http://tinyurl.com/3sl5b
This is a site where you can plug in both drugs and herbs and see if there are any warnings you should be aware of, that is, if there are any "contraindications". You can also compare one herb to another.

CloudsDancing

Oops, one more post. I meant to say that the same online book I've been referring to, titled "Hepatitis C Choices" at:
http://tinyurl.com/3laary
also has a number of chapters on all sorts of alternative medicine options. Just look through those chapter title links at the bottom of that page. There are chapters on Integrative medicine, Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Mind-Body, both Traditional and Modern Chinese Medicine, and Naturopathy.
CloudsDancing

http://dailystrength.org/groups/whats-cooking

we are discussing alternatives. I've been treating naturally for 18 months now and I have my energy back and I'm having a garden this year! Last 2-3 years my garden dwindled to almost nothing. I have 200 sq ft ready for veggies and 900 ready for raspberries. I love raspberries! I consider them one of nature's finest foods that can be grown in Utah's high desert.

Hi Everyone-

I'm still waiting to hear if I actually have the live virus. I had to go back on Friday because the Fridge broke down in the lab and the specimens got ruined. I was so upset, I was hoping to find out by Friday. Needless to say I shed many tears this weekend. I already have myself buried, which I know is crazy! I'm really scared! I do want to thank everyone for responding to my inquires on alternative treatments. I would rather try that route before flooding my liver with more toxins if I don't have to. Hopefully I will get my results in the next day or so.

Thanks for the links CloudsDancer! Those are great! And yeppers it is a fine line when it comes to the protine but diet is sooooo important! I would have to say that i stay away from red meats as it contains iron and that is HCV's best friend. But I need protien for energy and to support my muscles. So I enjoy soy protein and whey protien. I think BillW knows quite abit about protien if you ever want to ask him he is on my friends list :) Thanks again for the links :) Oh and yes always always talk to a doctor before taking any hebs/supplements and the best of luck to you you are in my prayers! Keep us posted!