Clinical Trial Treating Hepatitis C with Natural Vitamins and Herbs

By LJ Standish, Jose Berger, KV Kowdley, R. Wilson.
A collaboration with the University of Washington. Sponsored by the NIH/NCCAM.

Purpose of the Clinic
The purpose of Bastyr Hepatitis C Clinic is to evaluate a science-based naturopathic medical protocol for the treatment of people diagnosed with hepatitis C. Current pharmaceutical medical approaches, while offering a valuable option for some, achieve a sustained response in less than half of the patients and have significant adverse effects for many.

As awareness and interest in complementary and alternative medicine increases nationwide, many hepatitis C patients are exploring natural medical treatment options. Naturopathic medicine has a long history of successful approaches to treating liver disease, and these treatments can be brought to bear on the modern epidemic of hepatitis C. However, few of these therapies have been evaluated in rigorous clinical studies. It is our goal to collect data through the Hepatitis C Clinic in order to conduct a clinical research study.

Focus on Research
Bastyr Hepatitis C Clinic focuses on improving liver health in individuals with chronic hepatitis C as measured by the following:

1. decrease in liver inflammation
2. inhibition of liver fibrosis and sclerosis
3. regeneration of healthy liver tissue

This naturopathic protocol has been designed by applying both the scientific evidence available and the clinical experience of naturopathic physicians in the Seattle area who have been treating patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Research Objectives
The primary aim of this research is to evaluate the effects of the selected protocol based on the following:

1. liver inflammation and fibrosis as measured by liver biopsy
2. blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a liver enzyme

The secondary aims of this research are to determine the effect of the treatment regimen on HCV RNA viral load as measured by the following:

1. PCR
2. liver iron levels
3. serum ferritin
4. serum markers of fibrogenesis
5. oxidative stress

The treatment protocol consists of eight orally administered natural medicines, several of which have a long history of use in treating liver disorders. All have a specific purpose and mechanism of action.

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