Semanggi Vs Chronic Hepatitis

In my town, Surabaya, “semanggi” is a name of traditional food made from boiled Semanggi (Oxalis corniculata L, Cu jiang cao, a kind of wild grass) leaves, served with sauce and cassava crisp. It is usually sold by a woman walks door to door throughout the town.

Yesterday I found an article about its use as herbal remedy. It is said that 600 ml of water boiled with 30-40 grams semanggi leaves on small fire until remains 200 ml, drunk twice a day (100 ml each) can cure chronic hepatitis. It also cures diarrhea, and as gargle cures sprue and other mouth infections.

There are many other uses of Oxalis corniculata. If fresh oxalis herbs are pulverized and dabbed, it can cure wounds, eczema, abscess, scabbies, singe, prickly heat, and insect bites. It is said that drinking the mix of the fresh herbs extract and honey can stop haemorrahage. You can also treat ureter stone by heating 60 grams of fresh oxalis herbs and 60 ml of arak manis until remains a half. Divide it into three dosages daily.

It means, I must eat “semanggi” more regularly. I will.

Can Hepatitis B Cause Liver Cancer?

It's well established that hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer. But is it true? Some scientists report that a certain kind of hepatitis B is much more likely than others to lead to cancer and that large amounts of any type of the virus correlate with high cancer risk.

The researchers obtained blood samples from 4,841 men diagnosed with hepatitis B but not yet treated for the condition. Over the next 14 years, 154 of the patients developed liver cancer. The researchers then compared blood from these men with 316 similar men in the study who hadn't developed cancer. The comparison indicated that the men with cancer were five times as likely to have a kind of hepatitis B called genotype C.

Ming-Whei Yu, an epidemiologist, says, there are seven genotypes of hepatitis B, which are forms of the virus whose DNA differ from each other. The blood samples revealed that high amounts of any hepatitis genotype increase the risk of liver cancer. In particular, men whose blood carried a high load of genotype C of hepatitis B virus faced a 27-fold higher risk of developing cancer, compared with men with a low load of one of the virus' other genotypes.

Screening hepatitis B patients for their virus genotype could reveal people at especially high risk of cancer. Some medications can suppress the virus. So, I have to see my doctor now to know what kind of hepatitis B is mine….

Living With Hepatitis B

If you are a HBV (hepatitis B virus) carrier, it's your responsibility to take important steps to care for yourself and prevent the spread of HBV. Here's what to do:

KEEP OTHERS HEALTHY
Hepatitis B is transmitted by contact with infected blood, serum, semen, and vaginal fluids. Wash your hands with soap after touching your own blood or body fluids. Throw personal items such as tissues, menstrual pads, tampons, or bandages away in a plastic bag.

All cuts and open sores should be covered with a bandage. Wipe up your blood spills, then, re-clean the area with a solution of one part household bleach to ten parts water.

Tell sexual partners you have hepatitis B. Partners should be tested for HBV, and if not immune to the virus, they should receive the vaccination series of three shots. Until protection from HBV has been guaranteed, use a condom.

People living in the same household as a carrier should see their doctor for hepatitis B testing and vaccination. If anyone is exposed to the your blood or body fluids, hepatitis B immune globulin given within two days to two weeks can prevent the infection.

KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY
Monitor the state of your liver at least once a year to determine if the disease is progressing and if cirrhosis or liver cancer is developing.

Review all medications with your physician. Even some over-the-counter and alternative medicines can harm the liver.

Have periodic ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein blood tests for liver cancer.

If pregnant, be sure to tell your physician you are an HBV carrier so your baby will receive live-saving treatments.

On routine visits, remind your doctor, dentist, and other healthcare providers that you are an HBV carrier.

THINGS NOT TO DO
Avoid, or severely restrict, alcohol intake. Your liver may be further damaged by alcohol. If you do drink alcohol, NEVER do so with acetaminophen, found in Tylenol or other cold and headache remedies. Do not share with anyone toothbrushes, razors, needles, syringes, nail files, clippers, scissors, or any object that may come into contact with your blood or body fluids.

Do not share food that has been in your mouth and do not pre-chew food for babies.

Do not donate blood, plasma, body organs, tissue, or sperm.

KEEP LEARNING
Stay informed about research developments regarding treatments so you are able to make the best decisions. Research is now being planned and conducted to improve the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) infections by immunotherapy, and development of a vaccine for HCV.

Great places to start:
http://www.hepfi.org/
Center for Disease Control Viral Hepatitis Center:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm
Travel tips: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases.htm#hepa

Curcuma Xanthorrhiza

The most popular Indonesian herbal for hepatitis remedy is Curcuma xanthorrhiza (i.e. Java Turmeric, in Indonesia wellknown as Temulawak). It is used by generations to increase children’s appetite, one’s body weight, to smooth breast feeding, to treat gastritis and any other digestive system, gallstone, and, of course, to treat liver diseases. Also it is believed to slow aging, anti wrinkle, and to make body more flexible.

The part used of Curcuma xanthorrhiza is the rhizome which contains 100 compounds such as amylase, fenolase, fat, kurkuminoid, and essential oils. These compounds work generally to increase body metabolism. Ollium xanthorriza has an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation properties.

Fortunately we can get all the benefit by drinking an aromatic beverage made from Curcuma xanthorrhiza. You can make it from 50 grams of fresh rhizome cut into slices, boiled in 1,500 ml of water. Add a piece of tamarind (or its leaf sprout) and 4-5 spoonfuls of sugar. Use small fire and let it boil for 30 minutes until the water remains 1000 ml.

I used to make the beverage myself, and my family like it so much.

For more practical use, you can dry the slices by the wind (don’t dry it by sun for it can damage the compounds), keep it, and use it any time in months.

Now we can also get it in capsules, liquid extract, and instant beverage. But you have to remember, never consume raw Curcuma xanthorrhiza.