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The
following is an excerpt from the above E-book
VITAMIN C See also: Glutathione. Vitamin C is a very important and powerful antioxidant. According to James Balch, MD., is a more potent free-radical scavenger when used in conjunction with the bioflavanoid hesperidin. Michael Murray, N.D. writes about vitamin C and bioflavanoids, “Taking vitamin C with bioflavanoids may offer benefits in absorption, but only if the product contains bioflavanoids at a meaningful level. When the amount of citrus bioflavanoids is just window dressing, there is no real increase in absorption. However, if the level of bioflavanoids is equal to or greater than the level of vitamin C, then absorption is enhanced.” Vitamin C assumes a critical role in the body’s defense against free-radicals. Put simply free-radicals are what causes damage to our cells and body tissues, causing us to age or causing degenerative diseases. Vitamins C and E and glutathione are what our body uses to fight off free radical damage. There is something called “hereditary glutathione deficiency”. Individuals with this deficiency have markedly increased cell damage. According to Murray the red cells, white blood cells and nerve tissue are most affected by this disorder. He explains, “As a result, red blood cells often burst, white blood cells do not function properly, and nerve tissue degenerates.” Since it is a possibility that people with hepatitis C commonly have a glutathione deficiency and that those with AIDS are known to have glutathione deficiency, it is a topic of concern for HCV positive patients. Deficiency of intracellular glutathione has been identified in a number of clinical conditions: cancer, AIDS and alcohol induced liver disease. (1) Murray writes about several studies on this topic and concludes, “The results indicate that vitamin C can decrease cellular damage in patients with hereditary glutathione deficiency and is more effective and less expensive than NAC.” Vitamin C is generally considered by most doctors to be beneficial to hepatitis. Just about every protocol I have ever seen for hepatitis C involves taking significant amounts of vitamin C. The doses range from 13 grams a day (taken orally) down to about 3 grams. 1 gram is equal to 1000 milligrams. I have heard reports of doctors treating hepatitis C with 50,000 milligram injections in combination with alpha lipoic acid. The exact source of this is not clear, although I read about it in Lloyd Wright’s book, Triumph Over Hepatitis C. Acute viral hepatitis (I had the acute hepatitis C- only about 5% of those with HCV get the acute illness which involves jaundice, gray stools, dark urine, intense itching etc)can be treated with vitamin C. I know this from experience, it brought my symptoms under control. On this topic of vitamin C and the acute hepatitis, The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine writes, “ According to Robert Cathcart, M.D., acute hepatitis is one of the easiest diseases to cure using vitamin C. Dr. Cathcart demonstrated that high doses of vitamin C (40 to 100 grams orally or intravenously) were able to greatly diminish acute hepatitis in two to four days. He showed clearing of jaundice within six days. Another study showed that two grams or more of vitamin C per day was able to prevent hepatitis B in hospitalized patients.” There are many reports on vitamin C’s ability as an immune stimulant and as an anti-viral agent. Consider the following interesting statements by various experts in the field: Two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, Ph.D. showed “conclusively” that vitamin C stimulates the immune system and offers great protection against many illnesses.(7) “Supplementation with vitamin C has been shown to help fight infections from virtually all pathogens,” writes Dr. Pizzorno in his book, Total Wellness. “Researchers have discovered that macrophages(impotent components of the immune system, large cells that circulate throughout the body ‘eating’ viruses and bacteria)utilize a large amount of vitamin C to accomplish their many responsibilities. The vitamin C content in a macrophage cell can reach 40 times higher than the vitamin C content in blood... Researchers believe this might lead to an exhaustion of their free-radical-scavenging capacity.”(7) The claim is the vitamin C helps the macrophage. “Vitamin C cools Toxic heat... vitamin C appears to work as an immune enhancer and an antioxidant which fights the ravages of free radical that have been linked with heart disease and cancer.(6) “In addition to its role as an anti-oxidant, vitamin c detoxifies many harmful substances and plays a key role in immunity. It increases the synthesis of interferon, a natural antiviral substance produced by the body, and stimulates the activity of certain key immune cells.” (3) “Some doctors, notably Linus Pauling and Robert Cathcart, have advocated vitamin C as a powerful therapy in itself, as well as being an essential nutrient for good health (megadoses of vitamin C has previously been used to treat seriously ill cancer patients with variable results). Cathcart has suggested the megadoses of vitamin C could have powerful antiviral qualities that might be sufficient help HIV patients... It is advocated by nutritionists aiming for an elimination effect (with hepatitis C).” (5) Here is a list of cautions and advise when taking vitamin C: Because the human body can neither manufacture nor store vitamin C, our requirements must be met daily from dietary sources (fruit, vegetables, supplements). In order to achieve an anti-viral effect, it is necessary to take other nutrients, such as zinc, manganese, selenium, and vitamins A, B, and E. Some sources believe that magnesium ascorbate or calcium ascorbate, rather than ascorbic acid, are advisable because these forms are more easily assimilated and that chelated forms are better absorbed. Many experts also believe that it is best taken in a “buffered” pH neutral form with bioflavanoids. High doses of vitamin C may result in increased iron uptake from the bowel, and may therefore be hazardous for patients with high levels of iron in liver cells. “Bowel tolerance” is referred to often when you read about suggested dosages. It means that the patient takes as much vitamin C as he or she can before developing diarrhea. Dr. Cathcart suggested that the higher the tolerance the greater the need. (5) If you have developed “Spleen Qi Deficiency” with diarrhea or loose stools, a common syndrome associated with HCV, do not take C as a supplement. (6) High doses of vitamin C may cause kidney stones in those who have a predisposition to the disorder.(6) Vitamin C can also erode tooth enamel, so rinse your mouth with clear water after you have taken powdered vitamin C. (6) If you have been taking high doses of vitamin C, reduce your dosage gradually. Although the existence of “rebound scurvy” is controversial, it is a possibility that sudden cessation of high dosage vitamin C intake can result in “rebound scurvy”. (1) There are know known adverse interactions with vitamin C and any drug. Vitamin C is considered extremely safe according to most sources. Vitamin C is thought to work “synergistically” with vitamin E, “New evidence indicates that vitamin C works synergistically with vitamin E -- that is, when these vitamins work together, they have greater effect than when they separately...These vitamins reinforce and extend each other’s antioxidant activity.”(3) Vitamin C is intricately involved and synergistically involved with vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium. (1) NUTRITONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE LIVER NUTRITONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR GENERAL HEALTH E-BOOKS
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