I will be starting drug therapy for Hepatitis C next week. The side effects from Rebetron, the drug I will be using for one year, are severe flu symptoms. Is there a herb treatment to combat these side effects?
Common side effects of Rebetron are nausea, headache, fatigue, chills and fever.
Herbs to consider are anti-fever herbs that help to reduce body temperature. Yarrow helps to lower the temperature by dilating the blood vessels of the skin, allowing the heat to escape. It is also diaphoretic, reducing the temperature by inducing sweating. Yarrow can be taken as a tea, sweetened with honey if desired.
If you experience nausea, a tea made of ginger root and fennel seeds may be helpful. Cinnamon bark is warming and stimulates digestion, helping to alleviate chills and nausea.
Peppermint may help to relieve nausea and to reduce temperature in fever.
It is important to drink lots of water and/or herbal teas to reduce flu-like symptoms. The side effects of Rebetron are said to diminish as treatment continues.