At least five liver viruses -- Hepatitis A through E -- have been identified to date. The best known are Hepatitis A and B; for years, they were the only ones known. Hepatitis D and E are very rare. Hepatitis C now infects 4 million Americans.

Hepatitis A comes from infected food and water. The virus causes jaundice in humans and a brief illness from which one almost always recovers completely.

Hepatitis B is transmitted by blood through the use of contaminated syringes, needles, blood-sucking insects, blood transfusions, and some forms of sexual activity. Hepatitis B is extremely contagious and can cause serious liver damage. Shortly after contracting the virus, one becomes sick. Symptoms include fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscle aches, headache, abdominal discomfort and often jaundice.

Infectious hepatitis is contagious two or three weeks before and one week after jaundice appears. The feces are contaminated with the hepatitis virus. Hands and all clothes should be washed often, and bathrooms should be decontaminated frequently.

There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B. However, the vaccine is considered so dangerous that France has halted their national Hepatitis B school vaccination program. In the U.S., the vaccine has been responsible for a staggering 17,497 reported adverse reactions (from 1990 to 1998). Of these reports, 5,983 involved life-threatening health problems, hospitalizations, disablement and death. Former FDA Commissioner, Dr. David Kessler estimates that only 10% of vaccine reactions are actually reported.

Of the 3.9 million children born in 1996, only 54 children in the 0 to 1-year age group contracted Hepatitis B. The disease is so rare for newborns that they are not even mentioned on the Hepatitis Fact Sheet put out by the Center for Disease Control. Yet, law mandates these vaccinations. Why? Could it be because vaccine manufacturers are pushing for government mandated shots?

In the late 1960s, doctors became aware of a third virus that caused hepatitis following blood transfusions. In 1989, it was labeled Hepatitis C. It wasn't until 1990 that doctors were able to screen blood for the presence of this virus and, by 1992, that blood banks began testing for it routinely. Since then, the risk of contracting Hepatitis C from transfusions has been very small. However, there are 4 million Americans who were infected with the virus before 1992.

The problem is that 70% of the people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms. Most don't know they have it, yet they are carriers and thus able to transmit the virus. Unlike Hepatitis A and B, both of which makes one sick shortly after infection, the Hepatitis C virus can remain dormant for more than 20 years. During that time a person may feel perfectly well, even though the virus is already playing havoc with their liver. The most common symptoms, when they do appear, are fatigue, loss of appetite, and vague abdominal pain due to inflammation of the liver. About 20% of these cases go on to develop cirrhosis -- a serious, life-threatening and debilitating scarring of the liver that also makes the feet and belly swell and causes engorgement of arteries, which can then hemorrhage. Another development of Hepatitis C can be cancer of the liver. Hepatitis C is the main cause of liver transplants in the U.S. The only way to diagnose early Hepatitis C is with a blood test for its antibodies.

There is no known cure for Hepatitis C. Medicines are on the market, though they are not a cure for the virus and many have side effects. In my opinion, the best thing a person can do if they have any hepatitis virus is to cleanse and support the liver, cleanse the blood and build up the immune system.

The liver performs many functions in the body and is the cornerstone of the body's defenses and immune system. The liver controls hundreds of chemical reactions in the body through the enzymes it produces. It stores sugar and other substances and releases them when they are needed. The liver detoxifies the medications we take so they don't accumulate and poison us. Normal liver function is critical to good health.

The liver can be damaged with chemicals such as alcohol and antibiotics. It can become congested with blood when the heart is weak, and can also be infected with virtually any bacteria, virus or fungus. The liver is a favorite site from which cancers can travel to other parts of the body. Therefore, liver detoxification and cleansing should be a part of everyone's preventative health regimen.

Barbara Dowdy is a nutritional consultant, Iridologist, Muscle Response Monitor technician, clinical hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She lives in Fairbanks and can be reached at (907) 457-8880.