From:
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/10/why_meditation.html?eml=hepcen65
     October 27, 2008

Why Meditation May Help Hepatitis C
Evidence indicates that incorporating meditation into your daily routine
could prevent a Hepatitis C flare up. This article tells you how it works
and what you can do.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Most who have emerged from the invincible self-perception of the teen years
know that their body is more vulnerable to illness when under stress.
Whether evaluating the common cold or cancer, medical researchers have
repeatedly confirmed this association. For those managing chronic Hepatitis
C, the connection between health and stress takes on monumental
significance. There are various ways one can reduce or relieve stress.
However, meditation's ability to prevent liver disease from flaring up makes
it a top stress-relieving choice for many with chronic Hepatitis C.

Understanding Stress
Because it is a subjective sensation that differs with each person, stress
is difficult to define. Caused by both positive and negative experiences,
stress is the body's way of responding to any kind of demand. When feeling
stressed, the body reacts by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream to
enhance energy and strength. Designed to prepare for "fight or flight," the
initial result of this chemical release is:

· Faster breathing
· Quickened heart rate
· Muscle tension

The physiological response described above is intended to boost people's
abilities when in physical danger. However, people often have no outlet for
the extra energy and strength that was initiated by emotional stressors.
Therefore, a person's first line of defense against emotional stress is
convincing the body to relax again. By quieting the mind and purposefully
slowing down the breathing rate, meditation helps many people vent the
tension in their body and subsequently achieve relaxation.

Meditation for Stress Relief
Eastern medical traditions and philosophies have recognized the health
benefits of meditation for thousands of years. Due to its positive effects
on relieving stress and consequently improving health, meditation is now
widely practiced in the many parts of the Western world.

Meditation can be used for stress relief or as part of a spiritual practice.
Either way, meditation is a tool to help quiet the mind while promoting
awareness and a sense of well-being. Sometimes described as the practice of
mindfulness or living in the present, there are many types of meditation a
person can experiment with. Meditation can be self-taught or learned from a
teacher, book or recording. While it may be simple to learn, regular
meditation requires a commitment to its practice. Advocates claim that when
part of a daily routine, meditation enforces health by relieving stress and
tension.

Meditation for Hepatitis C
People with chronic viral hepatitis typically experience a flare-up of
symptoms following a bout of stress. Various types of research have
confirmed the connection between stress and its implication on liver
inflammation. Some of the conclusions and physiological reasons supporting
meditation for chronic Hepatitis C include:

· Research on hypnotically induced fear and anxiety resulted in a
significantly decreased flow of blood through the liver.

· Those with Hepatitis C who were categorized as having a consistently
stressed and uptight personality (type 1) were more likely to be associated
with severe liver disease than those who had a more relaxed, easy-going
personality.

· During stress, natural killer cells multiply in the liver. Natural killer
cells can contribute to liver cell death and the worsening of liver disease.

· By monitoring the part of the brain that controls the liver, researchers
observed that stress impairs blood flow and may lead to, or trigger, liver
damage.

· During periods of stress, the body releases glucocorticoids, which
maintain balance in the function of each organ. Mice pre-treated with
glucocorticoids were found to have deterioration in their liver function.

· Therapies targeting stress reduction such as hypnosis, acupuncture and
meditation can stimulate the vagus nerve, which counters the negative
effects of stress on the liver.

All of the interactions between stress and the liver are not completely
understood. However, there is an undeniable relationship between unrelieved
stress and liver disease progression. While meditation does not offer a cure
for Hepatitis C, its ability to relieve stress can reduce the virus'
opportunistic approach for causing liver damage.

References:

http://www.hbvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/stress_liver.pdf, The
Liver: Stress and the Liver, Alan Franciscus, Retrieved September 22, 2008,
Hepatitis C Support Project, 2008.

I would think that general full body massage therapy, bonding with your
household pets and relaxation techniques would also help.  Meditation has
helped me reduce stress and anxiety to a great extent.

~ cactus jammies