Is AHCC a Natural Treatment for HPV?

Is AHCC a Natural Treatment for HPV?

Yes, according to clinical studies and research, AHCC is an effective and natural treatment for HPV. These studies and research were conducted by Dr. Judith Smith and funded independently by the UTHealth Medical School at Houston.

WHAT IS HPV?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common sexually transmitted disease. Experts estimate that 70% of sexually active adults will contract HPV at some point in their lives. Here are the key facts on what HPV is and what you need to know:
  • An estimated 79 million Americans are infected with HPV.
  • Each year, 14 million additional people become infected with HPV.
  • HPV can be transmitted without intercourse.
  • HPV only requires skin-to-skin contact for transmission.
  • A condom doesn’t necessarily prevent HPV transmission.
  • Men and women can be infected with HPV.
  • Most women are screened for HPV during routine tests for cervical cancer.
  • There is no de facto HPV test for men.
  • There are multiple strains of HPV. Some strains cause health problems such as genital warts and other strains of HPV cause cancer.
  • HPV can cause a range of cancers including: cervical cancer, cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus.
  • HPV can cause cancer in the back of the throat (the base of the tongue and tonsils). This cancer is called oropharyngeal cancer.
  • The types of HPV that cause genital warts do not cause cancer.
It is believed that people with weak immune systems have a reduced ability to defend against HPV and are more likely to develop HPV-related health problems. At least 15 of the 100 different strains of HPV found in humans are considered high-risk by the World Health Organization. According to the Centers for Disease Control, these high-risk versions of the virus are responsible for an estimated:
  • 95% of cervical cancer
  • 95% of anal cancer
  • 60% of oropharyngeal cancer
  • 65% of vaginal cancer
  • 50% of vulvar cancer
  • 35% of penile cancer

HOW WAS AHCC STUDIED AS A NATURAL TREATMENT FOR HPV?

AHCC was studied in 2 separate studies at the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). These studies showed that AHCC can clear infections in women with recurrent HPV The objective of these 2 studies was to determine if AHCC could eradicate an HPV infection in women at 2 different daily supplement amounts and to determine the necessary treatment duration for effective treatment. Details about the first study include:
  • Studied 10 women with persistent, high-risk HPV.
  • Each woman took 3 grams of AHCC once daily from 5 weeks to 6 months.
  • Half of the women who stayed on the AHCC protocol for 4 months showed a complete eradication of the HPV virus.
Details about the second study include:
  • Studied 10 women who had persistent, high-risk HPV infections for up to 8 months.
  • Each woman took the 1-gram dose of AHCC.
  • 4 of the 9 women experienced eradication of the HPV infection by the end of the study. One patient was withdrawn from the study due to an unexpected pregnancy and noncompliance with the study protocols.
Eradication means the women cleared their HPV infection by the end of the AHCC supplementation period and remained free of infection when tested 2 months post-AHCC supplementation. The 2 studies into AHCC as a natural HPV treatment concluded:
  • It took the women in the second study (AHCC 1-gram) longer to eradicate the HPV infection than the women in the first study (AHCC 3-grams).
  • The findings from these two studies suggest that daily supplementation with AHCC modulates the immune system to effectively eradicate persistent, high-risk HPV infections.
These studies were conducted by Dr. Judith Smith, the Director of Women’s Health Integrative Medicine Research Program in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas. Watch this video to hear Dr. Smith discuss her research into AHCC and the eradication of persistent, high-risk HPV

HOW CAN BE HPV TREATED?

HPV can be treated with a number of treatment options. The available treatment options depend on the type of HPV diagnosed:
  • HPV Treatment for Precancerous Cells The treatment strategies for an HPV infection that indicates that there are cell and tissue changes that could result in cancer, you have the following treatment options:
  • Close monitoring: this is recommended when your doctor feels these cells will heal themselves.
  • Conization: often referred to as a cone biopsy, this procedure involves the removal of the abnormal areas.
  • Cryotherapy: this involves freezing and removing the precancerous cells with liquid nitrogen.
  • LEEP: this treatment uses a wire loop to remove the cells.
  • HPV Treatment for Genital or Anal Warts Warts associated with HPV can be seen on the cervix, scrotum, thigh, groin, anus or penis. These warts can appear in a range of sizes and can be raised or flat. If you suspect you have HPV-related warts or any other type of STD-related warts, visit your doctor to get a definitive diagnosis.
Typically, your doctor will not want to treat these warts as soon as they’re diagnosed, this is because warts appear very gradually – it’s best to do the treatment once rather than having to repeat the treatment for new warts. You will likely be prescribed a medicated cream that you apply yourself:
  • Podofilox: this cream is typically used for four weeks and it is effective in eliminating the wart tissue.
  • Imiquimod: this cream is shown to boost your immune system and can be effective in eliminating the virus.
The HPV vaccine is recommended for all boys and girls aged 11/12 years or older. If your child did not receive the vaccine when young, it’s possible to get a catch-up vaccine (up to 21 for boys and 26 for girls). The HPV vaccine is recommended for anyone who is sexually active and for people with compromised immune systems. Remember, that research shows that AHCC can be an effective treatment for HPV and HPV-related cancers Learn more about how AHCC works and the research into AHCC for a range of other diseases and conditions.

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