Milk Thisle?--- Your Experiences

Folks,

While I'm waiting until the end of the month to see my gastro Doc, I've been using Milk Thisle on and off. My question what are your opinions on the use of Milk Thisle and other "natural" liver supplements and do they work?

I appreciate all opinions and experiences...thanks!

BronxRican007

[Moeymitt]

I remember my very first visit 3.5 years ago with my Gastro doc. As I was walking out of his office he said "you are probally going to go and try Milk Thistle and all the other stuff but it won't work". Interesting thing to say I thought. Since then I have been under the care of a ND along with my Gastro Doc and my ND has me on milk thistle. Is it helping?? I don't know, my alts/asts go up and down depending on my stress and exercise level and whatever else makes them flucuate. Good luck and if it makes you feel better, go for it.

[cuteus]

I did not see a difference. I continued using it on and off during tx even though I was told not to by my dr.  I did not clear the virus by wk 12, although I had a low vl.
can't say it was the milk thistle keeping the poisons away from my liver, but can't say it wasn't either.

[Docsgold]

My physician told me to go ahead and use milk thistle while I waited to begin tx: not proven to help, but it can't hurt you he said.

[snook_man]

I used it along with a few other supplements outlined by some Dr's to help slow the progression of my disease.
The key though, is if you are going to use supplementation, it can not be on and off. You MUST take the recommended dosage every day, and be consistant.
For the six months I used it along with some others at MAX daily dosage, I noticed a big difference. First, I had more energy, and over all I just felt better. Then, the labs started to prove the difference that they where making. My ALT's dropped from 98, to 61.. My AST's where down to 30.. My platlets went up, and over all my CBC's saw improvement. But the major difference, was in my overall improvement in the way I felt. Also, my VL went from 5463, to 4000.
If you want to do some reading, check out the Caring Ambassadors web site, and read the inserts in Hepatitis Choices.. It outlines the nutritional supplementation recommended for people with hep c..Along with tons of other useful stuff.
Funny thing with Milk Thistlke is everyone has adifferent opinion. Few months back, it was all over the net how the stuff protected the liver soo effectivly, that it caused many medication not to work properly, or not be processed properly. But then again, it doesn't work right?

[Califia]

<a href=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1115490182295_6/?hub=TopStories><b>Genes Predict Response to Hepatitis C Treatment</b></a>

Good news for people thinking about entering treatment!

[honey1616]

Bronx,,,,I don't think it will hurt but then again,,,,I just don't think it will be the answer for your hep either.  Some claim it holds it off to a bay which would be great if did but also,,,,just not enough studies out there to see what it will do.  My dr said no to it on treatment.  Good Luck to you!

Hey Califia,,,,You riding high haha   We are going to have to think of some clever ideas to keep you enertained to keep you going for the duration of your tx.  I love the article you found,,,,That would be so great for people to know before starting!  Great News!  Hang in there,,,,I see,,,,even after being on tx for a year,,,,That the meds definitely don't mess with your mind!  Way to go!

[Califia]

Hey, been thinkin' bout you!   How's the road to recovery?   But please don't worry about me:   I'm so motivated that you'll have to pry the riba out of my shaky hands.   I'd have to agree that the list could use a little more entertainment, though.   Tx can surely get a little monotonous in the long haul, sort of like working a job you're just not wild about, but you keep showing up on time anyway.   So tell me you don't you miss the good old days, even a little bit?

[cigaso]

Califia,
Great article. I would like more info also.

Bronx,
You can't take any supplements up to your biopsy. My gastro told me it wouldn't hurt or help during treatment. I tried it. Believe it or not, it made me feel like I had the flu. I tried it before I started treatment. Good luck.

[whoaisme]

Hi! We were told that milk thistle will not hurt you nor will it help in treating the virus. It will help to keep your healthy liver cells healthy. Trust me, many of us have been there. Giddy tried an herbal regimen before he was able to start treatment. Good luck to you.

[GOLF]

I read about the study that predicted responders to treatment, but I couldn't see what the test was called or how get it, any more info would be appreciated.

[DallasStar_]

I started taking Milk Thisle about 5 months before I began Tx.
I took it all through Tx, and to this day I still take it.
My last labs (2 weeks ago), my AST was 11, & My ALT was 13,
I am not sure if its the Milk Thistle or what, My Doctor has never had a problem with me taking it (But they are all different)

I do take other supplements also, Exercise, & try to eat right.

Hope this helps.

Dallas

[Califia]

The genes have been identified, but a diagnostic test has not yet been developed.

[Califia]

GENES:  Identification of the genes that indicate response to treatment is a phenomenal breakthrough, and the next step is to develop a test that can be used in clinical practice.  Unfortunately, it's not there yet.   But don't lose heart.  The timeline for diagnostic test approval is much faster than it is for drugs.  And as someone who has lived with the knowledge of this virus since 1990, following medical findings all the while, I am truly amazed at the speed of the current research--it's one major breakthrough after the next.   Current advances in knowlege are truly staggering.

Soon come, as the rastas say.

MILK THISTLE:  If you go to the hcvadvocate.org site and click on current weekly news, there's a review of milk thistle studies which show that the stuff is competely safe but that its efficacy is still unproven.  Dr. Gary Strickland is quoted as saying that he'd like to see research done with ADEQUATE doses of milk thistle for a change, which might show different results.   I couldn't agree more.  900-1,000 mg daily should be the standard dose if you have HCV.

<a href=http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2005/NewsRev-99.html>HCV NEWS</a>

[cuteus]

funny you should mention that about the diagnostic tests, my labcorp PCR stated that it was not approved by the FDA and something that it did not have to be, can't remember the exact wording, though.

[miked]

Does any of the information state how and where to get genetically tested?