Milk Thistle

[lsaldy]

Any takes on using Milk Thistle?? Pros & Cons?

[benefitsdonna]

I also am allergic to ragweed and did have an allergic reaction to milk thistle, wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes, so you have to be careful.  also dandelion root, burdock root, etc.  I wish i could take it since i heard lots of good things about it.  starting tx in a couple of weeks, so i will be gearing up for that.....Good luck to you.

[lsaldy]

Thanks LL...appreciate the opinion :)

[Lady Lauri]

Hi Isaldy, LL here.
I don't thing anything you are doing (that you stated) will cause more damage, in fact probably the opposite.
You should not do milk thistle on tx. I had to stop 30 days before tx.and was told absolutley no herbs on tx (or most not), but I am also in a trial (type 2b, Albuferon trial, tho 'drew' the norm on 1st tx day of Pegasy/riba) and they are strict in what you can and can not do. As much as milk T. did help me before tx., my opinion is why do anything that can possibly interfere with the tx drugs. Milk T. is studied and known to help the liver filter/detox and aids it in it's normal functions. So that chance of 'getting rid' of the drugs we need to keep IN us is there. The same for wheatgrass, great stuff but really detox's the body and shouldn't be done on tx. I will be back on all this when it's done tho, to THAN rid my body of all this! Again, this is all my opinion of reading I have done, not a pro here.
Much like you,many here,  I FINALLY found my Hep C after the symptoms set in, the  fatigue/muscle aches, etc. and was too the point of guessing every disease out there before it got 'accidently' found.
(went to Acunpuncture/chinese herb Dr. to quit smoking!) I was quite small and 'jocky' tho and the Dr.'s would just blow me off when I'd say .." SOMETHING is wrong!".
Ask your Dr. (hopefully a liver specialist) for his/her view.
                              Good luck to you, LL

[lsaldy]

Well I am not on tx yet as still in beginning stages of all my testing.....All I know is i found out I had HCV because I started to feel like a bag of **** and beyond very tired....almost dibillitating among other symtoms so got checked and BINGO!!!! AH NUTSSSSSSSSS!!  I am wondering of course if i am on tx will it interact.....and what other med will it interact with...I am also in the "obese"section of the BMI index and am now trying to lose 50 lbs to come back into the "normal" section so I do not maintain a "fatty liver" which impairs function....So of course changing my diet...quit drinking and also am on apple cider vinegar for metabolism, vitamin e, because i am almost forty and if i lose too much weight i will get disgusting saggy skin so the vitamin e helps with the look of my skin and of course milk thistle to try to detox liver the best i can...my fear is taking too many natural herbs and could i eventually cause more damage,,,,,,,,,

[gauf]

Somebody must have an answer. Take it on tox or not?

[AnniePas]

It has relieved my sx but not sure how long I will be able to take.  Just started using and after I purchased I read the bottle and it states persons that are allergic to ragweed or daisy like flowers should avoid this product.  I am allergic to ragweed but tried anyway.  I have not had a reaction to it yet but may. The bendryl is standing by. Hope I do not have a reaction because it has relieved the sore joint pain..

[JackABCD]

From my experience , I take MT for several months and I think I am "addict" to it.
Pros: eliminate almost all disease sx (fatigue, nausea), safe.
Cons: don't kill the virus, in my case didn't bring LFT closer to normal (also not the opposite).

My impression - new drugs looks very promising and will be generally avaliiable within 2 years, if you can wait till than then use MT meanwhile to slowdown the damage.

Jack