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3093770 tn?1389739126

What do you make of Ginseng for low platelets?

Hi everyone
I am trying to get prepared for starting tx (not sure when)
As I already have lowish platelets and the tx will drop them even more I wonder if there is any natural way to increase platelet number

A colleague at work had idiopathic trombocytopenia and at start doctors wanted to take his spleen out as he bottomed to 10. As he was not keen on that as you can imagine he was put on some steroids and also he started taking Ginseng.

He swears by it, he is convinced that Ginseng raised his platelets numbers.
Is there any problem to take it with tx? Even without tx, is there any interaction with hep c?

Thanks
14 Responses
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Avatar universal
Please let me clarify that I was only speaking in terms of doctors' recommendations on both mainstream medicine and "non-mainstream" (or whatever the proper term is) medicine for raising platelets.

I have had several mainstream doctors recommend many supplements for other things. I do think many have evolved, just as they have about chiropractic treatment. Thirty years ago when an orthopedic MD offered me no alternatives to surgery (not even physical therapy), he almost threw me out of his office when I asked about chiropractic tx, lol. I found a chiropractor and was "cured" in six weeks. That same hospital now has chiropractors they recommend.

Many traditional MDs recommend things like acupuncture, supplements and as said even Milk Thistle for the liver. Although I should mention that I was told to stay off all supplements during tx except a plain old multivitamin, and to add extra Vit D and coffee. Research shows that certain vitamins and supplements in certain doses interfere with the HCV tx meds.

Platelets are in a class of difficult issues, and I don't think our doctors are stopping or foregoing HVC tx to save one's liver/life just to protect mainstream medicine against non-mainstream medicine known to actually increase platelets. I don't think they would put people through transfusions if there were a better alternative.
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
When I was first diagnosed with hep C, I sought out an herbalist who was also an MD.
She told me nothing was known that would rid me of the hep C other than interferon. She said she could help me with the side effects of my cirrhosis and of hep C treatment.
There were various supplements and herbal concoctions, teas, etc that I took.
Never was ginseng among them and never did she claim anything could help with my platelets.

My GI in Bangkok, recommended turmeric and said chilies were good for the liver. He also gave me some other good advice specific to my cirrhosis.

BTW: My hepatologist in San Francisco  said he has no problem with  milk thistle.

He's rarely objected to my various supplement, like fish oil or ALA though he did tell me not to take vitamin E internally.

You're right about Western doctors not being trained in alternatives but some are more aware and open minded than others.


.
Helpful - 0
3093770 tn?1389739126
I think in my whole life I found only 2 mainstream doctors to recommend herbal options. In saying that I am convinced that there are lots of options which could help. Mainstream (west) medicine specialist are not even allowed to comment on a product if there are no clinical trials. They will not even comment on Vit C. Hence I will really not expect any of them to prescribe me ginseng, milk thistle or similar. Which is such a pitty. I really wonder for example how ayurvedic approach supports hep c treatment
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"What do you make of Ginseng for low platelets? "
Sorry to say, but not much. I've had low platelets for 20 years and changed Primary Physicians quite often due to moving a lot so I got lots of opinions about their steady drop. They just hit 82 this year before I started tx. I almost didn't get into the study as the protocol was 90, so I feel lucky since I had insurance issues. My study doctor signed me off as not cirrhotic based on a Fibrosure test, but who knows the reliability of those?

Of all the doctors, hematologists, and gastros I saw annually over the years, no one ever suggested ginseng or anything else to boost them. I do not believe there is anything short of a transfusion that will help increase platelets (other than getting to the underlying cause) and I've heard they've been trying cortisone, but not for someone with your platelet count or mine.

I will be interested to see what my platelets do post HCV treatment. I'd be happy to stabilize in the 80's.  

I don't think any of us with low platelets due to tx have been told to take ginseng, but let's hear what others may have to say.  
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Being anxious to get treatment going and moving forward towards a healthier life makes a lot of sense. I felt the same.

My platelets were low, still tend to be on the low side due to my enlarged spleen but as Hector pointed out your numbers are far from problematic.
Mine post treatment ( and I'm post transplant ) are 130 and I'm happy.

Before I began treatment the first time they were 96. My doc told me that wasn't anywhere near dangerous.
During my tx, that time, they dropped into the 20s. That IS low.

To be quite honest I never found anything to increase them and am not sure why you even want to at those numbers. If it's because of bruising, you might need to take Vitamin K. Check with your doctor.

Stress certainly can affect our health but blood levels fluctuate naturally anyway.

Good luck~
Helpful - 0
3093770 tn?1389739126
Thank you Hector
This certainly clarifies a few things like my mildly enlarged spleen. I was having the feeling that I do have some immune suppression.

Hey is great that you do not bruise. On my side, I get lots of bruises on my legs and is taking exactly 3 weeks for them to go away :(

As weird as it might sound I am looking forward to start tx. I am sure that will probably nail the lymphoma as well. Beside after 5 months since diagnose of both hep c and lymphoma, I am soooo over it. I just want to be done with it and move on.

Just as a comment, I was doing some IV vit c a while ago. In only few days platelets went up to 164. I have done it for 10 weeks once a week. My platelets stayed to that level up to the point I have been told that I have lymphoma and the stress of finding out had a sudden impact and a drop to 113. Interesting things our minds :)
Ummm someone was mentioning to me that chlorophyll might raise the number as well
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
For those interested in low platelet counts...

"Prevention and Management of Thrombocytopenia in Hepatitis C Patients"
Robert S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH
Frank Cardile Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
New York, New York
from Clinical Care Options

"Thrombocytopenia defined as a platelet count of < 150,000 cells/uL

Mild -        75,001 - < 150,000
Typically minimal

Moderate - 50,000-75,000
Seen in 13% of cirrhotic patients; some increased risk of bleeding during invasive procedures such as surgeries

Servere - < 50,000
Significant morbidity; complicates management of HCV, ITP, advanced liver disease, other conditions; significant bleeding risk during invasive procedures, such as liver biopsy

Platelet counts decrease as fibrosis levels increase. The mean platelet count, shown in green, for patients who have liver fibrosis scores between 0 and 2, was normal at 202,000 cells/μL. However, patients who had stage 3-6 fibrosis by Ishak scoring had a mean platelet count of 146,000 cells/μL. This level is just under the threshold for thrombocytopenia and shows that more than one half the patients with significant fibrosis would meet the criteria for some degree of thrombocytopenia.

What leads to thrombocytopenia in advanced liver disease? The etiology is multifactorial. Most interest has focused on portal hypertension leading to hypersplenism and then splenic sequestration and destruction. However, there is also decreased thrombopoietin production. The impaired production is because of a loss of functional liver tissue as well as increased thrombopoietin degradation by platelets that are sequestered in the congested spleen. Hepatitis C, as a virus, can cause virally induced bone marrow suppression, and this can be augmented therapeutically when we try to use interferon through interferon-induced bone marrow suppression.

Interferon-based therapy should be used with caution in patients with cirrhosis because of the risks of worsening thrombocytopenia and potentially exposing the patient to risks of bleeding complications. According to the package insert, hepatitis C treatment is typically viewed as contraindicated in patients with platelet counts between 75,000 and 100,000 cells/μL. Withholding hepatitis C treatment in patients with thrombocytopenia can lead to worsening of liver fibrosis and, in turn, a reduced chance of sustained virologic response when therapy is initiated as well as an increased risk of progression and need for liver transplantation."


Hector
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
109,000? Awesome. I don't think I have had a platelet count over 70,000 in 5 years. (Jealous). My last platelet count was 59,000. But that is typical with advanced cirrhosis. I never have any bleeding or bruising issues, so it is what it is. I still have plenty of platelets are far as that is concerned.

Ciao.
Hector
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
mine were right around 100 when i started, so hopefully you're platelet drop will not effect your treatment.
eric
Helpful - 0
3093770 tn?1389739126
Thank you Hector

Good to know. I have 109 at the moment, no tx yet.
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
There is no reason to worry about your platelet count. I believe your platelet count is over 100,000 (?) which is plenty of platelets to do treatment with. Platelet count is a non issue. Ask your doctor. They will tell you the same.

The only people that have issues with platelet count during treatment are patients with stage 4 liver disease (cirrhosis). They have much lower platelet counts before starting treatment depending on how advanced their cirrhosis is. But even for cirrhotics there are treatment options to prevent their platelet counts from being dangerously low (below 25,000).

Good luck with your treatment!
Hector


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Diana,

did a quick search and found
http://mental-health.emedtv.com/ginseng/ginseng-drug-interactions.html

Ginseng Interactions and Liver Enzymes
Many medications are metabolized (broken down) by enzymes in the liver. There are several different types of these enzymes. Research suggests that ginseng may inhibit the activity of one of these enzymes (known technically as the CYP 2D6 enzyme). This means that ginseng could increase the level of medications that are normally metabolized by this enzyme, perhaps making them more toxic.
from http://mental-health.emedtv.com/ginseng/ginseng-drug-interactions.html

incevik is metabolized by CYP3A4 pathway. so maybe ginseng uses a different pathway.  However not very much research has yet been done on possible interactions with the new protease inhibitors, so i guess i would tread with caution if you will be using incevik or victrelis.
eric
Helpful - 0
3093770 tn?1389739126
Hi Eric
My colleague took the steroids only for around 3 months I think but then he was on daily ginseng for long term, I believe he is taking it even now. And he kept his spleen :) I guess is worth trying it although I want to make sure that does not interfere with tx. I also read something that in women can raise the estrogen so not keen on that
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i don't know about ginseng.  i have also heard that shark liver oil is supposed to raise platelet levels. my platelets got down to around 52,000 when i was on full dose triple therapy. the doc did not seem concerned.  

i have a friend with ITP and steroids helped him for a year.  he eventually had his spleen removed and has since recovered. i wonder how you colleague can tell if the the ginseng helped, if he was taking steroids at the same time?  

during treatment, i wondered if ginseng would help with the fatigue, but did not try it.
blessings,
eric
Helpful - 0
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