Milk thistle herbal supplement for liver?

[Amphora]

Can anyone offer information/personal testimony about taking milk thistle herbal supplement to strengthen and cleanse my liver after all the g..d...ed tylenol I was taking (unavoidably) in the hydros for 3 years?  I friend w/20 years clean strongly recommended it to me, so I've begun to take it, although I don't have any symptoms of liver impairment (thank the Creator!).  Please let me know if you have info.  Thanks, all.  Mike

[FLaddict]

If you would like to email me I can get you that list out of my book.. my email is in my profile.. I have tons of books and info on "natural therapies" some of them even suggest good brands..

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a good one to look into

[tzt2lady]

I highly recommend Sandra Cabot's supplements.  Google her name, if interesgted.   She has liver cleansing products and a book which contains an easy to follow liver cleansing diet.

I did her program and also some other healing things of my culture and have tested negative for hep c for the last several years.   Im not sure what did it but I know I felt much more energy onher program.  Plus I lost twenty pounds.

[Amphora]

Many thanks for your replies!  I'm glad I brought up a topic that might help others.  Hope, it is the powdered seeds (put inside a capsule) of a plant called "milk thistle" because it apparently has sap that looks like milk.  My research indicates you can take it every day forever, and it will be completely harmless.  Fladdict is right -- it's best to find a brand that says "standardized" on the label, meaning that each capsule is guaranteed to contain an equal amount of the active ingredient: the silymarin that helps cleanse and heal the liver.  You can find it anywhere herbal supplements are sold.

FLaddict, thank you very much for your offer to provide additional info re. liver-healing supplements.  I would be very grateful just for their names -- I am more than willing to research them.

Best wishes to all of us!  Mike

[FLaddict]

I would definately do some research to find a good brand.. alot of supplements are not researched or controlled like drugs are so you want to get good quality. Its worth the extra couple bucks for a company that puts the time to research what is in the bottle..

[hopeless]

Ya thats what i am hearing, can't wait to try it! Need to get this ol' liver of mine back to normal again.

[tzt2lady]

Lots of us in NA who have hepatitis C from shooting drugs take it.   I hear its really good for liver cleanse.,

[hopeless]

Thank you Angel and FLaddict...

I am definately going to look into this.

[FLaddict]

Doctors don't get training on stuff like this unless they seek it out.. In med school nutrition is like a one day course..

Milk Thistle extract contains silymarin, a flavonoid that has been shown to aid in healing and rebuilding the liver. it can be taken in capsule or alcohol-free extract form. Take 200-400mgs 3x daily.

[angel47630]

I started Milk Thistle about a year before I even started these stupid pills, Thank God!

I take mine 1 or 2 times daily.   You can take it up to 3 times a day with a meal.

best wishes....................oh, you can get it al wal=mart pretty cheapo

[hopeless]

Ok another question.

How long do you need to take this stuff to get your liver clean? Do you take it everyday? If so, how will you know when you have had enough and you are normal again?

Sorry, just really curious about it now...Never heard of this, and i am still just amazed that none of my doctors mentioned this to me.

Any advice will be good....

Thanks again,
Hope

[hopeless]

I am so glad to hear about this Milk Thistle stuff. It is funny though, after my problems with my liver and being in the hospital, not once did my doctor or anyone else in that hospital mention that to me. Now i am curious about it. What is it exactly? Where do i get it at? Do you drink it? If so, does it taste like milk?

All i get done for my liver now is blood tests every 2 weeks, and ultrasound once a month. For now anyway. As long as it continues to heal on its own then this should be all i will have to do. But this Milk Thistle sounds like it could do good things for my liver, so if anyone can answer my questions i asked - i would appreciate it bunches, Thanks!

Hope

[jerry_g]

Milk Thistle is wonderful for your liver and even Dr.'s will tell you to take it (imagine that, and it's not even made by a pharmaceutical company....hehehe).

Something else that is very very good for your liver is NAC, N-Acetyl Cysteine. It can be purchased at GNC or The Vitamin Shoppe or places like that. It is sometimes used in Hospitals when they suspect large amounts of tylenol causing high liver levels.

[Zillialee]

Yes! I have been told by many physicians to take it for my liver. I just had my blood work done after an on again off again pill addiction for 20+ years and it is AMAZINGLY in perfect condition.  You may want to go get a physical just to clear your mind and make sure your liver is ok.  Good luck and have a good day : )

[FLaddict]

YEs it is highly recommended for that... worth a shot for sure.. There are others.. If you are interested let me know.. I have books on that kind of stuff..