any of these herbs harmful?

[mythoughts]

I'm considering doing a colon cleanse. Anyone here done one? The pruduct has these herbs in it:

PROPRIETARY BLEND                  PROPRIETARY BLEND
Psyllium Husks
Flax Seed
Fennel Seed
Licorice Root
Aloe Vera
Grapefruit Pectin
Papaya Fruit  
Slippery Elm Bark
Marshmallow Root
Rhubarb Root  
Alfalfa
Guar Gum
Peppermint Leaf  
Uva Ursi Leaf
12 g
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Black Walnut Hulls
Clove Buds
Elecampane Plant
False Unicorn Root
Fenugreek Seeds
Garlic Bulb
Gentian Root
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Hyssop Leaf
Male Fern Root
Myrrh Gum
Pau D

[LvdByGod!]

here's an article on herbal hepatoxic events from "Systematic review"

"Hepatotoxic Events Associated With Herbal Medicinal Products"


http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0269-2813&date=2003&volume=18&issue=5&spage=451



you have to pay for the full article. (COST $30.00)

[Califia]

How's life after tx?  Good to see you here again.  And good point about the rhubarb, I had exactly the same thought.   It's low enough on the list, after all the demulcents, though, so it should probably be okay.   I think the problem with it is not so much toxicity to the liver but the cramping it can cause.  It's considered to have a "cathartic" effect because it's irritable to the bowels.

[Fubarcat]

Do some research on Turkey Rhubarb.  I don't know enough about it to know one way or the other if it harms the liver, but I know one of my "natural herbalist" friends takes it to stay regular.  I am not recommending it in any way, shape, or form because I don't know enough about it.  I'm just suggesting it as something you can research and make your own decision.

[Califia]

Scott,  you are the undisputed interferon poster child.   Who else could float licorice root and Baretta in the same stream of consciousness?

MYTHOUGHTS, here's an idea for you, along the same lines as some of the suggestions Bzzracer offered.   Buy a small amount of flax seeds, very inexpensive, and grind a tablespoon of them in a coffee grinder.  Add the powder to cereal or a smoothie.  Great bulking agent and laxative, full of EFA's.   Kinder and gentler than psillium and will do the job quite efficiently, thank you very much.    Lots of water will help, too.

[mythoughts]

I'm not thinking about a colon cleanse for the Hep, but ust to clean out my system. Many of us methadone patients have serious problems in the movement department, and I just underwent a serious, week long stomach ailment. Soooo, I just thought it would be good to clean out the system. I'm not interested in enemas, b/c I don't want the lower colon cleared out, but the impacted stuff in the upper intestines.

[Forseegood]

Hi, I've been taking a lot of these herbs in a daily colon treatment that I have been taking for years, haven't dropped dead yet! A lot of them are more food extracts anyway, harmless. I personally don't like pau de arco for me, but that's just me, others do fine with it. I think it's really good stuff, the thing I take, it's made for many magnificent mornings! (sorry.)

[bzzracer]

Don't misunderstand what I was trying to get across. I didn't say herbs can cure hcv. Yes, they do have their place in dealing with certain health issues. In the past some really good ones have been downplayed by western medicine , proven to work, and now considered beneficial to ones health. Maybe some day there will be an herb that puts the hep virus into remission and/or kills it completely. Its not today however. Someday perhaps, just not today.

[bzzracer]

I'm an advocate of herbs/supplements and organic foods and for the past 35 years ingested quite a few myself. One should know that the herb/supplement business is still unregulated and there are lots of "miracle, natural remedies" phony cures out there.

If I was you I would question your source for references. See if you can talk with people who underwent this treatment and especially ask about any adverse reactions. There are other safe proven methods to cleanse ones colon out there: Colon Hydrotherapy (also know as colonic irrigations), Enemas, Laxatives, and Oxygen-based Cleansers.

Fleet Phospho-soda is a cheap laxative you can buy over the counter.
Prior to a colonoscopy some medical offices tell you to drink an entire 3.5 oz bottle of Fleet the night before and another the morning of. Warning: stay real close to a toilet cuz in 20 minutes your butt explodes.

[Califia]

The sad thing indeed is that people can't ask their doctors about herbal remedies, because most physicians don't have a clue about botanicals.  And why should they?   Herbal medicine is not exactly taught in medical schools.  And doctors aren't the only ones who are clueless.  So many  consumers are taking medical advice from well-meaning clerks in health food stores, which is not exactly optimal, or even safe.   The horror!  The horror!

That's why I'm so big on self-education in this area.  I really believe that if we want to move in this direction, we should school ourselves as much as possible.   Caveat emptor, and all that.

The fatalities, as I remember, were reported in Japan with patients taking Bupleurum (Chai Hu) and interferon concurrently.  Apparently they developed lung fibrosis.  So Minor Bupleurum Combination, also called Sho-Saikoto, is a definite no-no while on tx.

Btw, check out the Counterpunch site for the article on the squealched thyroid cancer/nuclear site NIH study.    Will do wonders for your blood pressure....

[Califia]

And the deadly ones are?

[Califia]

You rang?   The formula looks just fine.  

For anyone who's near a radio during the day, Karen Sanders' HERBAL HIGHWAY broadcasts on the web at http://www.kpfa.org at 11am PST on Thursdays.   Sanders is as knowledgeable as they come about plant medicine.  

Another great source of information is the wise and hilarious Michael Moore--the herbalist and founder of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, not the filmmaker.  His site is loaded with PDF files on the basics of Western herbalism, anatomy and physiology, and copies of classic out-of-print Materia Medicas.  Well worth a visit and even a long stay:   http://www.swsbm.com/

[cigaso]

MyThoughts,

"Slippery Elm Bark?" This looks like an enema Yule Gibbons would've appreciated.
If I recall, I think Califia is up on the "natural remedies."