milk thistle

[heene]

I have just read an article on milk thistle being helpful in cleansing/healing/regenerating the liver.  My husband has autoimmune hepatitis and is on Prednisone 20mg. and Lactulose.  Do you know anything about this herb and its compatibility with these drugs?  He is also on Cipro once a week to prevent infection of ascities fluid in the abdomin.

[cheriums]

Yes, talk with your doctor about Milk Thistle.  If, then, you decide to buy it, Nature's Way imports a pharmaceutical grade from Germany (much studied and Rx'd there), sold as "THISILYN."  Having taken a number of supplements & herbs during the years I waited for my "better drug" to start treatment with, I've studied them pretty carefully.  I wouldn't waste $$ buying just any herb product.  Some of the less well-known and less well-policed from within the industry will sell you a product which is not all it claims to be.  cheri

[CARUU]

I don't have the hot/cold sensitivity you describe.  What is CTS?
I've got a huge list of symptoms I'm taking to the neurologist next week (includes the tingling and numbness).  It's there most all of the time and worse at the end of the work day (as is the muscle soreness).  The only thing that gets better by evening is that I feel more awake (seems backwards to me).  Mornings are bad.  I'm trying to wean off of ambien but my schedule is so mixed up that I haven't achieved that.  Thanks for any info. caruu

[friscosue]

I WOULD like to sound like a cheerleader for vitamins and supplements.  I, too, am postponing tx; there is a good deal of literature on the mushrooms (reishi, maitake, and shitake) as well as on milk thistle.  I have worked as a cook in a holisitic healing institution, where folks ("uncurable" cancer patients) who have been given a "death sentence" by their doctors have not only healed but are thriving b/c of correct diet.  The institute is founded on macrobiotic principles.  The institute has done studies funded by Harvard, and have found the shitake to contain healing properties.  If I'm allowed to name the place in this website, I would be happy to do so.  A search for any of the mushrooms on the net will come up with tons of information.  Andrew Weil, a more mainstream type of guy, is also a proponent of these. Thank you.

[cuteus]

This is great input, i.e. Raynud's, neuropathy, etc.
What got me thinking about not been Raynud's is that this weekend I touched very hot metal and in a fraction of seconds it felt like a blistering burn. an hour later the soreness was still present but there was no redness in my hand.  with the feet and cold, there was some residual redness.  I am already going to the neurologist for the CTS, so numbness and tingling is part of my life.  But I do feel the pain of the slits and openings in my fingers in the winter. so i guess as long as the pain is present, there is feeling.  
I thought raynud's until the hot episode, now I'm not sure.

[ked13]

I have Raynauds and went to a rheumatologist who looked into some research and said I have "Interferon induced Raynauds" except in my case it's "Interferon EXACERBATED Raynauds."
I was in bad shape over the winter. tips of my fingers were ulcerated.  It got better in spring but it happens in warm weather too and especially when I get out of the shower.
He put me on Norvasc.
I also got really bad mouth cracks that turned into raw chapped rashes from my nose to my chin. Skin was falling off.
Went to a dermatologist who said there was nothing he could do and I should keep putting vitamin E on it. WRONG! Found out later that made it worse!
Another dermatologist gave me steroid ointment that really helped. I wish I'd gone to him sooner.

[Tallblonde]

If you do a Google search, you'll find that there have been quite a few research studies on Milk Thistle.  Some are ongoing.  I don't want to sound like a cheerleader for all these supplements and vitamins, but I really do think milk thistle is one of the products worth considering, particularly for those who are postponing treatment.

Susan