Herbal Life

Hi has anyone heard of herbal life? I used to take it years ago to lose weight but it can also be used for nutrition. When I was discharged from hospital last year I wasn't eating properly at all I asked the dietician can I take some herbal life. She went away for a while and returned saying no so I didn't have it. I was wondering if it would be ok for me to have now 15 months in recovery. Thanks for reading

[Lladro]

Wow, that’s amazing I was wondering how you are. I don’t know anything about what you are asking but I’m sure someone does there seems to be some very knowledgable people on here. Well done for you 15 month recovery just passed my 2 year mark. Hope you get your answer.

[Hidden in reply to Lladro]

Hi thanks and well done you too. Do you not drink at all now and how have you found lockdown?

[Lladro in reply to Hidden]

No it would kill me and life is too precious. I have been fine during lockdown, started working from home which I love, but the last few days I have had some dark times to be honest and have had to take myself out of the equation and give my head a wobble. How about you?

[Hidden in reply to Lladro]

Yes been fine thankfully, like you you realise life is presious and have so much to live for. I do have bad days too not cravings or anything but just sit and think about all what happened to me and think of about how my children saw me so I'll in hospital. I'm so thankful that I have had no cravings but if I am totally honest I do miss the social side of things for eg when it was very hot we had some BBQs and alcohol was present no one got wasted or anything was just a couple of drinks. I do find it a bit (trying to find right word) sort of awkward and that even though I.m not wanting it hard to explain lol. My husband's been very good and don't hardly drink now so that helps. Think you just want to join in to be the same. Phew sorry for nagging 😁

[AyrshireK]

Regarding the herbal life I would think if you've been told no previously by a dietician then the answer remains the same.

Everything you ingest has to be processed by your liver & the British Liver Trust who host this forum advise against use of supplementary and herbal remedies as they are not subjected to the same rigorous testing as medical treatments and thus their validity and safety can not be verified.

Your best advice would be to seek to speak to a dietician again for up to date advice taking into account your own current state of health. It is always best to get all your dietary needs through your diet rather than so called supplements - there might be a need for supplementary feeding in advanced cirrhosis where necessary nutrition can't be obtained through diet alone but these are prescribed and you don't need to go spending good money on these over the counter or internet purchased products.

Katie

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Ahhh thanks for your advise. I didn't want to have some until I did find out I got told that by the dietician on hospital but I didn't go to the follow up appointments. I will ask my GP if I can be referred again. Thanks

[PeterP54]

Be careful. Two points:

1 Herbalife is a multi level marketing organisation. I suspect they use high pressure sales techniques.

2 The World Journal of Hepatology reports two cases of liver damage caused by Herbalife and one case of damage caused by another dietary supplement. Quite easy to find with Google. "is Herbalife bad for your liver"

Important that you consult a GP or your liver clinic.

[Hidden in reply to PeterP54]

Thank you I will defiantly look at that 👍

[Hidden in reply to PeterP54]

Herbalife is indeed a pyramid scheme and their products are dodgy. I've been subjected to their high pressure sales pitches. I bought one of their vitamin products and it made me ill. I tried to get a refund and was refused. Please stay well away.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh really did you have any of the milkshakes too

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

If you need protein shakes your GP will prescribe them. You really shouldn't even be considering purchasing dodgy goods from a company such as this.

[Cat19]

Hi Belleben

My liver Consultant said no to any herbal remedies, to only take prescribed medication,

Ive had PBC for 20 years.

Always check with your doctor and Liver specialist, wishing you well keep safe 💖😷

[Hidden]

Good morning Belleben,

Congratulations on your abstinence !

As the others have pointed out the British Liver Trust would not recommend the use of any herbal or nutritional supplements with out discussing it fully with your doctor/dietitian.

I have included a link to the information:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

If you are struggling with your nutrition , may I suggest you discuss this with your GP in the first instance.

Take care,

Trust9

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much

[Laura009]

Hi. The most important thing you can do for your liver is to completely eliminate the thing which caused the damage in the 1st place. In your case, alcohol. Even what you call small amounts, because over time those couple of drinks will without doubt will creep up on you, increase and become a problem again. No amount of herbal remedies or suppliments other than prescribed protien shakes are going to help. As your dietician said no to herbal " remedies" then no amount of time is going to change that decision.

Just a bit of extra advice ... if you have been given follow up appointments you MUST attend. Doctors take a dim view of patients skipping appointments and you may not recieve follow up care in future to the standard you may feel you are entitled to especially when the NHS is under extreme pressure in the current situation.

So look after yourself properly

Laura

[Hidden]

Yes thank you. I haven't drank since I was hospitalised which was march 2019. I was just wondering if I would get told the same thing about herbal life, I'm not expecting it to be a recovery though.

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

Cat19 has also been told no to herbal remedies. All you would be doing is giving your liver something else to have to deal with. Its had enough to cope with over the years and needs nothing else throwing at it. It needs the toxins removed and time to heal as best it can