anyone tried milk thistle

[Judy48]

I have been taking 2000 mg of milk thistle a day for the last 8 years it helps and so does Yogi brand tea made for healthy liver function it has dandillion in it whixh is also a good for the liver I drink 2 cups a day. I have already been through the round of interferon treatment.

[Hidden]

Hello Judy48.

Yes I started taking capsules (tho' now started opening and making a tea with them as you can do that so have at lunchtime). I started on 11th April. I did know about milk thistle but had sort of sat on the fence for ages wondering whether to or not (rock the boat so-to-speak).

I still take the 2 x 300mgs urso a day and just the 1 milk thistle which is 175mgs.

I decided to take and see what my forthcoming blood results turn up as the last 2 results in the last 6mths showed a slight climb whereas prior they had started to decrease after starting urso.

Being curious I just wondered if a small dose of milk thistle would maybe satisfy this curiosity as I've never liked taking prescription or OTC drugs regardless and knowing urso is apparently for life, didn't go down well with me at all from the start of taking (Dec 2010).

So until I have the next bloods I'm keeping the open mind here tho' have to say that for 8 days following the starting of the milk thistle I had was virtually itch-free whereas prior I had only ever managed 5 and no more. I feel absolutely great and I somehow don't think it is the mind-over-matter here either.

[Hidden]

PS Judy48, you mentioned interferon.

What is that by the way? Why did you have that?

[Judy48 in reply to Hidden]

Interferon injections is used in conjunction with pegas pills to slow down the effects of Hep C which I did the 1 yr treatment about 8 years ago and went into what would be considered remission. There is a new drug protocol now called Intcivek for Hep C but I don't know if theat will apply to me now that it is PBC which I am seeing my doctor today to discuss. I have done some research and I think vitiam K may help the liver but I am not sure I'll ask the doctor today.

[Hidden in reply to Judy48]

Hello Judy48.

With regards to Vit K, have you had blood checked for levels of this?

Before I was diagnosed with PBC the GP requested Vit check and came back all ok with the exception of Vit D which he said was 'low'. I found out at diagnose from the hospital consultant that Vit D 'was low but not bad' and when I looked at the results, mine was on the line for normal/just below normal so nothing overly bad as it turned out. 3mths later, it was found Vit D was normal which was prob due to the sun as was coming up to summer when I had the next blood check.

Since 2011 I've not had any problems with Vit D nor any others.

I know you have to be careful as certain vitamins, A for one, you can actually overdose on.

It was suspected I may have PBC later in 2010 so after antibodies test and diagnose I've only been on urso.

[Tumbleweed41 in reply to Judy48]

Judy48

The reason that I started taking Milk Thistle was because my son-in-law works with a young man that has Hep C and said that all he takes is Milk Thistle - had not gone thru the horrible meds that a lot of them do. He just didn't know how much he was taking. -:(. I started with 1000mg 2x/day (Spring Valley Capsules) and gradually worked up to my current 2000mg 2x/day. As I have mentioned before, I did my own testing of how this affected my numbers > I quit taking it for a month and my numbers went up more than just a normal uptake. I went back on them and my numbers came down. I will not be without it. - I buy a minimum of 3 bottles a month. I want to build up my supply in case of any future "economy" downturns or regulations.

SO - for anyone trying MT for the first time I would suggest starting slow and see how the body/numbers react. - GA

[general1]

What is a good brand of milk thistle to take?

[Judy48 in reply to general1]

I usually take what is on sale at Walmart wich is Spring Valley 1000 mg concentrated Extract Milk Thisle and I take 2 each morning with a cup of either Yogi or Triditional Medicinals Lemon Everday Detox it promotes healthy liver function and has burdock Root which is also know to aid the liver. I have been doing this for years and until my last physical the numbers were all good.

[Hidden]

Holland & Barratt do milk thistle in capsule form, ones that you can pull apart and add to hot water to take like tea.

Natures Best via mail (they are online) do milk thistle tablets.

[general1]

Thank you Judy48! My numbers have come way down and Ive only been on Urso for 1 month. Is it good that LFT numbers come down? Ive read on other sites that the numbers dont tell how your liver really id.

[Hidden in reply to general1]

Dear general,

Have you asked for a printout of your blood results for the LFTs?

If so they should give you a bracket reading of what they reckon is normal range. Mine are still what is considered abnormal but they did decrease with starting urso after 2mths as you say yours are too.

I think it is the GGT that is the one that tells them with regards to the liver and if inflammation if my memory serves me correctly.

Quite frankly now after being on urso for 17mths myself I just started to gauge myself! With that I mean if I feel great then I am great regardless of the blood readings as I was feeling heaps better than I had done in ages when I had my bloods done Feb but they then came back with a slight climb. Due for repeats in next couple wks and tho' I can say on here I feel great, I don't know what will turn up this time but my outlook now is to not take in too much of it all.

I've sort of accepted that there is no cure for PBC and tho' I still loathe the fact I am supposed to have a condition (I don't say HAVE, hence the supposed slotted in) I think I'll just make the best of things and ignore the fact (bit difficult at times if you itch at night) and just maybe the days, weeks and mths and then yrs will start to pass and I'll still be singing and dancing away.

[Jtxx]

As far as I know high LFT's are indicative of inflammation in the liver so low levels are good. X

[Tumbleweed41 in reply to Jtxx]

X -

Yup! -

[general1]

I dont have a printout of my bloodwork. Right now and I guess for the next 12 months I have my bloodwork done on a monthly basis. My numbers were in the 100's (alt & ast). Last month they were both in the 40's. My Alka Phos was 384 and dropped to 215. My liver does not feel as inflamed as it was which i think is great and I do feel better. I dont get the itch nor major fatigue like others do. I do however have sore joints fingers elbows etc and I have lsteoarthritis in my neck. Neck hurts the worst. I think the news has finally set in and Im just trying to get on with my life one day at a time. Like my Dr said I could have been diagnosed with a worse condition. Thank you for responding!!!!

[mrspeffer]

Milk Thistle is wonderful for protecting our livers. I also use a product from Standard Process Labs...LIVAPLEX. The two together have helped lower my LFT's along with a clean diet and juicing