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Milk Thistle

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/11/2013 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, for those of us taking medication that may effect the liver, Milk Thistle may provide some benefit. Of course check with your MD if this supplement would appropriate.
Posted 2/11/2013 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Could you please elaborate what kind of benefit you are talking about? Any idea how milk thistle helps in achieving 'the benefit'?
Posted 2/11/2013 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Actually she is correct. I had high liver enzymes and my family practice doc recommended milk thistle. I went out and bought some, took it, and my liver enzymes returned to the normal range.
Posted 2/11/2013 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, that's good news that it has some benefit. I was reading the book Spontaneous Healing by Andrew Weil, MD and he suggested the Milk Thistle for anyone taking medication long term. I followed up with some Internet research, found that it has been around since the beginning of time and has been used for all kinds of liver issues.
Cindy
Posted 2/11/2013 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Many medications can harm the liver and kidneys, including the supposedly safer 5-ASAs. Liver problems can also be a direct side effect or 'extraintestinal lesion' (EIL) of IBD.

Milk thistle might help. This is from "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine" by Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno, page 594:

"Serious liver disease (i.e. sclerosing cholangitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.) is also a common EIL, affecting three to seven percent of people with IBD. If individuals are demonstrating liver enzyme abnormalities, they should take silymarin, a group of flavonoid compounds derived from milk thistle (silybum marianum). These compounds exert tremendous effect on protecting the liver from damage as well as enhancing detoxification processes."
Posted 2/12/2013 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for that!
Posted 2/12/2013 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Because our systems are so overburdened we produced enzymes and toxins that flood our liver and milk thistle is a wonderful cleaning herb.. so is nettle which is best taken in tea.
Posted 2/12/2013 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
How ironic, just been researching milk thistle.. I have reflux,
And gallbladder removed. From what I can gather this is something worth trying .. Especially for UCers.. It's also good for platelets.. Great liver guard.. Have only read good stuff so far
Posted 2/12/2013 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Studies have been done and the results pretty much say it doesn't rely do anything for you.
Posted 2/12/2013 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
I've read studies showing results..especially for cirrhosis.

Post Edited (Petah) : 2/11/2013 10:41:21 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/12/2013 5:01 AM (GMT 0)

Dsm4life said...
Studies have been done and the results pretty much say it doesn't rely do anything for you.

can you post the link to the studies please. thanks
Posted 2/12/2013 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
I've read many good reviews especially for lowering enzymes.. I havnt used it but I will be.
Posted 2/12/2013 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
Milk thistle has been well documented as a powerful medicine, even saving the lives of those suffering from otherwise fatal death cap poisoning.
Posted 2/12/2013 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Yes! Herbs are underestimate as far as I'm concerned. It's funny, ppl will note the contraindications but not the remedial power! How many medicines are based on herbs?
Posted 2/12/2013 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Good to know.

Now that we know Milk thistle helps with liver detox, which brand offers best bang for the buck or folks here have used that showed some effect.

Thanks in advance.
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