Milk Thistle NOT helpful

[geow]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AASLD/29655

[willy]

I will respsond to this later but I will provide some forms of proof that the "headline" is possibly incorrect or misleading.  It is however, not 100% incorrect.  More later.

willy

[MissyMouse]

I don't believe it.  I was told by Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville (Dr. David Nelson ... he writes a lot of the research that most gastros live by) that it is helpful.  I think I am a testament that it is helpful.  I started taking it towards the later end of my 2nd round of treatment and all during my third round, low and behold the third round of treatment worked.  I will admit that not only did I use the Milk Thistle daily I did get more sunshine, worked out for 40 min. 5 days a week, and just took better, healthier care of myself.

Mouse

[DougV]

Funny, my doc at Shands, the TP doc, said not helpful. 

I did not take, never have taken, too many variables, how raised, how harvested, how concentrated or if concentrated, actual dose, content of heavy metals and other toxins, common in herbal items due to soil conditions and pesticides used, etc. etc. etc.

But I am not a big believer in Chinese medicine where hep is out of control nor herbs, except where the ingredients are proven to be effective.

Doug

[geow]

Wow, great responses.

I stumbled on the link by mistake. I have been using the cheap Spring Valley brand for years @ 1000 Mg 1-3 /day. My Gi said it was not to be taken on Pegasys. The Pegasys instructor said it did not matter, but that Milk Thistle (mt) mostly just helps 'detox' the liver. In the past, had read many claims that 'clinical trials' had show that it helped the liver regenerate new cells.
Posted it so we could debate. So far, so good. Please, give your feedback, but lets not attack one another. I just got attacked at my AA group, so I am still a little hesitant. Someone asked if I was a hypochondriac, and did I spend my day on the internet searching out new sicknesses for myself. It really hurt. So lets just keep things civil, as they appear to be. Just a reminder.

Thanks,
geo

[DougV]

Don't worry about attack here.  We don't always agree but I really cannot remember the last time someone attacked someone here.

I'm not an AA member and do not know how there meetings go, but I thought it was a support type thing.  Do the allow personal attacks?  I would have assumed that was a big no no.  Am I wrong?

Doug

[willy]

Sorry Geo, I have had a little family emergency and it has sidetracked me. I'm about caught up.  There is some info I need to gather, copy, past and enough I have to put it in some sort of coherent order.

I'll post a number of links and whereas there may not be conclusive proof, there may be enough to warrant some thought.

The bad news is...... the cheapest brands of milk thistle may indeed not be very beneficial.  The first real question is what are we talking about when we talk about milk thistle?  I have actually considered writing the people who preformed the study, since the product which they used will in part play in the end results.  I'm not certain that the MT I refer to is the same stuff which they refer to.  Apples to apples and all......

willy

[geow]

Since Triple tx is our best hope against HCV  now, Milk Thistle seems a distant last hope herbl. Of course if I fail this round to 3 tx then maybe I'll be back to using MT as my Only Hope.
This AA group is Notorious for "telling you the truth." and "giving my sponcee hell." it is one where property is involved, and it is also quite old. Even one of the original donar's used to prefer our little group around the cornor in the rented room, cause we were always very supportive. I have been re-reading the "Big Book" and "The Language of Feelings" to see if I can gather quotes to validate my idea that we are better off giving love and support, than 'beating people up.' Even tough I am coming up on 22 years the 15th of this month, and have pretty thick skin, I also am dealing with HCV, Severe arthritis in my knees, and a few other conditions. I can be hurt. At least in here it seems OK to open up without the personal attacks like "you're just being weak," or "it's all in your head," or "If your faith was strong enough God would heal you," and finally, "If you were Indian like me, you would know which herbs to take." So since the little group around the corner (Orlo Vista) lost it's lease, some of us have started going to the infamous odat. Odat has been hurting for $$$, so we have been trying to help them bring in new people, and to keep them. But when the elder odat members keep insisting on being 'hard asses' it has been a 'tough row to hoe." And when the 'shit hits the fan," my normal response is to stay home a few days/weeks till I heal. Seeing the other Orlo members at Odat has been quite refreshing, even though most of us feel the stings of gossip. It can get hard.

Anywho, I'll be checking out the feedback to the article I posted, and perhaps we can change the title to "Milk Thistle benefits questioned by new study"

Thanks everyone, It feels nice being back.

geo