milk thistle

[dbohn]

has anyone out  there used milk thistle or something like that and has had success or not. it would sure be helpful to get any info i could get.the reason i would like the info is that if there is some hope to slow  this hep c down  till something better came alone and didn't make a person so sick.right now i am in the middle of the row with this hep c.grade2 stage 2.

                  i thankyou
                             darrell
p.s this is a wonderfull site because all of us are in the same boat and are willing to share info about our selves.because even though our doctors are helping us as much as they can this site has provided me with more info than i have ever had from the doctors.

[Shawn]

Use it every day - I feel it slows down the cell death -- It doesn't attack the virus though, it considered a heptoprotectant...meaning it protects your heptic cells (liver cells) I do Milk Thistle and a couple specific liver enhancing vitamins/minerals + Pegasys/Rebetol treatment.

It's working great - my liver enzymes are within normal range and I find out my viral count next week - I'll let you know on that.

Good luck - if you're going down the homeopathic path for initial treatment - go pick up a book called Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver - by Stephen Buhner --- lots of great info on herbs, but also excellent info on HCV itself.

Good Luck
Shawn

[Dude]

As much as I'd like to be able to add to that, I can't.

Darrell, watch for Shawn's posts. He is a remarkable person, and has a lot of knowledge in the subject of Hep C. He's really done his homework, and is a great source for answers. His contributions here have been informative and extremely helpful. Way to go, Shawn!

Look in your grocery store for Milk Thistle. I buy "Milk Thistle Xtra" at Publix, my neighborhood grocery store. It's in the vitamin aisle. On the label it says, "Milk Thistle helps to protect the liver and maintain healthy liver function. It contains silymarin, a flavonoid with antioxidant activity that may also have a cell membrane-stabilizing effect."

I take 2 caps in the morning and 2 at night, after dinner.

God bless.

[MikeBoston]

I was diagnosed with hep c and elevated liver enzymes in 1997.  I believe I contracted hep c prior to 1995.  I've taken milk thistle (1200 mg 80% standardized) and vitamin (ester c 1000mg) daily since being diagnosed.  My latest biospy shows 0 fibrosis and a 1 on inflammation.  My liver has endured a huge amount of abuse due to alcoholism and IV drug use and yet my enzymes are now normal and I have no trace of fibrosis.

I don't know if these encouraging biospy results are due to the the milk thistle but it very well could be helping.  

[kayaker]

Germany is one of the few countries to research and make this available to the public as a "treatment" for hep-c...it will not cure you but assist the liver as in protection. You must look for the highest amount of silamaryn which is the active ingredient and remember you can not use it as a tea as it is not soluable in water. It will definately do you some good, I would start with a high dosage for about the first 2 weeks then taper off to a regular daily dosage.
Not to be a salesman but I was where you were on the info level so you might want to check out my classified as well...Michael