posted
I am bedridden/homebound (lyme, babesia duncani, and severe CFS/FM).
My LLMD has been having me do castor oil packs 3x weekly to help with liver. He has not yet mentioned milk thistle, but I read it helps the liver.
Hubby bought some milk thistle for me, but he had no clue what mgs to buy so he bought the highest one, 1000mg. Is that amount too high?? Any suggestions?? Thanks for any help:)
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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In the past hubby has taken 500 mg milk thistle 2 or 3 times daily. He is currently taking a different brand (Thisilyn by Nature's Way) which is supposed to be more potent -- only takes 175 mg 3 times daily.
Herbalist suggested hubby buy milk thistle seeds in bulk and grind with a coffee grinder and sprinkle 1 teaspoon over food 2 or 3 times daily. Will be switching to this method soon to save money.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Thanks Bea, good to know a frame of reference about it, whew!
I have also seen something called Liv52 mentioned, but don't know anything about it yet.
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
WHAT IT DOES: Milk thistle seed is sweet in taste and cooling in action. It strongly protects, repairs and nourishes the liver, stomach and intestines.
RATING: Silver
SAFETY ISSUES: Milk thistle may speed clearance of pharmaceutical drugs. Use cautiously (consult your physician) if taking drugs which require adequate blood levels, such as cardiac glycosides or cyclosporine.
STARTING DOSAGE:
* Concentrated standardized silymarin capsules (70-210 mg): one to two pills, two to three times per day
* 1:5 Tincture: 20-40 drops three times per day
Milk thistle is a true liver tonic, useful for treating numerous liver and gall bladder conditions including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Milk thistle seeds are especially useful whenever chemicals, alcohol, chemotherapy, or medicines compromise the liver.
It reverses toxic liver damage and protects against hepatotoxic agents, including the deathcap toadstool. (Amanita phalloides) It is used for this purpose in European hospitals.
It also stimulates protein synthesis in the liver, helping with the formation and growth of healthy new liver cells by selectively inhibiting certain inflammatory chemicals in liver cells (Thamsborg et al., 1996).
This combination of effects means that this plant both removes inflammation and nourishes the liver tissue - in TCM terms it reduces liver heat and nourishes liver Yin. At our clinic, I like to combine milk thistle seed with dandelion root and turmeric root to create a simple yet potent liver tonic which heals, repairs, detoxifies and gently stimulates the liver.
The benefits of milk thistle and other liver agents were well known by the Eclectic physicians. Dr. Finley Elingwood's 1919 classic, American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, describes in detail how milk thistle improves "general bilious conditions" such as jaundice, hepatic pain and swelling.
The Eclectics also used it to treat congestion in the spleen, kidneys and veins. Its range of action is very wide.
posted
I had a bottle of Liv52 and hubby's herbalist thought it might be too strong for him to use.
Recently, hubby had a crisis and the herbalist was on vacation so I did use the Liv52 (1 pill twice daily) plus numerous other liver herbs to stop the vomiting and lower the bilirubin (caused by Babesia dieoff). Can't say what exactly worked, but the combo of many things had results.
I found another thread on a different forum which suggests some other things to try for liver support/toxicity.
Bea, interesting that you mention about taurine because one the tests that my LLMD recently did said I was quite low in taurine. I am thinking that might be a contributing factor to my high blood pressure! I think I will try supplementing with it and see if it improves my liver situation as well as my blood pressure:)
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