Should it be with or without food? Separate from meds and other supplements?
And should I split up the dose, or take a large dose at once?
I'm currently taking one a day, but will increase to 3.
[ 27. December 2006, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Aniek ]
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hey A...
I take the extract.. MUCH easier than swallowing MORE pills. I drop it in my drink cup.. any time of day.. with or without food.. and have never had a problem.
The ONLY problem I had was doing too much too fast. Directions called for 20 drops a day. I started at 10. WRONG MOVE!!! Felt like dirt!
I was told to back off to ONE drop a day and work up slowly. I did. It took just over a year before I could do the full dose.
Remember this is cleaning your liver.. and kicking up junk.. which then hits your blood stram.. causing a freak out of the immune system. So do go slowly.
I don't have anything "official".. but I've not noticed any problems with taking it with other things. And I always take meds after I eat. Our tummys aren't doing the "normal" thing with all these meds and it isn't worth it to make things worse by messing up the stomach.
Hopefully others will have a more "official" version?
Good luck!
Posted by breezywings (Member # 9222) on :
I just wanted to add that there has been some information that I have read and verified with both my Naturpath Pharm and my regular Pharm about Milk Thistle being taken with benzos. They can reduce the efficacy of the benzo.
They should be at least 2 hours away. I space them three hours away.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
I was taking one pill each day milk thistle, after breakfast.
Never had any problems with it that way, though I was taking a fairly 'easy' abx, amoxy. So, perhaps it depends on the abx you are taking? Always best to ask your llmd!
My understanding is that milk thistle, like many herbs, should not be taken non-stop for very long lengths of time. That is, take a break from it after a month or two of taking it. This might be a good question to ask buhner on his new Q&A column on herbs, which folks have posted about a couple of times.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Thank you all for the replies. I'm actually on an abx break for at least 2 weeks, which will probably last longer. My GI system was not happy, and my LLMD decided I needed a break.
So my meds are all non-abx, and lots of vits, mins and amino acids.
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
what is a benzo?
Posted by breezywings (Member # 9222) on :
Benzodiazapenes. (sp?) such as ativan, valium, et. al.
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
I have been taking Milk Thistle, three times a day, for at least 10 months straight now, except for one three day break of all herbs last summer. In addition, I also take Red Root tincture three times a day also. AND 4 capsules, three times a day of Sarsaparilla.
I had a liver test at my ducks, as he was worried that my liver might be bad taking so many herbs for so long. My liver checked out perfect.
Jim. ###
[ 01. January 2007, 01:47 AM: Message edited by: JimBoB ]
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Aniek: Have you tried herbs? They do not destroy your stomach like the abx do. Also, IF you are having stomach problems, try C-Salts from nutri.com. They cured me.
Jim. Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
JimBob,
My stomach actually got really bad when I added herbs in. Both Burbur and Cumanda.
I have personally made the decision to use abx to fight Lyme. I feel more comfortable with that route, using herbs to supplement.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I have not been taking milk thistle regularly, but I know I probably should.
What I did notice is that one hour after I take it, I get a little pain just below my ribcage on the right side.
I think this may be a little spasm of the gall bladder. This sensation is always in the same spot.
From what I've read, the milk thistle causes the gall bladder to release more bile into the intestines.
In addition to the stuff that saponifies fats, or breaks them into tiny globules that can be absorbed through the intestinal walls, the bile contains the junk that the liver has detoxed.
This eventually exits the body in the bowel movements.
Carol
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Carol,
That's interesting. I've been having pain in the gallbladder area the last week or so. Nothing intense, just a noticeable slight ache.
I've been concerned because I had this in the past and we thought it was my pancreas. All the gallbladder tests were negative.
But maybe this is actually a sign the milk thistle is working? I know milk thistle is supposed to be good for the gallbladder.
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