posted
Argh -- I just got a call from my LLMD saying my liver function tests showed elevated AST and ALT (liver enzymes). My AST is 61 (normal is up to 37) and my ALT is 97 (normal is up to 40). Yikes!!
She thinks it might be Cipro, which I actually stopped a couple of days before the test because I was switching to Rifampin and Tetracycline. However, I'm also taking a bunch of the Buhner and Cowden herbs.
Does anyone know which herbs have potential liver toxicity?? And which of the antibiotics are the worst for the liver??
This is really a drag -- Cipro was really helping me and the reason I stopped was that the tendon pain got worse again after initially getting better with added magnesium.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Normally if you stop antibiotics and stuff for a few days you will see improvement in liver tests. Be sure not to be discouraged that Cipro is out.. just may need to cleanse or give it a rest and re-start.
posted
I do know one of the Cowden herbs can cause elevated liver enzymes but so can other things. I can't remember what herb can right now, brain fog today. Lyme and/or coinfections can cause elevated liver enzymes also.
Do you take Milk Thistle? My son's enzymes were elevated. He was taking milk thistle but added Zhang's Hepa F. No.2 Capsules and his enzymes were back to normal in 1 month. It is pricey but well worth it.
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
My liver enzymes went up after only like 4 infusions of Rocephin. I forget what the exact numbers were, but each of them was several hundred.
I have trouble with goldenseal - that one turns my stools light, and that's been a pretty good gauge of my liver function - if my stools are light, my liver is overloaded.
I think my problems are very much yeast-related, and exposure to electromagnetic/RF fields causes yeast to grow faster than my immune system can keep up.
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posted
Start taking Milk Thistle
Posts: 355 | From NY | Registered: Jan 2006
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
A supplement that's also good for Liver Support is called Liv52 by Himalaya (cheap at vitacost.com)
I've used it all along and have no Liver issues. I also take Fluconzole almost daily with no liver issues. This stuff is great
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Many herbs can affect liver function. Herbs are DRUGS!!!!
Herbs that can be VERY BAD for liver-
chaparral, germander, kava kava, pennyroyal oil, and plants that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Also one traditionally believed to be beneficial for hte liver has been linked to acute hepatitis-Xiao-chai-hu-tang. SO has black cohosh.
Here- others, too- 1: Z Gastroenterol. 2001 Mar;39(3):225-32, 234-7.
Liver toxicity of drugs of plant origin
Stickel F, Seitz HK, Hahn EG, Schuppan D. Medizinische Klinik I mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universit�t Erlangen-N�rnberg.
Herbal drugs are widely used and often contain highly active pharmacological compounds. Recently, reports have mounted about hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies which ranges from mild liver enzyme alterations to chronic liver disease and liver failure. Hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbs has been recognized, e.g. during treatment of patients with atopic eczema. However, the toxic compounds remain to be determined. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease may result from pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are contained in numerous plants worldwide. Teucrium chamaedrys, commonly referred to as
germander,
may cause hepatitis and even liver cirrhosis. Significant hepatotoxicity has also been observed after the ingestion of
chaparral.
Recently,
greater celandine,
which is widely used for biliary disorders and dyspepsia, was identified as a cause of cholestatic hepatitis.
Hepatotoxic reactions have also been observed after the ingestion of
Atractylis gummifera, Callilepsis laureola, Senna, Kavapyrone and Pulegium.
The aim of this review is to summarize potentially hepatotoxic herbal remedies, to further elucidate their mechanisms of toxicity and thereby underline the likelihood of plants to be the cause of liver damage.
PMID: 11324140
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
1: Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Dec;95(12):3634-7. Links Cascara sagrada-induced intrahepatic cholestasis causing portal hypertension: case report and review of herbal hepatotoxicity.Nadir A, Reddy D, Van Thiel DH. Division of Gastroenterology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, USA.
Herbal medicines are gaining widespread popularity. Much of the public believes that botanical herbs are both harmless and useful for the treatment of a variety of symptoms. This belief stands in contrast with the fact that many herbal therapies have been shown to be toxic. In the present case report, cascara sagrada (CS) has been associated with the development of cholestatic hepatitis, complicated by portal hypertension. CS is a mixture of ingredients, among which is anthracene glycoside--an herbal agent that previously has been associated with chronic hepatitis. The liver injury in the case herein reported is believed to be related to either anthracene glycoside or one of the other constituents of CS.
PMID: 11151906 1: Presse Med. 1994 Apr 16;23(15):691-3.Links [Liver involvement in the course of phytotherapy][Article in French]
Larrey D. The development of herbal medicine has follow in line with increased popular interest in ecology. Emphasis has been placed on the safety of natural herbs in contrast with the risks involved with "classical" medicines. But recent publications have revealed that several herbal medicines are toxic for the liver. For example, in France we have observed cases of hepatitis after ingestion of germander (Teucrium chamaedrys). Clinicians should also be aware of other well documented toxic effects of herbs used in popular medicines in Africa, Asia or Central America. The toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids was recognized over 40 years ago. More than 300 plant species, including Heliotropium, Crotalaria, Senecio and Symphytum, are implicated. In Africa or Central America, intoxication is sometimes endemic since these plants are often used for making tea. In Western countries, cases of herb-induced hepatitis have been observed after use of preparations containing Symphytum or Chinese herbs. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause obstruction of the hepatic venous system and can lead to hepatonecrosis. Clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, ascitis, hepatomegaly and raised serum transaminase levels. Prognosis is often poor with death rates of 20 to 30% being reported. Atractylis gummifera is another example of herbal toxicity. Twenty-six species of this plant are used for medicinal purposes or for chewing gum. Intoxication usually occurs in the spring and is related to chewing the roots of these plants. Severe hepatocellular lysis may occur less than 24 hours after ingestion. Clinical manifestations are related to the induced hypoglycemia and neurovegetative disorders or subsequent renal failure. These compounds have an inhibitor effect on the Krebs cycle and can lead to severe or fatal liver failure. Other similar cases of fatal liver accidents have been reported after ingesting Callilepis laureola, a herb used by the Zoulous in Natal for medicinal purposes or after use of products containing extracts of Teucrium chamaedrys, which was nevertheless authorized in France in 1986 for use in preparations for weight loss. These examples emphasize the importance of remembering that herbal medicine is not harmless. Faced with the extensive distribution of many herbal preparations and the risk of self-medication, consumers and clinicians alike should be increasingly vigilant with these potentially hepatotoxic products.
PMID: 8072973
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
One son is on the full Cowden protocol and during month 2 his liver enzymes were elevated. Same thing happened to a friend's daughter while on the same protocol, so they both have added milk thistle and the numbers went back in the normal range within two weeks.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Thanks so much everyone -- this is very helpful. I do take milk thistle daily, but I'm going to increase my dose. I also added yellow dock for liver support and will look into the other supplements suggested.
I do worry about fatty liver too. Are there any useful liver cleanses that help bring down the liver enzymes?
I am not taking any herbs that are obvious culprits, but I'm guessing many of them have not been tested for hepatoxicity, so I'm going to be more careful.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
My other son's llmd has recommended Hepatica by Nestmann.......a german product.
It tastes terrible!
He is using this while doing some detox of metals.
posted
my liver enzymes last week came back elevated too....
I upped my Milk Thistle dose...
(ultra Thistle by Natural wellness is great- it's 10x more absorbable than other Milk thistle... ultrathistle.com - I'm not related, just a happy customer)
began liver detox in the morning-
lemon juice, olive oil & garlic blended-
(can google for more info)
and followed with Dandelion tea
(or Daily Detox tea by wellements is GREAT too-
all organic- dandelion, burdock root, red clover, alfalfa , chamomile, licorice, slipperry elm, hibiscus, rosehips and decaffinated green tea--!!)
I also got more serious about my castor oil packs-
you just need castor oil, a hot water bottle, and a pillow case & towel you don't care about....
gernerously apply castor oil over liver area and around...put some on the pillow case area & place over your stomach...
wrap a bath towel over the hot water bottle, to tollerated heat level...
beware that the castor oil will stain your couch or other things....
it can get messy-- but once you figure it out...it's simple, easy, and relaxing...
(you can google castor oil packs too - theres lots of ways people do them...)
epsom salt baths every night...and really let yourself sweat.....(sip electrolytes , you replensih while you sweat- so you don't feel all weak afterwards)
these things took my liver pain away and I don't feel all 'TOXIC' ....
really helped me....
best of health~ love & hugs~
Fawne
-------------------- Energy flows where attention goes~ Posts: 302 | From Kauai | Registered: May 2007
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