Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

MILK THISTLE (SILYMARIN) THE LIVER POTION

Hello there i just wanted to know if the herb silymarin (milk thistle) is as benifical to the liver as i`ve heard. Has anyone any positive or negative experiences. Would appreciate any feedback
Many Thanks
9 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Ive been taking it forever..4 times a day..as far as I'm concerned its worthless..meds are the only thing that works
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Totally agree if you want to cure hep c get treated with one on the new meds.

No evidence to support herbal cure of hep c. Just a way to throw away your money.
Avatar universal
in 1984 was given a blood transfusion and a dose of hep c.. wasn't diagnosed til 1992.my chinese medicine practicioner started treating my immune system and liver-  was feeling better.had to move to another state.
within days met an american indian healer.we discussed the hep c.
he suggested a treatment involving milk thistle seeds.a very specific treatment.
supplements do not have the same effect(processed and sometimes heated and treated with other chemicals) as using the real thing in its natural form.
so it was

1-fresh certified "cut and sifted milk thistle seeds.
  a heaping teaspoon in a mug add boiling water and cover so the oils and steam do not escape/
. sip the liquid over a period of time.also drink at least a liter of water.
2 do this 5 days and rest for 2
3 do not eat alot of iron. including not cooking in cats iron pans.eatting iron rich vegetables etc.
3this is not a fast cure.your liver did not et damaged overnight and it will take time to repair it.
4avoid alcohol.streetdrugs etc.everything passes thru your liver.


now my personal experience.
i started drinking the tea(carried it with me if i was going out early in the day)cut out high iron foods and cooking habits.started drink large quantities of water.

at the same time i was getting regularly tested every month to monitor my viral levels,cholestorol and general liver function.
within 4 days i passed a liver fluke.within 6 months my cholestrol levels were perfect and viral numbers decreasing.
had to move again and didn't have access to regular testing.continued the seeds for a total of 4 years than reduced to once or twice a week.(should be noted i also do a few other botaniclas that boost the immune system  1-2 times a week)
5 years after the begining of treatment i had the oppurtunity to get tested.the ama doctor got all excited ordered my medical records and did the tests.
4 days later she called me and wanted to know why i lied about having hep c.told her i had not and if she looked at the records for 3 other ama doctors she would know that.
told me i had no viral load ,no damage and my cholesterol levels were perfect> bad and good.again accused me of lying and wasting resources.
told her no i used a medicine called silymarin/most liver specialists can explain what it is.she sputtered and i informed her that milk thistle seeds are the natural unsynthesized for of silymarin and that was the treatment i used.she hung up on me.
2 years later i had my self tested again.same results.
i have not been sick in anyway, no colds flus,in 25 years.
draw your own conclusions.north american indians have been using milk thistle seeds for liver health for thousands of years.they also are where the white europeans got aspirin from.white willow bark was being harvested from trees and a man in the frontier asked what it was for the indians showed him that it was a very effective pain killer.if i remember right the information was taken back to germany to what we now know as the bayer pharmacutical company.
>note:dandelion root is also a effective liver health medicine but must be approached much more carefully than the seeds.
see.DR James duke farmacology works.
not advocating  any of this to anyone.this is my experience.we also keep some seeds with  us incase the hunting dogs eat deathcap mushrooms by mistake.
now if the local coal burning power plant could be decomissioned i would have no problems
good health to all
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry ,i was just scanning and read your comment about milk thistle. Don't know about that, but I did read that Dandelion greens are known to help reverse the damage from liver disease. They are full of all sorts of beneficial stuff and we go around spraying them with stuff to kill them. Something to look into anyway.
         campergirl
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi missey,
my dr. just shrugged and said to be careful of anything i put in my system while on treatment. i read some comments and decided not to till after treatment. i read where it helps raise alt but it is sure not a cure for hep c. i do not want any drugs interfering with the peg. good luck. many of us are getting the magic undecctable and you can also.
bobby
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, ITS GREAT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP  AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
At Costco you can get a box of Sam-E, 90 tablets (200 mg), price varies.  It suggests starting with 400 mg daily 30 minutes before a meal.

Pirate.
Helpful - 0
29837 tn?1414534648
If you read my post further down, you'll see that the doctor insists I stay on Sam-E and Milk Thistle. I've been on both for two years now while off treatment and am steady, not progressing.

You can get Sam-E on sale 2 for 1 ($39.99 - Double Strength) at least once a month at drug stores running the special, like Walgreen's, Rite-Aid, Sav-On and such. Get the Nature Made brand. Get the double strength, that way you only have to take one pill every morning. It comes in 36 pills per box. At 2 for 1, you get 72 pills, which will last you almost three months.

Also, I buy my Milk Thistle at Wal-Mart. They have the best price for the 1200mg daily (what I take). Get the Rexal brand. The doctor absolutely thinks this has helped me stay steady and not progressing inbetween treatments. Obviously, don't drink!

Good luck...

Magnum
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I started treatment VERY shortly after being dianosed and was advised not to take it while on Interferon/Riba tx. so I haven't taken it.

However if I was not treating I would probably be taking it with my regimen of other vitamins and minerals.

Someone with more experience will be on I am sure to let you know if it has made any significant definitive progress for sure of if it's all supposition and hoping or not.

I don't know. Sorry!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I took milk thistle prior to Tx, and for several months before being diagnosed with HCV. Initially my general practitioner thought my elevated ALT and AST counts were due to the introduction of Avandia to my diabetic med regimen and had me take milk thistle to bring those levels down. They did come down for a couple months but rose again. Referred to a gastroenterologist after my HCV diagnosis in March, I was then told that I could continue with milk thistle before I started Tx in July but should stop it at that point because it somehow challenges the liver's ability to process iron. He said this was not something he wanted going on while I was doing Peg and Riba.

Overall I got the sense that my gastro doesn't feel strongly one way or another about milk thistle products though my regular doc, who is a holistically-leaning D.O., was more passionate about it's benefits. My D.O. believes it to be an effective cleansing agent but stressed that all milk thistle products are not the same. I was shown some of his herbal drug physicians' desk references books which revealed that the type, potency, bioavailability, freshness and price of most herbal preparations, including milk thistle, varies widely. I do know a couple genotype 1a relapsers who take it regularly, after relapse, with no measurable negative effects.

I think it boils down to finding trustworthy professionals to deal with, educating yourself, and making mindful decisions as a team. Hope whatever you choose serves you well!     - Lee
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.