Anyone use Milk Thistle?

I used it right after I stopped chemo. I used it in conjunction with Alpha Lipoic Acid to help detox my liver. I did wait until after chemo ended, though. I think you have to realize that for the most part, asking oncs about nutrition is like, well....I cannot think of some great explanation, but it is like switching to a forgein language mid sentence. They are, for the most part clueless and most of them do not adhere to a nutritional philosophy. The only supplement which my onc readily adeared to during chemo was B6 for neuropathy...I was happy for that because it worked. I did not research Milk Thistle while on chemo, so I cannot give you a good answer. My health food store guy was very cautious and protective; but the moment I stopped, i was up there and we started cleaning out my system. To be honest, I have read that the mushroom supplements are okay during chemo...I was pretty scared to mix stuff, though, so I waited. Is Mark ready to come off chemo? There are lots of dietary changes which you can make that would help him gain his strength and help with intestinal and gastric distress from the chemicals...Hang in there and ll the best to you - Maura

musiclover said:

Did it work? Mark is between chemo's. He's starting again next week. I wonder if it would do any good for him during this break.

Here's the deal. Describing it as "working" is somewhat hard for me to do as I don't know how Mark is feeling, how sick he is and how quickly you or he is looking for a response. I used it with other foods and supplements to help clean out my liver. My enzymes were raised and I could tell from my bloodwork. It took a good month or two for my liver enzymes to come back into range and show in my bloodwork and I am sure much longer to clean out my system. i guess what I am saying is that it is a proven detoxifying agent taken by loads of peole who are not on chemo...But I do not know the whole picture, so I will say this: In the Quillin book, it is listed as a dextoxer - but it does not mention taking it while on chemo. I would hesitate, or find more info. He does speak of the Maitake Mushroom supplement as being complimentary - not a detoxer, but helping the immune system and helping with chemo side effects. I am not a practitioner, and since Mark is so close to chemo again, I would stick to strengthening his system. A one week turn-around is something I am not comfortable saying to you. But, are you/he juicing? There are some veggies that are really good for the liver...I would also check in the back of Quillin's book and look through the list of Doctor's using nutrition as part of their practice...Someone could be closeby...

spongebob said:

My thought on asking some (not all, mind you) doctors about naturopathic or holistic (read as "other than pharmacologic/radiologic") treatments is sort of like walking into a Mercedes Benz dealership and asking about the benefits of buying a Yugo.

Just my 2-cents-worth...

Please don't think I am comparing non-western medicine to a Yugo - I, personally, believe in it. I was just trying to draw a sharp contrast for the purposes of my metaphore.

spongebob said:

OK... I know... technically, I used a similie and not a metaphore. What-EVER...

I'll shut up now.

What's wrong with Yugos?

2bhealed said:

I totally knew where you were coming from! haha!

I always say you wouldn't take your car to the plumbers to get fixed. You don't go to your doctor about nutrition. It's just that plain and simple. they don't study it and they don't practice it and many don't even believe in its benefits.

But you could have said going into a Mercedes-Benz dealership and asking about the benefits of buying a.....say.....Austin Healy Bug-eyed Sprite. haha but a yugo?? haha how 'bout Pacer? Or a Gremlin.....oh whatever!

And SB, I did NOT eat tofurkey this week!

peace, emily who DID use Milk thistle and still does (it's in my green powder that I put in my carrot juice)

So, did you use milk thistle when you made the gravy that soaked your stuffing and mashed 'taters?

Hey,Rodney... sorry for the shot about Yugos, I forgot you have a classic one!

pink05 said:

I know many people (including my dad) who take milk thistle while on chemo. I don't think that it interferes with the chemo. I wouldn't worry about whether or not Mark's onc said that it doesn't work, as long as he said it is okay to take while on chemo. My dad's onc said that the supplements I asked him about don't work, but that he could take them and they wouldn't interfere with the chemo.

-Lee-

Great to know!! It is good stuff; so glad to hear in does not interfere!!