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Milk thistle and Hepatitis
I have recently started to take Milk Thistle tincture to see if it will help with Hepatitis C, which I have had for the last 20 years. However, I am not sure what dosage to take. I have bought tablets, seeds, and a tincture but they seem to vary widely in their strengths. I am not taking any standard treatments for my condition in case I decide to have a baby in the next year. I see my consultant every six months but would be grateful for any advice about this herb.
Although herbs are safe when used correctly, they are also extremely potent - and so with your history of Hepatitis C and wherever there is a diagnosis of any type of liver disease, I personally would feel happier taking advice from a medical herbalist who will also be able to monitor the efficacy of any herbal remedies they do prescribe.
That said, Milk Thistle, which is widely used by European herbalists to rejuvenate the liver, has no known side-effects and is one of the safest liver-protecting herbs to administer yourself according to Penny Povey, the resident medical herbalist at Farmacia.
She says that if you plan to use the seeds you have bought, you need to grind them first and take 2-4 tablespoons with your cereal each day. If you prefer to take the herb in tincture form, she suggests you buy a one in three dilution and take 20ml a week - which works out at 10 drops, three times a day.
Solgar sells a vegetarian Milk Thistle capsule - which contains 80% of the flavanoid silymarin, the active ingredient in this remedy. It has been shown to have a direct action on liver cells and as well as helping protect the liver, can also help prevent the depression that often follows hepatitis.
Povey also suggests a Chinese herb called Bupleurum or Chai Hu, which is now also available in tincture form. Frequently prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of colds and flu, it is used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve stagnation of the liver and release the trapped “chi” or life force. Chinese herbs are usually given in combinations, and so in a traditional Chinese liver tonic, Chai Hu would be one of 10 or more powdered herbs.
*Farmacia runs a mail order service on 0171-831 0830. Milk Thistle tincture costs £6 for 50ml. The new Bupleurum tincture is the same price. Add £1.50 p&p. Solgar's Milk Thistle veggie capsules cost £10.45 for 100mg tablets. Take two a day, with food. To find a medical herbalist near you, send a sae to: The National Institute of Medical Herbalists, 56, Longbrook Street, Exeter EX4 6AH.