Milk Thistle May Decrease Liver Damage In Chemotherapy Patients, New Study Concludes
January 1, 2010 by Personal Liberty News Desk
According to new research, milk thistle extract may help reduce liver damage caused by certain cancer drugs.
Although the plant has been used for more than 2,000 years to treat disorders of the liver and gall bladder, the study, to be published online in the journal Cancer, is the first to test the herb’s toxicity-resistant properties among cancer patients in a placebo-controlled trial, according to MedPageToday.com.
In a study of 50 children undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, researchers found that milk thistle appeared to reduce treatment-related liver inflammation.
Researchers concluded that the study "provides preliminary evidence that milk thistle may be a safe, effective, supportive-care agent," quoted by ABCNews.com.
"[It] needs to be studied further, to see how effective it is for a longer course of treatment, and whether it works well in reducing liver inflammation in other types of cancers and with other types of chemotherapy," said lead researcher Kara Kelly. "However, our results are promising as there are no substitute medications for treating liver toxicity."
Although milk thistle is available over the counter, Kelly cautioned chemotherapy patients against using it on their own. She said that patients should absolutely consult their doctor before taking any supplements. 
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I HAVE PBC WHICH I TAKE “MILK THISTLE ” FOR AND IT IS CONTROLLING IT QUITE WELL. MY CONDITION IS AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE SETTLING IN MY LIVER AND MY DAD HAD LUPUS-AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. I TAKE THE LIQUID EXTRACT FOR MY LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND MIX IT WITH JUICE YOU LIKE TO DRINK- MILK THISTLE DOSE -1,OOO MG. AT A TIME MAYBE 2 TO 3 TIMES A DAY. AND DOESN’T BOTHER ME IN ANY OTHER WAY. LIFE LINK-TRANSPLANT ADVISES TO USE AS WELL AND I WAS TOLD 29 YRS. AGO TO USE IT BUT WITH ALL MY ALLERGIES I DIDN’T KNOW HOW IT WOULD AFFECT ME AND AM PLEASED IT IS DOING THE JOB IT WAS TO DO AND NO OTHER HARM. THOSE WITH CA. MIGHT ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE NATURAL GRAVIOLA LEAVES FROM THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST.THIS IS WHAT A DRUG CO.TRIED TO MAKE SYNTHETIC DRUG FROM-7YR.TRYING SO THEY COULD RIP PEOPLE OFF FOR HI PRICE DRUG FOR CA.BUT FROM A NATURAL THEY CAN’T MAKE SYNTHETIC SO AFTER 7YRS.TRYING-THEY LEFT THE AMAZON PLUS ALL THE MILLIONS THEY SPENT RESEARCHING HOW THO MAKE QUICK BUCKS. NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS UNTIL RECENTLY AND VERY LITTLE NEWS AT THAT.MIGHT BE WORTH INVESTIGATING.
As a physician and scientist I can tell you that most medicines that are manufactured had their origins in or are based directly from something discovered ‘in nature’ whether it was observed inside our body or outside our body – organic or inorganic.
I have beat various types of cancer twice & am now cancer free since 2003. Prayer 1st on scale of importance; 2nd Milk Thistle was part of the supplement regimen both times. I recently recommended it to a gal who was fighting Hepatitis B and she had C also. Within a month, the B [the doctor was only monitoring the B] was greatly reduced.
Milk Thistle is a safe and easy way to flush the toxins from the Liver. We take one capsule per day. I can feel the difference if after 3 days I have not taken it. I can see a difference in my gut within one to two hours after taking the Milk Thistle, thus it keeps me regular.
If the truth about laetrile (B-17) was known to more people their would be a lot less cancer hence a lot less “cut,poison.burn” meaning a lot less profit for a lot of folk. The money is in the treatment not the cure.
jclbiz
I don’t know about the milk thistle having effects on liver damage, but I do know that the sap from a milkweed plant will help dry up poison ivy!! It works very well at that!!!!
Lately I’ve been hearing about this “milk thistle” product quite a lot. For just overall preventative health and keeping our organs clean, any advice on dosage and how often to take?
Also, I can’t seem to find information on this site that offers natural or alternative stop-smoking treatments to the mainstream medical treatments (nicotine patches, etc). My 26 (+/-) year old niece has smoked since she was about 17. She made a New Year’s resolution to try and stop smoking. She does not have much money, so I offered to help with the cost of Chantix or other stop smoking treatment. I’m wondering however, if anyone knows of an alternative and more natural stop smoking product.
Thanks very much.
Fed Up Gal
My Doberman Pinscher has been on Milk Thistle for 3 years to combat the liver effects of his cancer and seizure medicine. It has kept him liver damage free for three years.
I am trying to find out how much they gave the Blind study for Milk Thistle. My grandson has ALL and is on chemo for the next 3 years. If Milk Thistle can help without killing his liver it would be a God sent.
If anyone knows the amount they gave on the study to help. I would be grateful. OR what dosage would be good for a 40 lb child.