Can Milk Thistle Help With HIV

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Articles

Milk Thistle May Help Improve Liver Health in People With HIV and Hepatitis C

Those co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) can face significant challenges with sustaining their liver health. This is due to how the two viruses affect the liver over time as well as the ongoing side effects from taking drugs that treat the... Read more »

Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange

Herbal Therapies Used by People Living With HIV: Milk Thistle

Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) is a plant native to Europe. For hundreds of years, European herbalists observed that it helped reverse the jaundice that often signals liver damage. Today, milk thistle is sometimes used in the management of... Read more »

Silymarin (Milk Thistle)

What Is Silymarin? What Are the Benefits of Silymarin? Why Do People With HIV Use Silymarin? How Is Silymarin Used? What Are the Side Effects? How Does It Interact With Other Therapies? How Do We Know It Works? The Bottom Line ... Read more »

Ask the Experts

Milk thistle (Silymarin) and HIV meds

Im on PEP - Is milk thistle good or bad for a regime of AZT+3TC and Indinavir.. Thought taking it would help me protect my liver...thanks...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Although there has been alot of interest in the possible benefit of milk thistle in the setting of HIV or hepatitis C there is no good data suggesting that it is useful to prevent side effects of HIV meds. A 4 week course of your HIV meds usually is... Read more »

Milk thistle or other liver detox with HIV meds?

I have recently been told that my liver is a little high, i think the enzymes or some other count, and I mentioned to my new dr here in Palm Springs that when I was in Austin TX before moving here, my Dr there wanted to take a liver biopsy as my...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

There is no data based on a well done study showing that milk thistle is effective and safe to use for liver related problems seen in the setting of treated HIV infection. There are anecdotal reports of benefit and some of my patients have taken it... Read more »

milk thistle.

Dear dr Young, I will not promise that I will never bother you anymore in the future, but please just one question more. I do spread your answers around my HIV supporting group overhere in Amsterdam. We did discuss milk thistle as a supplement to...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Hello Roy and good to hear back from you.There's some literature about possible benefits of milk thistle on the liver, but not enough for me to endorse it's use. At the very least, if you choose to use the supplement, be sure to let your... Read more »

Is Milk Thistle Safe to Take with HAART?

I have heard of Milk Thistle's helpful effect on the liver and I am wondering if it's safe to take with HAART? Are there any contraindications? If not, do any of the experts recommend a dosage of Milk Thistle? Many Thanks!...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

According to several sources I reviewed, milk thistle is believed to be quite safe though some get diarrhea (which could theoretically decrease absorption of your HIV meds). A typical dose is 420 mg silymarin per day from herbal extract= 70-80%... Read more »

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Connect With Others

breast milk remedy

Posted by kenya, 1 Reply

guys, i was having this wild idea. if continous exposure of breastmilk to a baby can cause hiv; what if, you are hiv+ and take breast milk-meaning exposure in low doses. wouldnt that help develop an individuals immunity? reactions!!! Read more »

any babies infected by breast milk?

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Would someone know how many if any babies hiv infected by breast milk?

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Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Can I get HIV from milk? I read I can in People magazine.

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