HERBS AND HEPATITIS/LIVER DISEASE
Recent surveys have indicated that Americans now make more visits to healthcare professionals who specialize in alternative medicine than to doctors who practice conventional medicine. (Alternative medicine is any therapy used to treat an illness that is not within the realm of conventional and/or accepted medical therapies.) People with liver disease are no exception to this trend. For example, most people with chronic hepatitis C have tried (or have at least inquired about) the herb milk thistle. Well, why not? It is now commonplace to find an entire aisle at the local drugstore or even the supermarket devoted to herbal remedies, some of which claim to help protect liver cells and help support liver function. Dozens of publications and books proclaim the proficiency of herbs for the treatment of medical conditions including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other liver diseases. Some of these books have even made it to the New York Times bestseller list. On the Internet, numerous websites proclaim the effectiveness of herbs for treating liver disease. However, as you will learn, there is much more information to consider.
HOW TO EVALUATE THE RESEARCH ON HERBAL MEDICINES
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HERBAL MEDICINES
THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND EDUCATION HEALTH AND EDUCATION ACT (DSHEA) OF 1994
MILK THISTLE—THE MOST WIDELY USED HERB FOR LIVER DISEASE
OTHER HERBS USED FOR HEPATITIS AND LIVER DISEASE
All contents of this article are Copyright © Melissa Palmer, MD
Melissa Palmer, MD is the author of " Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide of Hepatitis and Liver Disease". (Published 2004. Penguin Putnam).
The offices of Melissa Palmer, M.D. are located at:
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