Milk Thistle and Accutane.

[TJU]

The subject of milk thistle ( from Amy ) came up in an earlier thread, as an
adjunct to Accutane treatment.

One of the big bogies concerning Accutane is the possible liver damage it
may cause if not properly monitored.
One thing you don't want to mess up is your liver, believe me!
Of all the known side effects of accutane, liver damage causes the most
concern, as all the other effects, such as dry eyes, lips, joint pain etc,
will disappear after the course has finished.

Hopefully, after a successful course, everything returns to normal and you
have beautifully clear skin.
That's not always the case, of course, so it makes sense to protect yourself
from the worst effects of the treatment.

Milk Thistle is derived from the thistle head, somewhat like tree sap, so
it's more accurately Thistle Milk... It has been very well researched and
has been proven to protect and repair the liver. Test mice who had half the
liver removed, re-grew the liver with milk thistle therapy.

Its been used for years in continental Europe to help with binge drinking
and treating alcoholics.

On an accutane course, you should be monitored for liver functions, with
full LFT's ( liver function tests) and Cholesterol levels. The first test
should be prior to starting, to establish your base line and to make sure
that you don't have a hidden liver condition. The second is usually at two
months, for comparison and evaluation. If you are too far over in either LFT
or Cholesterol levels, you may be taken off the course.

To assist you through these tests, ( a nerve racking experience when you're
half-way there...) it is very useful to take milk thistle and lecithin
granules daily.

MT is available OTC at any health food shop as is lecithin granules. The
lecithin emulsifies blood fats to lower cholesterol levels and can be eaten
raw, straight off the spoon or sprinkled on cereal etc.. ( tastes a bit like
soap, but not too unpleasant. The milk thistle is in powdered, capsule form,
similar to B5, or is available as a tincture, taken in water and is
sometimes combined with artichoke, which has a similar effect.

In short :-) , Accutane = milk thistle plus lecithin.