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Milk Thistle and Alpha Lipoic Acid

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Posted 10/3/2011 7:39 PM (GMT -5)
I've been herxing for about 4 days so my LLMD thinks I need to detox my liver with milk thistle and alpha lipoic acid. Can I expect a herx with either one of these? I should know by now that anything can cause a herx, but I've read that milk thistle is good to take while herxing. It's all getting incredibly confusing to me!
Posted 10/3/2011 8:42 PM (GMT -5)
I don't believe the supplements will make you herx. They should lessen the herx because they are helping your liver and blood get rid of the toxins. I take both of them and never had a problem with either.
Posted 10/3/2011 8:59 PM (GMT -5)
excellent!
Posted 10/4/2011 11:04 AM (GMT -5)
Please do introduce them into your routine at a slow rate though!! I did herx pretty bad when I tried to use Milk Thistle.
Posted 10/4/2011 7:41 PM (GMT -5)
When I was detoxing liver was told to use milk thistle and dandelion root powder.  Researched and found if allergic to rag week, whick I am, do not use milk thistle.  I used dandelion root powder and it seemed to help.  Linda
Posted 1/29/2013 10:27 PM (GMT -5)
I know this is an old post...
but OH MY GOODNESS...
my head and body feel like I have been hit by a mack truck after taking the milk thistle!

That's what I'm thinking did it anyway....
it's the only new thing I have added and not long after taking it...my HEAD is killing me, and my body is hurting much much worse.!??

Not fun at all.
Posted 1/30/2013 12:14 AM (GMT -5)
yogilyme and mcs,

ALA can most definitely cause herx! It detoxes mercury from the tissues and the brain!

(I am kind of shocked that this isn't widely understood in LLD world..or seems like it, anyway.)

I had a similar experience with ALA and my doc lowered dose and got me on more detox stuff.

It is a chelating agent used to detox heavy metals.

Milk thistle does something quite different. It supports the liver, so it should HELP with herx/detox.

I would slow down or stop the ALA and talk to you doc about how to support the detoxing it causes

Likely the doc gave you the milk thistle to help with the detoxing of mercury from the ALA.

Here is a link I just googled that helps explain: http://immortalhair.forumandco.com/t4016-alpha-lipoic-acid-all-that-is-needed-for-detox.


good luck!
N
Posted 1/30/2013 12:50 AM (GMT -5)
yogilymie,

I want to affirm everything that Nan has just said.

Andrew Cutler PHD is perhaps the major proponent of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) for heavy metal chelation. However, he stresses the necessity of exercising extreme care as to dosages and the proper dosaging schedule. According to him, failure to do so can make some people VERY SICK. He claims that unless a person takes a dose every 3-4 hours then the low blood saturation level permits mercury and other metals to be reabsorbed in places such as the brain. He claims that 1 or 2 doses a day can make some people very very sick, while others will not notice any negative effects. I have purchased and read his book.

I don't necessarily agree with him that ALA is the only proper method of heavy metal chelation, but if the major proponent of that method issues cautions, then I would take heed.

Don
Posted 1/30/2013 8:51 AM (GMT -5)
Sounds like you have to be really careful if you take ALA and thyroid medication. Just mentioning because lots of Lyme folks (me included) take Levothyroxin:

http://www.nativeremedies.com/articles/alpha-lipoic-acid-and-thyroid-function.html
Posted 8/12/2015 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Heather's Dad, so for the ALA you would need to take it every 3-4 hours? I was just prescribed this today by my LLND and told to take 1 pill twice a day. I'm not even sure what this is for or if necessary... I posted a thread on here a bit ago asking about ALA R+ SAP. Not sure I wanna take it.
Posted 8/12/2015 1:40 PM (GMT -5)
ALA is a precursor to Glutithione. The body turns ALA into Glutithione - a "master" detoxifier in the body, according to Dr. Horowitz. I still use it, even though I've healed from these infections.
Posted 8/12/2015 1:45 PM (GMT -5)
Traveler, is it safe? On the bottle it says to consult with your doctor if taking beyond 3 months - I wonder why?

It seems from this thread it can cause a herx? Surely hope not, have a herx going on already from starting the samento and banderol. How often do you take it a day Traveler?
Posted 8/12/2015 2:12 PM (GMT -5)
I take it twice a day, and I've taken it for the last 2 years. But I've done a lot of things that others don't. I think we need a high level of antioxidants taken while we are trying to heal these infections.

I know that for a "healthy" person, a high level of antioxidants isn't good (but I can't remember specifically what happens), but we aren't "healthy" - we have serious infections that do a lot of cellular damage to our bodies.
Posted 8/12/2015 3:32 PM (GMT -5)
ALA is also good for healing nerves.
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