• Home
  • How it Works
    • Join Everyday Libations
    • Join Company's Coming
  • Still Available
    • White Wine >
      • 2014 The Winery Of Good Hope Chenin Blanc South Africa
      • 2014 Wimmer Grüner Veltliner, Austria (liter)
      • 2014 Claudie Jobard Rully Blanc Montagne La Folie France
      • 2014 Cantina del Taburno Falanghina del Sannio Italy
      • 2014 Riff Pinot Grigio Italy
      • 2015 Populis Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino County California
      • 2014 Tour de L'Isle Cotes du Rhone Blanc France
      • 2014 Domaine des Corbillieres Sauvignon Blanc Touraine France
      • 2014 Tour de L'Isle Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Blanc France
      • 2014 La Quercia Montonico Abruzzo Italy
      • 2013 Vignobles Boudinaud Viognier/Marsanne Grange des Rouquette France
      • 2014 Chateau Calabre Montravel Blanc
      • 2013 Domaine Paul Pernot Bourgogne Chardonnay France
      • 2014 Picollo Ernesto Gavi Italy
      • 2014 Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Blanc France
      • 2013 Varner Chardonnay Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block Santa Cruz Mountains California
    • Red Wine >
      • 2012 Vaza Crianza, Spain
      • 2013 The Winery Of Good Hope Shiraz Mountainside, South Africa
      • 2012 Mas des Bressades Cabernet Syrah Pays du Gard France
      • 2014 Domaine des Aspras A Lisa Vin de Pays du Var Rouge France
      • 2013 Enkidu Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County California
      • 2013 Chateau d'Or et de Gueules Costieres de Nimes Les Cimels Rouge France
      • 2012 Tour de L'Isle Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Rouge France
      • 2012 Chateau Calabre Rouge Bergerac France
      • 2009 Aurelio Settimo Langhe Nebbiolo Italy
      • 2012 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino
      • 2014 Aurelio Settimo Dolcetto d'Alba Italy
      • 2012 Andre Brunel Cotes du Rhone Rouge France
      • 2011 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Italy
    • Sparkling / Champagne >
      • NV Domaine Saint-Remy Cremant d'Alsace France
      • 2010 Domaine Sainte Barbe Cremant de Bourgogne France
      • NV Domaine d'Orfeuilles Vouvray Brut
    • Rosé >
      • 2014 Domaine Saint-Remy Rose Pinot Noir
      • 2014 Chateau d’Or et de Gueules Les Cimels Costieres de Nimes Rose
      • 2014 Domaine de Saint-Antoine Rose
      • 2014 Domaine de Fondreche Rose L'Instant Ventoux
  • Gifts
  • Wine Tidbits
  • Wine Knowledge
    • Wine Trivia
    • The Wine Wheel®
Wine Unleashed Cart

Milk Thistle – Can it help you party like it’s 1999?

9/8/2009

0 Comments

 
If you follow Jancis Robinson at all, you may have come across her thoughts on the healing wonders of Milk Thistle. On Twitter, it’s come up quite a few times as a topic of discussion so I thought I would do some more research. What could it hurt? Milk Thistle is an herbal supplement that purportedly protects and cleans your liver. Those in the wine trade should have their liver tested every year (so far so good), but I do get concerned, especially after many long wine dinners. I thought maybe I should start becoming more proactive about my liver health.

Let’s start with the facts, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.ahrq.gov/CLINIC/epcsums/milktsum.htm): “Clinical efficacy of milk thistle is not clearly established. Interpretation of the evidence is hampered by poor study methods and/or poor quality of reporting in publications.” Basically, they are saying the results are inconslusive. But, that said, I found an article where doctors from UCSF treated 3 patients who were poisoned from wild mushroom with a form of Milk Thistle. All the patients survived and did not need a liver transplant. “A German drug, silibinin, is a derivative of milk thistle given intravenously and used for mushroom poisoning, according to Olson. The drug is not available in the U.S., but UCSF doctors ordered an emergency supply for the three patients last week. Conclusive testing proving the drug's efficacy has not been done, Olson said.” For the full story read:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Death-Cap-Mushrooms-Poison-Bay-Area...

Still concerned after doing some Internet research, I phoned a few doctors and pharmacists They all concurred that the evidence is inconclusive, but one said that the side effects seem minimal. So I went down to Vitamin Express (voted Best in the Bay by SF Guardian) and spoke to Michael Le Vesque, President. He not only extolled the wonders of Milk Thistle, but also mentioned an amino acid that should also be taken with it called N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (N-A-C). Think of it as the superhero saving your liver by fighting against all things toxic. Many AIDS patients are on a regime of N-A-C since it not only keeps their liver healthy, but also enhances your immune system.

LeVesque recommended, in pill form, 350mg of Milk Thistle and 500mg of N-A-C every day with food. I figure, what can it hurt? As LeVesque said, “In the very least, it will extend your life by two years”. I’ll happily take those extra two years. But a word of caution: Don’t think you can keep drinking into the night EVERY night, and not have to pay the piper. And of course, as with any supplement, check with your doctor for drug interactions.

To order either of these, go to VitaminExpress.com. I purchased, at LeVesque’s recommendation, their private label brand Vitamin Express Milk Thistle $6.50 for 50 175mg capsules and Jarrow Formulas N-A-C, 100 500mg capsules at $15—a small price to pay for a little insurance and peace of mind.

Oh, and one other thing, one study suggested that a possible side effect is that it could reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Maybe single women should not be on a regime of Milk Thistle AND birth control pills. Could spell trouble! For everyone else… drink up and have your milk Thistle and N-A-C.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Angela Camacho, a certified sommelier and author of a best selling wine tool, The Wine Wheel®, shares her obsession with wine and food.

    Archives

    May 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    March 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007

    Categories

    All
    Books
    Education
    Entertaining
    Health
    Lifestyle
    Pairings
    Recipes
    Restaurants
    Star Wars
    Superbowl
    Travel
    Wine
    Winemaking
    Wine News
    Zero Waste

    RSS Feed

Connect with us

Phone 415 242 2030
Email: [email protected]
© 2015 Wine Unleashed
Website by Spotted Dog Graphic Design