Herbal Supplements???

[Bajanne]

My sister (who lives in the US) just sent me a set of herbal supplements. She is very much a vitamin and herbal supplement person.  When I was diagnosed with cancer in 93, she told my sister there to get me Vitamins A, C and E, which I took conscientiously before, during and after my cancer treatment.  I really feel that they aided in my very quick recovery.   Now she has sent me this set, but I am unsure whether I should take them.  Does anyone take any of these, or know anything about them?
Enhanced Oral Chelation (her note is that it cleans the blood)
Milk Thistle - liver function
Hawthorn - cardiovascular functiion
Buchu - kidney concerns

And if any of you do take supplements, please share with us what you take.

[LifeOnHold]

You shouldn't take any herbal supplements until you talk to your nephrologist and dietician about them-- many herbs are cleared from the body through the kidneys, and when you don't have good kidney function, herbs can build up in your blood to toxic levels.

In the US a few years ago there was a big alert in the dialysis units, with warnings sent out for patients to avoid star fruit, because dialysis patients had died from eating it... many fruits, vegetables and supplements contain high levels of potassium that can cause heart problems in dialysis patients, so it's best to ask your doctor and dietician about it.

[Rerun]

My Nephrologist even took me off a multi-vitamin and put me on a special vitamin called Nephrocaps.  She told me the same thing that these minerals can build up in the blood.

[toad]

my doctor put me on replovite as a multi-vitamin

[susie q]

I take replavite and rocalcitrol for my vitamins.. Dr. advised against herbal stuff, not that I would anyway... I hate taking pills... yick.

[toad]

i also take rolcatrol...u know that is also for your para tyroid

[Jamie]

I was told by the nurse's at my renal unit that herbal supplements and things like that are not good for poeple that are on dialysis. Even things like green tea could hurt a person on dialysis?
  At least this is what has been told to me in the teach in I went too.....Jamie-G.

www.jamiegmagic.com

[LifeOnHold]

Most things that are good for 'healthy' people are no good for dialysis patients... we have to live life upside-down   


The renal diet sounds like a little kid's dream come true-- no vegetables, but eat all the candy you want   

[Jamie]

Dear fellow renal readers,


 I have a very hard time with the diet I think it suck big time.....Jamie-G

[Panda_9]

Herbs that claim to be good for the kidneys are probly the ones we should least avoid. If your kidneys dont work, then what good are some kidney herbs going to do. My doctor also warned me against herbal meds, especially echinacea after I had a transplant. I think you would be best just sticking to whatever vitamins and minerals they prescribe for you.