Yes, thanks. But the OP was about "natural" treatments for ET. Just clarifying that neither Dr Berg's supplements nor dietary changes will address the underlying mutation that causes abnormal platelets to proliferate.

There is certainly a nutrition component to ET that conventional docs don't pay attention to. Lowering overall stroke risks with heart healthy diets is one area where doctors should advise ET patients. Another is in the area of anti-inflammatory diets, which may help with symptom burdens of ET. This diet is now being studied by the MPN Quality of Life group to see if benefits can be quantified. It's basically a Mediterranean diet and healthy for most people.

Again, diets may have benefits for ET patients, but they will not address the mutation or control platelet proliferation.

I have talked with patients who claimed to be able to control platelets with various natural treatments. They think they have success if their platelets drop by 10 or 20 points in a month. What new patients don't understand is that your platelets can vary by 75 to 100 points from test to test. I run between 420 and 510 on my current HU dose and have done for the last five years. That is considered stable by the hemo.

I feel bad when I see fearful people wasting energy trying to treat themselves because they are needlessly frightened of HU. A few months on a low dose of hydroxyurea is not going to cause any lasting effects, risks, or disfigurement. If a patient can't stand it, they can quit. Ironically, many people (me included) feel BETTER on HU. To just reject it out of turn because it's "chemo" is not logical.