[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  02/13/2009: Elena from Stamford, Ct: "im taking a whole body cleanse that has Milk Thistle, and I'm just finishing my first week with it. so far im very happy I have lots of energy, and I haven't been breaking out. my face is starting to clearing up... I'm taking this cleanse to test to see if i would clear my acne, because when I went to Italy for 5 weeks my acne cleared up once I got back to CT I started to breake out all over again, and I eat pretty much everything organic, I even use organic toothhpaste, organic deodorant, and organic hair and face products. I started getting acne when I was about 13 or 14 I stop taking medication when I was 20 now im 23 and still have 3rd grade acne. I have gone to many dermatologists, and have gone on accutane. I became an esthetician and I took basic herbal studies to fine a cure. once I started to change my diet it has helped but it wasn't enough im still researching but im also finding out Brewer's yeast (available at GNC) helps cure acne I haven't tryed it yet but im planing on it after my cleanse which you can get also at GNC but the web sit for it is www.vt.wbclranse.com I recommend looking online for one that cost less. all I can say is research and fine what works for you because everyone is diffrent ex. my older brother took some mediction, and once he got off the medication he was clear and never broke out again, and he has no acne scarring you can't even till he suffered from acne. my older sister started breaking out when she was 15, and now she is 27 and still on medication, and she tried getting off, because its costing alot but she breaks out. don't give up and don't pick I've been really good about not picking and I dont have acne scarring thank god!"

05/15/2012: Eve from Eugene, Or replies: "Try to use bottled water to wash your face. I have had acne in certain places but not others too and this has been my remedy."

09/15/2012: Leannienh from Windham, Nh replies: "Hi there, I am looking at your post and sympathize with your acne condition. I also am an esthetician who specializes on acne treatment for 30 years.. Although I know it is improtant to do internal cleansing and burdock root, milk thistle, red clover, and yellow dock are all good for cleansing the blood and liver (there is a good multiherbal supplement called herpanicine) I am a strong advocate for using a good probiotic and a routine of cleansing the skin and medicating the skin topically. Use distilled water to cleanse your face and use a salicylic acid cleanser. Use witch hazel with a few drops of lavendar and tea tree tree essential oils added as a toner, and then acclimate your face to topical use of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide that you leave on all day and night. Increase percentage of BP until you are able to use up to 10% BP at night every night. This will keep the follicles free and clear, Also food relationships to acne are crucial.. The androgen increasing effects of dairy, peanuts, seaweed and any seaweed derivitives, sugar, caffeine, and red dyes are to be avoided as well as hight sodium.. Drink plenty of water and take chelated zinc and vitamin A. Best wishes to you. Buy the book written by Dr. James Fulton on acne available on e-bay or amazon.. He is a brilliant dermatologist and where I got my acne training 30 years ago. Linked in has an acne specialist group available for estheticians that you could join and learn a great deal about acne treatment.... Best wishes."

09/25/2008: THealth from Los Angeles, CA replies: "Hi Erica. Good to know that your acne has cleared and you have beautiful skin . Thank you for your wonderful feedback and letting us know the root cause of acne. I would also like to try the Milk Thistle so can you please give me more input about the same. What is Milk Thistle and where do you get this. Also please let me know what liquid herbal extract you are using. I would like to try the same also. Thanks a lot. Thealth"

EC: Good info here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/silymarin/NS_patient-milkthistle

04/28/2012: 27mike from Indiana, Usa replies: "Acne's not the cause of a poor functioning liver- you got acne from what you eat and drink and when you keep on picking at it it gets worst and doesn't go away and its from not cleaning every day. Taking a shower would help and a bar of soap. Stay off all the sweets and your problem's gone."

04/10/2013: Concerned from Houston, Tx replies: "Mike/ Indiana... I think she's saying that acne is the RESULT of a poorly functioning liver. The liver is toxic and acne is a way of the body releasing those toxins. Be kind to one another. Acne is not a result of uncleanliness. My son suffers terribly with it and is VERY CLEAN... Bathing and washing/treating his face frequently. Acne jokes are NOT funny."

04/14/2013: Polly from London, England replies: "I haven't tried Milk thistle for acne but another thing you can do is remove ALL wheat from your son's diet especially wholewheat. My brother has bad acne which he has had since a lad he's 56 now and has tried this; it has worked!! It was hard for him because he was an addict. Also it gives my husband a bad temper, exhaustion and bloating. He's miles better without it. He can eat pure rye and kamut bread. So doesn't have to give bread up completely."

06/29/2012: Mel from Mount Gambier, South Australia replies: "Its good to read that milk thistle has helped you as I am currently taking it in tablet form, one a day to help reduce my fatty liver."

08/23/2011: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France: "I bought Milk Thistle Oil a while ago and forgot all about it because I read so many bad things about all vegetable oils except Olive Oil. As Milk Thistle is good for the liver what about the oil? Should I use it or not? And is it a oil one can cook with or only for salads?"

08/23/2011: Jay from Toronto, Ont, Canada replies: "Francisca, I haven't seen any feedback on using milk thistle seed oil internally but it does seem to have some effectiveness in cosmetics and skin creams.

Here is a link to a manufacturer's website information page with an interesting write up on its manufacture as well as its chemical structure. There are also references to how they perceive it can be used -- both topically and internally.

http://www.milk-thistle.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=66&lang=en"

[YEA]  01/08/2010: Sophia from Lewisville, TX: "For depression that gets worse at that time of month, Milk Thistle works great for me. I usually start feeling better within 20 minutes. It works great for the kind of depression where you just feel bad. It also works for guys' depression (I give it to my son). Try not to take it every day. I've read, and found from my own experience, that taking it daily lessens its effects."

[YEA]  09/15/2009: Kathie from Chicago, Il, Usa: "I've had digestive problems for at least a couple of years now, abdominal bloating and gas with diarrhea and constipation. I've been taking a popular on-line fiber supplement for almost a year and that has helped the constipation problem tremendously, but my system was still having difficulty with rumbling/gas/pain with diarrhea at least every other day if not daily. About three weeks ago I began taking a milk thistle supplement simply because I suspected my liver could use the support (no liver specific ailments going on, but family history and age, etc.). Lo and behold, within two days of beginning it, my entire GI tract calmed down beautifully - I am truly amazed. I would say it's 95% or more back to normal, with one or two well-formed bowel movements daily with no straining (that's incredible in itself) *without* taking the fiber supplement, and no gas/pain/diarrhea. The milk thistle supplement contains dandelion root, milk thistle seed, burdock, artichoke, kelp, and peppermint, with a "homeopathically prepared mineral formula designed to work with the herbs" made of potassium chloride 3x and sodium sulphate 3x (I'm including everything because I'm not sure if it's the milk thistle alone that's helping, another ingredient in the mix, or the entire mix combined). This has been a wonderful surprise for me - how great to have a GI tract functioning like it's supposed to! I really hope this helps someone else out there!!"

[YEA]  11/20/2009: Rob from Manhattan, New York: "Thumbs up for Milk Thistle

testing out a combination Milk Thistle and Sea Buckthorn combo (from Germany). I was surprised that I didn't suffer the usual ill effects this morning from a few beers the evening before. (shakiness, headache... I rarely drink)

I attribute it to the Milk Thistle... decided it will be a regular on my supplement shelf."

12/07/2010: Crazydogjack from New Castle, Pa, Usa: "Here's a question for all of you Earth Clinic friends.... I started taking Milk Thistle w/Choline for a fatty liver about two weeks ago. I noticed that my appetite has decreased (which isn't a bad thing), and I am wondering if any of you experts out there have any feedback as to why the decrease in appetite and cravings?"

01/21/2012: P from Middle, Fl replies: "Sometimes if I want to know about a particular product I go to a vitamin website; be it; vitamin shoppe, swanson vitamins, puritan pride and I search for the product and then read the reviews. I find that it's most helpful."

10/07/2008: Kate from Jackson, Ohio replies: "I have a six pound Yorkie and when he gets the diarrhea I cook up plain spaghetti pasta, cool, and cut into bite size and feed him only that if it's really bad. If it's the first loose stool, I just add it to his diet. He really likes it, so that helps. He's 10 now and can still run faster than I can. This may not exactly help the liver, but it may soothe the digestive system in the meantime while the Milk Thistle cleanses the liver. Hoping your Yorkie feels better."

11/24/2011: Prishen from Durban, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa replies: "How much of milk thistle must we use? Please people; kindly be extremely specific in terms of dosages to help other desperate folks like me.

Regards, Prishen"

08/29/2008: Marilyn from Miami, FL replies: "I, too, have Hep-C and my doctor recommended Mild Thistle 200 mg at least 2x per day. I am not a consistent user, but do notice a difference in my energy level when I take it. Good luck to all with this insidious disease."

08/30/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hi Marilyn, Google miracle mineral supplement and pull up the one about "demystifying MMS" for a summary of what it can do. Hepatitis A, B, and C are also mentioned as cured by using MMS."

04/19/2009: JLlerenas from Ventura, CA, USA replies: "Have you considered that the stones passed are from more than just the Gall bladder? So it's really not that preposterous, just not well understood. This is not a claim of veracity either or of proof that they are stones. Thanks for your post, it supplement's Ted's post well."

04/22/2009: EJ from Middleboro, MA replies: "It may not be as easy as changing your diet to correct a gallbladder issue. At least that's what I'm finding. I've had two ct scans in the last five years to look for gallstones that don't exist to explain my intermittent pain. About a month ago I switched from a good diet consisting of mainly vegetables and chicken or fish (little grain and dairy, nothing fried ever)to a diet of fruit and vegetables only (including fat from olive oil, avocados and almonds). My gallbladder rebelled like never before. Apples, apple juice, ACV, beet root, dandelion tea, healthy liver tincture - none of them helped the pain - castor oil packs did help temporarily. After 3 weeks, I finally added some cheese back to my diet and the pain subsided. Except for the gallbladder pain, I felt great eating only fruit and veg (ala Dr. Robert Morse). So if anyone knows what will fix this gallbladder permanently, I'd love to know."

12/31/2011: Cori from Orillia, Ontario, Canada: "I've been studying myself through the net what this bug (we call nano) is, as I've suffered for many years without answers. I started by purchasing Milk Thistle liquid to clean the liver and SEA salt baths. Both are really helping. I know we've all read the sea salt baths, but I only saw one person post about milk thistle. The liquid form of Milk Thistle I take 3 times a day. At first I was ill vomit-discharging lots of the different morgellon things (bug), then there would be many stool-discharges of the stuff; In the evening know the area of my liver is working hard enough I feel it pulling."

[YEA]  03/04/2012: Lovealot from Questa, New Mexico: "I gave my 45 pound, mix bread, female dog named Brownie some pain killers; due to the fact that she had this painful growth on her eye lid. To be exact for five days I gave her one acetaminophen and four naproxen. By the fifth day she was puking and had diarrhea. I felt horrible. I intoxicated her liver. I called the veterinary hospitals. Instead of giving helpful advise they made me feel like I intended to poison my dog and gave me a hard time on estimating a fee. The minimum fee at the vet was going to be $1, 000. I looked up this advise and am so grateful. The Milk thistle saved Brownie's life. I gave her a mix of Milk thistle, burdock root liquid extract and licorice root liquid extract at eleven am and by four pm she mad a complete 360. I mean it was amazing how the Milk thistle detox her liver so fast. I also did give her a 30 cc of pediatric pedialyte in her vein with a insulin syringe I bought from Rite Aid to rehydrate her. By six pm she was eating canned wet food and drinking water. She didn't puke any of it up. Went on a run, was filled with joy and energy. Brownie survived thanks to the four tables of milk thistle."

05/15/2012: Missy from Buffalo, Ny replies: "Lovealot from Questa, New Mexico: Could you please tell us what dosage(mg) you gave to your dog?"