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Chris (Sydney, Australia) on 01/22/2013
5 out of 5 stars

I have fair skin and spent much of my youth on the beach in summer at a time when there was little or no protection from the sun. By age 30 I was regularly going to the doctor to have BCCs burnt off with liquid nitrogen. It was a effective but painful and always left a patch of de-pigmented skin. Then one day I met an old horse trainer who showed me how he trated sun cancers on the nose of his horse by breaking the stem of a common weed and dabbing on the white juice that oozed out. The weed is known here as Milk Thistle or sometimes St Mary's Thistle and is prolific in this part of the world; it pops up everywhere, even in cracks in the pavement.

I never went to the doctor again for BCCs and I have treated dozens of them over the last 30 years or so using the Milk Thistle. You simply break the stem near the top where it is soft, wait a few seconds for the white sap to rise, and dab it on. Then leave it. After an hour or so it will turn a brown colour and after a few days will turn almost black. It sticks like tar and will not come off, even in the shower, providing you dont scrub it! After a week or so it will gradually wear off and the BCC will be much reduced if not gone altogether. Persistent cases may need a second application. It is painless, does not leave a scar or loss of pigment; it is simple to use and it's free! The whole world should know about the old fashioned "cow-cocky" remedy, but I guess that would put a lot of fancy skin cancer clinics out of business.

Replied By Anthony (Gold Coast, Australia) on 01/23/2013

I believe the thistle you are referring to is actually the Common Sow Thistle (Sonchus Oleraceus).

The sap is white but quickly turns brown on exposure to the air. I too have used it for many years to treat minor skin cancers and sun spots and know it to be safe and effective.

Replied By Paula (Chattanooga, Tn) on 06/27/2013

Is this type of Milk Thistle available in USA?

Replied By Kathy (The Usa) on 06/28/2013

Hi Paula, I just happened to see some milk thistle on sale at a grocery store. It's probably sold everywhere vitamins are sold.

Replied By Karen (Buffalo, Ny) on 09/08/2013

I believe it is called milkweed here in the US. There is a lot of information out regarding milkweed cures and basal cell. Here it grows as a large weed along roadsides with a sticky, milky white substance in the leaves and stem.

Replied By Mellisa (Australia) on 09/26/2014

Do you have photos of the plant and which area to use

Replied By Chris (Sydney, Australia) on 06/15/2018
To see images of Common Sow Thistle go to: vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au and search "Common Sow-thistle".

I also found that it is used in traditional aboriginal medicine to treat skin ulcers!

I guess it's called "common" because it is found everywhere on the east coast of Australia.

It just springs up along fences and in even in cracks in the pavement.

Replied By Tian (London) on 07/09/2015

Hello, I'm originally from Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia and I've had one BCC cut and burnt off (a procedure I'd really rather not repeat)! I've got a second BCC which has appeared just under my left eye on the edge of my nose. I would love to try treating it with Milk Thistle. I wanted to ask for a picture of the plant so I can identify the right one. When I google Milk Thistle a few different images come up and I'm not sure if Australian Milk Thistle is the same as what I would find here in the UK (where I'm currently living). If you could help that would be great. Many thanks, Tian.

Replied By Jeanne G (colorado) on 11/21/2023
Put in search Sonchus oleraceus- that is how you find the image, I just did.

Replied By Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/09/2015

Dear Tian,

I find that trying to identify herbs from pictures in books and on the internet to be difficult. As you observed, the pictures seem to contradict each other! I usually try to find a person who can easily identify herbs for me in person. (Not easy to find such a person.)

Milk Thistle does grow in Australia, so I wonder if "Australian" Milk Thistle is just identifying the harvest location?

When I am having trouble identifying or obtaining a specific herb for a health condition, I usually just try something else first.

There has also been some recent discussion here at Earth Clinic about using bentonite clay on BCC. It might be something to consider.

~Mama to Many~

Replied By Kiki (FL) on 03/09/2019

I take Gaia liquid caps of milk thistle, I wonder if you can break them open and use it on BCC?

Replied By Carol (Nsw) on 09/26/2020

The proper name for the plant you use for BCC is called euphorbia peplus, radium weed or milk weed. You apply once a day for 3 days. Then leave. It works well for superficial BCC ,but anything deeper ( invasive ) I would have cut out asap.

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