Not the same actually... milk of magnesia contains a lot of magnesium, which is basically what epsom salt is. Milk of magnesia has the same basic effects as eposm salts... but epsom salts is much more powerful. For most folks, using epsom salts internally is like using a bulldozer to dig a hole for a rose bush. Overkill, major. Usually, most folks would only take 1 tsp epsom salts in a glass of water. I take 4 tbsp.

The article your provided was very helpful. Thank you. It stated several things of interest:

1) It is difficult to overdose on magnesium. Possible, but difficult.
2) One has to take calcium with it, as they are both complimentary and conflictory with one another.
3) The sign of magnesium overdose is fatigue (which I have often) but there is no general danger as both kidneys and intestines void excess magnesium.
4) This is generally what I do intentionally... I apparently take enough magnesium that the body voids it through the intestines, which draws water and helps solve my problem.

"When given orally in sufficient quantities, magnesium citrate or sulfate (Epsom salts) is not fully absorbed but attracts water into the colon and thus acts as an effective laxative."

Fortunately, rather than an abusive substance, magnesium is greatly required by the body, and the body rids itself of excess amounts. Magnesium can rid the body of excess heavy metals. So it seems the stuff is actually good for me.

I would think, from the indications I've read, that large doses of Epsom salts taken internally (by large doses, I mean from 2-4 tbsp in 12 oz water, fully disolved) might also be good to assist in cleansing diets, as it causes the intestines to dump just about everything they contain, including some undesirables such as toxic chemicals.

So again, thank you very much for sending that helpful URL. It eased my mind a great deal.