Magnesium is considered an essential mineral for maintaining good health. A nutrient involved in more than 300 metabolic reactions in the body, magnesium is responsible for maintaining and regulating a wide range of internal processes in the body. The nutrient’s applications range from transmitting nerve impulses to detoxifying the body and producing energy, making it an effective health treatment for a variety of conditions.
What is Magnesium?
One of the three most important minerals for good health, magnesium supports a wide range of bodily processes. Every organ in the body uses the mineral magnesium in some form. The heart, muscles, and kidneys are particularly reliant on the nutrient.
Magnesium functions in activating enzymes, producing energy and regulating nutrient levels. This mineral helps maintain constant levels of calcium, zinc, copper, potassium, vitamin D, and other nutrients in the body. It also optimizes the use of these nutrients and prevents irregularities in the body’s processes.
Magnesium is found in a variety of foods including nuts, fruit, whole grains, wheat germ, fish, and leafy green vegetables. Even so, most individuals do not get an adequate amount of the nutrient daily. Magnesium can also be found as an independent dietary supplement and as a component of many multivitamins.
Health Benefits of Magnesium
Even though most individuals do not get an adequate amount of the nutrient daily, magnesium imbalance is more pervasive of a problem than magnesium deficiency. Either way, individuals generally suffer adverse effects when not consuming appropriate amounts of the nutrient. Agitation, anxiety, restless leg syndrome, sleep disorders, irritability, nausea and vomiting, blood pressure problems and even seizures are common effects.
Conversely, getting an adequate amount of magnesium can effectively treat a variety of conditions. Magnesium plays a role in treating such conditions as asthma, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, noise related hearing loss, heart failure, and high blood pressure. The nutrient can also be used to treat migraine headaches, osteoporosis, preeclampsia and eclampsia, premenstrual syndrome, and restless leg syndrome.
Considered one of the three most important daily nutrients, magnesium is a vital nutrient in a daily diet. As a regular or added supplement, it can prevent and treat a wide range of health conditions.
Side effect reported
I need to take magnesium for sleep, but all the forms I’ve tried give me diarrhea. Is there any form you know of that doesn’t do this? I even get it from the sublingual liquid that isn’t supposed to even go into your gut.
Marge, you can try eating more magnesium rich foods. Have you tried transdermal application? If you do, start low and slow.
I have realized just this weekend that my daily evening magnesium malate or citrate supplementation is likely *paradoxically* at least partially responsible for insomnia issues I've been facing. I went off the supplement for a week because I ran out and was amazed at how well I was sleeping without it. I got a new supply of magnesium malate, took (~200 mg elemental Mg) at 9 pm on a Friday. My brain was "on" at bedtime — could not fall asleep until after 3 am. Weekend ruined! I slept a little better Saturday night w/o supplementation, hopefully will be able to get back to where I was before Friday.
I say paradoxically because Mg has in the past definitely been a HELP for falling asleep, and it has also helped me to overcome migraine pain. A few articles online show I am not the first to notice this issue.
I have been using Magnesium Gluconate for about 3 months and also soaking in epsom salt hot baths. Well, it is has been determined that my doctor said to discontinue doing this because I have had rashes and red spots tingling and pain all over. Itching is the worst of it. You can develop a bad reaction to magnesium if you overdose on it. My intake was capsule form maybe 500 mg plus the salt baths. I thought I had shingles at first the feet, legs, fingers, ankles and other places on my body were in an off and on state of discomfort, pain and sometimes agony.
Magnesium needs to be used properly like any other herb or mineral. If not it can have a reverse reaction. I have since stopped all baths and magnesium intake for the foreseeable future. Hope this helps someone so they do not misdiagnose their condition.
Update:
Regarding my healing. For 2 months I have been in terrible discomfort, tingling, burning and itching on my feet, hands, ankles, legs and different parts of my body. I did not know what this was after 3 trips to the doctor blood tests and further evaluations.
Finally one day I was going over my everyday routine of supplements and actions regarding my health.
I came to realize to my amazement that my problem was not in something I caught but something I myself was doing. MY PROBLEM WAS MAGNESIUM…FOR SURE. Here's why.
I was taking 500mg of mag gluconate sometimes twice a day, then spraying magnesium spray on my body, also soaking in a hot bathtub with epsom salts containing magnesium. When my doctor heard this she said STOP! I stopped 4 days ago after the the second day I'm back to normal no pain, not itching, no burning, no tingling.
I had red spots appear on my skin then disappear in 2 or 3 hours scaring me. Big blotches too in some places. The itching was horrid. The nerves in my hands an feet were under attack I thought it was RA and other issues. I'm 61 but otherwise in good health. All my labs came back near perfect…it was all a mystery until I stopped the magnesium.
I hope I helped someone out there that is going through the same thing.
Bill
I have made some observations about magnesium that I thought I would share.
I have been taking magnesium powder (Natural Calm) at night for a long time. I take about 500 mg this way and it helps me to sleep and keeps my digestion regular. One night recently, I had had a snack and didn't want to drink the amount of water I would need to take my magnesium powder. I have some Nature's Way Magnesium capsules so I took two of those instead, which was a total of 800 mg of magnesium. I wondered if this would cause diarrhea because if I took that much Natural Calm, it surely would have. Well, it did not; in fact, the next day my digestion was noticeably slow. Whether it is because Natural Calm is a more absorbable form of magnesium (magnesium citrate) than the other, which was magnesium oxide, or something else, I do not know. But what that means is that not all magnesium supplements are equal. If one form of magnesium isn't working for you as you might hope, try another.
Secondly, I got lazy this week and skipped a few days of magnesium oil on my back at bedtime. Even with an oral magnesium supplement, if I skip the topical magnesium oil I wake up with stiffness. I made sure to use my magnesium oil last night and can really tell a difference – I was much less stiff when I woke up today. Some people find that topical magnesium affects the bowels, but it doesn't in my case, at least in the amount I use. But what is interesting to note is that internal use of magnesium does not have nearly the same benefit to me to reduce pain and stiffness that topical magnesium does.
What does this mean? If you want to use magnesium for a health problem, you may need to experiment with amounts you use as well as the brand you use, as well as the way you deliver it to your body (orally or through the skin.) And it seems there is no one size fits all. I guess this is where healing takes on its art form. There is a science to healing, but it isn't a once size fits all deal. Each individual is complex and unique in his needs, thus the art aspect of healing.
So, that is my two cents worth of musing on magnesium today…
~Mama to Many~
MtoM,
No internal magnesium that I have ever used, and I have used a few, can provide the muscle relaxing effects of topically applied mag oil, so I am with you on that topic.
Art
Mama to Many, which Mag Oil do you use? Sometimes I wake up with achy joints, especially knees.
Dear Sonia,
At first I bought Life Flo magnesium oil and used that. But I realized making my own is going to be a lot cheaper if I use it a lot.
I bought Ancient Minerals Mangesium flakes. I bring 1/2 cup distilled water to simmer on the stove in a stainless steel or glass pot. I remove it from the heat and add 1/2 cup magnesium flakes. According to some, this will not be as effective as store bought magnesium oil, but that makes no sense to me; I think it is an advertising thing.
I would guess magnesium flakes or oil from any reputable source would do.
I hope the magnesium oil will help your knees! It is great stuff.
~Mama to Many~
M to M,
Some of the store bought mag oil is closer to 70% while a mix of a half cup of flakes to a half cup of water is more likely to be less than 50%. These 70% solutions are closer to a saturated solution and would tend to explain why they might be slightly more effective. Mixing flakes in lotion is another useful way of using mag flakes.
Art
Side effect reported
Two weeks ago I was overdosing with D3 (5000iu) daily. I had all the overdose symptoms. SO I quit taking d3 and start magnesium chloride. First time when I take it I felt sharp kidney pain then everything was ok. But now for about one week of taking MC before bed I feel tightness in the kidneys. I felt this pain only once (the first time).
1-2g of MC in water
Are you taking enough water with it? Be sure to take it with a full glass of water. And maybe take less. Or try using it in a spray on your body. That is a wonderful way to get your magnesium.
I'm drinking a lot of water. Maybe there is pain because of calcification in the kidneys cause by d3 overdose? And magnesium remove this calcification?
Hi Steve,
Try drinking 2 oz of extra virgin olive oil mixed with 2 oz lemon juice, followed by the largest glass of water you can possible hold. If this is a stone it may soften and pass. You may need to do more than once.
You can't overdose on D3. You can overdose on the other forms of D. According to Mayo clinic you can use 80,000 iu of D3 per week for kids under 18 for viruses. 20 minutes out in the sun gives you around 20,000 iu of D3.
You need to take vitamin K2 along with calcium, magnesium, D3. The magnesium helps the calcium to absorb. The k2 helps the magnesium deposit the calcium in the correct tissues.
I started having laryngospasms last May 17th due to a bronchitis and virus I believe… cough wake me up at midnight chooking and searching in different blogs. Read that someone got cured using magnesium, and I started using magnesium and no more spasms. I'd like to spread this information to anyone that suffer with this condition, because is horrible feeling thinking that you are gonna die… so you can take magnesium glycinate… I took around 400 mg and after a week no more spasms….
Liquid Chlorophyll is a much safer way to supplement with magnesium. Too much magnesium in tablet form will deplete essential trace minerals from your body. This happened to my husband he now only uses liquid chlorophyll for a magnesium supplement 1/4 to 1/2 tsp a day and hasnt had any problems since.
Chelated magnesium has changed my life. Since starting the supplement I have slept SO much better, less irritable, numbness in my fingertips gone, red nose and red ears reduced, heartburn reduced, anxiety has been reduced, and my life long allergies that have been unbearable have completely subsided in just one week on the supplement. I'm generally a sharp person and wouldn't have believed my quality of life would change from a supplement!
Just curious what type of magnesium and how much you are taking to get such positive results. Thanks for sharing.
To Carrie (Livonia, MI): What was the specific magnesium chelating agent you used and the daily dosage? Thanks, Larry
Before taking the magnesium bicarbonate water I would get chilled easily. Whenever I would fall asleep my body would get very chilly. Anyway, the magnesium bicarbonate water has worked wonders.
After many hours of reading I bought the Borax and just started using it. I have had osteoarthritis in my thumbs for some time and it is slowly getting worse. Let's see what happens. However, my purpose here is to tell you about Magnesium. I have been using it for a long time but it didn't do me any good until I came upon a different form that has not been mentioned here. It is very hard to assimilate it in pill form. What I am using with success is Ionic magnesium citrate which is a powder that gets dissolved in a bit of hot water. It fizzles and the magnesium disappears into the water. This way it gets completely absorbed. Very effective. I get it in the USA, I don't know about its availability in other countries. I guess I am not supposed to mention brands, but I only know the one I am using. So, its not a tablet or a capsule or an oil, it is a drink. Hope this helps.
I wondered if anyone who is familiar with the Hans Nieper 2-AEP Magnesium would be able to tell me if each capsule contains 500 mg of magnesium? I noticed that people take multi-capsules daily and that seems like a lot of magnesium, but perhaps I don't understand it correctly. Is it taken as a magnesium source, or is more for repair as in the MS remedy? I have read the information online, but have not fully grasped its mechanism or intended use. Could someone with a better understanding give a more specific description? Thank you.
What is the best type of magnesium to take??? Thank you!
It all depends on the individual, so the best approach is a “broad spectrum” magnesium. Get as many forms as possible which may mean at least two or more products. Here are the forms to look for: Magnesium —Citrate, Orotate, Aspartate, Malate, Oxide.
Malate is the easiest capsule form to assimilate. As Carolyn Dean says, if you don't get diarrhea, then it's working. No need to purchase expensive liquid ones when Malate works for Pennies a month.
Side effect reported
I recently have been trying the Magnesium L-Threonate as a new form of magnesium By Life Extension, and it is supposed to give greater mental focus. I noticed that my heart would race at night and seemed to have a difficult time pumping. So I have decided to stop taking them. I also took all 3 at nite time so that may have been too many at once, but heck I'd rather not have thumping heart problems from a Magnesium supplement. Xoxo
Hello, Magnesium L Threonate is a great form of magnesium for Memory. The way to take it is twice a day. Take 1 in AM combine with 1 Mg Glycinate.. Another 1 in pm combine with 2 caps Mg Glycinate.. Mix Mg forms.. as the needed dose for Mag is mg 5x body wt/lbs.. (100 lbs. needs 5oo mg Mg.) Mag L Threonate only has 48 mg elemental Mg. Glycinate has 133 mg Mg. per pill…It takes about 6 months or more to get your body stores of Mag replenished. So be patient.It will happen.
Magnesium works wonders for hyperthyoid issues, anxiety, and insomnia. It is incredibly powerful! A researcher who did his own study with Magnesium introduced me to the LIQUID FORM! Before, whenever I took it, I didn't notice much, but when I switched to a liquid form of Magnesium Chloride, boy, did it make a huge difference! Whenever I take it I feel totally relaxed and sleep like a baby! There's a liquid Magnesium Citrate new on the market now, too, which is also great! Perhaps it's the liquid forms of magnesium that are most potent and work best? Try them and you'll see how much better you can feel!
To Gabrielle (LA) Specifically, What concentration liquid Magnesium chloride did you take, Was it taken orally or transdermally, what dosage, and how often per day? Thanks. – Larry
I am having trouble finding a Milk of Magnesia without added products. My concern is sodium hypochlorite listed with the inert ingredients. Have checked Phillips, Equate, CVS and they all have this ingredient. I find statements like the following from my google search—-Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical commonly found in bleach, water purifiers, and cleaning products.—–Any suggestions?
The dollar general store has milk of mag with nothing but purified water added.
Amazon often has magnesium flakes.
Where can I buy the mag chloride flakes? I want to make oil but our local health store doesn't carry the flakes. I'm in Ontario if that makes a difference
I have purchased magnesium chloride in the pill form of 100 mg. What is the proper dosage of 5% solution? Should I break the pill up? Maybe if I go to a store and purchase pills in capsule form of some other product and use it as a guide line. I think that will work. What do you think?
Hi Bill,
I'm from Baguio City. I just have a quick question regarding Magnesium Chloride. Do you have any idea where we can purchase it in raw/pure but food grade form so I can make an emulsion out of it? I'll be using it to cure my son's tics. Thank you so much in advance and God bless everyone.
Hi Xyrus… You can order magnesium chloride online from Manila using this link:
http://www.magnesiumphilippines.com/products.html
You can order online or you can order by phone and they will deliver. The brand of magnesium chloride that they sell is well known and is a high quality product.
Hi Bill. I'm so sorry for the late reply. I've been busy lately. Thank you so much for posting the link. I appreciate it. Have a great evening and God bless everyone.
I looked into someone’s eyes and there was a spot on the colored part that was turning grey and the rest was green, almost like the color had washed out. One of my friends is a nurse and I showed her and she gave the person a magnesium IV and her eye color was restored and her other health conditions that doctors had not been able to solve were healed with the IV magnesium. She was very low and sufferring miserably. They don’t test mag levels when they do your blood tests.
Q: Bill from the Phillipines. I have read most all of your comments on magnesium. What are your thoughts on magnesium malate? Thank you very much.
Hi Karen… I prefer to take Magnesium Chloride (as Magnesium Oil) for Magnesium and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for malates. ACV contains both acetic acid and malic acid so when, as Ted from Bangkok advises, you add baking soda and water to two tablespoons of ACV this converts to acetates and malates which are then easily absorbed into the body from the intestines.
In my opinion, Magnesium Chloride is also the best form of magnesium to take and taking Magnesium chloride and ACV in this fashion will also be much cheaper for you. ACV is also high in potassium and other minerals so you also get that extra benefit too. The acetates and malates from ACV both also help to increase energy in the body. Also, malates in pill form are normally derived from a standardized chemical process. I don't like standardize chemical processes (think Codex Alimentarius). That's why I much prefer always using the natural forms or the bare mineral form as a simple powder only(no tablets).
Right now, because of the hot season in the Philippines, I also take 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin C and two squirts of magnesium oil(large dose) every morning with my juice because of the searing heat. This somehow works magically to keep your body cool even in searing hot weather. I really don't know why or how it works — you'll have to ask Ted — but work it does!! I also take lugols iodine every day (6 to 8 drops a day) and this must also help to regulate body skin temperature more efficiently as well via the thyroid.
There are certainly other forms of Magnesium such as the malate, citrate and threonate salt forms which all have specific beneficial uses in the body. But the best all round form of magnesium to supplement is, without question, the magnesium chloride form because of its more widespread beneficial effects on the immune system, heart, increasing energy, nervous system, relaxing the muscles, regulating calcium in the body, relaxing the mind, antibiotic action, digestion etc.
The magnesium site is awesome, thanks for the heads up ^. Learned a lot more than I have from other articles and sites…..
For all you mag users out there…. the diarrhea passes quick if you get it when you start the magnesium, be patient… the body is so excited to get some mag in it, if it doesn’t pass, try another form of magnesium. As always, start with small dose and work your way up ^
Please note that Dr. Carolyn Dean in her article on Google now recommends Angstrom Magnesium (page 20) as the best Magnesium to take. A little more expensive, but very good absorption and no diarrhoe
Bill from the Phillipines, I have read your feedback regarding magnesium which is impressive. I would like to know if one should take calcium or is diet enough. I have read various things including not to take calcium with magnesium as one prevents the absorbtion of the other in the intestines and have also read not to take calcium at all.
I took magnesium plus other supplements but always craving chocolate, never satisfied. Recently I have found that I need to take a full spectrum mineral plus a magnesium citrate supplement …. both in the morning and at night. I read that some people are so low on mag and minerals that they have to slowly LOAD UP ON THEM UNTIL THEY GET DIARRHEA and then back off to their needed dose.
No more chocolate cravings… YAY!!!
Last night for the second night in a row, I took 2 teaspoons of powdered magnesium (the kind that dissolves in water). I got a severe stomach upset an hour later which I know was from the magnesium. There was a second side effect however, and I am wondering if this has happened to anyone else. My left eye started hurting me a little when I went to bed. Very tender if I put the slightest pressure on it. This morning when I woke up, half of my upper left eyelid near my nose is very swollen. I am drinking a lot of water to see if it will go down. My eyeball is not bloodshot. Anyone have an idea if this is related to the magnesium? I have never had this happen before. Thank you in advance for any advice!
Rachel: it may never be known, this little symptom, as there are sooo many variables and unidentifiable causes. So, one must throw a “blanket” cure and reevaluate. Magnesium is a great mineral that is gaining popularity as a remedy of many health problems simply because it’s soo lacking in the diet. But taking Mag alone isn’t a balanced mineral approach. I suggest temporarily drop the large Mag dose and try a Cal/Mag/Zinc supplement. This should give you a broader range of efficacy.
Dear TimH, thank you very kindly for your response. I spent Sunday replenishing my electrolytes and potassium in particular. The eyelid swelling went down almost immediately, but I had intense pressure and pain behind both eyes that kept me in bed much of the day Sunday. When my husband commented that he too had pressure behind his eyes, I started looking for another cause. Turns out… Da da da! … That we were both having an allergic reaction to a fragrance in a beautiful reed diffuser that we had received as a gift on Saturday and set out. Wow! There was no listing of ingredients on the bottle, but I suspect the liquid contained not only essential oils but some very toxic chemicals. It took about 12 hours after I removed the bottle from the house for our eye pressure to go away. Who would have guessed?! Best to you, Rachel.
Rachel: So glad you found the cause. Don’t count you & hubby out of the woods yet. Antioxidants in any form would definitely be indicated right now. From this it is possible that you could develop Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Yes, some of the “household products” are very toxic and many aren’t labeled as strictly as, say, food items. A hot bath w/ Baking Soda /Epsom Salt would help rid the toxins. Take 1 grm Vit-C during the bath.
Hi I was browsing in the local health food store. I was looking into Magnesium Oil – Magnesium Chloride. In the product it was mentioned only for topical application. I was wondering is it ok to ingest Magnesium Chloride as well. Thanks.
Ed2010, where I buy my mag. chloride flakes, it specifically says that it can be taken internally. If it doesn’t say so on the packaging, ask.
The oil is definitely for external use only.
There are other choices, though. I have a bottle of Ionic Magnesium (chloride) that I purchased at a vitamin store. It comes with a metered dropper and you put it in a small amount of fruit juice to mask the mineral taste.
I have purchased liquid magnesium chloride in the past from a reputable company. Now the product is shown as discontinued and I can no longer find any other suppliers who sell this product. The same company makes a new liquid magnesium but it is magnesium sulfate. Anyone know why?
Maggie there is a distributer in Alberta for Zechmag 32 magnesium chloride oil, he also handles Magnascent iodine. Last year I bought both from him.
Maggie, why buy the oil when you can easily make it from magnesium chloride flakes and water?!
Re: Magnesium Chloride Spray for Canadian woman. You can get the spray on this site earth clinic and other american sites.
There is a Swiss-based company that offers Magnesium Chloride in liquid form.
Make your own magnesium chloride you will find its expensive to buy ready made, it really is simple with instructions on EC page, many many thanks to everyone who contributes to earth clinic, I feel we are one huge family all helping each other.
I would like to know what the difference is between magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride. I have seen some posts that stress “not magnesium oxide. ” I’ve been taking that for several years and wonder if I have done any harm to myself. I took magnesium citrate for awhile because it had been recommended by a neurosurgeon but the “citrate” caused PVC (premature ventricular contractions) that were very frightening. When I stopped taking the mag citrate they stopped. I resumed the mag oxide without any trouble. I found out that “citrate” is processed from corn.
I just wanted share that I buy my Epsom Salt- Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate– (9.8% magnesium by analysis) in 50 pound bags from my local livestock feed store. Cost is $20. I have been soaking in it for sore muscles. It says on the bag “for use in animal feed”. I have never taken it internally, but if it is okay for a cow that would be good enough for me.
Been researching to the core issues of health, and have found this stuff, Magnesium Chloride oil. It has so much going for it, I can only suggest looking it up! Among the most striking, are studies showing that it can stop or even reverse aging, and help heal all manner of issues, something needed by every body. It even re-mineralizes teeth, when brush with it. I am getting it first thing Monday morning to spray on my body.
Magnesium oil, essentially ancient dead sea salt, is an excellent complement to iodine, MSM, baking soda, ALA, N-acetyl cystein. It is absorbed by the skin without the diarrhea that comes from taking it internally. Scripture says that it is good to soak in the foam of the sea, and perhaps this is why. One would expect that soaking in dead sea salts would also provide magnesium through the skin. I still like the sea salts as an internal cleanser, though. And a quote:
“Brushing the teeth with Magnesium Oil and massaging it into the skin can directly assist with re- mineralizing teeth and bones.”
–T.
You’re right about magnesium oil – it’s great. We make our own by mixing magnesium chloride with distilled water (50/50). We put it in an empty roll-on deodorant bottle and use it as a deodorant, as well as rolling the oil on our legs and arms, bottoms of our feet, etc. No fuss – no muss! Cheers, Bess
I was getting atrial fibrillation attacks for 7 or 8 years, mostly in the mornings in winter. I could only sit quietly until it went away, dreadful feeling.
Taking a quarter tsp magnesium chloride everyday cured me very quickly, I don’t need to take it any more now that I’m retired and not as active and my reserves are presumably back to normal.
I believe I developed atrial fibrillation because of heavy sweating due to physical outdoor work depleting my reserves of magnesium. All the doctors could prescribe were beta blockers which I soon stopped taking, but it was years before I discovered three people on one website, who had cured themselves of this awful affliction. Very much hope this helps others.
Taurine regulates heartbeat, so if this occurs again for you or anyone else, consider reading up on taurine. Cystine pushes out taurine, so make sure you aren’t testing with high cystine levels.
Where can I get the mag chloride product you took?
Legna,
You ask where to get magnesium chloride…
You should be able to get it at any health food store or on line.
Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. I’ve used that for A Fib too. I take orally magnesium citrate that an alternative MD got me on. As long as you are getting the magnesium in you I’m not sure I can determine that it really matters the form you receive it. I’ve asked that very question a number of times on EC but haven’t gotten a response … that is that one form is preferred. I’d love to hear from someone to lay all the different forms of magnesium out to explain what and why one is better than another.
For A Fib I also make sure I’m getting at least 400IUs of natural (NOT synthetic) vitamin E. I take the amino acid arginine also for the heart and general cardio support.
Dave: 100 year old poor peasants living in 3rd world countries make worm casting tea. The man who won a 100 mile race against a horse eats vegetable soup. Apollo won nine gold medals in the winter olympics. He takes colostrum. Ron Teagarden takes fermented adaptogens. They don’t take isolates. There are many websites that explain why isolates are not effective, like mini minerals, and fulvic acid is necessary for mineral absorption to name a couple. Some say the molecule is too big and some say because they are inorganic. Gardeners don’t put isolates on their plants. They put compost. Nutrients are like a world class symphony. All the musical instruments have to be there in the proper ratio, finely tuned, and with great musicians.
Hey Mike 62,
Thanks for your response to my response to Legna.
Legna had asked where to get Mag Chloride.
I told her and elaborated that there are numerous magnesiums, so the magnesium chloride would not be the only magnesium that would help with A Fib.
Your response was to criticize isolates as opposed to whole foods … if I understood you correctly. I re-read her question and my response and the issue was very narrow. Your response was not the issue but nonetheless I'll speak to your viewpoint.
Isolated minerals, isolated vitamins, isolated glandular etc are in my opinion highly effected and in high doses often therapeutic and cannot be obtained in a whole food approach. Niacin, for instance, at fairly high levels is an excellent dilator and can be effective in warding off migraines.
Vitamin E (natural) the same for the cardio system.
Mike, I do consume an effective whole green drink and have been a whole food advocate for nearly 40 years and yet…I also use isolates.
Colloidal Silver is an isolate. One has to get it to high enough levels to make it work…so I just don't paint with so broad a brush as to eliminate the effectiveness of particular nutrients. I'm both "old school" and "new school." I'm a pragmatist and will use what works.
Best to you and wish you good health in 2014!!!
It's easy and cheaper to make your own with the ancient minerals crystals. I found the atrial fib came back again when I discontinued using the Mg chloride daily. It's stopped now that I take a quarter tsp daily again.
Magnesium chloride is amazing, it cures much more than just arrhythmia. If your're old and decrepit take Magnesium chloride every day, or Massage it into your skin if you want to absorb more without getting an upset stomach.
I believe Magnesium "Chloride" to be the best commonly used magnesium to use.http://www.health-science-spirit.com/MagChlor.pdf
I understand the body has to manufacture Chloride in order to use the Magnesium. Taking Mg with the chloride already "combined" does away with that need.
They say Magnesium chloride is the most easily assimilated into the body, even though it doesn't have as much magnesium as other varieties.
If you buy a $20 bottle of Mg chloride from the health food store it will last ages, because the most You can take without getting an upset stomach is a quarter tsp a day. Using the Magnesium bath salts (which is Mg chloride) allows you to make any strength you like, and also be able to massage large amounts it into your body without getting an upset stomach.
I believe this Magnesium Chloride has amazing benefits that people won't believe. If you have ANY of the common old age afflictions, Memory, bones, etc. Try Magnesium Chloride. if your diet isn't supplying enough magnesium (and you don't even know if it isn't, blood tests don't pick it up) you might be amazed. I am not exaggerating.
Hello Mike,
I think you meant Epsom salts is “magnesium sulfate”…. and I sure agree with you about the benefits of Magnesium. In my experience Magnesium deficiency is directly related to many issues such as rapid and irregular heart beat. It is the King of minerals.d
Yes, I should have said the (Ancient minerals Magnesium crystals) are Mg chloride.
Side effect reported
Hello, Mike I went out and bought the magnesium citrate and I have been having an upset stomach because I think I take too much, however it seems to work well with helping me digest. It feels better once I go to the bathroom because I feel lighter every time and never had that relief however it wreaks havoc on my stomach. I'm thinking of lowering the dosage and take it once a day. I almost will accept the upset stomach because I am having bowel movements more than once a day, any thoughts?
Hi Marie…Try buying plain old magnesium oil and just use it transdermally. You can apply magnesium oil directly onto your skin and at least 60% of it will be absorbed directly into the blood. This is a wonderfully easy delivery method to get magnesium into your body. You can even add a cup of magnesium chloride crystals to your bath water and it will be readily absorbed into the body.
Magnesium oil is just 70% magnesium chloride dissolved in 30% water. My own view is that magnesium chloride is, without doubt, the best form of magnesium to use because even doctors administer it to ER for patients by IV who have just had a heart attack. And it works like magic to take the strain off the heart.
You should be able to buy magnesium oil easily from internet vendors and from health stores.
Also, because you are taking the mag oil transdermally and not ingesting it, your digestion will not be disturbed. I also think that, because magnesium chloride is not so alkaline as magnesium citrate and when ingested, the mag oil will not cause problems with digestion as does magnesium citrate. Indeed, I think that you will find that magnesium oil actually helps your digestion because of its chloride content. The normal dose of mag oil with water is 10 drops twice a day with meals.
And as Mike has also mentioned, Ancient Minerals brand is a good one to use.
When I had heart heart arrythmias and dizziness some years ago, it was the combination of magnesium oil together with lugols iodine that cured that problem for me. That’s because I was deficient in both magnesium and iodine in my own diet. I take magnesium chloride and lugols iodine now on a daily basis and haven’t suffered any arrythmias, dizziness or any other heart problems in the last 8 years and I’m 65 y o. Even just taking kelp extract(contains iodine) together with the magnesium every day would probably help you more.
Using Magnesium Chloride
Dr Carolyn Dean on Magnesium
Is pure oil not too strong for face? Is it also a good protection against sun, as a sun screen? How strong? Thanks. Dcmcb
Hi Everyone, Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD ND. Look her up. The Miracle of Magnesium is a must-read for those with health issues. Also, the cayenne pepper idea worked for me to stop an instance of atrial fibrillation. Bless you, Earth Clinic for the information. Now, look up this doctor! Now! Save yourself yourself untold grief.
Can someone please explain to me what the difference is? If Magnesium Hydroxide dissolves in the air and becomes Magnesium Oxide, why is there a need for BOTH??
Can Mag Ox be used as a transdermal oil? I read a while back somewhere that Mag Hydroxide as an oil can be used on the skin.
How does this differ from Mag, Chloride??
HELP needed! Beverley N in Australia
HI U LEENOTT, Magnesium is deficient in most folks and plays havoc with their bones, sleep etc. Until recently it would mess up folks bowels if taken orally. Dang, Milk of Magnesia is a laxative. So what do you do because you need this mineral for lots of reasons? My wife takes Calm at night to help her sleep. It just gave me diarrhea. We use Epsom Salts in our mineral baths and I also use magnesium chloride as spray on my body in order to get magnesium into my body via transdermal therapy. Recently, the MIT folks came up with a form of Magnesium that you can take orally and not cause you problems. I have taken this supplement for about 3 months and it does not mess up my bowels and does help me get a better sleep. This supplement is MAGNESIUM L- THEONATE. It is not expensive, but it is new and hard to find. Try LEF.
Yo buddy =====ROBERT HENRY========
Perhaps you took too much of the Calm. One needs to work up to the recomended dose. 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon is plenty to start with and work your way up. It works wonders as a muscle relaxer and sleep aid when done that way. Yes it is a laxative when you take the recomended dose off the bat.
Hi Leenot… Magnesium Hydroxide and Magnesium Oxide are both not very soluble in water. Being so insoluble — these forms of magnesium are not good sources of supplemental magnesium for the body.
Magnesium Oil is a mixture of Magnesium Chloride crystals(60%) and water(40%). Magnesium Chloride is probably the best form of magnesium to supplement. Magnesium bicarbonate is another useful form of magnesium with a myriad uses, but this form is very hard to find. Mag Chloride can also be taken into the body and directly into the blood transdermally, when the magnesium oil is simply rubbed onto the skin. Here is some research evidence as to why magnesium chloride is so good and so necessary for the body:
Magnesium Chloride Use in Acute and Chronic Disease
Magnesium Chloride Product Analysis
I’m currently reading a book by Mark Sircus called Transdermal Magnesium: A New Modality for the Maintenance of Health and it is full of very useful and informative facts about magnesium chloride. The links above will tell you all about the history and usefulness of magnesium chloride.
Other forms of magnesium that you can supplement are mag citrate and mag gluconate — but for me the mag chloride transdermal form(as magnesium oil) is still the best one to take.
I am currently using Lisinipril for blood pressure, It seems that nightly my heart begins to race sometimes very fast. After counseling with a nutritionist, he told me that it sounds like I have a defenciency in magnesium. I also have the symtoms like insomnia, muscle weakness especially after exercise. I was wondering if there were any cases of healing from the use of this mineral. My physican offered me a beta-blocker of which has the most horrible side effects, even heart attack. I do not feel comfortable with this drug, but know too that heart racing is not healthy. Not only would I like to know if anyone has had any success with magnesium, but what is the time frame of bringing the magnesium levels up to normal. With all of the troubles of mine I also have tremendous allergic reactions to many drugs, foods and chemicals. Some direction would be greatly apprecitaed. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Elizabeth
I had rapid heartbeats too, and the magnesium made a big big difference! Get a good transdermal form and you’ll be amazed! Relief comes quick.
Hawthorne berry also helps with this, so I do both.
Elizabeth, I also take Lisinipril for HBP and then prescribed beta blocker and found my liver unable to detox it so I am running a little high; but do not have your heart racing. Lisinipril is very effective at reducing hypertension but it is hard on the kidneys. Do you restrict your sodium? Get enough Potassium? Cranberry or D-Mannose helps clear the infection. Herbs like Parsley, Cedar Berry help kidney function. Start w/ 250mg Magnesium daily for a few days then bump up to 500mg. Mg is also good for the heart. I would also take some Carnitine or/and CoQ10 for heart support. Hope this helps and good luck.
Transfer Factor Cardio is also good to use. It has transfer factor which is a messenger molecule that rememebers potential threats to your cardiovascular system. It is used to balance blood pressure without the side effects. Look for transfer factor cardio and click on the product’s profie sheet to see all of the ingredients and what it does. Vitamin b3 is also good for lowering blood pressure but you may need to take bcomplex and additional b3.
Lisinopril caused my heart to race. It also caused my panic attacks. I went off it and haven't had any since.
RE: High Blood pressure, Coenzeyme 10 (Qc10) will lower your blood pressure better than any Drug in the World that a DR can give you. 150milligram's 3 times a day, it can be taken along side your BP Med's if you've been scared and bullied enough by DR's to take it, it will not interfere with any Med's. I have helped Gang's of people with this, and I was one of them. My BP went fatal, last week I got it checked and I've got the BP of a super fit 18 year old and I'm 54yrs young. I never took any Med's as they cause more damage. It has to be Ubiquinol (there are many forms of Cq10), and a good Omega 3 oil is excellent too. Cq10 is made naturally by the body, but lower's with age and other factors. Statins are also evil, I met load's of people in Hospital that had heart attack's caused by Statins, an everyone I know has got heart damage from these Drug's. Its a lie about High Cholesterol, we need it. Our Brain's are made of it, Beet root juice lower's it brilliantly if you really believe it should be lowered, but it's got NOTHING to do with Heart Attack's. It's just another scare mongering tactic to sell more Drug's and make even more money for the evil one's. Do you think they take their own poison? No, they go to Health spas and eat Organic food, and natural remedies. And Detox in luxury using the money they scared everyone in to parting with for drug's. Love Andrea C xxxx
I gave a family member who was on blood pressure medicine Ubiquinol: a very good brand highly absorbable, with safflower oil. After taking it, one day he dropped to his knees. Taken to emergency room he was told his blood pressure was very low. I did not know his medication prior to giving him ubiquinol. I agree with everything else in the post. How many milligrams of CoQ10 can be taken with BP medicine?
Maybe because Ubiquinol is more absorbable form of CoQ10 makes a difference? Also, same product taken by a woman with heart condition aND subject to lung blood clots caused profuse sweating. Why?
I agree with this post regarding conventional med prescribed which is why I continue with vit, and supplements.
Magnesium is excellent for dissolving Kidney Stones!! Take 3 or 4 capsules a couple times a day and avoid the hospital stay.
I have been using Mag for years to keep kidney stones at bay. Its best to also get some B6 with that. But yeah, it works.
Here is part of an article I read today in a British paper. Interesting that more and more often they are coming with their own “researches” telling people their own terrific “discoveries” which in the end are nothing more than what a lot of people already knew but which were denied for decades by the mainstream medicine! What would have happened a while ago if you had heart problems and asked your doctor about taking Epsom salts baths? He would have laughed in your face but now…. They have “discovered” that it actually works! The wonders of modern medicine….. By the way, these injections have been administred for years, at least according to one of my books!
“In another development, scientists have discovered that chemicals traditionally used in bath salts could help reduce damage caused by stroke. Magnesium sulphate is thought to dilate arteries in the brain, increasing the amount of vital nutrients reaching any damaged cells. Animal studies also show it protects nerve cells from damage, though researchers are unclear how it does this. Previous research has shown that people whose diets are high in magnesium are less likely to suffer a stroke.
Magnesium-rich foods include nuts, green vegetables and beans.
In a U. S. study starting next month, researchers will directly inject the chemical into arteries of 20 stroke patients.
‘Salvage of viable, but threatened, tissue could give stroke patients an increased probability of favourable long-term outcome, ‘ they said”.
I have been taking about 1000 mg of elemental Magnesium per day for the past few years to regulate my system and help with bowel function and over all health. It has worked wonders but I am concerned that I may damage my body with this amount of supplements per day. Naturpaths and other practitioners say that this amount of magnisium is safe? Does anyone have any other feedback on this?
George, this doesn’t appear to be an issue of safety, but of healthy. If you wish to BALANCE and OPTIMIZE your body’s minerals, consider a complete mineral supplement like Ionic Trace Minerals Complex that contains up to 72 minerals. I have been having very good results w/ a Great Salt Lake mineral supplement in caps or liquid. Supplementing ALL the available minerals, you would thereby greatly reduce or totally eliminate the need for EXTRA magnesium. Also take 1 – 3 grams Taurine daily to help your body with mineral utilization.
In a book I am reading right now, Transdermal Magnesium Therapy, Mark Sircus says that actually 1000mg a day might be the good amount for most people! I diluted Nigari in water and rub it over my body so I have no idea how much I am getting!
Hi Debbie, I think that you are the magnesium chloride expert around here so here are a few questions for you, or for anyone else who cares to answer!
I have started to read Mark Sircus’ book about transdermal magnesium therapy but I have to say that he repeats himself a lot and although he does give very interesting information I didn’t yet get to the bits that interest me. One question, he seems to use magnesium oil he buys somewhere but it seems that one can make it oneself by adding water to the magnesium flakes (I use Nigari flakes). According to what I have read to far the ratio should be 50% water to 50% magnesium. He has another ratio, what do you think?
He also talks about using magnesium oil for wrinkles. Being 54 that interests me but I tried to rub the 50% oil on my face and I felt too much of a burning sensation. Any thoughts on that? In the meanwhile I have diluted my oil but haven’t tried it again on my face. If I rub it somewhere else I don’t feel any burning.
Right now I am using it on my husband’s knees as he was having some pain and am going to try it on a carcinoma he has on the top of his ear which seems to be more or less healed with the help of greater celendine but looks a bit dry right now. Should one only spray, should one rub? I find the book very interesting but with so many repetitions he never gets to where one wants to be, to the real information! No sea here for us to soak in but there is a spa pool with salty water not far from where we live which we want to try after the holidays (too busy now I’m sure….)!
Hi Fransica, I am sure he repeats himself to fill the pages up! The only ratio I read about was 50/50 but I suppose it depends on how concentrated you want it and how you can take it although too concentrated and it would be too crystaline.
Rubbing it into the skin would give you a better uptake but spraying is fine as well (just whatever you prefer). The face is probably more sensitive so just water it down more until it doesn’t burn.
PS: I just got a bottle of colloidal copper so I will let you know how that goes with gray hair.
Thanks Debbie! And yes, he is trying to fill the pages, they do that a lot nowadays but I find it very annoying. I am not after thick books, I am after books with the information I need! But never mind…. I still hope he gives more useful information!
I found the more diluted solution more oily so we are using it that way now. I haven’t tried it on my face again but I would be interested to see the effect on wrinkles as I am starting to have quite a few around my eyes.
I have never heard of colloidal copper but please keep me informed! I am using a oily herb extract called Herbamix which also says that it delays the onset of gray hair (a bit late for me…. ). It has helped my hair get healthier…..
I have a question, Debbie. I have a large bag of Ice Melt, the kind you use in winter on your side walks and drive way. It says it is magnesium chloride. It’s not flakes, but in rock form. Would you still do a one to one mixture? Thanks.
To Jeff of cebu city, philippines, where did you buy your magnesium chloride here in the Philippines? Pls tell me the address and phone numbers, thank you
I’ve also experienced restlessness with the Magnesium Citrate. I tried the powdered “Natural Calm” and it did NOT calm me… Quite the opposite. So my doctor suggested MagOx which is Magnesium Oxide. I take two at night and sleep better than I have in years. It’s also lowered my BP a little and my migraines have almost gone away. I’ve heard negatives about the oxide form of magnesium (absorption, stomach upset, etc) but for me it’s worked miracles. I think everyone must figure out which form works best for them.
Hi Bill, I would really appreciate your opinion. I have just got some magnesium chloride and when it arrived the bag says for industrial use. It is not quite pure white, say off white and when I made it to solution it is a little cloudy with a very slight dirty appearance (only very slight). It also has a bitter almond odour. Could this be cyanide? I have read something that Dr Mark Circus wrote that even with 25 times the heavy metal pollution it is a 1000x better than nothing. I got it for footbaths and to apply transdermally but now am uncertain if it should be used or not at all or only sometimes. I have applied it twice to my legs and had good results, the same as if I were using the small expensive packet of pure white flakes. Would you think it ok to continue using them? Your opinion/ thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I do look forward to reading your posts. Thanks, Maria
Hi Maria… I’m afraid that I can’t really advise you here. My own Magnesium Chloride that I use as mag oil is chemical grade purity. But when there is a peculiar almond smell and a milky, dirty appearance, perhaps you should write to the manufacturers and get a purity analysis off them or go online, find their website and email them for your own peace of mind. Or perhaps you could get someone to do an impurity analysis of your magnesium chloride locally. And whether to use it or not is really up to you to decide.
Thanks Bill.
hi guys, I am interested to try and make my own mag bicarb water, I have a recipe which says to add 5ml (400mg) of milk of magnesia to a bottle of carbonated water, then gives instructions to dilute the resulting concentrated mix. The milk of magnesia contains already sodium hydrogen carbonate and gycerol and peppermint oil, will these additives play any role in the reaction or is it ok these are present?
Hi this question is for you Bill. To accurately make the mag bicarbonate water would I be correct with the following proportions? 1 liter of carbonated water, 500ml of MoM, and 120ml of baking powder?
Thanks, Mary
Hi Mary… To make a solution of magnesium bicarbonate, the easiest way is just to use Milk of Magnesia — no aluminium — and carbonated water.
Here is the recipe:
This homemade magnesium/bicarbonate water, in its composition, is very close to brands like Noah’s California Spring Water or Unique Water. The recipe is based on the reaction of magnesium hydroxide (in milk of magnesia) with plain carbonated water according to the formula
Mg(OH)2 plus 2CO2 —> Mg(HCO3)2
Plain Milk of Magnesia (MoM) should be used in the recipe. The “active” ingredient should only be magnesium hydroxide [Mg (OH)2], 400 mg per teaspoon (5 ml), and the “inactive” ingredient should only be purified water. 41. 7% by weight of magnesium hydroxide is magnesium (Mg), so 5 ml of MoM has 167 mg of Mg, and 1 tablespoon has 500 mg of Mg (1 tablespoon = 15 ml).
To prepare the water follow these steps:
1. Chill a 1-liter bottle of unflavored seltzer, which is fully carbonated water. The seltzer should only contain water and carbon dioxide (CO2). Club soda is carbonated water with a small amount of added sodium and is also suitable.
2. Shake the bottle of Milk of Magnesia well, then measure out 3 tablespoons (45 ml) and have it ready. The plastic measuring cup that comes with the MoM is accurate and ideal for the purpose.
3. Remove the bottle of unflavored seltzer from the refrigerator without agitating it. Open it slowly and carefully to minimize the loss of CO2. As soon as the initial fizzing settles down, slowly add the pre-measured MoM. Promptly replace the cap on the water bottle and shake it vigorously for 30 seconds or so, making the liquid cloudy.
After 1/2 hour or so the liquid will have cleared, and any un-dissolved magnesium hydroxide will have settled to the bottom of the bottle. Again shake the bottle vigorously for 30 seconds or so, making the liquid cloudy again. When the liquid again clears all of the magnesium hydroxide in the MoM should have reacted with all of the CO2 to become dissolved (ionized) magnesium and bicarbonate.
If a small amount of un-dissolved magnesium hydroxide still remains in the bottom of the bottle as a sediment it may be ignored.
This 1 liter of concentrated magnesium bicarbonate water will have approximately 1500 mg of magnesium and approximately 7500 mg of bicarbonate. It should be kept in the refrigerator. You may note that the sides of the bottle “cave in” when the liquid clears. This is a sign that the reaction is complete.
To make 4 liters of magnesium bicarbonate drinking water with approximately 125 mg of magnesium and approximately 625 mg of bicarbonate per liter and a pH of approximately 8 measure and transfer 1/3 liter of the concentrate (333 ml) into a 4-liter container. Fill the container with 3 2/3 liters of plain or purified water, as desired.
Magnesium dissolved in water (ionized) is considerably more bioavailable than is magnesium in pill form. While this is not as concentrated as colloidal magnesium, it is considerably easier on the tastebuds.
Source: http://www.acupuncturebrooklyn.com/how-tos/how-to-make-magnesium-bicarbonate-water
Hi Bill, I'm looking for an electrolyte drink. At the end process could we add potassium and vitamin C and any particular form best? Any potential side effects especially if one is somewhat sodium sensitive to like baking soda? So we could drink this throughout the day like Gatorade sports drinks? Thank you.
Hi Bill,
I have just started to take magnesium & the leady in the health store recommended magnesium citrate (MAG 365), I am taking 1 teaspoon each morning in warm water. I am a bit confused reading through all the different posts, can you clarify for me will magnesium citrate cause increased blood pressure? as I don't need that to happen to me.
Thank you in advance, love your posts.
Hi Rialc…I normally recommend Magnesium Chloride as a magnesium choice but the chloride part might raise your blood pressure for a short while. Magnesium Citrate will not raise your blood pressure and would be safe enough for you to take(300mgs twice a day).
If you also have high blood pressure problems and/or cholesterol problems I would also try taking the following nutrients on a daily basis:
Kelp — Especially for the iodine and beneficial minerals.
Niacin – 500 mgs twice a day. Or you could take the slow release, no-flush niacin form — inositol hexanicotinate(1500mgs twice a day). The more niacin the better the outcome. Niacin is about the best nutrient I know for relaxing the mind and body(my own experience) — but you will have to take the higher non-RDA dosages to get this relaxing effect. We are all deficient in most of the B Vitamins anyway because of our poor diets, so supplementing Brewer's Yeast(best natural B vitamin source) or B50 complex on a daily basis would also problably help most people here as well.
Vitamin C — at least 3 to 8 grams a day(depending on the seriousness your heart or blood condition) with water in separate 1 gm doses throughout the day. As per Linus Pauling's successful heart research.
Lysine — 3 to 8 gms a day. Take it together with the Vitamin C in water every day. As per Linus Pauling's heart research.
Green Tea 3 times a day. Works together with the Vitamin C and lysine to help cure problems like arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure. As per Linus Pauling's heart research.
Chanca piedra — Most people don't realize how beneficial and wide-acting this herb is for the body. This one lowers dangerous excess blood calcium, lowers blood pressure, lowers blood sugar, dissolves and removes gallstones and kidney stones, lowers cholesterol and is also strongly anti-viral.
Try to avoid excess gluten, dairy and sugar in your diet.
Would it be ok to use magnesium Chloride and sodium bicarbonate to make Magnesium Bicarbonate? I think the chemical reaction would be magnesium bicarbonate and sodium Chloride. Am I right? Is there a good reason anyone can think of not to use it that way?
Have to add a big YES YES YES to Magnesium! I have been chronically constipated since I was a child. I usually used Triphala to help my slow bowel issues, which encourages the peristalsic contractions, but my bowels were still a little on the slow side (1 BM every 2 days) and most of the time they were too hard. I started taking magnesium for my anxiety issues and found that not only is magnesium a great supplement to relieve anxiety, but as an unintended result, my bowels are now soft and very easy to pass and I have a regular BM every day. No wonder Milk of Magnesia is a laxative – go figure!
I use a powdered blend of magnesium citrate and magnesium carbonate (two of the most bioavailable forms of magnesium) and take 1/2 teaspoonful every day. I use the powdered form because some studies show that the coating on tablets reduces the absorption of magnesium. It’s best to start small to see how you react and increase the dosage if you find you need more. If your bowels are too loose, you are taking too much. If they are comfortably loose, you are at the right amount. Make sure you do not surpass the recommended amount per day, because your kidneys have to work hard to excrete the magnesium, and toxity has been reported in very high dosages. Do not use if you have kidney problems.
As another wonderful benefit, magnesium is very relaxing and is great for people who suffer from anxiety issues. Magnesium supplementation is also good for people who are taking calcium and/or Vitamin B6.
All the research I have done on Magnesium shows that ionic Magnesium is absorbed by the body much better than other forms & that magnesium oxide is one of the worst & hardest to be absorbed… So I would say to stick with the ionic magnesium… It works well for me, much better than the oxide version I used to take. The oxide one gave me bad diarrhea from malabsorbtion. Also I would say to definitely make sure you continue with magnesium supplementing if you start the vitamin D because it makes a magnesium deficiency more prominent… magnesium is just so important for over 300 enzyme processes & I believe processing vitamin D requires magnesium…
I would have to COMPLETELY agree with you about the Vitamin D. I was diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency and started Vitamin D therapy using supplements and developed extreme heart palpitations within 2 weeks. Didn’t make any connection at first. When I quit taking the D the palps went away within a week to 2 weeks. I tried this test 5 different times in the last 6 months and I STILL have not found my Magnesium balance.
3 weeks ago I quit taking all D supplements and just focused on getting my D from the sun. (no sunscreen, 20-30 minutes every couple of days – arms, calves & face) I did that for about a week and a half and within about a week and a half I began getting the heart palps again. So, there is definitely, without a doubt a major need for Magnesium if supplementing for a Vitamin D deficiency. I didn’t relaize I had been Mag deficient, but obviously I am.
So, long story longer, here I sit as my palps started back up last night. I alternate between a Mag Citrate powder and a Mag oil (topically). I am afraid to take any more than I already am. Iam taking a total of at least (combined sources) 500-600mg a day….. Today anyway. Before the palps started I was getting about 300mg a day.
Sorry if I am rambling. My doctors have been useless and know nothing of nutrition and when I mentioned the palps being from a Mag deficiency from taking the D, she didn’t even listen to me.
Anyway, what would be a top/limit for a daily intake of Magnesium? I think I need more, I really do. What I do take is helping, but it doesn’t take them completely away…… Also, I have read that just because you get loose stool from Mag that it doesn’t mean you have taken too much neccessarily. What the body needs at that moment, it takes and excretes what it doesn’t. That is why doses throughout the day are crucial.
If anyone has any other input I would appreciate it :O)
Please read my Hawthorn Motherwort entry under Heart Palpitations or my Mothewort Hawthorn entry under Tachycardia. Good chance the latter will be of help if you use it.
This is absolutely fascinating! Thanks for sharing this info.
I was just reading about the possible mind/memory/learning benefits of a new magnesium l-threonate. The human trials are not finished but it’s on the market…. has anyone out there used this yet and with what results? I am already benefiting with sleep, mood and digestion by using magnesium chloride in a weak drink and as an oil spray as well as soaking in epsom salts.
http://www.healthyfellow.com/461/natural-memory-boosters/
Yes, I have been using it for 2 weeks. What a remarkable difference it has made for my brain! It produces a calm, clear headed feeling and my focus is much improved. Here is an article describing the clinical research.
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/feb2012_Novel-Magnesium-Compound-Reverses-Neurodegeneration_01.htm
How to read the Supplement label of ingredients:
I bought Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate. The Medicinal Ingredients reads:
Magnesium (Magnesium Bisglycinate) 560mg. Providing Elemental Magnesium 100mg.
Non-Medicinal ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose. Contains no yeast, wheat, soy, gluten, corn, sugar, dairy, artificial colours or preservatives. Manufactured under the unique A…. Laboratories process…………. whereby the minerals are chelated (bound to) by amino acids, peptides and polypeptides.
Directions: Adults, take four capsules daily or as directed by health care practitioner.
My questions how to read these labels? does this mean I am only getting 100mg of magnesium as why they advise 4 capsules? What is the Magnesium bisglycinate?
What does it mean?
Thank you if any one can help.
Ginny
Ginny, yes elemental refers to the actual amount of magnesium per capsule. I believe the RDA for magnesium is around 350 mg/day so that is why 4 capsules per day.
Lisa, I wouldn’t trust the RDA if I were you…. It is mostly wrong!
I recently bought magnesium chloride crystals at a local pharmacy, and made magnesium oil out of it. I am just wondering if I decide to take the crystals orally, how much should I be taking in terms of spoonfuls in a day? 1/8 tsp? 1/4? maybe more? the article by chris gupta is saying that it should be 25g/litre of water, but I don’t want to make a batch of it, so I want to know how much it should be in terms of single servings.
Hi Jeff… Magnesium Chloride can be taken in amounts up to 1/2 tspn in a glass of water per day. This amount has historically been used to cure diseases like diptheria and polio in the earlier days when medicine was more honest. See this link:
http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=49&db=5&C0=74
Normally, if you are taking MC for a specific reason for the first time, you should take a larger dose — say 1/2 tspn and try to find the point where you get loose stools or diarrhea. This is called titrating the dose. This tells you that you body is getting enough magnesium and that’s when you should cut back to 1/8 or 1/4 tspn a day. Every individual will have a different requirement for magnesium and this is the best way to find it.
Chris Gupta says you should take 25g/litre which works out to 2. 5gms(or 1/2 tspn) per 100 mL(or about 1/2 glass of water).
If you are using Magnesium Oil, the dosage is 10 drops two or three times a day outside mealtimes. Again you should try and find your own level by titration.
Thanks Bill! If I understand you correctly, if my body could tolerated 1/2 tsp of MC, then eventually I would start having diarrhea when my body hits the limit? or is it that I get diarrhea the first time around if I take more than what my body can take?
Also, I want to get this clear that we’re talking about 1/2 tsp per day right? not 1/2 tsp 3x a day?
Where did you buy your magnesium chloride?
Recently, I bought Magnesium Chloride crystals and made mag oil out of it. My mom, who has both diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, seems to sleep better when I rub it on her lower legs. The problem is that it constantly itches. I am not sure if she is allergic to it since her legs don’t turn red or anything but it itches like being bitten by a mosquito. I’ve been rubbing it on her legs for almost a week and the level of itching is still the same. I tried once to just paint it on her soles and it seems that her soles don’t itch but her legs still itches even if I just rub it on her soles. My wife is speculating that it may be an issue of bad circulation. Has anyone experienced this? I’ve read through the magnesium and circulation postings and didn’t find anything about itching. I did read somewhere that its quite probable since blood starts travel back in your skin and that makes it itch. My question is, how long does it take for the itching to start subsiding?
Hi Jeff, I don’t know if this is true or not, but I have read from several people online that if a person is deficient in magnesium that the oil will cause burning/itching. From my own experience I found this to be true. When I first started the mag. oil, I had terrible burning/itching and stopped using it. I took mag. powder internally for awhile then went back to using the oil again. This time, I had no burnng/itching. I couldn’t say how long it will take for this to go away.
Hi Jeff, This also happened to me. All through childhood and until recently I would even have to wash sea water off after having a swim, no waiting till I got home. Instead of rubbing the mag oil on spray it on and leave it on for a few minutes or till the itching starts and rinse off. Then lightly rub legs with ev olive oil or coconut oil. Soaking the feet in a tub also helps, do it for 20 mins in the evening. If all else fails try epsom salts foot soaks. I have never had a problem with epsom salts. Absolutely excellent in the bath and foot soaks, just use a jug of water or shower to rinse off. It may also be worthwhile taking a small amount of magnesium orally about 1/2 hour before bed. It’s interesting that your wife thinks it could be circulation as I would have to say that mine has improved and now sea water does not need to be rinsed off, never thought of that.
If your mum has any other skin issues have a look at neem supplements and some morning or afternoon sunshine for Vit D. All the best.
Thanks for the feedback. To Maria, what my wife meant was that my mom may have bad circulation issues before, and taking mag oil made the circulation better. My mom-in-law used to tell her that some people get itchy skin when the circulation comes rushing back, since blood tends to float up to the skin. I guess her circulation improved since she is sleeping better. But now her skin is full of red spots. I’m laying off the magnesium chloride for a while. Last night I tried dipping her feet in water with H202 which seemed to help lighten the red spots a bit. I don’t think she’s allergic to the mag oil because its only the top part of her foot which has the red spots. Her shins do itch but no spots. I also rubbed some on her forearm and even her chest but no red spots. only 1 area has those.
Do you guys think its ok to soak her feet in epsom salt even with the red spots or should I let it subside first?
Side effect reported
As an update, the red spots that manifested on my mom’s skin which was caused by the Magnesium Oil actually disappeared when I applied magnesium oil onto it. I read on another website that the red spots are suppose to be unused calcium from the cells which floated up to the skin, and putting magnesium oil on those spots should let the calcium go back to the bloodstream so that it can be used again by the body.
Hello, Can I ask something? Where did u buy milk of magnesia here in cebu???? I went to watsons, rose pharmacy and other drug stores but there’s no product there, even at the groceries. Pls help me. Can u just send it to my email? jefc_cuanan(at)ymail.com Hoping for your reply. Thanks a lot
A tip for the itching is to dilute the magnesium oil with more water. Separate into another small spray bottle and dillute it by 50 percent or more and then gradually increase the amount of the magnesium. I like to apply coconut oil over the magnesium and then go to bed. No reason to go full guns and be uncomfortably miserable with stinging and itching. I find that I can apply it to my scalp much stronger than to my face. So I get my hands wet and apply more water where it runs down behind my ears and on my forhead and cheeks full strength is too itchy. A splash of water and rub it in and I still get the benefits of it on my face. My hair by the way was falling by gobs. For the last 5 years in my hair brush and the shower drain. It was getting thin and my hair line had changed. My eyebrows were disappearing. Within a month or so my hair stopped falling out. And it is now coming back in even my eyebrows are starting to fill in. I like to rub into my scalp and sleep with it all night. When I wash it out in the morning my hair is exceptionally shiny with good body after leaving it on my scalp all night.
hi Bobynn,
Read yr old (2013) post about mg oil good for your hair. would like to know, your experience about mg oil so far, especially with hair fall.
do you still think, mg oil helped you to stop falling hair & do u think, you would still recommend it?
I ask because, with time, often the opinion a person has about a product changes. just trying to make sure, before trying this on myself.
can I give transdermal magnesium oil to my Dad, suffering from Parkinsons, with all his other medication, from his doctors, or will this clash?
Thank you Bill from San Fernando! Your comments and links on magnesium chloride. This saved my digestion. ACV had helped with acid reflux but the magnesuim chloride is a miracle. I was in such bad shape, wasn’t even able to digest food. From everything I have read it appears that I have been deficient in magnesium for a long time, but my entire chemistry was messed up by a staff infection I was given during surgey or from all the antibiotics. It happened so fast and doctors have no clue. They don’t even take you serioulsy if they can’t just perscribe a deadly drug. I have been getting sicker and sicker and just didn’t know how much longer I could go on. I was taking the magnesium at night.
One night I watched a documentary called Feed your head about a doctor curing paranoid schitzophrenia with niacin. I have niacin but didn’t take it regularly. That night I took the niacin with the magnesium and the next day I felt wonderful the next day, it was so dramatic. In the info you posted it states you need magnesium to properly metabolzie b vitamins and boy I sure learned that taking the two together. I thought the first day may have been a fluke, but as every day was better, it could only have been the magnesium with the niacin.
So I told my husband and he tried it. He experienced the same thing, you wake up feeling so good, full of energy and don’t even need the coffee. I owe you Bill. I got a copy of my blood tests and the thing that was really out of control was my calcium levels. My doctor never even mentioned this, I guess he didn’t see this as a problem. I am post menapausal for 10 years so supposedly should be calcium deficient. I was really upset to learn about the calcium and how the great damage these lies are doing to our bodies. I have had kidney problems from calcium deposits for years. Have bone spurs from calcium and can only imagine what it has done to my heart and arteries.
Our American healthcare is criminal. I am sharing the magnesium chloride and niacin at night with everyone I know. Especially with other women as we are bombarded with the suppsed need for all this calcium and have no idea that without magnesium, we are poisioning our bodies.
Hi: would you share what form and amount of magnesium and how much niacin. Also is this on an empty right before bed? Thanks
I take 2 Alta Magensium Chloride tablets with a 500 mg niacin. I started taking all my b vitamins now at night and no longer have bright yellow urine, so it sure seems that the magensium does impact the metabolization of b vitamins, so you actually use the vitamin. I started taking the same dose of the magnesium and niacin during the early afternoon or late morning. Starting to get tired mid afternoon like the effects wore off. Now it lasts through the day.
Hi Mary, forgot to answer you on timing. We take about an hour before bed or so. I drink with milk but my husband just with water. Like I said, it has worked great doing it in the afternoon too. You just need to take the niacin with the magnesium. I had starting taking the magnesium chloride at night, and just happened to want to take the niacin after watching the documentry on Dr. Abram Hoffer and niacin. That made me want ti take niacin so I took it with the magenesium. I had taken niacin many times over the years but never felt anything but the flush. I never experienced anything like the effect as such when taking it with the magnesium chloride. The magnesium was great for sleep, acid reflux, digestion and for nerves, but alone there was no effect of the energy and mental clarity, better and disposition as such as when taken with the niacin. From Dr. Hoffer’s research, niacin is just so important for the brain, which needs so much more nutrients than an other body system. But the just plain old feeling so good and energy wasn’t something I was expecting. Everyone else I have given this too has the same experience. Just some feel so good in the AM then sort of hit an afternoon crash, but take the mag and niacin again and you are set for the day.
Hi Luana. Are you still taking the B6 together with the Magnesium. 500mg is a big dose of B6? I am surprised that you can take it before going to bed and still sleep? What dose of the Magnesium Chloride do you take?
Thank you EC for all the information. I would like to try the magnesium chloride transdermal treatment. The only place I found selling it, only sells large amount, I don’t want to buy 55Lbs; can anyone please advise where in North Florida or the internet to buy. Deirdre in GA can you help?
healthandwisdom.com
Hi Frances, This is Merryanne in Central FL, You can find Magnesium Chlorid Crystals in Aquarium Storis that sell all the minerials for salt water tanks, it is all very pure and clean, it has to or it will kill the fish. You can also find it on eBay and order it. You take 1 cup of mag crystals and 1 cup of very hot water and mix untill melted, there you have mag oil you can spray on or take one teaspoon a day( about 600 mg per teaspoon) I have been taking it every day for over or about a year, it is the best magnesium for your body, it has no laxitive effect and it is quickly motabilised by your body.
Frances… Magnesium Chloride flakes are normally sold in larger amounts but there are other opitions for you. Magnesium Chloride flakes is not normally sold in health shops, but Magnesium Oil is sold in health shops. Magnesium Oil simply consists of 60% — 70% magnesium chloride flakes dissolved in 30% — 40% water.
You can use Magnesium Oil and either take it internally — 10 drops at a time — once or twice a day or just just spread 10 drops under each forearm(I do this) for direct transdermal absorbtion into the blood. Using the transdermal method bypasses problems which might occur during digestion and absorbtion of magnesium in the intestines. You can also safely supplement much larger amounts of Magnesium Chloride using the transdermal method.
Frances, I buy magnesium chloride flakes from swanson vitamin online for 15.00 for 2.2lbs.
Can ted or someone tell me if I can purchase magnesium chloride used for melting ice to make my own magnesium chloride. How can I tell if it is safe and pure to use? Is all magnesium chloride the same?
My dauther is using magnesium sulphate last 6 months, half teaspoon with water in morning and her Epelipsy is in control. She is in her 8 week of pregnancy. Some experienced friend should guide whether to continue magnesium sulphate or stop. Is there any bad effects on fetus? Please reply
I’m sure you have an answer by now since this is so long ago. But I wanted to say that I have had a seizure disorder for most of my life and eventually realized that it had something to do with constipation. Evidently when I was constipated some nerves were being pressed upon which triggered my seizures.
Epsom salt has really helped with this. I either bathe in it or take about 1/2 tsp. And/or I take magnesium citrate. I find both help.
I was doing research and found out magnesium was one common remedie for about three different things I was trying to deal with incontinence being one of them
i took two capsules everyday until I knew my body had absorbed it (this came in the form of mild diarrhea) it only took a few days and I didnt have and incident for another year! Everytime I feel it happen I go take another capsule and wahlaah! Instantly cured!
i hope this helps someone else out there! By the way im twenty two.
you have discovered the tip of the magnesium iceberg, there is much more to magnesium supplements. Some like magnesium chloride oil and flakes can revitalize the body. Dig into transdermal magnesium. I wished I knew about it 40 years ago.
Question for Hans of Vancouver, B. C. can you be more specific inre what type of magnesium you use? Thank you
I’ve had incontinence about 6 years. Less than a week ago I read about magnesium for incontinence on this site. Within two days I was out walking hills without needing to make pit stops and without leaking. I haven’t leaked a drop since taking the magnesium. I just spent $1000 co-pay to hear from the urologist that my options were surgery or physical therapy. I’m so disturbed that my gyn or urologist didn’t know the benefits of magnesium, but I’m so thankful for this site and all that participate. I have a new lease on life because I can exercise again. Thanks!
Your body when it produces leg cramps or restless leg syndrome usually means the body is low on magnesium. I suffer from this same thing and when I take a magnesium supplement the pain goes away
one can use magnesium oil by spraying this on your legs, arms, over your heart and soak your feet for 30 days.. And get your magnesium levals up to par… Your can also make your own… Much cheaper this way.. boy is this really good mag.oil
Hello; I am very new to this site and I am so appreciative of all of the valuable info. Did you know you can make your own magesium oil very easily. It is very simple and the magnesium chloride is obtained from a product that you use to make tofu it is called Nigari flakes they are a food safe product.
A Grammie who cares. From Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Yes, please provide the link for making magnesium oil as I can get Nigari easily here in France.
To those interested, I used a ratio of 1:1, I boiled a cup of water and Dissolved a cup of magnesium chloride. So far, its working quite well, I rub it on my mom’s legs every night. Her legs would itch a lot due to poor circulation, although it has helped her sleep quite well at night even if she feels itchy.
Thanks, works real well for leg cramps. Took Magnesium Chloride 535mg once at night for three nights and since then a great night sleep with no cramps.
I was utterly floored to learn that high blood pressure, racing heart, insomnia, foot and leg cramps and even osteoporosis were all symptomatic of magnesium deficiency. Since I’ve got them all, I decided I definitely needed more magnesium and then quickly learned that 500 mg in oral supplements is about my limit before diarrhea and intestinal cramping sets in.
So yeah, transdermal magnesium applications make sense to me. I haven’t located a local source for Nigari (mag. Chloride) yet, but did get some Epsom salts. (mag. Sulphide)
I tried making the oil with Epsom Salt and spraying it on but my skin really stung from the application. Then I did a little more research and found one site that gave instructions on combining Epsom Salts with coconut oil to make a cream and massaging it into your skin. I used about ½ cup salts to 1/4 cup boiling water, (stirred a bunch and microwaved it until it was all dissolved good) which made a really thick “oil. ” I keep this in a plastic container in the fridge until I’m ready for my “transdermal magnesium massage.”
When I’m ready, I use 1 tbs. of Epsom Salts oil to 1 tbs. of coconut oil and mix it all up together real good in a small bowl, just using my fingers. It makes a light creamy mixture.
When I applied it, it didn’t sting my skin and the cream was completely absorbed in less than twenty minutes, leaving my skin feeling soft and silky.
The spray oil irritated my skin, but the coconut oil and Epsom salt cream worked superbly. And it’s so easy too! I can use it right after I take a shower or massage it into my feet, calves and arms while sitting in front of the TV.
I’ve combined this with my “Naked Bloody Mary blood pressure drink” which I consume faithfully now twice a day. It’s 1 8oz glass of low sodium V-8 juice (820 mg. Of potassium! ) to which I add 1/4 to ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, and 2 tsp celery seed (and a slosh or two of Worcestershire sauce if ‘ya want). Yep. It’s dang hot but I’m getting used to it cuz’ it works! (Potassium, garlic, cayenne and celery seed are all known helps for lowering blood pressure.)
After using this regimen just one week my blood pressure has dropped from 135/80 to 122/75! No more foot cramps and no more racing heart either!
Thank God! There IS hope and it sure ain’t big Pharma!
What's the most absorbable form of magnesium? And how much did you take for your restless legs? Mine are BAD. Thanks
One day I woke up with what I thought was an ear blocked with wax. But, no matter how hard I tried, no wax would come out. Then I started researching and discovered that sudden sensorineural deafness was what I had. It stated that ssd occurred due to a lack of magnesium in the body. So I started taking magnesium in the form of magnesium orotate 4 tablets of 500 mg 2x daily on an empty stomach. No results. Then I switched to chelated magnesium glycinate/lysinate with bioperine (an extract made from black pepper which increases bioavailability of beneficial substances and also chemical drugs). The deafness disappeared within 3 days. You must take the elemental dosage recommended for your age group. I tried a chelated magnesium with calcium, but that did not work nor did magnesium citrate.
I would like to know if I should take a magnesium supplement for my blood pressure and if so how, much. Thanks Pam
Here is an interesting article by Chris Gupta, which describes the wide benefits of Magnesium(as well as Vitamin C and Aspirin) supplementation and its real and successful medical use. This article also goes into detail concerning research misconduct or what I call “spoiler” research put out by the medical drugs companies.
This is why simple chemicals like Lugol’s Iodine, Sodium Bicarbonate(BS)and Hydrogen Peroxide have become so de-emphasised by spoiler drugs research — the medical companies don’t like the competition, so they try and generate fear of use — despite the older medical fraternity using these simple chemicals very successfully for over a hundred or more years.
Here is the article in PDF format:
http://www.mcs-international.org/downloads/030_magnesium_chloride.pdf
Hello Bill! Always good to read your postings and research. So I googled the 2.5 % magnesium chloride hexahydrate and the prices vary from really high down to lower. I guess I could call the companies, but was wondering if you might could guide me the product that I would need. Currently I have been taking Magnesium Chloride from Alta health products in tablet form: 1 tablet = 520 mg magnesium chloride and 62.17 mg elemental magnesium. I take one daily. Would I be able to continue this one or do I need the other or just more of this one. Of course I know we can’t put a price on health, but I am on a budget and it is a rather small budget. I believe in alternative medicines, but I will tell you I have spent close to $1000.00 this year alone on herbs and vitimans and still did not get all of the ones I would have liked to had. I would also be willing to crush my current tablets and mix them with water, if this would make a difference. Thank You in advance.
Hi Phil… I bought my Magnesium Chloride — chemical grade — in Bangkok, Thailand. I purchased it as a simple powder which is always the best form. I confess I dislike tablets because of the fillers and additives they use. The best forms are always powder or capsule containing powder in my experience.
Regarding magnesium chloride, one of the best forms to take is Magnesium Oil. I make this myself — 70% to 80% magnesium chloride with 20%-30% water. Just add 10 drops of mag oil to any drink twice a day or you can use it transdermally to be absorbed through the skin(forearms). If you use the transdermal method your body is able to absorb magnesium in much larger amounts — with no diarrhea or intestinal issues to worry about. And any excess is simply excreted from the blood via the kidneys. Magnesium Oil can be purchased quite cheaply from any health shop.
You can also use Magnesium Sulphate(Epsom Salts) transdermally — normally people just use epsom salts in baths, footsoaks or skin sprays as described on this site.
Like you, I was also fed up with the cost of vitamins, amino acids and mineral supplements. After some research I simply settled on taking 3 Dessicated Liver(DL) tablets(chewed) after every meal. I now rate DL higher than the much more expensive chlorella or spirulina — DL contains every single vitamin, amino acid and mineral — and all in the most bio-available form — that your body will need on a daily basis. I also reckon DL is also better than plant forms containing these nutrients — since it is fairly well-known that plant amino acids forms — such as in chlorella or spirulina — are not so easily digested or assimilated in humans.
So if you want all your daily nutrients in just one form — dessicated liver is it. Ted recommends eating raw liver shakes, but perhaps DL is easier!!
You can purchase DL at any weight-training store and some health shops. You can also buy the powder form of DL(better). And it’s quite cheap because its simply an inexpensive food.
I am really confused! Will magnesium make my blood pressure skyrocket?
Should I take it with meals or on empty stomach?
Should I dilute it?
Should I take it with calcium or get just magnesium. I am taking the angstrom sized magnesium for 100% absorbtion without diarrhea. Is that good?
Am I supposed to hold it beneath my tongue or swallow it?
Please help! Here is what I have read:
Magnesium is supposed to lower blood pressure. It pushes calcium out of the cell after a cell “event” (example: contraction), and thereby allows the cell to relax and to allow toxins to be removed from the cell. How then can taking magnesium cause blood pressure to skyrocket? They give it intravenously in hospital to make blood pressure drop. Also, I read to take it with a meal, then I read to take it on an empty stomach, at least an hour before or after a meal. I just got the angstrom calcium 1500/magnesium 3000 because I read the magnesium might not be absorbed without the calcium, then I read I should take the calcium separately at a different time. I read the magnesium in this form will be absorbed directly in the cells, even in the mouth. So I held it briefly sublingually, then swallowed because of its strong taste and besides you can’t hold it in your mouth forever. I want to correct magnesium deficiency, lower blood pressure, and finish ridding myself of the numbness in toes and feet. I have been taking fat soluble b1 and B12 and soaking feet in epsom salts, and it has really helped get rid of the numbness, but it’s still sort of numb in the toes and ball of left foot and sometimes in right foot. Please help! Thanks
Hi Grannyguru… I’ve been taking Magnesium in various forms for several years now. Magnesium Chloride IV is usually the first thing that they give heart attack patients in hospital ER to lower blood pressure and to relax the heart muscle and lower blood pressure. Magnesium is also essential to regulate body Calcium against the other electrolytes — Sodium and potassium — in your blood and cells. Magnesium is also used in over 300 enzyme processes in your body, so its a very important mineral. Most of us lack proper magnesium levels in our body now because of diet.
In answer to you questions:
Should I take it with meals or on empty stomach?
I always take magnesium on an empty stomach. The best forms to take are Mag Chloride, Mag Citrate and Mag Gluconate — these are the most soluble and absorbable forms. Avoid magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide — they are badly absorbed by the body. My own favourite now is Magnesium Chloride. See this link: http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=49&db=5&C0=7
Should I dilute it?
I make my own Magnesium Oil(70%-80% magnesium chloride crystals and 20%-30% water) and just take 10 drops once or twice a day in a glass of water or orange juice and drink it. Or you can also just rub the magnesium oil onto your forearm to be absorbed transdermally. You can also take it in larger doses quite safely transdermally with no intestinal or diarrhea issues. You can buy magnesium oil in most health shops.
Should I take it with calcium or get just magnesium. I am taking the angstrom sized magnesium for 100% absorbtion without diarrhea. Is that good?
Western diets these days contains excess calcium anyway — everything is now fortified with calcium nowadays so I would just avoid taking calcium supplements altogether. This what I did, and, together with taking magnesium — this is what got rid of my own arrythmia problems in the past. Excess calcium also thickens the blood, makes your heart work harder and also acidifies your blood and cells if you are low magnesium or potassium.
Am I supposed to hold it beneath my tongue or swallow it?
Best to take it just as an oral supplement or transdermally as suggested. Magnesium sulphate(Epsom Salts) can also be used transdermally for magnesium intake.
So, in what form do you get your magnesium. Just asking for mag. in most pharmaceutical shops sounds like you dont know what you want. Pls help, how do I ask for it in the shops?
I have had muscle weakness and essential tremor for the last few years. Doctors finally saw the tremor and prescribed beta blockers to control it. They found no cause for the tremor and did not know why I was so weak- other than I was either exercising too little or too much.
On my own, I started 600 mg daily of magnesium oxide since I had heard it might help with muscle weakness. While I was taking that, I ran out of beta blockers and tremor did not return. I figured it must be the magnesium that had been keeping my tremor under control all along. Since then I have been off of the beta blockers completely. My tremor is better as long as I keep taking the magnesium. And my strength is also improving.
Hi Everyone…I’ve been drinking Magnesium Water for the past 3 months. I create a litre of Mag Water from plain soda water and Phillip’s Milk of Magnesia(no aluminium) according to this recipe here:
“FOUR EASY STEPS FOR MAKING THE MAGNESIUM/BICARBONATE DRINKING WATER CALLED “WW”, USING MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE IN “MILK OF MAGNESIA”, AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN “CARBONATED WATER”
The chemical formula is Mg(OH)2 plus (CO2)2 –> Mg(HCO3)2
Step 1: CHILL COMPLETELY TO REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE A 1 LITER BOTTLE OF “FULLY CARBONATED” WATER. Carbonated waters such as “Canada Dry Seltzer” which consist of only water and carbon dioxide (CO2) are suitable. “Club sodas” such as “Schweppes Club Soda” are also suitable; they are carbonated water with a small amount of added sodium.
Step 2: SHAKE WELL A BOTTLE OF PLAIN MILK OF MAGNESIA (MoM), THEN MEASURE OUT AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE 3 TBS (45 ml) AND HAVE IT READY. The plastic measuring cup that comes with the MoM is accurate and ideal for the purpose. Use only plain MoM without flavorings, sweeteners, mineral oil, or other additives. The “active ingredient” should be only magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), 400 mg per teaspoon (5 ml), and the “inactive ingredient” should be only purified water. 41.7% by weight of magnesium hydroxide is magnesium (Mg), so 1 teaspoon of MoM has 167 mg of Mg, and 1 tablespoon (TBS) has 500 mg of Mg (1 TBS = 15 ml).
Step 3: REMOVE THE BOTTLE OF CARBONATED WATER FROM THE REFRIGERATOR WITHOUT AGITATING IT. REMOVE THE CAP SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY TO MINIMIZE THE LOSS OF CO2. SLOWLY ADD THE PREMEASURED MoM, THEN PROMPTLY REPLACE THE CAP. Next, shake the bottle vigorously for 15 to 30 seconds, making the liquid cloudy. After 1/2 hour or so the liquid will have cleared, and any un-dissolved Mg-hydroxide will have settled to the bottom of the bottle. Again shake the bottle vigorously for 15 to 30 seconds, making the liquid cloudy again. When the liquid again clears all of the Mg hydroxide in the MoM should have reacted with all of the CO2 to become dissolved (ionized) magnesium and bicarbonate. However, if a small amount of un-dissolved Mg hydroxide still remains in the bottom of the bottle as a sediment it may be ignored. This 1 liter of concentrated magnesium bicarbonate water will have 1,500 mg of magnesium and 7,500 mg of bicarbonate. This concentrate must be diluted in order to be “WW”.
Step 4: DILUTE THIS CONCENTRATE 11:1 TO MAKE DRINKABLE MAGNESIUM/BICARBONATE WATER (WW). To make 4 liters of WW measure and transfer 1/3 liter of the concentrate (333 ml) into a 4 liter container. Fill the container with 3 2/3 liters of plain, preferably purified water. Or, prepare a single glassful of WW by adding 11 ounces of water to 1 ounce of the concentrate. This drinkable water will have approximately 125 mg of Mg and 625 mg of bicarbonate per liter, at pH ~8.3. Other dilutions of the concentrate may of course be made, if so desired.
“
Taken from here:
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f11/make-your-own-magnesium-bicarbonate-drink-tastes-sweet-46555/
The effects of drinking cups of this Mag water throughout the day have been very positive. My BM has become more regular, no more cramps and I don’t get so tired — no longer have a nap in the afternoons now. But the most remarkable effect is that I sleep so well and always wake up early full of energy, happy, aware and wide-awake with no aches or pains(I’m 60 y o).No brain fog or grogginess. Magnesium seems to have a wonderful effect on the brain for sure.
For the past month I have also added 2 teaspoons of sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon of borax to one litre of the Mag Water according to Ted’s Remedy Combination Rules here:
http://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/remedy-combinations.html
I added the sea salt and borax to this Mag Water because the sea salt supplies many other essential body minerals and also acts as an powerful antibiotic. The borax acts as an super-effective anti-fungal, a hormone balancer, and is also very good for the bones.
My next project is to put together a simple detox drink to be taken for short periods only and based on water, to get rid of heavy metals, dangerous halides and other food poisons from the body. I’ll use Sodium Thiosulhate, Borax, Iodine, Tannic Acid etc as specified on this site by Ted. I’m researching their safety in combination right now. Perhaps Ted, with his vast knowledge of chemicals, could help here, since I’m finding this a little hard going at the moment.
What I want to do is just to make up another simple drink based on just water that can easily detox heavy metals, aluminium, halides and poisons from my body in one go. This drink to be taken occasionally and only when needed, for short periods of 3-4 days only.
Hi Bill:
Thanks for this excellent recipe! Would you mind teling me what brand of borax you use? Is it the 40 Mule Team Borax used for laundry? i am very uncomfortable using something that is for laundry. Thanks very much!
Hi Mary…I just use the ordinary 20 Mule Team Borax brand and it is the one used for laundry. You can also purchase others — notably the Red Mill borax brand which is guaranteed pure and aluminum free (found in most Health shops).
Thank you so much for the borax info, will be looking for some this week!
Hi Bill:
I am asking you alot of questions, thanks. just went to a website that said borax was dangerous. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=705996
Do you feel okay about using it? Could not find Red Mill brand anywhere online. Do you know of another brand?
Thanks again
Hi Mary…I’ve been using borax as a spray with Mag sulphate in solution and I’ve also been taking trace borax in water internally(1/4 tspn in 1 litre of water) for about 4 months now and I have found it to be beneficial with no ill effects. The reason I take borax is to protect myself against fleas, ticks etc (I live in the tropics), to protect myself internally and externally against fungus and to balance my hormones and endocrine system. New research has also determined that supplementing boron or borax is an aid in preventing osteoporosis and seems to work with magnesium in the regulation of calcium within the body.
The brand that I use is 20 Mule Team Borax, which I regard as safe and fairly pure. Their site lists the ingredient as Sodium Tetraborate — or Borax. See the link here:
http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/about
On the above link, if you click the Product Info tab, and go to the bottom, the only ingredient listed is Sodium Tetraborate or Borax.
Regarding the other info you provided, I investigated this, and their were many recommendations by the FDA that borax was dangerous during rerpoduction as well as cancer causing.
So I did my own investigation. Here is the MSDS(Material Data Safety Sheet) — which is the absolute research bible on all chemical substances — and if you read the Toxicolgical Info portion of this data sheet, you will note that the conclusions were that there were no known or anticipated reproductive or mutagenic effects. This conclusion was determined by the IARC. As for recommendations by the FDA, I’m afraid I wouldn’t trust their advice anymore than I would trust the Fed, and for the same reasons.
One thing was very noticable in the link you provided, in all the recommendations that were given on toxicity, no AMOUNTS or QUANTITIES were ever shown. After all, if you ate a whole cupful of ordinary table salt, that would have some pretty strange effects wouldn’t it? Yet we eat SMALL amounts of salt every day. It is the same with borax when taken internally, it is taken in trace amounts only.
Also, when you compare the MSDS datasheet toxicity of Borax to ordinary table salt(Sodium Chloride), table salt turns out to be technically more poisonous than borax. Here is the MSDS sheet for ordinary table salt:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/S3338.htm
If you type in “boron benefits” in Google search you will see further reasons and health benefits for taking borax in small amounts. Boron is always taken as a borate salt, and if you buy boron supplements and check the label, you will be taking borax.
Their are even people on EC that swear by using ordinary borax as a hair and scalp conditioner. See this link:
http://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/hair_conditioners.html#BORAX
I forgot to include the link to the MSDS data sheet for Sodium Tetraborate(Borax). Here it is:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/s3122.htm
Hi Bill:
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and intelligent posts and for this response. You have been successful at putting my fears to rest. I see the value in borax!
Quite frankly the reason I question it is an incident that happend a year ago. I used Teds mange cure on my little dog. It worked like a charm, i felt like it was returning more life to him. Like he was being oxygenated. However at exactly that time ( may be a coincidence) he had 2 identical lumps/curves pop up in front of his hip bones on either side. I thought his kidneys were swollen and inflamed. I felt very bad about giving him the pinch of borax in his water. Vet said not his kidneys but fat? i cannot see it, they are sort of hard not squishy like fat, and identical. thats is why I have such a concern about the borax.
I am really at a loss because the dog needs borax, now. He has all kinds of things going on with him.
thanks again, i really enjoy reading your contributions!
Again thank you Bill will read. May I ask you again about your mag water recipe? Bought the Philips Milk of Magnesia and it had another ingredient! Under header non medicinal ingredients it lists sodium hypochlorite. So in the reaction between the carbonated water and the milk of magnesia i wonder how this ingredient changes things. I did not notice this when I was reading. Perhaps I need another brand. What do you think? Thanks!
Hi Bill, I spent time in the Ozarka mountain in the summertime and the ticks and chiggers are so bad you can’t get out and enjoy the beauty. My question is how dose the borax protect against the ticks and other critters? Thanks!!!
Hi Mary…I doubt very much that the lumps on the side of your dog’s legs are caused by washing your dog with borax, because borax is so poorly absorbed through the skin. These lumps, depending on their size, could be either due to fat or possibly even calcium deposits.
From my own experience, I had small fatty or calcium build up in small lumps on the back of my own neck. I got rid of this by supplementing magnesium sulphate(epsom salts), 1/4 tspn in a glass of water twice a day. This also got rid of a large ganglion lump on my wrist (been there for a year) at the same time.
Depending on whether your dog is a small dog or a large dog, I would add magnesium sulphate crystals, at an 1/8 or 1/4 tspn respectively, dissolved in his drinking water daily. If your dog gets diarrhea, then simply reduce the dose. This should help to remove the lump deposits if they are calcium and magnesium supplementation certainly wont hurt your dog.
If these lumps are fat deposits then your dog might be reacting to poisons/pollution, since, in the human body, heavy metals, acids etc., which are not good for the body are often hidden in fats as a body defense. So the best thing would perhaps be to mix chopped cilantro or coriander leaves in with his meals everyday. Cilantro also removes heavy metals safely.
To get rid of any acid formation, you could also use sodium bicarbonate with ACV in his drinking water to alkalize.
I must appologize for not being so helpful with your dog’s problems, the best I can really recommend is advise you to look at the pet section of EC for you to get more ideas.
Bill
Hi Mary…I bought my Phillip’s MoM in UK and it does not contain Sodium Chlorite — only glycerol, saccharine and peppermint as additives. I guess you have different drug rules in Canada.
Sodium Chlorite is normally combined with lemon juice or citric acid to create MMS, another healing compound. But I really have no idea what the reaction would be with Milk of Magnesia and its constituent — sodium chlorite — with carbonic acid (soda water) and, therefore I really cannot recommend that you use your Canadian version of Phillip’s MoM for creating magnesium bicarbonate water.
Another way of creating a form of magnesium water is simply to add 1 tspn Epsom salts(mag sulphate) to 1 litre of ordinary drinking water and drink this through the day(I do this too). This will supply the necessary magnesium to the body. To get your bicarbonates, you could simply alkalize twice a day with one of Ted’s alkalizing remedies.
Bill
Dear Bill:
I did give my little dog borax to injest in his water as per Ted’s remedy. The lumps are not like ganglions or fatty tumors although he has those elsewhere (so thanks will be trying the magnesium ASAP) but are like something in there is inflamed. Both identical in size like his kidneys are inflamed and it is not really noticable unles one were to look closely, but I can feel them. Anyway, from what I understand you saying and from all the info you posted, borax should not hurt him or people. Will report back on how the magnesium worked to remove the lumps he has (vet has already removed once!)
Regarding Bill from San F. Your link to the 20 Mule Team Website had some interesting information, not least of which is a section about historical uses for their Borax including “aid digestion, keep milk sweet and even cure epilepsy”. They also mentioned that it is used in medicine! This is directly from their site:
Borates, borax and boron compounds are with us throughout our lives. Mothers use it to soak and wash diapers and other laundry, but it’s also an ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and building materials. The biggest industrial user of borates is the glass industry (especially fiberglass), and it’s an important ingredient in agricultural chemicals and fire retardants.
In earlier times, 20 Mule Team® Borax was proclaimed to be a magical crystal and was used to aid digestion, keep milk sweet and even cure epilepsy. Common sense and modern technology have brought us better solutions to these and other problems, but 20 Mule Team® Borax still has a place in your home.
My point is to thank you for the link. I was a bit skeptical like others but it certainly sounds like it’s been in our food supply whether we knew it or not.
Hi All, this question is for you Bill (Philippines Bill)
Your mag water cured my headache, relaxed my back thanks! it truly is a Unique Water! But upon looking at the ingredients in my Milk of Magnesia I realized that it contained sodium hypochlorite! We both know what that is, are they serious! My question is should I toss it because the last batch worked so well. How dangerous and counterproductive do you deem this to be?
Should I look harder and see if maybe there is another brand?
thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary…Yes, I had this also from another EC user who was from Canada, asking about Philips MoM. I’m from UK and I know for a fact the UK brand Philips MoM does not contain either aluminium or sodium hypochlorite. This obviously has something to do with Canadian Drug Law I think. Peculiar.
If you’re worried about the chlorine, you can supplement with 2-3 lugol’s iodine per day or supplement with kelp or chlorella. This will remove all dangerous halides from your body as well as remove heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury as well.
By the way, the advice and answer to your question from EC is spot on correct. But if you still can’t find it, try ordering the UK Philips brand from UK off the internet.
At a push, you could also just supplement mag citrate or mag chloride oil(ten drops in a glass of water) or take magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) baths and simply supplement with 1/4 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in half a glass of water twice a day. As Ted has said, supplementing this way causes the bicarbonates in the blood to drag the magnesium into the cell during respiration and would, perhaps, have the same effect as the Mag Water or Magnesium Bicarbonate water.
Hi Mary from Saskatchewan! Instead of Phillips Milk of Magnesia (which you mentioned contained unwanted ingredients), you may want to try the generic version from Shopper’s Drug Mart (and it’s cheaper!). The ingredients are: magnesium hydroxide (non-medicinal ingredients are potassium sorbate and purified water). I think the generic versions from other pharmacies (or even Wal-Mart) may have fewer ingredients than the Phillips brand has. Good luck!
thank you so much Bessie for the Shoppers generic MOM source! I’m on it! Mary
I want to produce magnesium bicarbonate from magnesium oxide adding it in the first step to water for getting magnesium hydroxide out of it.And than following next steps as described by Wallerwater.
But I am not quite sure if there is no problem with this additional step and with the fact that the magnesium oxide is "only" 70-75% chemically pure.
Could anybody help me with that issue and also tell me what amounts should I use in every single step?
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
I can't find any soda water or plain carbonated water here because all sparkling waters in Germany are mineral waters with different minerals in it. Can I use such a sparkling mineral water instead?
Can't find carbonated water? Try CO2 from paintball tank, pressurized CO2 directly into pure water. It works well & easy. Need more info? contact jdparkUSA(at)gmail(dot)com.
Thanks, I knew about this possibility, but honestly, I do not want to buy another "machine" for my small kitchen. I would favor buying water bottles at a store. Are carbonated waters with with minerals in it suitable for the mag bicarbonate producing process?
Hi fellow Canadians. It looks like we may be screwed here yet again thanks to Health Canada.
Potassium sorbate is a nasty food preservative that causes DNA damage. Bleach of course is also dangerous and carcinogenic.
According to the original recipe document which I believe I found, MoM used should only be MAG and purified water, which makes the most sense of course.
If anyone finds such a mixture in a product in Canada please report it!
Hey Peeps,
I'm Canadian and couldn't find a “clean” M.O.M. in Canada, so ordered it from the US. Cheap and fast delivery – check it out at vitacost.
Great new article from Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD about how you can nebulize magnesium chloride. Here’s a snippet:
… “Magnesium chloride oil should be nebulized as an isotonic solution — delivering 7.5g magnesium chloride per 100ml of distilled water — closely equal to 3.5 tsp of magnesium oil per 100ml. Nebulization of magnesium is an alternative method of treatment for patients with pulmonary problems or infections, or for those undergoing bronchoscopy. Magnesium nebulized directly into the lungs offers all the same positive therapeutic effects that other types of administration methods do but concentrates the effects in the lung and bronchial tissues”
http://magnesiumforlife.com/transdermal-magnesium/nebulizing-magnesium-and-other-medicinals/
Here’s an article on magnesium from the Linus Pauling Institute:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/magnesium/
I have a heart rythmn issue called Accelerated Junctional Rythmn and some PAC/PVCs. I read so much on magnesium so I decided to try, only I’m pretty chicken when it comes to taking ANYTHING….so (and don’t laugh) I tried taking Rolaids….ingrediants are mag Oxide and calcium. for 3 weeks, i was palp free and very calm.
Unfortunately it is starting to come back despite using the Rolaids. Maybe the relief was in my head? Maybe Rolaids is not the best source of Mag? Who knows !!!
You may want to try switching from oral Mag to transdermal Mag. I spray 5 times on to my chest each morning and do not experience heart palpitations (I suffered from palpitations daily). If I skip a day, the palpitations come back.
Hi. So pleased to have read these comments, makes me feel like I am not a hypocondriac. For maybe 30 years I have suffered with palpitations, missed heart beats which made you feel like your heart was stopping & sometimes would nearly faint. Went to heart specialists, GP’s & all they would say was what am I worried about & would suggest Xanax for nerveswhich I did take for a while but did not correct problem. Ended up in hospital with severe of palpitations & high BP recently where a nurse mind you not a Dr. Suggested I take Magnesium powder. That was 3 months ago & I am a changed woman. I cannot believe that something as simple as Magnesium changed my life. So good to read your emails & know that your not on your own & to talk about it. Thank you.
Late last August I started having Basilar Migraines with auras at least once a day. Some days I had up to three a day. I read that magnesium helped, but that it could take months of supplementing with magnesium to get the benefits for migraines unless it was put directly into your system with an IV. Because not being able to see clear interferred with my job, not to mention driving, I needed something right away.
I did some research and found that magnesium is not readily absorbed by the body but that in it’s ionic form the absorbtion rate is close to 100%. Therefore, you benefit much more quickly by taking it in this form.
I purchased some ionic magnesium and started taking from .5 – .7 ml twice a day. I think the dosage can be increased according to weight and height. I add it to about 1/4 cup of water and drink it first thing in the morning and about a half hour before my evening meal. It’s best to take it on an empty stomach. Within the first few days, the migraines were much less severe and didn’t last as long. By the second week, I only had one. Since then I’ve only had three migraines and four months into using the magnesium, I’ve been migraine free now for over two months.
In addition, it has cleared up a number of other things. I have suffered from IBS for over 15 years, and a couple years ago found that taking dessicated porcine thyroid helped considerably and thought that the IBS was caused from low T-3 and T-4 thyroid enzymes. However, it never totally eliminated the IBS. I also read that people who are low in Thyroid are also deficient in Magnesium. Hence the low thyroid and the IBS has also been cleared up by using the Liquid Ionic Magnesium and I no longer have the need to supplement with the dessicated thyroid.
A few other things that I found has cleared up with the use of magnesium are brain fog, mood swings, acid reflux (haven’t taken an anti-acid in months now), food allergies, increased energy, and now, well into winter, there are no aches and pains from arthritis. My son even claims that I look five years younger, which could be because I’m not in constant pain.
I have been filtering my water for a couple of years, but never thought about supplementing with minerals and I should have. However, I think I’ve always been low in magnesium, and despite what the acceptable levels of magnesium are, I feel some people need more than others. I can’t praise this mineral loud and long enough, as it’s benefits have pretty much given me back a normal life.
I had suffered from TMJ twice in my life and both times they were cured by magnesium. The magnesium in your body is usually depleted by stress. Magnesium is also what makes you calm, and can even help your bowel movements if constipated. I still take a magnesium supplement daily and have no problems ever since.
Mag Citrate
Hi there. One question for you…many years ago I started making my own magnesium citrate with 97.4% pure mag. metal dissolved in lemon juice to such a solution that it wouldn’t dissolve any more (ph.7) I then add a few organic herbs and a little tea tree oil and make deodorant, I’ve only started reading all this info about magnesium (either chloride, sulphate or citrate) my question to you is this does 3 squirts each side under arm seem excessive to you, I must say it works fine for me as a deodorant with no side effects, I am reading all about mag. oil would this be a better mag. additive for the deodorant,
Kind regards
Lewis
Hello Lewis from Auckland,
To give you a definite answer to your question one would need to know how much magnesium is contained in those 3 squirts to each armpit, but you are probably in no danger from overdosing on magnesium if you don’t have any renal problems.
Apparently the kidneys have some function in processing and excreting magnesium since urologist advise renal patients to not take magnesium supplements, but with the laxative action oral magnesium has one would think that the GI tract is the main one doing this job. However I have read that the most accurate way to tell when your magnesium level is up to normal range, is to test the urine for magnesium because the serum level can be reading normal but still be low until you start excreting magnesium in the urine.
After researching how to eleavate the pain of cramps, I came across Magnesium. I have only used it when I have my cramps, (Magnesium 250mg) (nothing fancy, i think my bottle cost less than $5)
When I have my cramps, I take 1 or 2 a day, and it really helps with the cramping ( i think magnisum slows the muscle constractions that cause pain).. Im not sure how exactly it works, but it helps with cramps.
Help me solve my mystery with magnesium glycinate…
about 5 years ago, I was an avid lap swimmer, and spent about an hour and a half daily in the pool… Swimming two miles a day. I started taking Kal brand magnesium glycinate… 400mg.. Because I was having problems with leg and feet cramps. I noticed immediately that the magnesium made me fell exhausted during the day… Yet I continued to take it.
30 days after I started taking it my hair started to change. I have had my entire life thin, lifeless hair that never never grew… Several months into to it, people could not believe the difference in my appearance. My complexion was amazing and I looked like I had a new head of hair. And then my hair started to grow. For the first time in my life I grew long hair… Also, my mytrovalve prolapse problems stopped.. Yet I felt exhausted… So much so that it affected my days… So I quit taking it. Then I quit swimming. My bad hair has returned and my lifeless complexion is back. So the other day, I took the glycinate back out… Cut a pill in half.. Which is how I have always taken it, and the next day I felt exhausted… What would be going on…
Glyconate is food aditive, I could not find the spelling you gave.. So I am not sure what you are taking.. Maybe you need magnesium chloride.. Drops in water and drink this.. & soak your feet.. Take a bath in it.. Make your own spray and use this way.. You will really sleep well at nite and perhaps feel vigor the next day…There is good reading on this.. On the internet.. And this site EC is excellant choice… God Bless everyone who helps getting all this GOOD info to US ALL….
HI, found this Magnesium is also a natural relaxer. It has a therapeutic effect on many different areas of the body. Those of you who have ever taken a magnesium supplement know what this feels like. I’ve taken it before to help me fall asleep, and it definitely does the trick. Not only that, but one of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency mentioned above is insomnia, so taking magnesium glycinate to help correct sleeplessness might be a good idea.
I have used magnesium chloride orally and transdermally. For the first time in my life I had no cramps. I can excericse hours and also no pain. My hands and voice used to shake when I was nervous. But it is gone now. I feel energetic and feel very happy. Magnesium chloride is miracle to me.. I also noticed that it detoxed. I had to use washroom a lot but I was full of energy. And it is increasing.. I wish all people use this amazing mineral.
I have just finished reading a French book on the uses of Magnesium Chloride. They give so many tips there that I can’t wait to start trying them soon. So far I only put it in my bath water!
In response to swim from wichita, your story is very interesting. Perhaps the exhaustion is just detox. I think the first step would be for you to try a different form of magnesium, perhaps orotate or gluconate, and see if the exhaustion remains.
Also, mag needs to be balanced with calcium and vitamin d3 (cholecalciferol). (Tim Ferriss, in his book 4-hour body, reports that his friend had long-term d3 deficiency and didn’t know it. When that friend started supplementing D3 his energy went through the roof. — Worth a try. ) Furthermore, if you were deficient in mag, you may have other deficiencies. Try taking omega-3, vitamin C, drinking lots of (non-chlorinated, non-flouridated) water, if you aren’t already.
Please keep us updated.
Hi Sara I’m glad that the magnesium worked for your cramps but can you tell me which kind of magnesium worked for you? and did it make your period lighter?
Could someone recommend a brand of magnesium for menstrual cramps? Thank you
My daughters use a liquid one made from magnesium chloride, which is intended to be taken by mouth. It comes with a screw on cap and we replace that with a dropper for ease of use. They find it helps to begin taking it several days ahead of the monthly event to reduce cramping.
I suffer from arthritis (especially in the hands) and for years I have been taking Glucosomine daily to try and ease the pain but, with little relief. A friend recommended I try Magnesium instead. Whilst on holiday I bought own brand Magnesium Oxide capsules from a branch of (beginning with R). I have been taking one 500mg capsule of Magnesium oxide each morning after breakfast for about 5 months without any side effects. After 1 month the pain and swelling decreased dramatically and now I have little or no pain in the joints.
Arthritis has been discovered in one of my knees. The thing that has helped A LOT is golden raisins, soaked in Gin… Take the entire package of raisins, and soak them for a week in gin. Do not use the cheapest you can buy, nor the most expensive. This must soak for at least 7 days. Then you can begin to take them. You need only take 9 raisins per day. You can divide them 3-3-3, morning, mid-day and evening if you like, or take 10 and do 5 in the morning and 5 at night.
It took about a week before I noticed anything, but wow did I notice a difference. I also take Bio-Flex, but when I slack off on the raisins/gin, I can tell the difference. Please give this a try. I make a second jar so I always have one waiting to be used. Good luck!!
Making Magnesium Bicarbonate Solution From Milk of Magnesia (MoM)
Hi everyone…I found a website article which is useful. There is a new magnesium drinking product in Australia that has been proved to extend the life of mammals. This patent is based on a certain region of Australia where the drinking water is high in magnesium, and where all livestock there seem to live a life that is 30% longer than normal. The patented drinking solution consists mainly of Magnesium Bicarbonate and Sodium Bicarbonate in simple aqueous solution.
The description in the patent says to add 500 mgs Magnesium Carbonate or Magnesium hydroxide to 1 litre cold carbonated water. Store in the fridge for 24 — 72 hours and allow the solution to clear from cloudy. Add a small amount of amount — 120 mg — of Sodium Bicarbonate.
Drink this mixture throughout the day but not with meals — one hour before or two hours after meals. Adjust to a lower dose if bowels become too loose.
You could also make this solution by using MoM and Baking soda quite easily — using Phillip’s Milk of Magnesia, Baking Soda and seltzer or carbonated water. Do not use the MoM that contains Aluminium Hydroxide.
Read about the patent, manufacture and research here:
http://www.rexresearch.com/beckett/1beckett.htm
To Bill: This sounds fascinating and I would like to try it. Can you tell me the proportions of MoM, baking soda, and carbonated water? You say 500 mg MoM, but what is that in volume? I assume you did NOT mean 500 ml. The link you posted suggests. 5 liter throughout the day; have you tried it yourself and what have you noticed? Many thanks.
That should read .5 liter above. Sorry for the mistype.
I totally agree with the above, that it is simple to make your own water using Magnesium Hydroxide (MOM) but it should have no other ingredients under inactive ingredients other then purified water. No bleach, no coloring, no flavoring. Just use the cap on top of the MOM and add a hair less then 3 tablespoons to the 1 liter bottle of seltzer water. This water is a good start for any other recipe that follows. Example would be those looking to add ACV or Salt or Baking soda for instance. There are videos to show you how on popular video sites I won't mention because some have ads in front which may violate EarthClinic policy. Just type Magnesium Bicarbonate Water or Homemade water in the search engine. I've been using this for quite sometime. I am 53 and my doc said I have a heart of a 15 year old. My bloodwork comes back perfect everytime. He even asked me what I'm doing and I tell him and everybody I know everything. I try to drink healthy, eat healthy, and supplement my diet with those nutrients that are no longer in our food for one reason or another. Starts with our water and I love EarthClinic for bringing me so many things I didn't know to life.
The best MoM I could find was Phillip's Milk of Magnesia which contains Sodium hypochlorite.
When Sodium hypochlorite gomes in touch with CO2, the reaction will be: NaClO + CO2 + H2O —>NaHCO3 + HClO
HCIO is Hypochlorous acid. Is it now safe to consume?
I wonder if you do recommend to discontinue Magnesium supplement after some time? I am curently taking 500 mg of Magnesium since 6 months, is that OK or could be harmful? I take it for stress and insomnia. Regards
as a 65 year old, I recomment making magnesium a life-long mission. Your friends and family will thank you for your knowledge. Read Dr. Carolyn Dean. Magnesium chloride oil and flakes are a staple. I’ve been experimenting for a couple of years, and everything I read seems to be true.
I have obtained Magnesium Chloride, I would like to know as to how to make my own Magnesium oil, to be used internally as well as for application.
Thanks
For those of you wishing to make your own magnesium oil for transdermal magnesium therapy, I emailed Jane from Fort Worth recently (whom you may recall has been treating her father with Parkinson's by massaging him with magnesium oil she made every night) and asked where she bought her magnesium chloride. She responded that she bought the magnesium chloride on Ebay from a company called "Get Tanked". I researched this further on the web and found Get Tanked Aquariums, which is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
I just called the owner of Get Tanked and ordered two 7 pound bags of magnesium chloride for $27.99 (plus shipping, which is costing $11.10 to Atlanta, GA from Carlisle). He told me he has plenty in stock and gets it shipped out same day delivery if he receives the order early enough in the day, Monday – Friday. He prefers to be called for orders and then sends an invoice via paypal. Otherwise you can buy from ebay.. here's his ebay store (and great reviews).
Please note: the owner told me twice that he sells this product for aquariums and cannot answer any questions about human use!!
Thought this would be a good resource to share with y'all as magnesium chloride in bulk is a difficult search.
Is there anyone from the philippines who can tell me where to buy magnesium chloride or nigari? thanks..
I worked with a famous local herbalist and many people came in with constipation problems. My friend would have a bowel movement once a week. My other older friend would have to go to the hospital periodically because of constipation. The remedy that worked for me and both of my friends was magnesium. I take 2 magnesium (200 to 250 mg apiece)for insomnia every night. Every morning when I wake up I naturally have a bm. According to my herbalist magnesium relaxes every cell of your body and we don’t get enough of it. My younger friend with constipation was tested for 12 (200mg) tabs a day till her bowels got loose enough and then she was to back down-taking less-till she found how manny worked well for her. My herbalist used to say you can’t get enough magnesium-your body needs it so much. Whether that is true or not I don’t know. But I do know it’s the best solution for my constipation and insomnia.
I spent most of my adult life constipated. I was the only one who went to Mexico and prayed for Montezumas revenge! Now that I take magnesium 500 mg. 2x daily, everything works just like it clockwork. I have heard it is also good for migraine sufferers. I used to have lots of migraines when I was younger but went through menopause and they pretty much stopped (hormones were the culprit). I wish I had started taking magnesium years ago and maybe my migraines would have gone away alot sooner or at least been less frequent.
I take two 200 or 250 mgs of magnesium every night to help me sleep. I have tried other products to help me sleep like phosphorus and melatonin. Phosporus is also very good but makes me too groggy when I wake up. Melatonin also makes me too groggy. I take Melatonin when I have had caffiene before bed and it knocks me out. I get the tablets and nibble the tiniest bit off of the edge and it works everytime but seems to be too strong for me and makes me tired during the day. For me magnesium is gentle and when I wake up I feel relaxed but not tired. We stayed overnight in New York City at my daughters boyfriends apt on a busy, noisy, avenue. I took my two magnesiums as usual but woke up in the middle of the night because of the terrible street noises. The next few nights I took 3 magnesiums (200 or 250mg’s)and slept thru it all. At home I take two every night. Thank you so much for this website!! People helping People!! YaY people power!
Side effect reported
Hello,
I have just started taking magnesium as a supplement ( apro. 150 mg/day ).
Aproximately 1-2 hrs after taking I feel very jittery in my muscles and restless in general. It does not make a difference if I take it with calcuim. I understand magnesium is natures relaxant but it seems to have the opposite effect on me. Has anyone had this problem or know what may be causing this ? Sarah.
Side effect reported
Hello, my comment is regarding Sarah’s posting (from North Vancouver, B.C Canada). I have a similar reaction to magnesium. Lately, I have been taking Bentonite clay (which is rich in magnesium) and it has kept me up and energized, the problem is that if I take it close to my bedtime, I simply cannot get any sleep. The dose that I am taking is quite large (2 tablespoons) and not only I do not experience any calming effects, it does not have any laxative effects either. I have read some postings here on EC regarding the relaxing effects of magnesium but for some strange reason, the opposite happens to me. I had attempted to address the problem by not having any caffeine after lunch time and also sticking to a light early dinner thinking that those were the reasons for my insomnia, and not until recently when I was purchasing clay from a website and read someone’s comment about magnesium keeping them up that I made the connection. I remember having the same problem when taking magnesium citrate. I would appreciate any comments. Thanks!
May I ask why you are taking extra magnesium. I started taking it since I seem to have candida and I also have a mitral valve prolapse. After taking it for a few a month I started gettting major muscle twitching. I even got a heart cramping feeling every now and then. Perhaps you don’t need extra magnesium. Perhaps you are throwing your calcium balance off. Even if you take calcium with it it might not be properly absorbed. Certain types of calcium are absorbed better than others. What magnesium were you taking? Was it magnesium taurate, or another form. Perhaps there is a underlying cause for you symptoms that are not related to the magnesium.
I have just started taking magnesium on recomendation for adrenal exhaustion and perimenopause issues.One week ago I took only one capsule (150 mg) of magnesium citrate-malate before bedtime and the reaction I had (jittery muscles and restlesness) occured 1-2 hrs later. My heart was also racing. I thought perhaps it may have something to do with a calcium/magnesium imbalance so 2 days later I took a Cal/Mag supplement and the same thing happened. The cal/mag supplement was an inexpensive one made up of carbonate, citrate, fumarate, malate, succinate and glutamate sources for both.
The interesting thing is that this reaction happened only after a one time dose both times. A few months ago I tried ACV for a few days and had a similar reaction each time I took it so I had to stop. This is very puzzling to me and I am searching for clues as to why my body reacts this way.
Side effect reported
I’ve been having similar reactions to magnesium. I took it as a natural muscle relaxer because I’m tired of taking Rx for my back. I started taking 600mg of magnesium oxide in 250mg tablets (I broke them up to make 3 servings to reach 600mg) Within hours the muscles started to relax (I was shocked that it worked so fast) by the fourth day I started having pain in between my shoulder blades, shoulders, neck, jaw, headache, and in my armpit. This was followed with my heart pumping so hard that it felt as if my heart was in my throat. Needless to say I stopped taking it for about a week and a half and the muscle pain came back with a vengence. I thought I’d try taking 250mg a day by breaking the pill in half and taking 1/2 two times a day. It took the edge off my pain, but not as good as with 600mg. Unfourtunately the chest/heart pain came back with in a few days and I stopped taking it again. nearly four days of being off it and my pulse is still to high to donate plasma. I don’t want to take calcium with my history of kidney stones, and I had issues with potassium supplements about nine years ago when it was reccomended for a low carb diet I was on. My heart was racing so fast I thought I would faint and fall to the floor. does anyone have any suggestions on how to make my heart/ chest pain stop and/or a safer alternative to relax the muscles without scary side effects. by the way the added ingredients in the mag supp I was taking is: cellulose, starch, croscarmellose, vegetable magnesium sterate. The brand is from a popular pharmacy chain. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Colleen,
If that pharmacy chain starts with "R", then I would say your reaction to that supplement doesn't surprise me. I've purchased different things from them that smelled like some weird strong glue when opened, way before any expiration date (of course I returned them!). Things I had taken from them that didn't smell like that never seemed to do much anyway. I don't buy their suppplements anymore. It's worth paying more for better quality.
I would suspect the additives in the supplement as causing your problems before suspecting the magnesium itself. How about some food sources to get that extra magnesium? A food source is always better than a supplement if the food source is of good quality. Eating the whole food means you get all the synergistic compounds it may contain as opposed to an isolated nutrient. Pumpkin seeds have very high levels of magnesium as well as lots of other nutrients. I buy an organic dry roasted brand that are low sodium. A handful a day can give you quite a nutritional boost. See this link for lots of good info on pumpkin seeds:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=82
Beans and spinach are also very good sources of magnesium, as are chinook salmon and halibut. If you feel you still need some supplemental magnesium, perhaps you might want to try the magnesium oil foot soak as described here on EC. Bear in mind that magnesium, calcium, and potassium do need to be balanced; this is very important!
Good luck, and please update us!
I’ve been taking both Magnesium Gluconate tablets for some time now, and have just started to soak my feet in Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulphate).
By far the best way to take and absorb Magnesium into your body is either by soaking yourself in the bath for at least 20 mins (adding 3 cups of Epsom salts to the bath water) or to use a little warm water (enough just to submerge the soles of your feet and toes in a small bow), add and dissolve 3 tblsps of Epsom Salts, and soak your feet for half an hour (less wasteful than a bath, but just as good). The reason that this is the best way to absorb magnesium is that its absorbtion does not require the digestive system, so there is no chance of problems like diarrhea. Also, by soaking, the body will only absorb the amount of magnesium that it needs, so this method works well with your body’s magnesium regulation.
The first time that I did this foot soak with Epsom Salts was at 9:00 pm at night. By 10 pm, I was so relaxed and tired that I just went to bed (I usually never go to bed before 12 at night) and I woke up the next morning wide awake and fresh for the day. No brain fog or grogginess.
I’m 60 y o and I do this Epsom Salt foot soak once a week now, or whenever I have aches and pains(which rarely happens now).
I also use an 8 oz garden spray — which contains water 3 teaspoons Epsom Salts 1 teaspoon of Borax(20 Mule Team brand) to spray onto the outside of my body after showering and drying. I rub it in and leave this to dry naturally on my body.
These soaking and spraying methods are far more efficient and safe than supplementing with magnesium pills. They also deliver far larger amounts of magnesium into the body than oral supplements, and it is completely safe with no side-effects.
What is the borax for? Does this spray leave your skin chalky? Sounds like a great idea. I just tried epsom and water 1/2 & 1/2 and it turned me all white where I sprayed it.
Hi Colleen…You use a much higher concentration of epsom salt in your spray than I do. I just use one heaped tablespoon in water in a small 8 oz spray container. This does not dry white on the skin. Using a 50-50 solution will not do you any harm, but it will settle as a white powder on your body due to being a much heavier concentration.
Forgot to add that I add the borax to kill off any fungus, bacteria etc on my skin. You don’t have to add it to the spray mixture if you prefer.
Which kind of Magnesium to use????
Hi EC’ staff, kindly I would appreciate if someone can tell me what is the difference between Magnesium chloride, magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide etc… I see many poeple talk about benefits of magnesium and once I decided to buy it I found many of it in different names!!! Please advise!
Hi, in response to Roro’s question about which magnesium to take: Out of a book written by a naturopath that I’ve found to be helpful, she said that there are 2 types of magnesium: magnesium orotate (Vit B13) and magnesium aspartate, and they both serve unique and complimentary functions – maybe the names you cited are derived from these two compounds or vice versa?
Apparently a combination of 150 mg of magnesium aspartate three times per day togather with magnesium orotate 200 mg three times per day would be appropriate.
Response to Charlotte’s post about magnesium aspartate being one of the best types of magnesium to take. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think any product with the word aspartate is an excitotoxin and should be avoided. Also to be avoided: aspartic acid, aspartame, etc.
Response on what sort of magnesium to take. Hi, I have always gone with Walter Last, the Queensland naturopath’s advice and taken magnesium chloride as per his article at
http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/magnesiumchloride.html. ( His own original website seems harder to find now on Google than it once was but if this link doesn’t work just type in Walter Last and magnesium and several 3rd party sites appear citing him) He believes we need more calcium in youth and more magnesium in age.
I take it to beat off infections and find it, despite loose bowels if I take a lot, to be more effective than Vitamin C. Magnesium chloride is also used to make tofu and some tofu maker suppliers sell it fairly cheaply – called Nigari. I sometimes make up a little spray of it for the kitchen and spray a bit onto foods like tasteless tomatoes. I keep a pump bottle in the bedroom for transdermal use with some essential oils in it too and just smear some on the soles of my feet before bed, when I remember. No real health problems so can’t really say what it is done but I seem calmer I think when I do it regularly.
I once read an Internet article as well of a man who swore plain Epsom salts had done wonders for his health. He just started with a tiny amount of Epsoms salts like an eigth of a teaspoon and built up the amount slowly to a much larger amount like a daily desert spoon and had no diarrhea that way.
Calcium and Magnesium balance is fairly critical so it’s probably best to go cautiously before self medicating with very high oral dosages of any form of magnesium.
In responce to Maleny from Canberra, I found a link to the same article now at
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/magnesiumchloride.html
Magnesium citrate supplement: I developed an internal fissure from having soft, but very wide stools. Doctor said would need surgery if don’t make stools literally fall out. So tried magensium citrate supplement (won’t give name). It worked, fissure healed. But I have found that magensium citrate can be very irritating. I developed burning in throat and burning in stomach and tremendous bloating and constant gas. I should have stopped immediately (the burning started on day1) but was so anxious to heal fissure that I took it for 3 weeks (tiny dose). Now off of it for about 8 days and still have burning and off and on colon discomfort. A friend was also trying it – she has had no burning but finally had to stop due to continuous colon rumbling and discomfort – just can’t live that way all the time. And sadly it worked for both of us. Just thought people should know this. Sometimes, just because it is “natural” doesn’t always mean it is good for you.
I have used Mag Citrate on many occasions. It works, yes, but can be very harsh. Also, if you read the label, it can make your BP skyrocket.
You should try other form of magnesium. Magnesium lactate dihydrate(Mag Tab Sr) might help. It was the most tolerated for me
Take Magnesium Taurate. See an Auricular Medicine Doctor for reassurance. Dr. Carolyn Dean recommends mag. Taurate. I take buffered mag. Taurate. Or, apply Magnesium Oil. This is an excellent alternative bc it bypasses your digestive system and goes to work as soon as it is absorbed through the skin. Tip: make sure skin is slightly moist (warm water) and it will go on smoothly and readily. Good luck. LB
Magnesium
I stumbled across this remedy on a forum recently. I had remembered I used to take magnesium regularly due to migraine headaches and other problems (magnesium is a very important nutrient that many are deficient in). Jogging my memory, I remembered that on occasions when I could last as long as I wanted (and even sometimes too long) was when I had taken magnesium shortly before while more often than not I would suffer extremely premature ejaculation. I would recommend taking 400mg daily and then another 400mg 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity. You should experiment with what dosage and frequency is right for you. If you start getting loose stools than you are likely taking too much. I have found Magnesium Citrate works very well. Some of the other ones like Magnesium oxide are not as well absorbed.
hi. I had a question, will it work if I just ate rich magnesium foods to stop premature ejaculation?
Where can I buy magnesium chloride that can be used for the body in the philippines?
I have just started taking magnesium citrate after reading about all its benefits on this site. Today a health practitioner told me that I should be taking calcium along with it otherwise the magnesium would not be absorbed.
But I stopped taking calcium supplements after reading about it on this site, and especially how Ted feels strongly that it is not necessary for adults to take this.
Now I am thoroughly confused! Would someone please help me about what is correct?
Thanks.
Spraying magnesium oil on the souls of the feet at night or doing foot soaks is a better way to get magnesium than taking it orally… you don’t absorb enough taking it pill form and can take up to a year to build up in your system. You can get mag oil at http://www.health-and-wisdom.com/magnesium.htm and you don’t get the ugly diarrhea side effect.
Magnesium for heart palpitations/panic attacks: I thank God for this site. I was having scary heart palpitations at night, and I knew it was panic attacks. The only course my doc offered was xanax, and as I was rushed through the visit there was no time to talk alternatives. I am not one of those people who thinks happiness is a pill away. I did my own research, and decided to try a magnesium supplement. The FIRST NIGHT I was heart palpitation-free. I can’t believe doctors would rather throw a dangerous pill at you rather than discuss the effects of diet, exercise, and soda (caffeine&aspatame) on your body. Try Magnesium first, and make sure you are getting your potassium too!
Hi, I was taking a magnesium citrate product for cyst issues, which it took care of very well and quickly, only taken a couple times the last I took slightly under the recommended dose and I started having palpitations and it became hard to breathe I was wondering if there was any link to this? or if its just me… Thanks much!
Hi Malikitheguy, Could you be low in potassium? Try taking some potassium with the magnesium and if you can’t get potassium try taking the Mg with lemon juice as it has a small amount in it (if it’s grown well). Dates are also a good source. Otherwise try a different type of magnesium like epsom salts or magnesium chloride. All the best.
I have been taking 1/4-1/3 tsp MOM 2x a day. It is AMAZING with totally curbing the muscle tension which lead to my migraines (cutting both of those out! ) and helping to slowly tame the heart palpatations that have gotten really frequent the last 2 months.
The problem I seem to have (It MAY be just a coinscidence) is that I sure have been moody!
Is that a possible healing/work through it thing, or ? Any ideas? I am trying to find some other form of magnesium, but in the meantime I will cautiously use the MOM.
Thanks!
Val
How do I avoid diarrhea and loose bowels when taking magnesium? I use the ratio of calcium to magnesium: 2:1?
Claire, there are three things that you can do to improve magnesium absorption and prevent loose bowels:
(1) Do not take large amounts of calcium at the same time that you take magnesium. Calcium may actually lessen the absorption of magnesium, since they compete for absorption at “absorption sites” in the small intestine.
(2) Take magnesium in divided doses. For example, you can take 100 mg. of magnesium at each meal. You can even take small doses of magnesium with just water or juice between meals.
(3) Take some lemon juice or orange juice or vinegar with your magnesium supplement – especially if you have low stomach acid. The addition of acid (citric/ascorbic/acetic) from these juices will help to ionize the magnesium compound, making more magnesium ions available for absorption.
Let me know if this helps.
Regarding magnesium and diarrhea… Use magnesium oil instead of taking it internally. I put it on my neck and shoulders and it melts away my knots so I don’t get headaches. When you put it on your skin your body absorbs what it needs and you don’t get diarrhea or strain your kidneys like you can when you take magnesium internally.
I am writing about all of the people who have talked about tumeric or garlic as a potential cure for MRSA.
I've been doing some studying and there is a commonality I've found in these items:
Magnesium
Tumeric: http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/2043.html
Very high in manganese and high in magnesium.
Garlic:
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/11215.html
Very high in manganese (both also very low in sugar and in fats)
French Green Clay has been touted as curing MRSA -HIGH IN MAGNESIUM
Antibiotics and poor digestive tract absorption will cause a magnesium deficiency.
Antibiotics kill off beneficial organisms in the gut, causing loose bowels, which decreases absorption.
"Antibiotics can also lower magnesium availability. Included on the antibiotic list are neomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, ***sulfamethoxazole****, and sulfonamides.
Other medications that reduce the body's supply of magnesium include the anticoagulant drug warfarin; corticosteroids; oral contraceptives (birth control pills); and the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine."
"Antibiotics (e.g. gentamicin and amphotericin) These drugs may increase the loss of magnesium in urine. Thus, taking these medications for long periods of time may contribute to magnesium depletion [9-10,12]."
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp
"Because magnesium plays such a wide variety of roles in the body, the symptoms of magnesium deficiency can also vary widely. Many symptoms involve changes in nerve and muscle function. These changes include muscle weakness, tremor, and spasm. In the heart muscle, magnesium deficiency can result in arrhythmia, irregular contraction, and increased heart rate. Because of its role in bone structure, the softening and weakening of bone can also be a symptom of magnesium deficiency. Other symptoms can include: imbalanced blood sugar levels; headaches; elevated blood pressure; elevated fats in the bloodstream; depression; seizures; nausea; vomiting; and lack of appetite. "
"Deficiency symptoms have three categories:Early symptoms include irritability, anorexia, fatigue, insomnia, and muscle twitching. Other symptoms include poor memory, apathy, confusion, and reduced ability to lea. Moderate deficiency symptoms consist of rapid heartbeat and other cardiovascular changes. Severe deficiency of magnesium could lead to tingling, numbness, sustained contraction of the muscles, and hallucinations and delirium. "
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002423.htm
What Magnesium does in your body:
"Magnesium: What is it?Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant [1].
Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis [2-3].
There is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys [1-3,4]."
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp
Also
"Magnesium ions are essential to the basic nucleic acid chemistry of life, and thus are essential to all cells of all known living organisms. Plants have an additional use for magnesium in that chlorophylls are magnesium-centered porphyrins. Many enzymes require the presence of magnesium ions for their catalytic action, especially enzymes utilizing ATP, or those which use other nucleotides to synthesize DNA and A."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium
Magnesium is VERY important to support a healthy immune system Now I will say I am drawing correlations which are not scientifically proven. They are loose correlations and drawn conclusions. I am not affiliated with any health products or sites or doctors, I am not advocating the use of any health food product (it's really best to go natural with regards to vitamin intake). I have been suffering from fatigue, CA-MRSA, sleeplessness, arrythmia and bloating. I'm going to try more magnesium!
I challenge scientists to work with magnesium and MRSA.
Magnesium Malate is a form that is better asorbed and the Malate part is good for the Krebs Cycle of the body. Athletes were tested for Krebs cycle intermediates after hard workouts and always show low for Malate. Plus Malate also provides Malic Acid which is good for ridding the body of Aluminum. Aluminum build up in the body is toxic.
Hi, I’ve recently begun taking Magnesium Citrate in powder form on a near daily basis along with blackstrap molasses. I’d had a very painful toothache for several weeks (in addition to or resulting in an earache..) and without dental insurance I really can’t afford a dentist. After about 3-4 days of taking a teaspoon of magnesium the pain was completely gone! I also no longer have any sensitivity from sweet or very hot/cold foods and beverages. I’ve made this remedy part of my daily routine and hope to discover more health benefits of this great mineral.
This brings me to something I hoped perhaps Ted or another reader may shed some light on; I came across something called Transdermal Magnesium Therapy which allows the body to absorb magnesium through the skin, and it’s supposedly superior to oral supplementation. Several articles mention that magnesium chloride is the preferred form, although they don’t describe the application method. They only refer to Magnesium Oil which is a little pricey. Is there a homemade version of this therapy? I appreciate your help, thanks in advance!
Use 100% dead sea salts or combined with the pure magnesium chloride flakes in a soaking bath. Dead sea salts are cheaper and have other trace supplemental minerals including potassium with the magnesium chloride. Also buy in bulk and look for periodic sales with free shipping. I soak about 1 to 2 times weekly using 3 – 4 cups dead sea salts in a full warm bath for 30 minutes or so. Many benefits including control of athlete’s foot, rapid healing of cuts and scratches from my cat, rapid recovery from muscle soreness, relief of minor pains and aches and the main heath benefits of better heart function, general good health, etc. Also enforced downtime to catch up on reading! One caution – don’t use cheaper industrial mag chloride.
I am ever puzzled by why absorbing trace minerals through the skin is universally ignored in favor of oral supplementation or eating mountains of salads even when the need for supplements is recognized. If you have low magnesium you can’t easily absorb ingested supplements anyhow, creating a vicious cycle. In my case I developed a serious magnesium and potassium deficiency running marathons and then supplemented orally for years with 500 mg. magnesium chelates without much effect. After I started soaking, heart palpitations disappeared and the other benefits made themselves felt over a couple of months of frequent soaking. If I miss a week I can tell the difference and it’s always a pleasure to restore the soaking routine.
I love love love, what magnesium has done for me. I was constipated for the last 30 years of my life. I was in a lot of discomfort and even excluded myself from social gatherings because of gas and bloating. Once a week was the norm most times less. I feel like I have wasted a lot of my life because of this problem. I added magnesium to my diet because of a problem I am having with my teeth, and what do you know, regular, like clockwork bowel movements. I have also added oatmeal to my diet, but by using the magnesium regularly, I feel so much better. Those who rely on laxatives are really missing the boat on this one, and should strongly rethink how they treat their bodies. Even though I should be laxative dependent, I never stooped to that way of life, but I know that a lot of women rely on laxatives to produce bowel movements. I feel freed by this information and only wish I had had it 30 years earlier.
I concur 100%… Lifelong constipation, high cholesterol and now gallstone. I just realized I am probably magnesium defincient to I started taking it and like clock-work the BM’s are daily… I am hoping it helps the other issues (research says it does).
Fauna, if you don't mind asking what kind of magnesium were you taking?
Epsome salt may be more appropriate for soaking, as the magnesium diffuses into the bloodstream more slowly, however heed to the warning labels on the bag. If you use Epsom internally as a supplement for magnesium you want to avoid giving yourself a potassium deficiency, and that goes with any magnesium supplement, but is especially important for those on a diet low in potassium, or have low blood potassium levels. Diarrhea is a sign you have taking too much, unless you’re intentionally trying to use it as a laxative. I would include grapefruit and oranges in my diet especially if using Epsom, and would not use Epsom internally long periods; have a blood test done, or watch out for signs of potassium deficiency if you’re a chronic Epsom user. I read that magnesium taurate was once said to be the best form of magnesium, citrate being next, especially for those with mineral imbalances and prone to heartbeat rregularities.
My son suffered from anxiety and depression after his divorce. I read an article by George Eby about Magnesium Glycinate for depression. I bought my son some of the magnesium and after a few days he started feeling better and talked about having more energy and concentration. He took 800-1000 mgs. for a few days to build it up in his system, then backed down to 400 mgs. The Magnesium Glycinate really changed his life.
I have suffered from RLS most of my life (I’m 47)and discovered the link between RLS and mineral deficiency about 20 years ago. I have supplemented with Potassium, Calcium and Iron. I cook my own food, eat very little processed stuff, and have always craved spinach and broccoli (I even like brussel sprouts!). But even eating all the right stuff, I still need the supplements. I also suffer from endometriosis (horrible female problem), which I think is also related somehow to the mineral deficiency. I have been taking Blackstrap Molasses (full of good minerals) for about a year to try to combat those symptoms. I haven’t experienced the “miracle cure” other women have written about, but at least I’m off the Percocet! Recently I have been reading on this site about magnesium supplementation. Am I right to think that low magnesium can cause malabsorption of other minerals? I’m going to try it for a while and see what happens.
Well, I think it was probably the magnesium that rid me of my (undiagnosed) endomitriosis symptoms.
No particular ailment, but I have been interested in Magnesium supplementation ever since I had a couple of “racing heart” episodes several years back, and discovered that I could calm things down by taking Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) in water… awful taste and also a powerful laxative. I began to wonder how I could get the same effect in a more palatable way, without the laxative effect. Eventually I found the”Magnesium” webpage and learned the following:
How to make your own Magnesium water [like the ‘Noah’ water being sold by a certain company, which bottles water from a spring that is naturally rich in bicarbonates of Magnesium].
The assumption is that we could all use more magnesium in our diet, which may help reduce blood pressure, reduce the likelihood of kidney stones, etc.
Here’s how to make your own Mg-rich drinking water:
Buy a bottle of Carbonated Seltzer water – NO SODIUM, just carbonated “fizz” water, unflavored. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Get another, larger bottle, and pour 2/3 of a capful of PLAIN (no-flavor) Philips Milk of Magnesia (which is Magnesium Oxide, an alkaline laxative) into the large bottle. (The bottle comes with a plastic measuring cup which is what I mean when I say 2/3 capful.)
Now quickly open the bottle of carbonated water (water + carbonic acid) and empty it into the large bottle containing the 2/3 capful of Magnesia.
Shake well.
You will have a bottle of milky/cloudy liquid which is in the process of neutralization between the carbonic acid and the magnesium oxide– leaving a neutral salt, Magnesium Bicarbonate.
Let the cloudy mixture sit for a while at room temperature, until the liquid clears; there will be some white precipitate at the bottom. Shake again and let sit again. When clear, refrigerate. THIS IS YOUR MAGNESIUM BICARBONATE CONCENTRATE. Unlike the chalky taste of straight Milk of Magnesia, or the biting-fizzy taste of seltzer water, your concentrate will have a strong, sweet, slightly “soapy” taste. You will be DILUTING it in water for drinking purposes.
When it has chilled, pour a small amount into an empty 1 liter bottle (approx. 1/2″ of concentrate at the bottom) and fill the rest of the bottle with pure drinking water.
You have now created a sweet-tasting, Magnesium-enriched drinking water, and you’re also getting your Bi-carbs without all the Sodium you’d be getting from Baking Soda.
I have been making and drinking this Mg water since Nov. 2006 (I write this in July of 2007) and have not had any bad effects from it. I take a bottle to work and sip it during the day. My resting heart rate seems to have gone down and I feel more relaxed in general. I can’t say it has greatly improved my high blood pressure, but it has helped some, and I know I am getting enough Magnesium. Probably would be beneficial to supplement with Calcium for balance.
Try it and see what it does for you.
I read the magnesium-enriched water formula on magnesium supplements page. I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but isn’t Philips Milk of Magnesia Magnesium Hydroxide rather than “Magnesium Oxide” mentioned in the formula.
Pl. refer to
http://www.amazon.com/Phillips-Magnesia-Original-12-Ounce-Bottles
& http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_of_magnesia
It might be a typo error or the author maybe using some other type of milk of magnesia which is not readily available. Does the formula works with Magnesium Hydroxide Milk of Magnesia as well?
Regarding my remarks about making your own “Mg Water” by mixing carbonated water and Milk of Magnesia (laxative):’ Usman from Islamabad is correct; I mistakenly said that Milk of Magnesia contains “Magnesium Oxide.” Instead, please substitute “Magnesium Hydroxide” when you read my instructions. Sorry for the blunder! Yes, Usman, you should use regular, unflavored Philip’s Milk of Magnesia and a liter bottle of carbonated water, non-sodium type.
I want to produce magnesium hydroxide from magnesium oxide and water. How much of the magnesium oxide powder and how much water should I take to make e.g. 100g magnesium hydroxide? The magnesium oxide powder is only 70-75% pure, that means it contains 70-75% magnesium oxide in it. Is there any problem for the reaction with the fact that magnesium oxide powder is not completely pure? Could anybody help me?
Good post. I could not find any MoM without additives, so I purchased 500g of pure magnesium hydroxide powder on Ebay. It should last a really long time… only question is how much MH powder to add to a 1 liter bottle to get the same results? My calculations say 3.6 grams of 100% MH powder mixed in a 1 liter bottle of seltzer gives the same ratio as the above recipe. Can you confirm? 3.6 grams (by weight – using a small digital scale) is a very tiny amount. I tried adding that amount to a 1 liter bottle of seltzer and there is still some fizz left after 1 hour. Makes me wonder about the ratios.
The most bioavailable form of magnesium is magnesium chloride, better known as magnesium flakes, available in health food stores in both internal and external versions.
Make 'Mag Oil' by mixing two parts magnesium flakes with one part water (dissolves with no heating required).
Rub the Mag Oil on the skin. The skin will absorb more than the digestive track, faster, and without loose stools or kidney overload as well. Put it on sore joints to help them along as well.
Combining this with the 1/4 teaspoon of borax in water per day has incredible synergy! They both seem to boost each other!