Maximize Health with Magnesium: Key Benefits & Sources

Constipation

Posted by Jennifer (Sunrise, Fl, Usa) on 11/04/2011
★★★★★

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.

Digestion

Posted by Luana (Hollywood, Fl) on 06/21/2011
★★★★★

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.

Epilepsy

Posted by Dianna (Austin, Usa) on 02/20/2012
★★★★★

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.

Recipe for Magnesium-Rich Drinking Water

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 03/01/2010

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:

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/hair_conditioners.html#BORAX

Menstrual Cramps

Posted by Sarah (North, Nj) on 12/19/2009
★★★★★

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.

Magnesium Tips

Posted by Rick (Sarasota, Florida) on 06/24/2009
★★★★★

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.

Anal Fissure

Posted by Audrey (Delray Beach, Florida, USA) on 03/21/2009
★★★★☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

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.

Anal Fissure

Posted by Nancy (Shreveport, La) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★

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.

Premature Ejaculation

Posted by Lauren (Santa Cruz, CA) on 03/09/2009
★★★★★

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.

MRSA

Posted by Leah Huete (Baltimore, MD) on 05/15/2008
★★★★☆

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.

Constipation

Posted by Fauna (Lynnwood, WA) on 12/18/2007
★★★★★

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.

Epsom Salt as a Source of Magnesium

Posted by Rhonda (tallahassee, Fl) on 12/12/2007
★★★★★

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.

Arrhythmia

Posted by Jane (Linn Missouri) on 07/11/2023
★★★★★

I have taken magnesium taurate for years and it completely eliminates my irregular heartbeat. I also take magnesium Glycinate for my depression and insomnia. I always try to stay at 200mgs or below using supplements. There are so many different kinds of magnesium that you need to find the one you need for your problems. These are just my experiences using magnesium.

Best Type

Posted by T1D&FAding (PA) on 08/04/2021 8 posts

I have created my own magnesium oil spray with magnesium Chloride (Flakes) and a few drops of DMSO so the magnesium absorbs better - but I do get the burning/itching feeling - but it does subside after a while. After spending like two hours reading all the posts here on magnesium - I am left even more confused.

First question - should I not put the DMSO in my magnesium oil?

Second question: What other forms of Magnesium should I take? I will take two capsules (400 mg) of Magnesium chelate at night if I know for sure I'm not going to be using the magnesium oil spray. At any rate - instead of my thumbing through 5,000 articles on NIH or PubMed about Magnesium (some of which contradict each other), can anyone tell me which forms of magnesium I should be taking and how much?

Best Type

Posted by Anne (London) on 01/21/2021
★★★★★

Chelated magnesium glycinate is best absorbed and most gentle on the tummy.

Best Type

Posted by Ken (Hampshire, IL) on 07/26/2019

Hi Marge,

You could make a gentle form of magnesium yourself at home which is easy on the stomach and extremely bio-available. It's called Magnesium acetate and is made with ACV or white distilled vinegar and (plain non flavored) milk of magnesia. You'll need to get the brand that has as its inert ingredient only water as some contain a bleach called hypochlorite. Dollar general and CVS for sure carry those but dollar general is only two bucks a 12 oz bottle.

Anyway, add 2 tablespoons of the M O M to a glass and then add 8 tablespoons of your vinegar and stir until the reaction is complete ( you'll know this has occurred when the solution is clear.) You may need to add small increments of vinegar say 1/4 teaspoon at a time to get the solution clear. (Try the white distilled vinegar first until you get the right ratio).

Your milk of magnesia should contain 1200 mg of magnesium hydroxide per tablespoon, therefore this 10 tablespoon batch will yield 1008.8 mg or just over a gram of elemental magnesium which you could put preferably in a sealed glass container refrigerated and dose yourself accordingly. 1 tablespoon = 100+mg magnesium. Work up to what works right for you.

Good luck

Magnesium Gluconate

Posted by Danielle (BC Powell River) on 07/31/2023
★★★★★

Hi Bill,

I know your post is older but I want to clarify for the people reading, your reaction to magnesium is not an indication that you were overdosing and there was danger. Yes you needed to take a lower dose to ease symptoms (itching, redness, etc) but all those symptoms are actually signs of how severe your deficiency is! Think about when a body part goes numb from having the circulation cut off like you slept on your arm. When circulation returns there is tingling, burning, itching etc. When we are very depleated of magnesium, our organs and circulation system calcifies. When magnesium is increased, the process of calcification starts to reverse and you get those symptoms. Just take your magnesium in lower doses to gradually recover without the symptoms. But for goodness sake do not stop taking magnesium!

I have been researching and Magnesium Chloride quite specifically is the best one to take both topically and internally. Even if your digestion is poor, taking Magnesium Chloride internally will improve your digestion. Please research this and the great doctors who proved the amazing effect of internal Magnesium Chloride.

https://www.faim.org/magnesium-chloride-hexahydrate-therapy

https://www.johnston-independent.com/magnesium_chloride.html

Magnesium Chloride is sold for tofu making called "Nigari"

A great source in Canada is omfoods.com

Best Type

Posted by Hwkmn05 (New Hampshire, US) on 10/08/2014 109 posts
★★★★★

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.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Gabrielle (Los Angeles) on 03/27/2014
★★★★★

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!

Best Type

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 04/21/2013
★★★★★

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.

Magnesium Side Effects

Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 01/14/2013 2048 posts

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.

Magnesium Side Effects

Posted by Rachel (Madison, Wisconsin) on 01/15/2013

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.

Magnesium Chloride

Posted by Wayfarer (Motown, Ca/ USA) on 10/28/2012
★★★★★

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.

Arrhythmia

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 01/01/2014

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.

Arrhythmia

Posted by Mike (Nz) on 12/06/2015

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 you'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.

Arrhythmia

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 12/07/2015

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