Yeah, was getting the same results from the CALM. Then I found out on the board that I was taking it wrong. You have to use warm water like the instructions say. The warm water changes it to a form of Magnesium that is absorbable. The kind used with cold water mostly goes through the body -- waste of money unless you are taking it for that reason.

M

oh no Mari, warm? say it ain't so! eeewww! :stomping my feet like a 2 year old: I don't know if I could drink it warm. Thanks for letting me know what I've been doing wrong!

Butterfly,

I used to do it warm and then let it sit until it was room temperature.

Or you could use a little warm water so that it is properly dissolved and only a little later use cool water.

Mari

Hi Butterfly... real glad you found such a great NP!

The B12 tests need to be done before giving supplementation, because giving you the shot first could mask a deficiency. they need to know if you are deficient or not, because if you are they need to figure out why. depending on why, treatment may be temporary or permanent, and how supplementation is given may vary as well (eg sublingual & IV vs. tablets). I am a little surprised she isn't checking folate along with B12, they often go together. Also, homocysteine levels... the test she ordered is usually a followup which can explain high homocysteine levels but if negative will not tell whether levels are high or not. However the B12 check is really important.

Magnesium would be fatigue and stress related. Low magnesium can explain fatigue, muscle aches, tension and cramping.

~ waves ~

To all using CALM:

CALM must be dissolved in HOT water. As "hot" and "warm" are both subjective terms, what is "warm" to some may not be hot enough for this process. The instructions do say hot, not warm and specify a minimum amount of water to use per dose:

http://www.calmnatural.com/natural-c...nesium-citrate
NOTE (unspecified on the label): the stuff is ready to drink after fizzing has stopped. at that point whatever you do to it - add hot, cold, or iced water, the magnesium citrate is stable.

two things happen here:
1. physical dissolution of anhydrous citric acid(one component of the powder) in water and
2. chemical reacion of the calcium carbonate with HOT citric acid, yielding calcium citrate in aqueous citric acid solution. this reaction produces "fizzing" because it releases carbon dioxide. so, fizzing tells you the reaction is not complete - that's why you need to wait till it stops before you drink up or do anything else to the preparation.

So then.... how hot does "hot" need to be?

At one point I'd found a chart that told me optimum solubility temps for bunches of salts in different solvents. Alas, I cannot find it again! What I do personally is heat water as though i were making instant coffee... i bring it to steam point but not to a full boil (as i would for tea). Then I add the stuff and then i let it cool down. that's probably hotter than needed but i am sure, that way, that as it cools it will certainly pass "through" critical solution temperature.

hope that's helpful and not too chem-geeky.

~ waves ~ a once-wannabe chem major

I take magnesium tablets for my fibromyaligia. And other aches at times.

It is something I have to find the tablets or I can't swallow them. So
when I start to run out I'm always out looking for them.

But they also help with fatigue too.

Donna

Donna

have you ever tried the Natural Calm product? This is taken as a drink, hot warm or cold. tastes a bit lemony but you can dilute it as much as you need.

Also here, i get magnesium pidolate in tiny vials. Here that is branded as Mag2. it is a clear liquid. No shake, no bake and no stir. Just uncap and drink (it's maybe a tablespoon and 1/2 worth no more). it is the most rapidly absorbed form. my neuro gave it to me for migraines (to help prevent/reduce the hormonal ones).

i guess, i am not clear what form it is you cannot swallow - if it's certain pills, or if it's the liquids you have trouble with (i'd think liquids are easier?)

~ waves ~

Very helpful info!

I am officially a knucklehead. I always used cold water right from the fridge spicket. And also, I drank it while it was still fizzing. I thought it was supposed to be like that. I thought it was like Alka-Seltzer.

Thank you waves - I apparently did not read the instructions. I've already gone through 3 or 4 containers of this stuff in the orange flavor.

Dear Butterfly,

You were still getting some magnesium --- just not the kind that the body can fully absorb. Even then, some was still getting absorbed.

Some people take CALM to help with sleep, leg cramps, and so on.

If you need magnesium, you can get it in food sources: almonds, dried apricots, dates, . . .
I like sliced almonds on my salads.

Also try these links:
http://theconsciouslife.com/foods-high-in-magnesium.htm

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Mag...hProfessional/

(The full 2 rounded teaspoons on the instructions of the CALM prepared according to instructions are 350 mgs of magnesium but some people get loose stools at that dose and need to experiment to find the right dose.)

It might be good to not make any changes to your diet until after the blood work for the Nurse Practitioner.

M