[Rrae]

I've seen several references to folks here using topical Magnesium Oil.

I've asked the folks at my local healthfood store and
they just look at me like a COW looking at a new gate

Is it labelled under a certain name?
Does it really work for neuropathy and/or sore muscle pain as a topical agent?

Also, since I'm on the subject of Magnesium....
WHICH is the best PILL or capsule to use? I know not to get the 'Oxide'....and the last bottle I got, I thought I was getting the 'good' stuff, the label says "Magnesium Caps, Natural High Potency 400mg" but in reading the fine print on the back label it says 'Magnesium as oxide

I know the answer to this is probably in the 'Supplements' subforum, but I'm at work and not able to take the time to do a search....

I'll probably just have to order online because I want the best quality.....and evidentally cows don't seem to take much interest in this important supplement

Just need to know a good brand name and how to NOT get the 'oxide'....

Thanks my friends

[cyclelops]

No oxide.....geeez...I suppose mine is oxide too....

A cow at a new gate??? LOL. You made my day. Kinda like a chicken looking at a square egg??

[smae]

Rae,

I don't know about the B12 thing.. none of them raised my levels at all, so I don't have any advice on that.

But, I did a search for magnesium oil and a LOT of results came up. Have you looked online at all, or just at the health food store?

I usually buy things from Amazon, so I checked there.. and there are lots of different brands.

I don't know anything about the differences in brands--they all say they are made of magnesium chloride and water.

"What is Magnesium Oil? Magnesium oil isn't actually an "oil" after all, but instead was coined as such due to the high saturation of magnesium chloride in water, which presents itself in an "oil-like" texture."

Here is the results page so you can compare prices and volumes.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...m+oil&x=8&y=21

[mrsD]

Magnesium in oxide form is a laxative. It remains in the bowel and acts as a saline cathartic.

I use SlowMag, mostly because I am sensitive to GI upsets, and some magnesium products loosen me. SlowMag is a long acting form of Magnesium chloride. I have a congenital GI defect, that makes for fast transit, and have to watch what I eat carefully.

But for people on opiate pain therapy, looseness is not an issue for the most part.

I also like Ionic Fizz, which is magnesium carbonate, and goes into solution when you mix it, and has a faster onset.

I buy the generic form of SlowMag for about $5 a bottle at Costco pharmacy. The brand name is $9.99 at WalMart.

Starting at 2 a day, is about 1/2 the RDA.

PeterB at headache here is currently posting with his success with magnesium oil. He takes his orally I believe, but most of the manufacturers of it recommend application to the skin for transdermal absorption.

There have been studies showing Americans very deficient in magnesium. Up to 70% do not get the RDA of it.

Magnesium is used by the body in about 300 different biochemical systems including bone, heart, and muscle functions. Magnesium is a cofactor in the metabolism of Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
This "oil form" is similar to using epsom salts soaks.

Most magnesium products contain oxide, since it is so cheap and historically believed to be useful...(It is not useful as studies have shown for oral supplementation. It is now in Phillips oral tablets laxative)

You may find in stores, magnesium glycinate, citrate, SlowMag, Ionic Fizz, Calm, etc. If you read my magnesium thread on the Vitamin forum, you will see how to choose a supplement, and understand the difference between elemental and final weight dosing.

Magnesium is found in nuts (almonds especially), beans, figs, green leafy veggies. If one eats carefully, one does not need a supplement. This website:
www.nutritiondata.com
gives the nutritional content of most foods and is a good resource!

I think you will find some online magnesium oils, to be more expensive per dose than some other forms.

I tend to want to save money and get quality too, so I share my opinions that way. Magnesium oil seems useful for those who get diarrhea easily from oral supplements. Other than that, it is not much different from less expensive epsom salt soaks.

[Rrae]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Magnesium in oxide form is a laxative. It remains in the bowel and acts as a saline cathartic.

aHA! No WONDER 'Montezuma's Revenge' set up camp in me while I was taking this at the same time I was on the Neurontin trial.......it clearly stated on the Neurontin script NOT to take magnesium products 2 hrs before or after taking this med. So I thought I was being careful......
geeeeeze

I'm pasting your Magnesium thread here so I can have easy access to it on this thread....

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ight=magnesium

Thank you!

[mrsD]

The interaction with Neurontin is that magnesium prevents Neurontin's absorption. It complexes the drug and makes it unavailable for getting into the blood stream.

Neurontin is not well absorbed to begin with, and using magnesium (most commonly in liquid antacids) reduces the potential for the drug to work.

And it would remain in the colon, drawing water into the colon and giving loose stools or diarrhea depending on dose.

As I mentioned above, the main attraction of these new "oil" forms is bypassing laxative response.

One poster on a review at Amazon mentioned that Swanson had a very much less expensive similar product to that 30 dollar one:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/Searc...evel1&x=44&y=9
And yes, look at this... only 8.99 whereas the other is 29.99.
Many people on these forums use Swanson, as well as other places to save $$.
This product is nothing special, just magnesium chloride in super high concentration. I am leary of using it orally, as PeterB does. So please, just use it topically if you try it.

[stagger]

Hello,
I purchased some magnesium gel from the Dr. Richard Becker show and used the whole tube but never reordered, its supposedly made from the Dead Sea salts. I am thinking about mixing a Vit-C cream with Epson Salt and trying it. The gel I used did have a slight calming effect

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by stagger

Hello,
I purchased some magnesium gel from the Dr. Richard Becker show and used the whole tube but never reordered, its supposedly made from the Dead Sea salts. I am thinking about mixing a Vit-C cream with Epson Salt and trying it. The gel I used did have a slight calming effect

I have used Aquaphor to incorporate epsom salts into an ointment base. It is tricky. One has to dissolve the epsom salts in a small amount of water first (use the least amount of water possible). Measuring the salts without a pharmaceutical balance is also very difficult. It was messy and I didn't get a huge response when I did it.

There is a cream available from Kirkman labs. It targets autistic children, but anyone can use it:
http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/ViewProdu...roup_ID@1.aspx

I have this link on my magnesium thread, but I put it up here again. I think it is quite expensive for a small amount. But...
for kids, it is the safest way to deliver magnesium to them without risk of toxicity etc. It has a fixed concentration also, which makes it dependable.

Looking at the magnesium "oil" I see it is just like a liquid form of epsom salts. Using the Swanson product is much more affordable, but it does not contain a transdermal facilitating base like the medications we make and see for pain relief...special formulas to carry the active ingredient into the deeper layers of the skin and into the blood stream.
The skin is a fatty acid layer, which repells water...and this is an aqueous solution basically (the magnesium oil), and hence limited in absorption. The epsom salts penetrate locally as well, but I don't really think they get into the major blood stream where they can be transported around the body.

On my magnesium thread that Rrae put up kindly here, is a recipe for making a fatty acid containing product using milk or magnesia and a coconut base.
Here is the beginning of the recipe:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post608661-182.html
There is a discussion following that post, where I try to clarify a few minor points about the content of the coconut oil...etc. Those are minor compared to the recipe shared. If you were going to try to make a real cream, this might be worth trying.
The oils in the coconut would help move the magnesium deeper into the tissues. A real transdermal vehicle would be best tho.

[stagger]

mrsD,
Thanks so much for posting the information on magnesium, I am always tinkering around with something and like that coconut base formula. I meant to type Vit-E skin creme instead of Vit-C. Best to ya, I'd be lost without you
Lanny

[Rrae]

MrsD's Magnesium thread is priceless!

......the oil thing sounds too complicated for my simplistic brain..... guess I'll just go with the good ol' epsom salts........cows lick salt blocks.... I guess they are pretty intelligent after all

I went to Walgreens today and sure enough the magnesium tablets they offer have 'oxide' written in small print on the back label.

Gonna read the Magnesium thread now.....

Thanks all