Magnesium
 

What kind of magnesium is the best and how much per day?

Also, have been soaking feet in Epsom salts each evening for an hour. Feet feel better, does that means l a low in mag?

What is the diffence between soaking feet and taking oral mag for the body capacity of absorb the mag?

Cheers Sue

I think Ancient Minerals Bath Flakes may be the best. I use it every day (4 heaping tablespoons for 30 mins) and have religiously for the last nine months. I notice the difference after 20 mins. Hotter water seems to help the Mg get absorbed better, but you need to be careful of course not to get burned.

Bath or foot soaks are better than supplements because they don't put your absorption at the mercy of your gut health. I have never noticed an energy boost after taking Mg supplements.

But I don't have time at the start of the day or middle of the day to soak for 20-30 mins, so I use supplements then. One doctor with a book out says only 15% of Mg supplements get absorbed.

The mistake most doctors or naturopaths make is to say take the Mg to the amount your body can tolerate without getting the runs. It makes more sense to fix your gut first and get the flora right. Once I did that, I was able to take 5-10 times more Vitamin-C, for example, and much more Mg, too.

Epsom salts may be as good as Ancient Minerals bath flakes. I haven't compared them. I just know what works for me and don't want to fix what isn't broken.

It's important to get your kidneys tested before taking lots of Mg.

How much water do you add to these 4 tbs?

Does that mean if l soak my feet each day for about an hour in the evenings, l don't needy to take mag supp?

Sue

You may not need oral if you soak every day.

If you have poor circulation to the feet, oral magnesium cannot get there as it is carried by the blood.

Magnesium can be lost from using diuretics, and caffeine and alcohol are prime causes of this loss. People taking drugs that are diuretic also lose magnesium, as well as diabetics as part of the process of poor blood sugar control.

Magnesium really relaxes muscles, and will help twitching too.
It can really help you sleep.

Oral works well for some people, who are not sensitive to the laxative effects. I've moved on from oral to a magnesium lotion, which I do like.
Here is our magnesium thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
If you do move on to oral eventually, avoid the ones with magnesium oxide, as this is not absorbed from the GI tract.

I soak my feet in a foot spa. Hopefully l don,t put too much mag, as l you have said that can be harmful.

Then link you sent didn't work. Had a look at there website. Is it called, mag sulphate cream?

Thanks sue

Can you clarify this? What link and to whom are you asking?

Referring back to the magnesium thread and l think you (mrsD), posted a link to kirkman site.

Sue:)

http://kirkmanlabs.com/ProductKirkma...mSulfateCream/

I believe many places now sell this independently from the manufacturer.

Type "kirkman magnesium cream" into google search.

There are also lotions (which I use).
One is called Epsom-IT.

I went back there, and fixed the broken link. That post is from 2006, and the company must have updated their site. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. ;)

Thanks

Sue:)

I have been soaking my feet daily in warm water with Epsom salt since March 15. I use a medium sized basin and fill it up with water just above my ankle and put 2oz of epsom.

I will not forget March 15 because that was the last time I experienced the burning sensation. Soaking it relieves me from the "tight-band pressure" in my feet. I will continue using epsom salt.

Does the magnesium absorbed through the skin metabolized in the liver or kidney? If yes, is it in lesser amount than orally taken, or just the same?

Thanks.

Magnesium in the blood stream is excreted by the kidney.

Without a "trigger" like diabetes, it is conserved to some extent.

I have not found any other information about serum levels that promote excretion. So other medical conditions may exist and not be researched yet.

But diuretics promote excretion to such an extent that people may die from that loss. Many on diuretic therapy for congestive heart failure who take high dose Lasix end up in ERs and some may die. When Propulsid was on the market there were deaths from prolonged QT events of the heart that occurred from low mag levels. This was the main reason it was removed.

There are many drugs on the QT lists, that can cause heart rhythm anomalies, when magnesium is low.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/246489-overview
This article explains hypermagnesemia.
The two major ways it can occur is thru IV supplements (used in treating Eclampsia of pregnancy this way, some IV chemo replacement), or rectal overuse of enemas containing magnesium like Fleets.

Thank you so much Mrs.D. Your help to us is not left unnoticed.

Thanks, l think l will go an purchased some magnesium cream.

Sue::)

Just need to clarify before ordering.
What is the difference between MSulfate cream and the Epsom-It?

And can l use on hot hands?

Thanks so much
Sue

I believe that the lotions also have Magnesium sulfate in them.

The difference is that the Kirkman cream has the concentration listed on the label, and provides a little measuring tool.

The lotions do not give the concentration in them.

However, we don't know how much IS absorbed, only that some is.

The plus side of the topicals is that they don't cause loose stools, which some people do get with oral products.

I posted this article recently, I found on the net concerning epsom salts and absorption potential thru the skin:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post864114-32.html

I know from my reactions to the lotion, I absorb nicely. I apply about a nickel sized dollop of my lotion on each arm and rub it in on the undersides of my forearm where the skin is thin and sensitive. I also do the wrists well, as blood vessels are near the surface there. (and I can have hand issues too)
I always sleep deeply when I do this. When I don't I notice it right away. Also applied to my left foot when it swells, the swelling goes down by the next morning and stays down for a couple of days. It is really helping with this problem that hurts me.

Can anyone tell me about a supplement called SlowMag? My neuro suggested that I take it, although I'm not sure why. I forgot to ask him. :confused: Is it a good product?

SlowMag is good. It was designed to be targeted to doctors.

Two a day in divided doses is the typical dose.

SlowMag is magnesium chloride, and well absorbed, so the amount in each tablet is smaller than the larger chelates.

Thanks! That's good to know. Is it better to take it with food? Would it be ok to take the SlowMag with my Omega 3? Does it cause constipation? :winky: Just checking.

You can take it with food. The last thing it could be is constipating! :p

My problem with Slow Mag is it also has calcium:

http://www.slowmag.com/

Not only that, the ratio isn't good. Dr. Carolyn Dean has plenty to say about Calcium supplements.

Why I Hate Calcium | Dr Carolyn Dean MD ND

Cancel the Calcium | Dr Carolyn Dean MD ND

An alternative slow-release Mg supplement is offered by Jigsaw:

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/supplements/magnesium

As far as I can tell, it has no calcium.

I tried it once, but couldn't tell one way or the other if it helped. I contacted them once to ask for data about absorption rates. No answer.

I remain committed to Magnesium Chloride bath salt.

i think l will buy the cream and use the bath salts.
I suppose they are absorbed at the same rate.
If l use both, is it possible to have too much?

I prefer not taking any kind of oral mag. I used to have the powder, but it used to make me feel weird.

Sue

You can choose to eat your magnesium.

Almonds, beans, etc.

Yes l have been eating more of these foods as well as artichokes, and pumkin seeds, but l will use the cream and soak of extra reliefs.

Sue