So who will get theirs first?! :winky:

I saw the little spoon, looked like a good plan to know how much I would be using. I didn't order the one in the link near the top of this thread because I'm in the UK, and that's from the US. Couldn't find the same product over here.

Bram.

Kirkman was one of the first to make magnesium into an OTC cream. It is a reputable company.

The Morton's is really new...just hit the US shelves just over a month ago.

After my weird and painful reaction to the epsom salt bath, I daren't try again with the magnesium sulphate. Does anyone know if there is a difference in efficacy between the sulphate and other types, eg. citrate? Also do different mediums make a difference as there are a lot of magnesium citrate "oil that isn't oil" sprays on eBay. Thanks!

Perhaps you put too much in the bath or made the water too hot?

This is a salt after all..and too much will sting like salt water can.

Magnesium sulfate is not typically used orally...it is a laxative.
To get oral absorption you need magnesium glycinate or citrate (in small doses because citrate is also laxative.)

Because most magnesium can have a laxative action orally, people vary in response to it. The topical forms in cream and lotion I believe are better absorbed as the base carries the mag thru the skin. I am leary of the spray oils (which are not oils at all), because plain water solutions are more limited in absorption.

Here in US we have SlowMag which is a delayed release oral form that works well too.
http://www.slowmag.com/

There are good food sources if you want to do it that way.
Suggestions are on the SlowMag website.

Hiya - I followed the instructions from one of the threads on here, and didn't have quite enough to do it as strong as many do on here. It did say to have the water as hot as you can stand, which isn't very hot for me, so it was my usual bath temperature. My feet swelled and turned purplish red. I was ready for the stinging as I'd read a fair bit on here, but I wasn't ready for my feet turning to balloons and changing colour like that, and wow the pain was bad. My feet aren't my main area of CRPS, although I was starting with mild symptoms in them. Since that bath they have been much worse. I can't remember if it was Bram who suggested it might be down to the sulphur or someone on another board (my head is really bad today, sorry for my terrible memory). It makes sense as since this happened I've looked into the foods that set off my IBS and they are sulphur rich too (onions being the worst culprit lol).

I've found "magnesium oil" on eBay and they sell it in Holland and Barrett, so I'm going to try that. It's magnesium chloride in water. If I have the same reaction to that then it blows my theory out of the water lol. Definitely won't touch epsom salts again. It's funny as I haven't had that reaction to the generic aromatherapy bath salts, are they generally based on something else? :)

We don't use hot water on the Peripheral Neuropathy forum here.

Lukewarm only. Heat can flare us with PN.... we avoid that.

I've been doing epsom salts for many years, never had a reaction to lukewarm water.

There is also a limit to how much can be absorbed from water...
here is a link:

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/arti...um_sulfate.pdf

I know that topical absorption does change with the product used.... The old CVS lotion did work for me a bit...but the new Morton Epsom Lotion is really good. I've been able to come off 3 blood pressure pills and now only take a small dose of beta blocker as a result. It also takes down my swelling left foot within hours! Something in this lotion base is improving absorption. It is creamier than the old CVS (which was discontinued).

Mine came today!! Brilliant service. I haven't used it yet aside been out, but will try it this evening...

Yep, I can't tolerate hot water so the bath was luke warm, I was worried that I wouldn't get a good effect but wasn't expecting a really bad one like that, it was scary to be honest. I suppose it was just some sort of allergic reaction and given my IBS the sulphur theory rings true, but we'll see. I wouldn't risk trying it again to test my theory, it caused so much pain and swelling and I'm in a long flare at the moment now as it is without adding to it. I'm going to try the magnesium chloride sprays/flakes as I'd really like to be able to give the magnesium a proper shot. If I react badly to that too, I'll have to rethink. I'm not convinced the dietary supplement route is for me given how much less you get through to your system, how much longer it takes to build up levels and how it effects the stomach. Just going to play it safe for now. Thanks for all the info! I wonder if the chloride or other forms are available in creams? I will have a google.....

Lukewarm baths also applies to neuralgia symptoms? I though it was okay.. Please can you point me to the water temp discussions..