How to increase your magnesium the easy way

holistic health

How To Increase Your Magnesium The Easy Way

Magnesium is an essential mineral for our bodies and it is one of the six macro minerals that comprises 99% of the body’s mineral content.  Magnesium is used by every organ in the body including all muscles and vital organs like the heart and kidneys.  Magnesium is critical for healthy teeth and bones, and the electrical stability of every cell in the body.  Unfortunately, it is very difficult to diagnose a magnesium deficiency because it does not show up in blood tests which means many people are deficient without even realizing it.  The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium is set at 320 to 420 mg per day; however, according to some researchers, this RDA is drastically under the optimal daily allowance of 500 to 750 mg.  

How to know if you are magnesium deficient

Because magnesium is stored in the tissues, some of the first signs of deficiency can be muscle cramps, twitches, spasms, restless leg, or foot pain.  Some of the other signs of magnesium deficiency include the following:

  • Agitation and anxiety
  • Sleep disorders
  • Abnormal blood pressure
  • Mental confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Migraines
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Constipation
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Calcifications of the tissues, joints, breast, arteries, and heart valves
  • Urinary spasms
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to sound

The list of symptoms of magnesium deficiency could go on since a  magnesium deficiency can affect nearly every system in our bodies.

Magnesium supplements have drawbacks

 At this point, you may be fairly certain that you do have a magnesium deficiency.  Food is one way of increasing your magnesium especially if you eat almonds, spinach, and cashews which are all very high in this mineral.  But is it enough considering our soils are often magnesium depleted as well?  Perhaps you have already started thinking of finding the best supplement so you can get the magnesium that you need!  But slow down before you rush out to purchase any magnesium!  The problem with taking a magnesium supplement is that so little magnesium can be absorbed from supplements.  If we lack the proper stomach acid, many of the forms of magnesium will pass through the digestive tract without being utilized by the body.  Additionally, most types of magnesium have a laxative effect so this limits the amount that can be taken as well as how well it is absorbed.  Both of these limitations are why you need to know how to increase your magnesium the easy way!

How to increase your magnesium the easy way--Transdermal Magnesium Therapy

While it might seem like a far fetched idea that you can increase your magnesium levels by rubbing magnesium into your skin, it is entirely possible!  Just think about the medicines that are delivered in a patch or the oils we use on our skin for healing.  Our skin is made up of tiny pores that allow sweat and toxins out and other substances in.  Topical application of magnesium travels through the outer layers of skin through the lymph and vascular system and eventually into the bloodstream.   

Transdermal therapies are not new, but have existed since ancient times when people would spend time in mineral baths for its healing properties.

Studies on transdermal intake

  • Dr. Norman Shealy, M.D. Ph.D. Founder of the American Holistic Medical Association, Dr Shealy enlisted sixteen individuals with low intracellular magnesium levels. Participants were instructed to perform a 20 minute foot-soak with magnesium chloride flakes, in addition to spraying their entire body once daily with magnesium oil. After just four weeks of foot soaking in magnesium chloride, 75% of participants showed a very significant increase in their cellular levels of magnesium.
  • Dr. DH Waring at the University of Birmingham, demonstrated that a 1% solution of magnesium sulfate in a warm bath had immediate effects on serum levels of magnesium.
  • A study in Poland specifically addressed the issue of ion diffusion through the skin. Using ion chromatography, researchers demonstrated in vitro that the metal cation magnesium can in fact diffuse through the skin.

The best type of magnesium to use

Magnesium chloride is the most effective form of magnesium for using transdermally.  While Magnesium Sulfate, or Epsom salts, can be beneficial as well, Epsom salts are processed by the body rapidly and excreted through the kidneys before they can truly be assimilated.   There are several companies that now produce magnesium chloride products. The one that I purchase from is Ancient Minerals.  I appreciate their product line as well as their rigorous quality testing.  

How to apply magnesium

 Transdermal magnesium can be applied in a lotion, spray, or gel.  It is also possible to soak in a magnesium bath by using the flakes dissolved in your bath water or a foot soak.  This is often the method that works best for young children.  If soaking is not an option, the lotion, spray, or gel make for quick applications.  However, frequently, I hear that people suffer from skin itching after applying magnesium in this manner.  My own children start to itch almost immediately.  While we make sure that we do not spray it on on any sensitive skin, or the drier parts of our body (like our legs), we still sometimes have itching after it is applied.  Ancient minerals now sells a lotion to help combat this feeling.  You can also choose the spray or gel and make your own lotion with the magnesium, or you can simply apply the magnesium, wait as long as possible for it to absorb, and then apply a body butter, oil, or natural lotion to the skin.  This is the option that I choose and it works perfectly to quell the itch for my entire family, children included! For a bit of a treat and help with sleep, Ancient Minerals has a lavender infused lotion with magnesium. It is a little on the pricy side but worth the added sleep if you really need your little one (or yourself) to sleep better. If you want to make your own body butter, check out our easy and effective recipe here. For more details on how to increase your magnesium the easy way as well as how to apply magnesium transdermally, please see Ancient Mineral’s handy Guide to Magnesium Application.

In Summary:  How to increase your magnesium the easy way

  • Most people are deficient in magnesium
  • Supplements are not effective for every person
  • Use transdermal magnesium chloride to increase your magnesium levels easily. 

Get the most economical magnesium option here. 

 

 

 

 

 

References

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ http://www.ancient-minerals.com/magnesium-deficiency/#footnote_2_109 http://www.ancient-minerals.com/magnesium-deficiency/#identifier_0_109 http://drsircus.com/medicine/magnesium/magnesium-chloride-benefits http://www.ancient-minerals.com/transdermal-magnesium/how-topical/ Save

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