. . . without drugs, straight from Nature
Natural treatments usually consist of more than one item, but magnesium has so many functions that its action can have a broad influence. Magnesium is a mineral found in every cell of our body, attesting to its very essential role. We usually connect it with bone health, but it’s involved in over 300 essential metabolic reactions! It’s crucial to vitamin D efficacy, influences sleep patterns, helps regulate our gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain, and is active in the function of our immune system. That magnesium benefits include pain management is what led me to its use through topical application. The surprise was that this form is noted for best bioavailability and safest uptake to avoid overwhelming our system.
Systemic functions
Magnesium is active in the production of energy and protein synthesis, the integrity of cellular membranes and chromosomes, enzymatic reactions and the vital role of ion transport for proper function of nerve impulses. This also means it can relax muscle tissue, and some pain management clinics are now using the topical form. Magnesium’s involvement with proper body function is an impressive list, and yet, some doctors are now stating they believe that up to 80% of Americans are suffering from a magnesium deficiency.
Research on deficiency:
In 1980, Mildred Seelig, medical doctor and researcher, wrote ‘Magnesium Deficiency in the Pathogenesis of Disease, Early Roots of Cardiovascular, Skeletal and Renal Abnormalities. She noted the ample evidence at that time of magnesium deficiency associated with functional and structural abnormalities of membranes, cells, organs, and systems. She linked magnesium deficiency to:
a) metabolic factors affecting absorption
b) disease and therapy
c) physiological states that increase requirements for nutrients
d) nutritional imbalances, citing that excesses of nutrients can interfere with the absorption or increase the excretion of magnesium.
More recently, she co-authored The Magnesium Factor with Andrea Rosanoff, linking magnesium deficiency to some of the most prevalent disorders currently affecting Americans, supporting the information with the latest scientific studies.
You may wonder why deficiency is not diagnosed frequently if it’s that widespread. In 2006, Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., authored The Miracle of Magnesium. She explains that testing for proper levels of magnesium is difficult because its serum concentration is so low that it’s hard to get an accurate picture of how much is in the whole body just by testing what’s in the blood. She emphasized that only one percent of the body’s magnesium is in the blood, that the body will take magnesium from bones and tissues if that level drops – resulting in a blood test could easily show a normal reading, even when the rest of the body is very deficient.
Subclinical deficiency. In orthomolecular medicine, subclinical deficiency of a nutrient is sufficient to affect health but not severe enough to cause classic deficiency symptoms. As a lifelong research nutritionist, Forrest Nielson, Ph.D, determined that subclinical magnesium deficiency is a “significant factor” in the occurrence of low-grade inflammation leading to chronic disease, particularly bone loss leading to osteoporosis.
Forms of magnesium. The question becomes what is the best magnesium form to take when you don’t want diarrhea to result from a dose your body cannot utilize. Absorption can be difficult with oral supplements and larger amounts. Some suggest taking divided oral doses over the day to ensure better magnesium absorption rates, but this is difficult for the cramped schedules of most people.
Safest, easiest, bioavailable. The safest and most easily absorbed magnesium supplement has been found to be a topical application that our body uptakes according to its need. This makes ‘transdermal magnesium chloride’ a safe mineral supplement for everyone except those on kidney dialysis or other advanced kidney-disease states.
Ancient Minerals. Their unique source of magnesium chloride with natural trace minerals has been protected at 1600 to 2000 meters deep in the interior of the earth as an ancient European seabed. It has proved to be one of the most bioavailable and easily assimilated magnesium compounds.
Ancient Minerals describe their magnesium products for ‘unsurpassed purity in a highly coveted form of magnesium chloride, often referred to as the “Master Magnesium Compound” due to its clinical efficacy in a wide range of therapeutic applications.’
Pain management. I had read of magnesium chloride when first researching clay baths for metal detoxification, but it was only after reading of topical magnesium’s successful use in pain management clinics that I decided I must try it. The bonus of reading it was effective for arrhythmia clinched my decision. This would pertain to arrhythmia related to the heart’s electrical conduction rather than a faulty valve, but could be an easier option than a pacemaker if your body responds well. It’s currently one of the most effective and fast-acting natural supplements I have tried. Best yet is that we’re talking about a natural mineral!
Other associated conditions. Dr. Dean says that other conditions associated with a deficiency include blood clots, bowel disease, cystitis, depression, detoxification, fatigue, hypoglycemia, kidney disease, kidney stones, musculoskeletal conditions, Raynaud’s syndrome, and even tooth decay. She reports that she’s seen magnesium improve patients’ PMS, painful periods, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.
Magnesium chloride by Ancient Minerals was attractive enough for me to try it, with positive results. May you be intrigued to consider the implications magnesium deficiency can have on systemic health and try this form to be your own judge of its effects.
