Magnesium - does it really help?

I’m going to sing the praises of Magnesium today!  The 2 big changes I have made recently are diet, and supplementing with Magnesium.  I have noticed a BIG difference in my muscle pain the past few weeks and I’m attributing that to the Magnesium.  I had mild restless leg  (would bother me about once or twice a week) and that is GONE.  Over the weekend I took a day trip to Sedona AZ and a year ago (even a few months ago) spending a day driving and walking would have sent me straight into a flare before the day was over, but today I’m sitting here a just a little tired, and not in much pain at all.

My Dr. suggested I start taking Magnesium a few months ago, and I had heard about it before that from my online support group, so I already wanted to try it.  Make sure you talk with your Dr. before starting anything new.  I can’t begin to know what your specific needs are, I just love to share with you the things that are working for me.  I’m very careful about what I try and I pray over everything, I advise everyone to do the same!  There is no one better than Jehovah Rapha - the LORD our healer, to lead us down the right paths.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:6

In a previous post, DIY – Magnesium Oil Spray, I spoke about symptoms of Magnesium deficiency, a very common problem especially for those with fibromyalgia.  Today I’d like to address the types of Magnesium that are most beneficial to take.

Start out with Magnesium Malate (malic acid) in the mornings for energy.  I take 200mg with breakfast and 200mg at lunch.  Then at dinner I take 200mg of Magnesium Glycinate, and sometimes if I’m hurting more, or having a hard time relaxing I’ll take 200mg more before bed.  These types of Magnesium are chelate form and more easily absorbed by the body.  If you have heard people say they have tried Magnesium and it didn’t help them, most likely they were taking the wrong form, or not taking enough.  It is really important to build up slowly.  I started with 400mg (the recommended daily dose)  One pill (200mg) with breakfast and one with dinner.  Then after about 2 weeks I added the lunch time dose of 200mg.  That was when I started to feel a difference in my body.  With 800mg I feel even better, but I have to watch that because Magnesium in any form can have laxative effects.

Where can you get these forms of Magnesium?  The internet is a great resource, but if you can't wait, check out a health food store in your area.  I found both of these forms at my local Sprouts store.

To learn more about Magnesium check out these links:

Top 10 Magnesium rich foods

Benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium Malate

Magnesium Glycinate

Have YOU tried Magnesium supplements?  What were your results?

 

DIY - Magnesium Oil Spray

 

Recently I have learned about the benefits of Magnesium supplementation.  Better sleep, decreased muscle pain, flexibility, bone/teeth strength, hydration, relaxation and more!  A few weeks ago I began taking Magnesium Glycinate, after a recommendation from my Dr., and have already noticed a decrease in my muscle pain!  Then some people in my fabulous online fibromyalgia support group started talking about using Magnesium Oil Spray (which is not really oil at all).  You can spray it on your skin after a shower/bath, or anytime, directly onto sore aching muscles for relief.  That sounded great.  Even better, someone mentioned making your own!  I found a tutorial from cheekslave.com and I HAD to try it!

What you will need:

 

       1.  Magnesium Chloride bath flakes

     2.  Filtered or distilled water

     3.  Spray bottle

     4.  Essential oils (optional)

How to make Magnesium Oil Spray:

 

1.       Pour 1 Cup of water into a pot

2.       Stir in 1 cup of magnesium flakes

3.       Turn the heat on low/medium

4.       Stir occasionally until flakes are dissolved

5.       Add a few drops of essential oils (optional)

6.       Cool to room temperature

7.       Pour into bottle

How to use Magnesium Oil Spray:

Spray 4-5 sprays directly on sore muscles as needed, or onto your torso, massage in.

8 sprays of Magnesium oil equals about 100mg of Magnesium being absorbed into your skin.

It may tingle or sting when you first spray it on, that should stop after a minute or two. (Do not use right after you have shaved, ouch!)

You can dilute it even more if you have skin irritation.

You can also use Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) but you may need to use less water to experience the same effects.  Epsom Salt vs Magnesium Chloride 

 

To get even more benefit, I added a few drops of an aroma therapy oil blend I had called “release” for stress and sore muscles.  I can’t tell you the brand because they are no longer in business, but I will list the ingredients for you as inspiration for your own creations.

cinnamon oil, cornmint oil, cinnamon oil, coconut oil, grapefruit oil, lavandin oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, menthol, camphor,  and white ginger extract. 

For more information on essential oils for muscle pain visit:

experience-essential-oils.com

Cost:

I spent just under $10 (including shipping) on a 1.64lb bag of Magnesium Bath Flakes.  This works out to 24.6 cents per oz.  Less than 50 cents for a 2oz bottle!  And under $2 for an 8oz bottle!  That’s a HUGE savings considering Magnesium Oil Spray can run anywhere from $6 to almost $30 for an 8oz bottle depending on the brand!

I had a lot of fun making this myself and wanted to share with family and friends so I doubled the recipe and got a handful of 2oz bottles in the travel section of the drugstore so I could share.  I even got an extra bottle for just water, my little helper wanted his own!

 

If you have a combination of these symptoms, check with your doctor to see if you are deficient in Magnesium and could benefit from supplements including Magnesium Oil Spray.