Posted by JLx on September 1, 2005, at 20:48:04
In reply to Why is magnesium used?, posted by lynn970 on August 29, 2005, at 19:50:07
> My endochronologist (misspelled) put me on magnesium several years ago. I eventually quit taking it. I saw several post about magnesium. What is it good for? Maybe I should get back on magnesium.
Since it was your endocrinologist, was s/he concerned about either thyroid or insulin problems? Magnesium is especially useful in both cases.
A couple good books on the subject are "The Magnesium Factor" by Mildred Seelig, M.D. and "The Miracle of Magnesium" by Carolyn Dean, M.D. I've read them both and came away thinking that if everyone did, they'd be taking extra magnesium.
Magnesium supplementation has done wonders for me, from alleviating dry, itchy skin to preventing suicide ideation. It's a de-stressor in general, including to the brain. Too much calcium is an excitotoxin to brain cells, which I think was the problem that manifested in me as suicidal despair. Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker.
I was following the typical advise about preventing osteoporosis and took calicium supplements for years (until I had a calcium kidney stone). Not only was I often suicidal feeling, but also extremely irritable, sensitive to sound (I stole 2 of my neighbors wind chimes because they were literally driving me nuts!), frequently teary and had outright crying spells when stressed and often had that "can't cope" feeling -- all alleviated by magnesium.
It infuriates me now that I felt so bad for so many years following conventional wisdom about calcium. And yes, I was taking the kind of calcium/mag recommended in a 2 to 1 ratio. But what I didn't know was that the kind of magnesium, magnesium oxide, in my both my multi and the cal/mag combo was next to useless (absorbed at about 5%).
Better forms of magnesium in terms of absorbability, are magnesium glycinate, taurate, chloride, malate, citrate.
I like magnesium glycinate because of it's calming effect. I also take magnesium taurate and malate. Mg citrate is the most likely to give me diarrhea.
When I first started supplementing with magnesium, in some ways I felt better almost immediately (dry skin, mood) while some others took months, such as straightening out my thyroid function.
It's a great supplement.
JL
poster:JLx
thread:548966
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050812/msgs/549805.html