STRUGGLING WITH MAGNESIUM - any advice??

[Redlester]

I have been using magnesium chloride for about 4-5 weeks now and while I like it in principle, I don't like the sticky feeling on my body and am never sure how much of it I am getting. I have tried both magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate, but I suffer from very low stomach acid and every time I have tried those it feels as though they are hoovering up all my stomach acid and I end up with horrendous digestive pain. I have tried taking them away from food and that doesn't help matters. I have also tried epsom salt baths but I seem to be someone they don't agree with so they aren't an option. I would like to find a form of magnesium which will get me enough to do me some good and which won't mess up my digestion. I also suffer quite badly from migraines which is another indication that I'm not getting enough magnesium - I had 2 last week in the space of 3 days. Magnesium L threonate is supposed to be good for migraines but I'm not sure what it does to digestion. I'd be very glad of any advice or suggestions anyone might have.

[Kandahar]

Back in the 90s My allergy dr prescribed Bio-Magnesium because he wasn’t impressed by the ones you have tried. Bio-Magnesium contains M acetate, hydroxide and carbonate, combine for better absorption and for being kinder to the gut. They have never upset my tum. All sorts of pharmaceutical companies make it but I use the Pharma one. Not sure I can say this but if it’s removed pm me.

I also had a low acid stomach and took betaine to re-acidify and possibly still have now having stopped.

Apparently, lots of hypo people have low acidity.

[Redlester in reply to Kandahar]

Thanks Kandahar - I have been taking Betaine for years now - wish I didn't have to but digestion would be so much worse if I didn't take it, and even while taking it for meals when I took the magnesium bisycinate or citrate [not with a meal] I found that it seemed to hoover up my stomach acid and my food sat in my stomach - painfully - undigested. Is that the Pharma nord bio-magnesium you are recommending?? I know you say it is "kinder on the gut" but would it have that affect I have described [re the glycinate/citrate]?

[Nanaedake]

Magnesium draws a lot of fluid into your intestines so ensure very good hydration, plain water.

[Redlester in reply to Nanaedake]

good advice Nanaedake - In addition to other fluids I take about 6-7 very large glasses of water each day - would I need more [kidneys and bladder already on overdrive as is]?

[Nanaedake in reply to Redlester]

Sounds like you're getting plenty of fluids.

[meme]

Would a spray be better? It’s the only magnesium I can use. You can make it yourself with Epsom salts . 1 cup Epsom to 1 cup boiled distilled water. Cool then pour into a spray bottle. Apply to clean dry skin. About 20 pumps.

[Redlester in reply to meme]

Thanks meme but as I understand it that is the same as the magnesium chloride spray which I don't seem to be getting enough magnesium from and I can't abide the sticky wet feeling on skin no matter how long you rub at it for. If I could get something I could spray sublingually that would be perfect

[meme in reply to Redlester]

If you make your own you can adjust it to make it less sticky.

Are you adding spinach, almonds and pumpkin seeds to your diet? And any other magnesium foods? Good luck.

[mourneadventurer]

ReMag (Botanicahealth) by Dr Carolyn Dean might be of use as well as ReMyte and her book Magnesium miracle. Also Bioptimiszers Magnesium Breakthrough (Amazon),

I’ve found the former to be 100% absorbed and the latter for an occasional change.

[Redlester in reply to mourneadventurer]

Thanks mourneadventurer - was thinking about that last night but couldn't remember the name - would either of those interfere with my stomach acid do you think?

[mourneadventurer in reply to Redlester]

Low stomach acid and related issues ie redux usually are attributed to low zinc and probably H. Pylori.

I’ve found ReMag and ReMyte to be invaluable - worth doing a search on Dr Caroline Dean s websites to look at the background information. As I said before her book is an eye opener if you’ve got migraines.

Yes they are expensive but 100%effective in beginning to replenish electrolytes.

[Redlester in reply to mourneadventurer]

So are you taking both the ReMag and the ReMyte?

[mourneadventurer in reply to Redlester]

Yes I take both In water and they are effective by absorption through swishing around the mouth. Do your own due diligence and background reading. 100% absorption and worth every penny as I rarely get cramps any more. I keep a glass of enhanced water on the go throughout the day and sip accordingly depending on electrolyte replacement needs. Strangely I’ve also discovered that a lower back pain and groin injury eases as well when I am optimally hydrated. So my initial indicator is a pain or tightness on the top of my foot over the ankle.

Of course do the usual Epsom salt baths and foot baths, Magnesium breakthrough and ReMag/ReMyte you’ll find out what is effective for you.

[Nanny23]

Remag and remyte is amazing. I’ve been taking for a few years. You can find on amazon

[Redlester in reply to Nanny23]

This is what amazon says about ReMag "HIGHLY ABSORBED MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE - ReMag Liquid Magnesium Solution is made through a proprietary 18 point process which turns magnesium chloride into a 60,000ppm concentration of stabilized picometer ions of magnesium. Designed to optimize absorption and bypass gastric upset." The directions advise to add to water in order to take so I'm not sure how this can "bypass gastric upset" if you are ingesting it and taking it into the stomach - can anyone explain the process.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I was going to suggest ReMag too

Doesn’t affect your gut

Does affect your bank balance....it’s quite expensive. But lasts fair amount of time. Available from Botanical Health

[Redlester in reply to SlowDragon]

this one on amazon seems to be similar but a fraction of the price

goodstate.com/products/liqu...

[bookish]

I'm guessing that you are using an oil spray if you say you don't like the sticky feeling? You can wipe off once it has had a bit of time to absorb which may help. I use that too but started off with a small quantity of Better You flakes in a bowl of warm water big enough to soak my feet for 20 minutes (a bathful was too much and made me feel odd). Might be worth a try. Epsom salts made me really dry and I was advised that it was the wrong kind of magnesium.

[Redlester in reply to bookish]

Thanks Bookish - I have been wiping it off after about 30 minutes or more which is fine in summer but as winter approaches the idea of walking around with a trouser leg hiked up to the thigh to let the mag chlo oil sink in for 30 plus minutes has lost its appeal!!! bit too chilly! I have some of the flakes and used to regularly do a footsoak each night - will do one tonight and see what happens. I think it is a good idea to rotate things; I could be wrong, but wonder if you continually just do the one thing over and over your body adapts to it and it becomes less effective and that if you change it up a bit every so often you might get better results - hence the search for an oral supp which won't mess my digestion. Plus there is also the issue that the mag chlo is good for detoxing, and if you are trying continually to detox when perhaps your body isn't, for whatever reason, best equipped to handle it [and mine doesn't seem to be] again, over time you are going to face a reaction to that, which is the way I feel at the minute - very much need magnesium but needing something different to what am currently using. BTW thanks for previous post - will try to reply soonest but playing catch up after run of migraines.

[bookish in reply to Redlester]

That's ok, you're welcome. Sorry about migraines. Interesting point about needing to mix it up rather than keep doing the same. I've heard similar about supplements. Might have to have a rethink! I so agree about it being too cold for bare skin - bitter here just now, one reason I like my warm footbaths! Take it easy x

(This little bit is from Micki Rose, you probably already know, but thought it might be useful

I would always make sure you are taking the magnesium co-factors too so you can absorb and utilise it properly. Those include B6, B1, Vitamin D and boron mainly. B6 is the most important. I would also caution that you should be taking a general multivitamin and mineral too so that you don’t upset the balance of the other minerals like calcium and potassium. The electrolyte minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) all work together in harmony so boosting one without making sure the others are OK is not a good idea. I did this once and realised the dizziness I felt was a potassium drop. A break, a lower dose and a boost of potassium solved it.)

[Redlester in reply to bookish]

Thanks Bookish - no I hadn't read that Miki Rose advice yet. I am taking B6 B1 and Vitamin D in supplement for but am not supplementing with boron [although it is in my himalayan salt along with other minerals and ions which I use generously with all my meals) and would be relying on diet for calcium sodium and potassium - I eat a lot of fruit and veg and eat things like goats milk and probiotic yoghurt daily - as broad and varied a diet as I can manage, so I hope I'm covered for the co-factors - just need to find a form of mag which suits me!!!

[bookish in reply to Redlester]

Sounds like you've got it all covered! I'm trying the same except the dairy as haven't found anything I can handle. Micki does have a magnesium factsheet too if you're still struggling after all these suggestions. There do seem to be rather a lot of different magnesiums x

[Redlester in reply to bookish]

I wish!!! I don't think I have it all covered at all - I had a look on her webpage at the magnesium fact sheet. She seems to be recommending mag citrate and mag chlo oil sprayed on skin or in footbaths [no more than 3 times per week]. I think I will have a go at footbaths and try again with my magnesium citrate capsules.

[bookish in reply to Redlester]

I know the feeling. Good luck with the trials! I did find my skin got a bit dry when I got carried away and did a footbath every night for a few weeks (it made me feel so much better and I was getting some sleep...wonderful sleep). One reason why I bought the spray as well, so I could vary where I was putting it. Keep me posted and maybe I'll try to find a grain free citrate too.