Suprising information about Magnesium/Calcium and aging........
This is the classic article on Magnesium Chloride.
It is helpful for many conditions.
http://users.mrbean.net.au/~wlast/magnesiumchloride.html
MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE
for Health & Rejuvenation
by Walter Last
Magnesium is nothing short of a miracle mineral in its healing effect
on a wide range of diseases as well as in its ability to rejuvenate
the aging body. We know that it is essential for many enzyme
reactions, especially in regard to cellular energy production, for the
health of the brain and nervous system and also for healthy teeth and
bones. However, it may come as a surprise that in the form of
magnesium chloride it is also an impressive infection fighter.
The first prominent researcher to investigate and promote the
antibiotic effects of magnesium was a French surgeon, Prof. Pierre
Delbet MD. In 1915 he was looking for a solution to cleanse wounds of
soldiers, because he found that traditionally used antiseptics
actually damaged tissues and encouraged infections instead of
preventing them. In all his tests magnesium chloride solution was by
far the best. Not only was it harmless for tissues, but it also
greatly increased leucocyte activity and phagocytosis, the destruction
of microbes.
Later Prof. Delbet also performed experiments with the internal
applications of magnesium chloride and found it to be a powerful
immune-stimulant. In his experiments phagocytosis increased by up to
333%. This means after magnesium chloride intake the same number of
white blood cells destroyed up to three times more microbes than
beforehand.
Gradually Prof. Delbet found magnesium chloride to be beneficial in a
wide range of diseases. These included diseases of the digestive tract
such as colitis and gall bladder problems, Parkinson's disease,
tremors and muscle cramps; acne, eczema, psoriasis, warts and itching
skin; impotence, prostatic hypertrophy, cerebral and circulatory
problems; asthma, hay fever, urticaria and anaphylactic reactions.
Hair and nails became stronger and healthier and patients had more
energy.
Prof. Delbet also found a very good preventative effect on cancer and
cured precancerous conditions such as leukoplasia, hyperkeratosis and
chronic mastitis. Epidemiological studies confirmed that regions with
magnesium-rich soil had less cancer than those with low magnesium
levels.
Another French doctor, A. Neveu, cured several diphtheria patients
with magnesium chloride within two days. He also published 15 cases of
poliomyelitis that were cured within days if treatment was started
immediately, or within months if paralysis had already progressed.
Neveu also found magnesium chloride effective with asthma, bronchitis,
pneumonia and emphysema; pharyngitis, tonsillitis, hoarseness, common
cold, influenza, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps, scarlet
fever; poisoning, gastro-enteritis, boils, abscesses, whitlow,
infected wounds and osteomyelitis.
In more recent years Dr Vergini and others have confirmed these
earlier results and have added more diseases to the list of successful
uses: acute asthma attacks, shock, tetanus, herpes zoster, acute and
chronic conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, rheumatic diseases, many
allergic diseases, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and beneficial effects in
cancer therapy. In all of these cases magnesium chloride had been used
and gave much better results than other magnesium compounds.
Magnesium for Nerves
Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system. With this, it is
frequently used to promote good sleep. But more importantly, it can be
used to calm irritated and over-excited nerves. This is especially
useful with epileptic seizures, convulsions in pregnant women and the
'shakes' in alcoholism. Magnesium levels are generally low in
alcoholics, contributing or causing many of their health problems. If
magnesium levels are low, the nerves lose control over muscle
activity, respiration and mental processes. Nervous fatigue, tics and
twitches, tremors, irritability, hypersensitivity, muscle spasms,
restlessness, anxiety, confusion, disorientation and irregular
heartbeat all respond to increased magnesium levels. A common
phenomenon of magnesium deficiency is a sharp muscle reaction to an
unexpected loud noise. 'Memory pills' have been marketed that consist
mainly of magnesium.
Many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be overcome with high
magnesium supplementation, shaking can be prevented and rigidity
eased. With preeclampsia pregnant women may develop convulsions,
nausea, dizziness and headaches. In hospitals this is treated with
magnesium infusions. Because of its strong relaxing effect, magnesium
helps not only to have a better sleep but is also useful in overcoming
headaches and migraines. Even the number of suicides are linked to
magnesium deficiency. The lower the magnesium content in soil and
water in a given region, the higher are the rates of suicides.
Epilepsy is marked by abnormally low magnesium levels in the blood,
spinal fluid and brain, causing hyperexcitability in regions of the
brain. There are many reported causes of epilepsy greatly improving or
disappearing with magnesium supplementation. In a trial with 30
epileptics 450 mg of magnesium supplied daily successfully controlled
seizures. Another study found that the lower the magnesium blood
levels the more severe was the epilepsy. In most cases magnesium works
best in combination with vitamin B6 and zinc. In sufficient
concentrations, magnesium inhibits convulsions by limiting or slowing
the spread of the electric discharge from an isolated group of brain
cells to the rest of the brain. Animal studies show that even the
initial burst of firing nerve cells that starts an epileptic attack
can be suppressed with magnesium.
Magnesium for the Heart
Adequate levels of magnesium are essential for the heart muscle. Those
who die from heart attacks have very low magnesium but high calcium
levels in their heart muscles. Patients with coronary heart disease
who have been treated with large amounts of magnesium survived better
than those with drug treatment. Magnesium dilates the arteries of the
heart and lowers cholesterol and fat levels.
High calcium levels, on the other hand, constrict the heart arteries
and increase the risk of heart attacks. Calcium deposits in the walls
of the arteries contribute to the development of arteriosclerosis. The
arteries become hard and rigid, thereby restricting the blood flow and
causing high blood pressure. In addition, such inelastic blood vessels
may easily rapture and cause strokes. Countries with the highest
calcium to magnesium ratios (high calcium and low magnesium levels) in
soil and water have the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease.
At the top of the list is Australia.
Worldwide the intake of magnesium has been lowered and that of calcium
increased because of the heavy use of fertilisers high in calcium and
low in magnesium. With this, the intake of magnesium from our food has
steadily declined in the last fifty years, while the use of calcium-
rich fertilisers and cardiovascular disease have greatly increased at
the same time.
Diabetics are prone to atherosclerosis, fatty degeneration of the
liver and heart disease. Diabetics have low magnesium tissue levels.
They often develop eye problems - retinopathy. Diabetics with the
lowest magnesium levels had the most severe retinopathy. The lower the
magnesium content of their water, the higher is the death rate of
diabetics from cardiovascular disease. In an American study the death
rate due to diabetes was four times higher in areas with low magnesium
water levels as compared to areas with high levels of magnesium in the
water.
Magnesium for Healthy Bones & Teeth
Medical authorities claim that the widespread incidence of
osteoporosis and tooth decay in western countries can be prevented
with a high calcium intake. However, published evidence reveals that
the opposite is true. Asian and African populations with a very low
intake of about 300 mg of calcium daily have very little osteoporosis.
Bantu women with an intake of 200 to 300 mg of calcium daily have the
lowest incidence of osteoporosis in the world. In western countries
with a high intake of dairy products the average calcium intake is
about 1000 mg. The higher the calcium intake, especially in the form
of cows' milk products (except butter) the higher the incidence of
osteoporosis.
Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus levels are kept in a seesaw balance
by the parathyroid hormones. If calcium goes up, magnesium goes down
and vice versa. With a low magnesium intake, calcium goes out of the
bones to increase tissue levels, while a high magnesium intake causes
calcium to go out of the tissues into the bones. A high phosphorus
intake without a high calcium or magnesium intake causes calcium to
leach from the bones and leave the body with the urine. A high
phosphorus intake with high calcium and magnesium leads to bone
mineralisation.
Dr Barnett, an orthopaedic surgeon practised in two different U.S.
Counties with very different soil and water mineral levels. In Dallas
County with a high calcium and low magnesium concentration
osteoporosis and hip fractures were very common, while in Hereford
with high magnesium and low calcium these were nearly absent. In
Dallas County the magnesium content of bones was 0.5% while in
Hereford it was 1.76%. In another comparison the magnesium content in
bones of osteoporosis sufferers was 0.62% while in healthy individuals
it was 1.26%.
The same applies for healthy teeth. In a New Zealand study it was
found that caries-resistant teeth had on average twice the amount of
magnesium as caries-prone teeth. The average concentration of
magnesium phosphate in bones is given as about 1%, in teeth about 1.5%
, in elephant tusks 2% and in the teeth of carnivorous animals made to
crush bones it is 5%. In regard to the strength of bones and teeth
think of calcium as chalk and of magnesium as superglue. The magnesium
superglue binds and transforms the chalk into superior bones and
teeth.
Cancer and Aging
Many studies have shown an increased cancer rate in regions with low
magnesium levels in soil and drinking water. In Egypt the cancer rate
was only about 10% of that in Europe and America. In the rural fellah
it was practically non-existent. The main difference was an extremely
high magnesium intake of 2.5 to 3 g in these cancer-free populations,
ten times more than in most western countries.
Dr Seeger and Dr Budwig in Germany have shown that cancer is mainly
the result of a faulty energy metabolism in the powerhouses of the
cells, the mitochondria. A similar decline in energy production takes
place when we age. The great majority of enzymes involved in the
production of energy require magnesium. A healthy cell has high
magnesium and low calcium levels. Up to 30% of the energy of cells is
used to pump calcium out of the cells. The higher the calcium level
and the lower the magnesium level in the extra-cellular fluid, the
harder is it for cells to pump the calcium out. The result is that
with low magnesium levels the mitochondria gradually calcify and
energy production decreases. We may say that our biochemical age is
determined by the ratio of magnesium to calcium within our cells. Test
with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome showed that magnesium supplementation
resulted in better energy levels.
We use our muscles by selectively contracting them. On the biochemical
level muscle contraction is triggered by calcium ions flowing into
muscle cells. To relax the muscle calcium is pumped out again.
However, as we age, more and more calcium remains trapped in the
muscles and these become more or less permanently contracted, leading
to increasing muscle tension and spasms. Together with calcification
of the joints, this is the typical rigidity and inflexibility of old
age. The higher our intake of calcium relative to magnesium, the
faster do we calcify and age. Most of the excess calcium in our diet
ends up in our soft tissues and around joints leading to calcification
with arthritic deformations, arteriosclerosis, cataracts, kidney
stones and senility. Dr Seyle proved experimentally that biochemical
stress can lead to the pathological calcification of almost any organ.
The more stress, the more calcification, the more rapid the aging.
The Rejuvenation Mineral
In addition to its anti-microbial and immune-stimulating properties,
both magnesium as well as chloride have other important functions in
keeping us young and healthy. Chloride, of course, is required to
produce a large quantity of gastric acid each day and is also needed
to stimulate starch-digesting enzymes. Magnesium is the mineral of
rejuvenation and prevents the calcification of our organs and tissues
that is characteristic of the old-age related degeneration of our
body.
Using other magnesium salts is less advantageous because these have to
be converted into chlorides in the body anyway. We may use magnesium
as oxide or carbonate but then we need to produce additional
hydrochloric acid to absorb them. Many aging individuals, especially
with chronic diseases who desperately need more magnesium cannot
produce sufficient hydrochloric acid and then cannot absorb the oxide
or carbonate. Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate. It is soluble but not
well absorbed and acts mainly as a laxative. Chelated magnesium is
well absorbed but much more expensive and lacks the beneficial
contribution of the chloride ions. Orotates are good but very
expensive for the amount of magnesium that they provide and both
orotates and chelates seem to lack the infection-fighting potential of
the magnesium chloride.
Calcium and magnesium are opposites in their effects on our body
structure. As a general rule, the softer our body structure the more
we need calcium, while the more rigid and inflexible it is, the less
calcium and the more magnesium we need. Magnesium can reverse the age-
related degenerative calcification of our body structure and with this
help us to rejuvenate.
Young women, children and most of all babies have soft body structures
and smooth skin with low calcium and high magnesium levels in their
cells and soft tissues. This is the biochemistry of youth. As we age
and most pronounced in old men and post-menopausal women, we become
more and more inflexible. The arteries harden to cause
arteriosclerosis, the skeletal system calcifies to cause rigidity with
fusion of the spine and joints, kidneys and other organs and glands
increasingly calcify and harden with stone formation, calcification in
the eyes causes cataracts and even the skin hardens, becoming tough
and wrinkled. In this way calcium is in the same league as oxygen and
free radicals, while magnesium works together with hydrogen and the
antioxidants to keep our body structure soft.
A gynaecologist reported that one of the first organs to calcify are
the ovaries, leading to pre-menstrual tension. When he put his
patients on a high magnesium intake their PMT vanished and they felt
and looked much younger. Most of these women said that they lost
weight, increased their energy, felt less depressed and enjoyed sex
again much more than before. For men it is equally beneficial for
problems arising from an enlarged prostate gland. Symptoms commonly
disappear after a period of supplementation with magnesium chloride.
Increased magnesium intake has also been shown to be an effective way
to prevent or dissolve kidney stones and gall bladder stones, the
latter best in combination with a high lecithin intake. Activation of
digestive enzymes and bile production as well as helping to restore a
healthy intestinal flora may be the factors that make magnesium
chloride so beneficial in normalising our digestive processes,
reducing any digestive discomfort, bloating and offensive stool
odours. This is in line with a reduction of all offensive body odours,
including underarm and foot odour.
Prof. Delbet used to give magnesium chloride solution routinely to his
patients with infections and for several days before any planned
surgery and was surprised by many of these patients experiencing
euphoria and bursts of energy. Magnesium chloride supposedly has a
specific action on the tetanus virus and its effects on the body. It
even seems to be protective against snakebites. Guinea pigs did not
die after normally lethal injections of snake venom and a rabbit
survived a poisonous snakebite when given magnesium chloride solution.
In addition to being the most essential mineral in our cellular energy
production, magnesium is also needed for the ingested B-vitamins to
become metabolically active. Magnesium is also essential for the
synthesis of nucleic acids, for cell division to occur, for DNA and
RNA synthesis of our genetic material, for protein as well as fatty
acid synthesis. Unfortunately magnesium deficiency at a cellular level
where it counts is not easy to diagnose, as serum magnesium levels do
not correlate to muscle or cellular magnesium levels. Instead of
trying difficult tissue magnesium analysis to find out if your health
problems may be due to low magnesium levels, it is much easier and
more effective just to take more magnesium and see what happens.
Rejuvenation by ingesting more magnesium is a slow process, especially
as the amount of magnesium that we can take is limited by its laxative
effect and the need to keep it in a reasonable balance with the
calcium and phosphorus intake. The other problem is that spastic
muscles have a poor blood and lymph circulation, which makes it
difficult for the ingested magnesium to dissolve and flush out the
tissue and joint calcifications. Therefore, we can greatly speed up
the rejuvenation process by increasing the circulation through
permanently contracted muscles as with deep tissue massage, hot and
cold water applications, relaxation exercises, lymphasising as well as
packs and rubs with magnesium chloride or Epsom salts.
How much?
Hydrated magnesium chloride contains about 120 mg of magnesium per
gram or 600 mg per rounded teaspoon. It has a mild laxative effect. As
a good maintenance intake to remain healthy you may take a teaspoon
daily in divided doses with meals, best use it instead of table salt,
it has a somewhat salty taste. With raised blood pressure and symptoms
of magnesium deficiency you may temporarily increase this to 2
teaspoons daily in divided doses. This may already cause 'loose
stools' in some but that is generally beneficial. However, with low
blood pressure additional calcium may be required together with about
300 mg of magnesium supplement for a ratio of two parts of calcium to
one part of magnesium.
Individuals with very sensitive taste buds may start using it in tiny
amounts mixed with strongly flavoured food and increase doses very
gradually. Alternatively, drink it in one gulp dissolved in water
while pinching your nose and quickly drink something pleasant
afterwards.
With acute infections dissolve 40 g or 8 slightly rounded teaspoons in
1 litre of water. With children commonly a small glassful or 125 ml
has been used every 6 hours. Adults may double this dose by drinking
this amount every 3 hours or even more until diarrhoea develops and
then cut back to a maintenance intake just below the level of
diarrhoea until the infection has cleared.
For daily use it may be more convenient as well to dissolve the
magnesium chloride in water. You may dissolve 10 lightly rounded
teaspoons of the crystals in a medium size glass of water or, more
accurately, 50g in 150 ml of water. Decant and discard any undissolved
residue. Mix one teaspoon of this solution three times daily with food
or drink for a daily intake of about 600 mg of magnesium. This or a
more concentrated solution may also be used as a pack over tumours and
infected, inflamed, painful, stiff or calcified joints, muscles,
adhesions or scar tissue. It is also excellent as a back rub and to
relax tense muscles anywhere and even to rejuvenate ageing skin. For
sensitive skin use it in a very diluted form. On wounds it was
commonly used in a 4% solution, that is 4 g or a level teaspoon in 100
ml or a small glass of water.
For quickest results with insensitive skin use a friction massage: rub
hard enough so that the skin becomes hot and red. After doing this for
several days a rash may develop over the area and the skin becomes
very sensitive. When this happens moisten the skin only lightly with a
much diluted magnesium chloride solution or soothe it with the
contents of a vitamin E oil capsule. Repeat the rubbing if necessary
after the skin has healed.
For general relaxation as well as for back pain and arthritic or
muscle pain and stiffness the cheaper Epsom salts may be used. It is
excellent to soak in a hot bath with the addition of about 1 kg of
Epsom salts. Also hot Epsom salt packs may be used over stiff or
painful muscles and joints. Keep warm for one to two hours with a hot
water bottle.
There is also a non-hydrated or desiccated magnesium chloride
available that contains approximately twice as much magnesium as the
hydrated product. If using this then just half the amounts indicated
above. It is now also available in tablet form but more expensive.
Instead of magnesium chloride, you may use the brine from the
production of sea salt. It has the advantage of having more trace
minerals than the technical magnesium chloride, but due to its high
content of magnesium sulphate it is also much more bitter. In
Australia it is available as 'sea minerals' – see Resources.
While a higher magnesium intake is beneficial for most individuals,
those with low blood pressure usually require more calcium in
addition. Normal blood pressure is about 120/80; the lower it is the
higher should be the daily intake of calcium. While those with high
blood pressure benefit from ingesting twice as much magnesium as
calcium, those with low blood pressure may take twice as much calcium
as magnesium, but both minerals in relatively high amounts. Those with
low blood pressure and a tendency towards inflammations should also
greatly reduce their intake of phosphorus. A high level of phosphorus
in the blood tends to cause magnesium and calcium levels to be low.
Magnesium supplementation should be avoided with severe kidney
problems (severe renal insufficiency), and also with myasthenia
gravis. Be careful with severe adrenal weakness or with very low blood
pressure. Too much magnesium can cause muscle weakness, if this
happens temporarily use more calcium.
MAGNESIUM PROFILE
Magnesium is mainly found inside the cells, it activates many enzymes
and is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and amino
acids. It is essential for the functions of muscles and nerves and for
the formation of bones and teeth. Generally it counteracts and
regulates the influence of calcium.
Deficiency Symptoms & Increased Requirements:
CIRCULATION: angina, arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis, blood pressure
and cholesterol high, heart infarcts, hypertension, strokes,
tachycardia (fast pulse), thrombosis.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: colic, constipation, chronic diarrhoea,
malabsorption, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
MUSCLES: backache, convulsions, cramps, increased excitability/
jumpiness, numbness, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), spasms, tense/
tight muscles, tingling, tremors.
NERVOUS SYSTEM: apathy, confusion, depression, disorientation,
epilepsy, hallucinations, irritability, mental illness, multiple
sclerosis, nervousness, neuritis paranoia, Parkinson's disease, poor
memory, senility.
GENERAL: alcoholism, arthritis, body odours, broken bones,
calcification in any organ, cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
diabetes, eclampsia, headaches, infections and inflammations, liver
cirrhosis, lupus erythematosus, migraines, old age, prostate problems,
rickets, rigidity - mental and physical, skin wrinkled and tough,
stiffness, stone-formation in gall bladder or kidneys, thyroid
overactive.
Best Sources:
Fresh grass juice (e.g. wheat grass, barley grass) and Barley Green
powder, vegetable juices, kelp, seawater, seafood, green leaves,
molasses, soaked nuts and oily seeds, sprouted seeds. Magnesium is the
central mineral in chlorophyll, which has a similar protein structure
as haemoglobin. |