The Magic of Magnesium

Happy New Year.

It should be no surprise that every magazine is touting a new diet, the new miracle herb or gadget that is going to rock your world, make you slim and fix all those issues you thought would require years of therapy.

Tis the season.

Each new year we start off in hope; just ask anyone who works in a gym. You'll see scads of new yoga bunnies, buttressing their mats next to yours, with the tags still on their Lululemons.

There will be a dozen new members in your weight loss group for the first few weeks of January, with the hoards thinning out before Valentine's Day.

And that's often true in the health world. Garcinia cambogia was going to make you svelte. Goji berries were going to make you calmer and kombucha was going to cure diabetes. And while there are health benefits in all of those, much like the gym, it wasn't a quick fix, it takes consistency to reap the benefits.

So when I began reading about magnesium oil, and after doing a face palm and thinking, "oh, not again," I began doing some clinical reading, some personal trials and some kitchen witchin' to figure how to to make it myself.

First things first; what is magnesium? Magnesium is a mineral our body needs for healthy functioning. It plays a crucial role in regulating nerves and vascular activity by helping neurotransmitters control blood flow to the brain. Magnesium also plays a role in over 300 functions in our body, from playing a role in enzyme functions, regulation of metabolism, to maintaining the strength of our teeth and bones.

While magnesium is available naturally in foods like leafy green vegetables, whole grains and nuts like walnuts, as much as 40% of the population may be deficient in this mineral. There are a number of potential causes for magnesium deficiency. Farming in nutrient depleted soil results in formerly rich magnesium foods having lower levels of the element. A number of health issues can also impact magnesium, including age ( after the age of 28 we excrete more magnesium) and things like stress, Gastric diseases, alcohol dependency or addiction, even calcium supplements can all reduce the body's magnesium.

But the reason magnesium is getting so much attention is because an estimated 48% of the US population may have a deficiency which may present itself as a number of symptoms including neck and back pain, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, insomnia, asthma attacks, and muscle weakness or pain just to name a few.

While oral supplements are available, they can interact with some drugs, like antibiotics or osteoporosis medications, or simply have a laxative effect on your body. Magnesium oil however can be quickly absorbed through your skin in about 30 minutes and regular use can help alleviate the symptoms associated with a deficiency..You can purchase the oil easily enough on Amazon, but for those of you who like to try your hand at a bit of DIY or those of you who just want to save money, I'm providing the recipe herewith.

It's dead easy as Magnesium oil isn't really an oil but magnesium chloride flakes dissolved in distilled water.

The Recipe:

This is about as simple a remedy as you can get.

All you need to do is add equal amounts of distilled water to the magnesium flakes.

The ratio is one to one so....

Boil 8 ounces (1 cup) of distilled water

remove from heat

Add 8 ounces (1 cup) magnesium chloride flakes I use these

stir until the flakes are dissolved

Once flakes are dissolved, transfer to a spray bottle, like this

That's it. Now the upper limit of magnesium you should have each day is 350 mgs. If you place in a spray bottle, 8 sprays should equal about 100mgs, so if you spray on your body a few times a day, you should easily hit that. Be aware, some people experience a stinging sensation, so you may wish to spray it on your feet or anywhere you have excess adipose tissue (fat) to minimize the effects, but with use, sensitization generally becomes less.

But the best thing about this DIY, is you could spend up to $20 for one 12 ounce bottle, but by making your own, you can bring that cost down. I purchased 1 gallon of distilled water for $1.19, a six pack of amber glass spray bottles for $19.75 (making each bottle $3.29 ea) and 44 ounces of Magnesium chloride flakes for $16.90.

I used a larger 16 oz bottle so my first bottle was $9.66 (the largest cost was my glass spray bottle) but as it's reusable not only will my refills average in at $6.37 each (if you've purchased the large 44 ounces of magnesium flakes, you'll get 44 ounces of oil, or 2.75 bottles).

But wait, there's more: if you already have a glass spray bottle, or even a plastic one because unlike essential oils that can't be kept in plastic, this mix can, so you can save even more.

So whether you're battling anxiety, muscle pain, or want to take advantage of any other benefits of magnesium, and there are many more including heart function and some links to lowering risk of stroke, here's a cheap and cheerful way to make it work for you.