Transdermal Magnesium

Some scientists believe that the absorptive capacity of healthy skin for substances from the outside is very limited. Nothing can be further from the truth. Most people who have used magnesium oil transdermally experience the reality through quick onset of pain relief. Other medical scientists fear that a successful treatment of magnesium will fail when transdermal magnesium administration is used exclusively. Thus, they cannot yet recommend the application of transdermal magnesium.

Magnesium is necessary for life, so it is important to avail ourselves of every effective method of application. An adequate magnesium supply is important for healthy pregnancy and lactation, as well as in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. Magnesium supplementation is also useful when taking drugs such as diuretics and proton pump inhibitors. All avenues of magnesium administration should be pursued, especially in severe diseases and cancer.

Magnesium chloride and Vitamin C have similar toxicity profiles
with overdose from both resulting at worst usually in
diarrhea unless the kidneys are seriously compromised.

The effectiveness of magnesium supplementation for the treatment of magnesium deficiency is beyond controversy and in critical moments, when our lives are threatened during cardiac arrest, injection and intravenous administration can save a person’s life. Otherwise at home intensive oral treatments can and should be augmented with transdermal use of magnesium through direct application on the skin (massage further increases the efficacy of this treatment) and through hot baths.

One of the most luxurious medical treatments on earth is to receive magnesium massages on a consistent basis. Having at least an ounce of what is called magnesium oil rubbed all over one’s body by a massage therapist, or by a loved one, is simply heavenly. One can also do this oneself, meaning cover one’s body with the magnesium oil, like one would sunscreen, and go out in the sun and have some fun.

Transdermal magnesium application is not the ultimate way to replenish cellular magnesium levels, especially when needing magnesium for constipation or in emergency situations in ICU and emergency centers. However, when applying magnesium directly into the tissues via the skin, magnesium is quickly transported to cells throughout the body, with especial efficacy into the local tissues.

Transdermal absorption of magnesium is effective and presents fewer side effects as it bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. The skin is the largest organ of the body, covering about 1.8 m2 and comprising approximately 10% of the total body mass of an average person. So, we can get quite a bit of magnesium into the body using this large organ. Imagine sitting in a hot bath with kilograms of magnesium (bicarbonate too) trying to pile into the body through every pour and cell on the skins surface.

The concentration of magnesium in pure magnesium oil is about 80,000 mg/l and when you apply that directly on the skin, intake rate is high. But in the case of a bath application my recommendation is for somewhere between 1500 and 5000 mg/l magnesium (1 to 4 times the sea concentration). Dead Sea therapy has a concentration of up to 40,000 mg/l magnesium and people bathe every day in these waters. Fick’s Law of Membrane Permeability says that the amount of any solute (magnesium) that will be absorbed is directly dependent upon the area of contact, the concentration of the solution and the time that the solute is in contact with the membrane.

A recently published study showed that magnesium ions can penetrate the stratum corneum in a concentration and time dependent manner which is significantly facilitated by hair follicles. The first studies on transdermal magnesium absorption was published by the founder of the American Holistic Medical Association Dr. Norman Shealy in 2000. Shealy argued that a magnesium deficiency can be compensated by transdermal application within 4 to 6 weeks, whereas an oral supplementation is effective only after 4 to 12 months.

A study that is cited for proving that transdermal magnesium absorption offers a simple, cost effective and efficient methodology to increase cellular magnesium levels was a trial that took place over a 12-week period and involved a total of nine patients aged between 22 and 69 years. At the end of treatment, a further hair analysis was conducted. After transdermal applications for 12 weeks all patients except one had a significant increase in cellular magnesium ranging from 7.1% to 262%.

A similar study for proving transdermal magnesium absorption is an examination of Waring from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, where 19 subjects underwent a full body bath (temperatures 50–55 °C) for 7 days in a solution of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) for 12 min. All but three showed a rise in magnesium concentrations in plasma.

Ancient Minerals magnesium products are still my favorite, after a decade of use. I helped them to be the first company to import magnesium oil from the underground Zechstein Sea, where the highest quality of Magnesium in the world is found. Though there are magnesium lotions and bath flakes, it is still the magnesium oil that I use the most because it can be used for all methods of administration.

Each spray of Magnesium Oil contains approximately 18 milligrams of elemental magnesium. An ounce would contain just over 3,300 mg. Five sprays in a glass of water would thus be almost 100 milligrams.Three to five to even ten sprays of magnesium chloride in a glass of pure water or juice is an excellent way to take magnesium internally. It assists digestion, counteracts excess acidity in the stomach, and delivers magnesium swiftly into the bloodstream for distribution to the cells of the body. Minerals like magnesium in ionic liquid form are superior to pill forms. Much more magnesium will get absorbed and absorption will not depend as much on hydrochloric acid levels.

Strong therapeutic foot soaks are another option and are especially important for diabetics who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. Soak the whole body or just the feet in bath water for 20-30 minutes, at a temperature of about 108 degrees. The most effective protocol for this therapy is to begin with a daily body or foot bath every day for the first 7 days, (starting at lighter concentrations and building up) then continue with a maintenance program of 2-3 times a week for 6-8 weeks or longer. Sensitive care must be taken especially with children as to dose levels, water temperature and magnesium concentrations. Muscle spasms might occur on rare occasions if one forgets to get out of the tub, so it is necessary to supervise children and the length of time they remain soaking in magnesium chloride. Any strong reactions like redness in local areas or muscle spasms are indications to reduce concentration.