A few weeks ago, I wrote about the intricate connection between chronic stress and the damaging hormone imbalances that work to keep us trapped in an exhausting state of unresolved tension. In that article I highlighted the wasting effect that the frequent release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol has on our stores of the precious mineral magnesium. Since then I have received several questions from readers about exactly how much magnesium oil to use in compensation for these losses. And while a concrete response would be glowingly convenient, this is actually a quite difficult question to answer; a question that is nuanced by the inherent variability of our individual composition, lifestyle choices and day to day activity. So, to give you the best information possible I have brought on magnesium expert Carolyn Dean MD, ND to discuss her recommendations in using magnesium for health maintenance and building resilience to stress.

By Carolyn Dean, ND, MD

Last year I spoke about the concern of stress increasing magnesium loses at the fabulous Weston A. Price Convention in Santa Clara. Recently, my magnesium-genius friend, Morley Robbins suggested we institute the Magnesium Burn Rate as a way of gauging magnesium dosage. 

Gauging your Magnesium Burn Rate is a brilliant concept because that’s what we are doing – burning off magnesium with all types of stress. So being aware of your burn rate gives you an idea of how much magnesium you are using. This is much more important than just following the recommended daily allowance (RDA). 

Here is a list of stressors as outlined by my friend, Dr. Elson Hass:

1. Physical: intense exertion, manual labor, lack of sleep, travel
2. Chemical: drugs, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and environmental pollutants such as cleaning chemicals or pesticides
3. Mental: perfectionism, worry, anxiety, long work hours
4. Emotional: anger, guilt, loneliness, sadness, fear
5. Nutritional: food allergies, vitamin and mineral deficiency
6. Traumatic: injuries or burns, surgery, illness, infections, extreme temperatures
7. Psycho-spiritual: troubled relationships, financial or career pressures, challenges with life goals, spiritual alignment, happiness

I would add, the misdiagnosis by the medical profession of hundreds of magnesium deficiency symptoms. For example, telling an elderly woman that she is suffering a potentially fatal heart condition when it’s really a magnesium deficiency it pretty darn stressful.

Your Magnesium Burn Rate escalates with every additional stressor. In order to take the right amount of magnesium you have to get to know your body. And you have to take the right type of magnesium for your body and for your symptoms.

Also you must wrap your head around the fact that 80% of the thousands of interactions in the body require magnesium, making it the number one supplement to saturate yourself with! The failsafe for magnesium is that if it’s too much you will get a laxative effect. However, some people, like me, get the laxative effect very easily, so I had to find a solution, which I’m passing on to you.

One of the forms of magnesium that I recommended is magnesium oil. I don’t worry about the dozens of different chelated magnesiums anymore, although some people find ionic magnesium to be helpful as well.

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil is a supersaturated magnesium chloride from sea water. When rubbed on the skin, it bypasses the intestines and is absorbed into the tissues of the body. This lessens the laxative effect. It also stimulates DHEA production that occurs in the skin. This particular magnesium oil is tested to be free of mercury and heavy metals.

It may sting a bit at full strength. Feel free to dilute it with distilled water or body lotion. You can wash it off after 30 minutes if you find that it’s too itchy. It makes an excellent massage oil and also comes as a gel and a cream.

The average dosage is 10-15 sprays twice a day. One teaspoon has about 2,500 mg of elemental magnesium. Do your own measurements and find out how much you are getting from your spray bottle and look to get 300 mg per dose.

In titrating your dose from here, serum magnesium blood tests are no great help, because only 1% of the body’s magnesium is in the blood.

I have a list of 100 factors that are associated with magnesium deficiency and I put them in my book, The Magnesium Miracle. I recently added that list to an updated version of my Maximizing Magnesium module in Future Health Now! and I thought I’d share it with you.

Here’s what you do. Print up several copies of this page and put a big check mark by your magnesium deficiency factors. Start taking magnesium. In a few weeks pull out a fresh sheet and mark it up. Compare both. If you still have many symptoms remaining, increase your magnesium.

(Note that this is a tool for comparison- it is important to work with an experienced practicioner regarding any health concerns as many of these symptoms may not resolve by magnesium alone)

Click Here for Printable PDF

In summary, for Magnesium oil, my usual recommendation is to take 300 mg twice a day, which is twice the RDA for women. But remember, I’m not prescribing for you. Gauge your own symptoms, start slowly and see what works for you.

 

Dr. Dean is not only a medical doctor, but also a naturopath, herbalist, acupuncturist, nutritionist, lecturer, consultant, and author. Dr. Dean has been in the forefront of health issues for over 30 years, and has authored or coauthored over thirty books, including How To Change Your Life With Magnesium, Future Health Now! Encyclopaedia, IBS for DUMMIES, The Magnesium Miracle and Hormone Balance. View more of her work at drcarolyndean.com.

 

*All articles and information on this website are for educational purposes only. They are not to be regarded or relied upon as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease. Results may vary per person. Consult your health practitioner if you have health problems.