Benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium is a powerful mineral. Not only does it help relax muscles (calcium contracts muscles) and help with cellular regeneration, but it relieves a lot of chronic symptoms (see lists below.) Magnesium regulates the absorption of calcium, potassium and sodium. It plays a key role in energy production, digestion, muscle and bone function, cell production, and in the functioning of the heart, kidneys, adrenals, brain and nervous system. It is a critical nutrient for optimal health, and yet as many as 90 % of us may be magnesium-deficient!

Magnesium deficiency causes imbalance in the body. It is responsible for fatigue and the inability to sleep, lack of energy, muscle tension, cramps and twitches, headaches, backaches and heart problems. It can cause depression, excessive worry, stress-related irritability and over-sensitivity, accelerated aging, bone spurs, kidney stones, arthritis and osteoporosis. Because it is essential for the absorption of other major minerals, a magnesium deficiency will usually indicate an imbalance in potassium and also calcium. A deficiency in magnesium in your body means there are over 300 biochemical reactions that either won't occur at all or will occur very inefficiently. Somewhat like a six cylinder car trying to run on four spark plugs.

See this article for the important balance in calcium and magnesium. (http://www.absolutelythepurest.com/other%20parts/mysteryandmagicmagnes.html) It is possible that in taking too much calcium you are in turn depleting your magnesium. You CAN take too much calcium, but you cannot take too much magnesium.

The following factors deplete magnesium from your body. The more prevalent these factors are in your life, the more magnesium your body will need to replenish its magnesium storage:

• Mental, physical, emotional stress
• Environmental pollutants
• Excess calcium supplementation
• Sugar, coffee, sodas and milk
• Alcohol, tobacco and all types of drugs, including diuretics
• High-carbohydrate diets
• Low thyroid and chronic pain

“Top Ten List” of Symptoms Relieved by Magnesium: From Carolyn Dean

- Less knee pain
- Carbohydrate/sugar cravings down from 90 to 5 — on a scale of 100 (most) to 0 (none)
- Wrinkles and crevices in her face diminishing
- Dramatic reduction in “migraines”
- Period went from dark to bright red and from severe clots to minimal clots
- Able to exercise intensely for the first time in years without being exhausted for at least three days after
- Sleep has improved from “minimal” to “poor and restless” all night (this is a huge improvement for her).
- Able to “keep going” (to some extent) past 6:30pm at night.
- Less sound sensitivity/hypersensitivity.
- Better able to concentrate when someone is speaking to her (if there is any background noise).

http://www.healthlady.com/articles/%E2%80%9Ctop-ten-lists%E2%80%9D-of-symptoms-relieved-by-magnesium-2/#more-6765

More Benefits of Magnesium Supplementation Therapy

- Improve Sleep
- Relieve Muscle Discomfort
- Overcome Stress
- Relax Nerves
- Improve Bad Mood
- Improve Heart Function
- Increase Kidney Health
- Support Healthy Blood Pressure
- mprove Bone Health
- Alleviate Various Aches
- Keep Bones in Alignment

http://www.life-enthusiast.com/index/Products/Magnesium?ref=10595

I have found that taking 1200-1600 mg magnesium/day works well for me (400-800 in the a.m. and 800 in the p.m.) I have noticed that I feel better. I have found the Ultra-Mag by Source Naturals to be a very good brand. I get them at a good price from VitaCost (http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Ultra-Mag-Magnesium-Complex#IngredientFacts)

I hope this helps.

Please remember to consult your physician before trying anything new. I am not a doctor and no information I provide here should be considered medical advice.The information I share on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.  It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from my research and experience. Links to other sites are provided for ease of research. Information on those sites is the opinion of those who publish the sites and is NOT necessarily that of FibroChick. I offer what I can as help. I believe in educating myself on all my medical issues and being my own advocate, for no one else will do that on my behalf. I recommend we all do the same! I encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. 

FIbromyalgia Knee Pains

I am still curious about my fibro knee pains, since that was my first symptom when everything started. I found this article, saying that sometimes in fibro the knee pain can actually be referred pain coming from knots in the muscles in your back, hips or thighs. Interesting!

I am going to print this article and take it with me next for my next massage, maybe they can target those areas on me.

Does anyone else experience severe pain in their knees with their fibromyalgia?

Glucoasmine and Skullcap for Fibro Pains?

One of my biggest aches has been in my knees. In fact that is where all my aches and pains in this fun fibro journey started! By the end of the day my knees hurt so much, and feel like they are swollen as big as basketballs (but they look just fine!) And kneeling on them at all causes pain. (I have to be careful in yoga, and do alternative moves that are non-kneeling.)

Anyhoo, I have been taking Limbrel, which is available only via prescription, and is not actually a medicine - it is considered a medical food product. It is usually prescribed for osteoarthritis to help with inflammation. The main ingredients in it are: baicalin and catechin, which are natural flavonoids from plants. (from Scutellaria baicalensis -- Skullcap, and Acacia catechu -- found in cocoa beans.)


Scutellaria baicalensis (not to be confused with Scutellaria lateriflora-- which can be toxic) is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutellaria_baicalensis

I also found this note on the Limbrel website: "For long term use, Limbrel should not be taken together with NSAIDs such as naproxen, ibuprofen, aspirin (except baby aspirin), or with any selective COX-2 inhibitors. NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors will destroy Limbrel's "balancing" effect."

Anyhoo, so my point! Is that I was at Walgreens and was reading all the Joint Juice, Move-Free, Glucosamine Chondroitin products, to see if any resemble Limbrel. Sure enough! I narrowed it down to: Schiff Move Free Advanced Triple Strength Plus MSM & Vitamin D, which contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu! (And of course good ol Vitamin D!)


The Walgreens comprable store brand is even cheaper than my Limbrel prescription, so I am going to try it for a month. Will let you know what I think in a month!

I know that the Limbrel has helped ease my knee pains A LOT, as whenever I delay in refilling the script, and go a few days without my body reminds me sure enough with pain! 

Has anyone else tried Limbrel or this Move-Free Glucosamine and Chondroitin?! I am curious other fribromites experiences with these.


I also was not familiar with the "MSM" in the Move-Free. They have some without the MSM (and without Vitamin D), but I figured the more the merrier? Anyhoo, I found these links about MSM, which I thought were interesting:


http://www.infowest.com/business/g/gentle/msm.html

http://www.doctorajadams.com/MSM.html

Please remember to consult your physician before trying anything new. I am not a doctor and no information I provide here should be considered medical advice.The information I share on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.  It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from my research and experience. Links to other sites are provided for ease of research. Information on those sites is the opinion of those who publish the sites and is NOT necessarily that of FibroChick. I offer what I can as help. I believe in educating myself on all my medical issues and being my own advocate, for no one else will do that on my behalf. I recommend we all do the same! I encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.