MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE for Health & Rejuvenation

[Guest guest]

MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE

for Health & Rejuvenation

http://www.health-science-spirit.com/magnesiumchloride.html

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. They generally need high calcium intakes. 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

improve 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.

 

Researchers at the Lille Pasteur Institute found in a prospective study with

over 4,000 men over an 18-year follow up period that high levels of magnesium

were associated with a 50 percent decrease in cancer mortality, and a 40

percent decrease in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality ( " Zinc, Copper and

Magnesium and Risks for All-Cause Cancer, and Cardiovascular Mortality "

Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 3, May 2006, epidem.com).

 

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, lymphacizing 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 mildly laxative effect. As a good

maintenance intake to remain healthy you may take about 400 mg or a level

teaspoon

daily in divided doses with meals, it has a somewhat bitter-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, commonly with

these conditions a rounded teaspoon daily or 600 mg may be just right. With low

blood pressure additional calcium may be required together with about 300 mg

of magnesium for a ratio of two parts of calcium to one part of magnesium.

 

For daily use it will be more convenient 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. One teaspoon of this solution three times

daily with food or drink provides a daily intake of about 600 mg 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. You may

start adding one drop to a glass of water or mixed with a meal. If that is

alright, then next time add two drops, and then three until it starts tasting

unpleasant. Cut back temporarily, but after another week or two you may not

taste it anymore and you can start adding further drops until you reach the

desired intake. I had many people complaining that they cannot use it because

they

had started taking it in too high a dose or too concentrated.

 

While for some conditions it can be helpful to take a larger amount and wash

it down with a drink, you need to be careful as this can easily upset the

stomach. For everyday use I recommend adding it in small amounts to food and

drink

so that it is present in amounts that would be normally present in water and

food with a high mineral content. It definitely should not taste unpleasant,

and in most cases the actual amount used every day is not that important.

 

This same 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 to use a weak solution as a back rub and all over the body

to relax tense muscles anywhere and even to rejuvenate ageing skin. For

sensitive skin use it in a strongly 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.

 

With acute infections dissolve 40 g or 8 slightly rounded teaspoons in 1

liter 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. If you

have sensitive taste buds the taste may be rather unpleasant in this

concentrated form. Therefore try to drink it in one gulp while pinching your

nose and

quickly drink something pleasant afterwards.

 

For general relaxation as well as for back pain and arthritic or muscle pain

and stiffness either magnesium chloride or Epsom salts may be used. Both are

excellent to soak in a hot bath with the addition of up to 1 kg of magnesium

salts. Also hot magnesium 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; it

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 rather bitter. While magnesium chloride does have a laxative effect,

magnesium sulphate or Epsom salts is much better suitable if used purely as a

laxative because it is less well absorbed and therefore attracts more water into

the intestines.

 

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 may benefit from ingesting up

to 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 may

also reduce their intake of phosphorus. A high level of phosphorus in the blood

tends to cause magnesium and calcium levels to be low.

 

Normally a good diet should provide all necessary vitamins and minerals.

Presently supplementation is often indicated because of malabsorption, poor

dietary choices, metabolic defects, and specific diseases. Also some drugs, such

as

diuretic and antibiotics may cause magnesium deficiency. When supplementing

with magnesium or other vitamins and minerals, the balance with related

nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, and also the fluid intake, are

usually more

important than the absolute intake of magnesium or any other single nutrient.

If in doubt consult a qualified health professional.

 

Hydrated magnesium chloride is easiest and cheapest available in bulk

quantities (25 kg in Australia) from companies that supply agricultural and

water

chemicals, see Resources in Australia

http://www.health-science-spirit.com/resources.html It originates from

evaporated seawater and especially from the

Dead Sea. The trace mineral assays that I have seen for technical magnesium

chloride show a safe heavy metal profile.

 

CAUTION: Magnesium supplementation should be avoided with severe kidney

problems (severe renal insufficiency when on dialysis), and also with myasthenia

gravis. Be careful with severe adrenal weakness or with low blood pressure. Too

much magnesium can cause muscle weakness, if this happens temporarily use more

calcium. Signs of excess magnesium (hypermagnesia) can be similar to

magnesium deficiency and include changes in mental status, nausea, diarrhoea,

appetite

loss, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extremely low blood pressure,

and irregular heartbeat.

 

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.

 

Some early signs of magnesium deficiency are loss of appetite, nausea,

vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. Increased deficiency may show as numbness,

tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes,

abnormal

heart rhythms, and coronary spasms. Severe deficiency results in low levels of

calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia), and is also associated with low levels of

potassium in the blood (hypokalemia).

 

Deficiency Symptoms & Increased Requirements:

 

CIRCULATION: angina, arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis, diabetes,

hypertension, high cholesterol, heart infarcts, , 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 powder of cereal

grasses, vegetable juices, kelp, seawater, seafood, green leaves, molasses,

soaked

nuts and oily seeds, and sprouted seeds. Magnesium is the central mineral in

chlorophyll, which has a similar protein structure as haemoglobin.