Common symptoms of mild-to-moderate magnesium deficiency include anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, panic attacks, muscle cramps and twitches, chest tightness, hyperventilation, faintness, difficulty with mental concentration, memory loss, confusion, nuchal pain, headaches, intestinal complaints, tremor, palpitations, and certain types of cardiac arrhythmias.

Magnesium is a cofactor for more than 300 different enzymes. It is essential for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s main storage form of energy.  Magnesium inhibits platelet aggregation, promotes dilation of blood vessels, and has an antispasmodic effect on skeletal and smooth muscle.¹

I mostly use magnesium for its ability to help muscles relax.  It does this by binding to the calcium binding sites in the muscle and replacing the contraction-signaling calcium with magnesium, leading to muscle relaxation.²

Magnesium supplementation can come from oral supplements or epsom salt baths.  Usually 100-750mg/day is used. At the upper range it’s best to divide dosage throughout the day to help avoid diarrhea which is the primary symptom of excess magnesium. The formula I most frequently recommend includes potassium and some other vitamins that aid in potassium absorption, which is especially helpful after a workout.

1. Nutritional Medicine by Alan Gaby M.D.

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7286246

Wishing you wellness,

Michael Dunbar