Epsom Salts for Extr Magnesium

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PFunk

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Maybe there is a thread already about this, but does anyone take Epsom Salts for extra Magnesium? If so, what amount do you take?

I just started taking a 1/4 tsp twice a day. I'm a 170 lb male, age 30. It seems to be helping although it might be to early to tell. I would appreciate hearing anyones experience with this.

Thanks!
 
There is someone here who has a high opinion of epsom salts.

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f32/dramatic-health-results-4115/

I personally question them & see no reason not to just take a magnesium supplement. It has been shown that magnesium & calcium deficiencies can increase the chances of seizures though.

Low levels of magnesium, calcium or both in your body have been linked to the development of seizures and epilepsy in certain cases. According to a study published in the March 2007 issue of the "Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal," low levels of magnesium or calcium -- known respectively as hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia -- cause your brain's neurons to become more excitable. This neuron hyper-excitability creates a situation in which seizures are more likely to occur. The increased risk of seizures with magnesium or calcium deficiency holds true for adults or children.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/481434-magnesium-calcium-and-epilepsy/
 
I pretty much have the calcium part covered considering I eat tums like its my job.
 
Simple answer: Google magnesium deficiency and seizures and/or epilepsy. Start pulling on threads there to gain a better awareness. Hint. You must maintain proper magnesium levels which in turn will usually balance your calcium. Rarely if ever will you need to take a calcium supplement but will almost always have to have magnesium supplements in the form of oral (magnesium malate and L-threonate) and transdermally by Epsom Salt soaks and Magnesium Chloride rubs and foot soaks. Hope that helps? It did me.....
 
supplements in the form of oral (magnesium malate and L-threonate) and transdermally by Epsom Salt soaks and Magnesium Chloride rubs and foot soaks. Hope that helps? It did me.....

Actually, there has been no peer reviewed study that was able to show that transdermal absorption of epsom salts exists.

The skin is a remarkably impermeable barrier. It is hard to get anything past the skin that doesn’t involve a needle and there is no way a bath in epsom salts will raise serum Mg. But there is an internet report, never published in the peer reviewed literature, never reproduced suggesting that bathing in epsom salts in 120 degree water (I rarely get in a hot tub above 105) for 12 minutes leads to increase in blood Mg, hardly the temperature of the standard bath. Assuming he has the same sources I do, I applaud Dr. Oz for making a recommendation based on the most obscure reference imaginable.

Science-Based Medicine
 
I will not debate this - the research is extensive that transdermal absorption of not only Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) but many other elements and chemicals both good and bad occur all the time. I will post one research paper to get those that truly want to learn and get relief:

Report on Absorption of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) across the skin

Dr RH Waring, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham. B15 2TT, U.K. r.h.waring@bham.ac.uk

Protocol
Clinician in charge - Scientist in charge - Technician in charge -
Recruitment
Dr Sarah Nuttall, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Birmingham Dr Rosemary Waring, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham
Mrs Liba Klovrza, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham
Subjects were recruited from the staff of the School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham. In all, 19 subjects (10M, 9F) were recruited for the various aspects of the study. All were in good health, and not on any current medication. No subject smoked more than 5 cigarettes/day or drank more than 2 units of alcohol/day. The ages ranged from 24-64 years.
Analyses
Magnesium levels in blood and urine were measured by a flame photometric method using magnesium nitrate as a reference standard. Sulfate was measured by anion-specific high pressure liquid chromatography (hplc), calibrated with a turbidimetric method and with sodium sulfate standards.
Results
After initial pilot studies, all volunteers took baths (temperatures 50-55°C) and stayed in the bath for 12 minutes. They added varying amounts of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) to the bath before entry and ensured that the salts were completely in solution.
Blood/Urine Samples
Blood samples were taken before the first bath, at 2h after the first bath and at 2h after the 7th consecutive bath. Baths were taken daily at the same time for 7 days for the experiment. Urine samples were collected before the first bath and then 2h after the first bath and at all subsequent baths . Urine samples were also taken 24h after the last bath. All urine samples were corrected for creatinine content.
Results
Magnesium
Magnesium levels in blood are very tightly controlled. Of 19 subjects, all except 3 showed a rise in magnesium concentrations in plasma, though this was small in some cases. The values before the first bath were, mean 104.68 ± 20.76 ppm/ml; after the first bath the mean was 114.08 ± 25.83
ppm/ml. Continuation of bathing for 7 days in all except 2 individuals gave a rise to a mean of 140.98 ± 17.00ppm/ml. Prolonged soaking in Epsom salts therefore increases blood magnesium concentrations. Measurement of magnesium levels in urine showed a rise from the control level, mean 94.81 ± 44.26 ppm/ml to 198.93 ± 97.52 ppm/ml after the first bath. Those individuals where the blood magnesium levels were not increased had correspondingly large increases in urinary magnesium showing that the magnesium ions had crossed the skin barrier and had been excreted via the kidney, presumably because the blood levels were already optimal. Generally, urinary magnesium levels 24h after the first bath fell from the initial values found after day 1 (mean 118. 43 ± 51.95) suggesting some retention of magnesium in tissues after bathing as blood levels were still high.Measurement of magnesium levels in urine 24h after the 7th bath gave values almost back to control levels.
Sulfate
Free inorganic sulfate levels in plasma rose in all subjects after bathing in Epsom salts (mean pre- bath, 3.28 nmol/mg protein ± 1.40, 2h after 1st bath, mean 5.59 nmol/mg protein ± 3.08). In some individuals, the level post-bath reached > 9 nmol/mg protein. The plasma levels after 7 days showed a mean of 3.57 nmol/mg protein ± 1.70, lower than the peak value, suggesting that sulfate stores in the body were being filled. Analysis of the urine samples again showed an increase in sulfate concentrations (pre-bath mean 623.74 ± 352.34 nmols/ml, 2h post bath 1093.30 ± 388.79 nmoles/ml, 24h after 1st bath 899.83 ± 483.16 nmols/ml. Sulfate excretion in urine in some individuals was only slightly higher after 7 days bathing than the pre-bath levels.
Other Factors
Gender Differences
Males had slightly higher levels of blood magnesium than females (109.0 ± 14.4 ppm/ml v. 87.7 ± 6.3 ppm/ml. Females had higher free plasma sulfate than males (3.26 ± 0.86 nmol/mg. v. 2.54 ± 0.53 nmol/ug) although these differences were not significant. The mean levels of both magnesium and sulfate were almost identical for males and females after bathing.
Optimum Epsom Salt Levels
There was a wide individual variation in this parameter. However, all individuals had significant rises in plasma magnesium and sulfate at a level of 1% Epsom salts .This equates to 1g MgS04/100ml water; 600g Epsom salts/60 litres, the standard size UK bath taken in this project (~15 US gallons). However, most volunteers had significantly raised Mg/S04 levels on baths with 400g MgS04 added. Above the 600g/bath level, volunteers complained that the water felt ‘soapy’. Although this project did not specifically set out to answer the question of how frequently baths should be taken, the results are consistent with saturation of the skin (and possibly the gut ) transporters .These proteins are not well understood or described but, at least for sulfate, they are believed to be high affinity but low capacity.The values obtained suggest that most people would find maximal benefit by bathing 2 or 3 times/ week, using 500-600g Epsom salts each time.
Other factors
No volunteer complained of any adverse effects, evem at MgSO4 levels of 2.5% . Possible effects on the kidneys were tested by measuring urinary protein content. This did not change significantly,
whichever Epsom salt levels were used, over the 8-day period. Kidney damage is therefore not an issue. In other experiments using excised human skin, we found that sulfate does penetrate across the skin barrier. This is quite rapid so probably involves a sulfate transporter protein. We did not see any Mg penetration, but these experiments were conducted for a short time at only 37 degrees as opposed to the 50 degree bath temperature.To check this, 2 volunteers wore ‘patches’ where solid MgSO4 was applied directly to the skin and sealed with a waterproof plaster. Plasma/urine analysis confirmed that both Mg and sulfate levels had increased so this is potentially a valuable way of ensuring Epsom salts dosage if bathing is not available. Interestingly, both volunteers, who were
> 60 years old, commented without prompting that ‘rheumatic’ pains had disappeared.
Conclusion
Bathing in Epsom salts is a safe and easy way to increase sulfate and magnesium levels in the body.
 
I'd be very suspicious as that paper was done by the epsom salts council. It would be hard to find a less objective institution. This paper was also not peer reviewed meaning it hasn't been able to be repeated.

There was also no mention of any controls being used in their experiment to show that it was the salts making the difference.
 
We will agree to disagree. The research is there for transdermal absorption from pain relievers to chemicals and many things in between..... As I said before those that really want to learn more will do the research and NOT take my word or your word for it. BTW - I just got out of a nice warm tub with 4 pounds of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) for a 30 min relaxing and detoxing soak that also put magnesium in my body through my open skin pores....... :)
 
Epsom Salt Bath Procedure for those that want to try it:

Procedure: As you fill a bathtub, add 3 to 4 pounds of Epsom salts to the bath water. Water should be hot, but not scalding for the most relaxing and effective treatment.
Submerge as much of your body, particularly your trunk, in the bath. Stay in the water for 20 to 30 minutes. There is no need to shower off after the bath. You may, in this way, absorb more of the Epsom salts with their sulfur and magnesium.
 
arent epsom salt consumption responsible for the face-eating cannibal???
 
Thank you everyone for your feedback. When researching alternative therapies/treatments for epilepsy, I came across a number of posts by people who were taking bath salts to raise magnesium levels… which is a lot cheaper than a supplement. I have since stopped taking them as I notice no real effect.

That and I was getting an unquenchable urge to chew off someone’s face.
 
It may also be the result of an unresolved anger management problem. :D
 
im 50 yrs old have seizure for 5o yrs having 3 to 5 seizures a week
then heard about epsom salts, i take 1/2 teaspoon a day in water, no fits since.
i went 4 yrs without a fit yrs 30 yrs ago didnt know why then i remembered i had epsom salt baths, i reckon its brilliant
i used magnesium tablets for 2 years had no effect where the epsom salts (magnesium sulfate ) has
 
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i rather buy magnesium sulphate...taking epsom salts surely it makes you crap non stop
 
I have had epsom salts in my cupboard for quite sometime, maybe time to open them up!
 
i rather buy magnesium sulphate...taking epsom salts surely it makes you crap non stop

maybe it does you but isnt having that effect on me and it it did i would sooner that than 3 seizure a week
 
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