Many holistic health experts believe magnesium deficiency is an epidemic. This is partly due to eating processed foods, coupled with poor farming practices.

Soil depletion is a big part of the problem. So, even when we eat our greens, they may not contain enough magnesium.

Some believe that chemical fertilizers are bad for our health. That’s because these products contain potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. However, they lack many other nutrients, such as magnesium.

Magnesium is a mineral we need. Boy do we need it. Every organ in our body depends upon having enough magnesium to run at peak efficiency. This mineral is also needed to produce enzymes. Your body also needs magnesium to help flush out toxins.

Do I Have Low Magnesium Levels?

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Conventional doctors may test your blood for magnesium. But these blood tests may not be all that accurate, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, DO. (He’s one of my favorite online natural health experts.) He also notes that as many as 80 percent of Americans may have a magnesium deficiency.

It’s widely known that magnesium deficiency can cause a wide range of health problems. These include muscle spasms, muscle pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, nerve problems and digestive disturbances, to name a few.

Low Magnesium Levels in Blood

Some holistic health experts even believe that nearly everyone with chronic illness is magnesium deficient.

One practitioner named Dr. Mark Sircus, OMD appears to be an authority on magnesium deficiency. On his website he writes, “Because magnesium deficiency is largely overlooked, millions of Americans suffer needlessly or are having their symptoms treated with expensive drugs when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation.”

Dr. Sircus also notes that conventional blood tests may not pick up on low magnesium levels. That’s because only 1 percent of our body’s magnesium is stored in the blood, he explains.

Low Magnesium Levels and Muscle Spasms

I came across Dr. Sircus’ website at a time when my health was at its worst. In addition to living with crippling nerve pain, my anxiety level was off the charts. I felt terrible. And I knew something had to change. Getting more magnesium seemed like a smart thing to do.

We should be getting magnesium from our diet. However, I was eating a lot of processed foods. So I switched to real food. Whenever possible, I ate organic. Organic food is grown without chemical fertilizers. So it’s believed to contain more nutrients than conventionally farmed produce.

Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, bananas and nuts are a few foods with relatively high magnesium content. I made sure to include this in my diet. I also started using pink Himalayan salt, which contains magnesium, as well as a wide range of other nutrients and trace minerals.

Plus, Himalayan salt is delicious, with a somewhat more delicate flavor than regular table salt.

Low Levels of Magnesium and Anxiety

I had another classic symptom of magnesium deficiency. This was anxiety. It’s a problem that started in my early 20’s, when I was working a night shift. This prevented me from getting enough sleep. Unfortunately, this created a vicious cycle. I couldn’t sleep because I worried about not sleeping.

Then, this fueled my anxiety. I never sought professional help for this. I just learned to live with it. But it was a handicap. Now I wonder if low magnesium played a role. Now that I’ve been eating well for a number of years, I don’t feel as anxious. So I can’t help but wonder how much of this was caused by poor nutrition.

Low Magnesium Levels Symptoms

I seemed to have fallen into another vicious cycle. Stress can deplete your magnesium levels. Also, low magnesium can cause anxiety. For me, this was a cycle that needed to be broken. (A big part of my new healthy lifestyle is paying attention to stress. If I find myself in a toxic situation, I run in the other direction.)

Magnesium Oil Spray Ancient Minerals

Anyway, I had all the classic symptoms of magnesium deficiency. So I ordered several bottles of magnesium oil spray from Ancient Minerals. (However, I should point out that I bought way too much magnesium spray. One bottle should last a long time. So buy just one bottle, and not three.)

My magnesium oil arrived. I used it liberally. That’s because I was pretty sure low magnesium was an issue. Almost immediately, the spray made me feel better. So I sprayed it all over my body, several times a day.

Magnesium Oil Spray Application

However, after a few days of using magnesium spray, I felt more jittery than ever. Also, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. Fortunately, I made the connection. I think I over did it with magnesium. So I stopped using the spray for awhile. Now I use it only occasionally. And I only put a little bit of spray inside my wrists.

For whatever reason, I’m sensitive to natural remedies. For me, less is often more. Maybe other people can use magnesium oil more often, and apply it to a wider area of their body. But I want to share my own story, just in case it can help someone else. I also strongly urge you to work with a healthcare professional if you’re taking any kind of magnesium supplements, including spray.

Can You Overdose on Magnesium?

That’s because there is a such thing as magnesium overdosing. It seems to be relatively uncommon. But it can be serious. People with kidney disease should definitely not take extra magnesium unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional. The same applies to women who are pregnant or nursing.

Magnesium Oil Spray Reviews

I still think Ancient Minerals magnesium oil is an excellent product. I just need to use it sparingly. Also, it can make your skin itch, similar to what can happen with cold salty ocean water. So you may want to dilute magnesium oil in water before putting it on your skin.

Treatment for Low Magnesium Levels

Mainstream medical doctors may not diagnose low magnesium unless you have severe symptoms. These can include numbness in the extremities and seizures. Treatment generally consists of supplementation.

Magnesium supplements come in various forms. Dr. Mercola advises against taking magnesium stearate, which he notes is potentially “hazardous.” He also recommends topical magnesium, as well as Epsom salt baths or foot baths. (One benefit of Epsom salt foot baths is they also soften the skin on your feet. So you can use a pumice stone afterward to smooth your skin.)

Even though I had a reaction to the magnesium spray this is the only type of magnesium supplement I use. Also, over the long run, I think it’s better to get your nutrients from your diet. So I use magnesium oil spray judiciously, and I try to eat organic whole foods.

Low Magnesium Levels Symptoms

I need to point out that I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. Nor can I diagnose anyone with a magnesium deficiency. I can tell you, though, this is thought to be a widespread problem. I can also write about some of the symptoms.

Using this information, you can then work with your own healthcare provider to determine what, if any, steps you should take to up your magnesium level. Let me stress once again to work with your doctor. I say this from personal experience. What happened to me was alarming.

The symptoms of magnesium deficiency mimic other common complaints, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. They include:

• Anxiety
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Facial tics
• Poor coordination
• Sleep disturbances
• Depression
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes

For More Information

Dr. Mercola and Magnesium Deficiency

Dr. Sircus Magnesium Deficiency Article

Disclaimer

These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal or homeopathic remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.