I know of someone who has used magnesium to successfully treat cold sores,(Herpes),on lip. One capsule of 400mg mag was enough to reverse an oncoming sore. It was completely gone by the end of the day.
I am writing to share with you a surprise benefit of Magnesium
supplements.My wife has been suffering for 3 years (since 1998)
with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Symptoms include tingly or numb
hands and fingers, a weak grip in both hands, occasional arm
pain.
After purchasing special wrist braces 2 years ago to use at night
in bed, her symptoms decreased by maybe 50%. But she has had the
CTS symptoms EVERY DAY for 3 years, until this week.
ONE YEAR ago we tried B complex and B 6 supplements to alleviate
her CTS pain, with no change. The B vitamins did not help her as
we hoped, and as described on numerous internet web sites.
ONE WEEK ago (3/1/2001) after researching magnesium supplements
on the web she started a magnesium supplement to try to activate
the B 6 in her diet and supplements, as follows: one magnesium
tablet per day, each tablet contains 220 mg Magnesium Hydroxide
(MgO) (133 mg elemental Magnesium) 47 mg Calcium, 5 mg Chelated
Zinc (Zinc Gluconate).
The SURPRISE: Her CARPAL TUNNEL SYMPTOMS REVERSED THE SECOND DAY
!! (just vanished). There was no dietary change, vitamin change
or medical treatment for her in the last week. The only change
was adding the magnesium/calcium/zinc tablet to her diet.
It appears THE MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT is DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE for STOPPING THE CARPAL TUNNEL PAIN (99% reduction).
She feels a slight nerve twinge maybe once a day, but this is
insignificant relative to the CTS pain she endured for the
previous 3 years.
We cannot believe how this has turned out. My wife is now pain
free !!
Two years ago my husband started having episodes that were
tentatively diagnosed as the aura of a migraine, but he didn't
have the pain associated with a migraine. These episodes were to
the extent that he would black out from the symptoms. He was
having these blackouts approximately every 3 to 4 days.
After reading the information on your website, we started him on
magnesium. It now has been two years as of last December 14 since
he has had one of his migraine episodes.
I am a 45 year old W/F with common migraine since age
7.Headaches increased in frequency and severity in my early
thirties (as did my mothers, aunts, and one sister) until I
usually had one unbearable headache weekly, and fought less
intense ones another time each week.
Prior to Imitrex, I used Midrin with only limited success.
Imitrex almost always works but the pills take two or so hours to
take effect, and are expensive and "rationed" by my HMO. OTC's
have been totally ineffective for me.
I did a routine search for headache help several months ago, and
lucked up on some med student's hypothesis that magnesium,
calcium and niacin taken with an aspirin at the prodromol
headache phase would abort the headache in a large percentage of
people. They further said that magnesium supplementation on a
daily basis would reduce the frequency of headache.
I immediately tried this innocent sounding regimen, and boy
howdy! My nurse practitioner has even asked me why I'm begging
for fewer Imitrex. I am just delighted at the response I am
having. I have used 3 Imitrex tabs in about as many months. I
take magnesium and calcium every day, and when a headache does
threaten, adding the niacin and aspirin has almost always stopped
it before the vomiting stage.
I am just sick that my mother and aunts went through their whole
lives with no adequate relief when the solution was probably so
simple and cheap.
My mother died last year of Marfan syndrome. All of the females (and one or two males) in our family are migraine suffers as well as Marfan positive. We also have: heart palpitations, muscular twitches, (female) excessive premenstrual symptoms, anxiety attacks, dizziness and a host of singular complaints as individuals. I saw a link from a Marfan site that attributed many of the actual degenerative factors of Marfan to a coinciding low level of magnesium. As a result, I have begun a daily dosage of magnesium supplementation to ( hopefully) lessen the deterioration of the organs/systems in question.
You may be interested to know that we in Sri Lanka have figured out a way to use magnesium to manage tetanus patients without using a ventilator. Normally these patients have to be kept ventilated with a machine, even for weeks. Please add this site to your list. This has been reported in international journals. [See: tetanus.shtml ]
I am absolutely delighted with the result of using magnesium over the last three months .I have been taking chelated magnesium with B6 and have found a very noticeable improvement. The incidence of headaches has diminished by about two thirds and, even if I do get the aura, I'll still take the Maxalt wafers I was prescribed, and now have virtually no pain. Sometimes I would start a migraine in my sleep and then wake with a bad attack, but now, even if I dream I'm having an aura, I wake with a very slight headache . I discovered this idea by myself through the net and British doctors don't seem to know about it. I'm ceasing to live in fear of the next headache.
I was at a drug store here in my area getting a prescription filled and saw a book on herbs. Being very skeptical I looked through it. It talked about feverfew. I'm not big on herbs, so I kept looking and saw that magnesium was also used. I priced a bottle of it and it cost only $3.99. I thought to myself, I have nothing to lose. I took it for about 1 MONTH BEFORE I REALLY GOT RESULTS. Wow, it's amazing, absolutely amazing. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't done it myself. Yes, it really works. If I do get a migraine it starts off as a headache and I can get rid of it with Excedrin instead of taking Imitrex. I truly believe in it.
Nearly 2 years ago a defibrillator was implanted in me because
I experienced recurrent life threatening ventricular
tachycardias. From the beginning I read that it might have
something to do with a magnesium deficiency but the traditional
cardiologists I had seen only had blood serum magnesium tests
done on me. The magnesium blood serum tests usually came out
fine, but even the cardiologists wholeheartedly agreed that the
tests were essentially meaningless because they only measured the
magnesium floating around outside the cells and the magnesium
level INSIDE the cells is far more important.
Well, it wasn't until AFTER the defibrillator was implanted that
I found some medical doctors who knew about other tests which
measure mineral levels INSIDE the cells. I had the Exatest,
Tissue Mineral Analysis (Trace Elements, Inc.), and an
Erythrocyte test done and all 3 tests showed that my magnesium
level was way below normal AND my calcium level was way too
high.
Then I thought, "Duh!??? Even though I've got a high IQ I'm still
an idiot. Of course, my magnesium is way too low and my calcium
is way too high. Never in my life have I eaten magnesium rich
foods (things like almonds, halibut, soy, Swiss chard) but for
many years I've frequently eaten things like pizza and ice cream
(without ever being overweight, mind you)."
After getting those test results I immediately reduced my calcium
intake to below the RDA and I started to eat magnesium rich foods
and take about 1 gram of supplemental magnesium a day. It took
about 6 months (not the moronic 3 weeks I've seen in some medical
studies... of course, those studies don't show great results) for
my calcium and magnesium levels to balance out on those
intracellular lab tests. BUT my magnesium is STILL low. This is
probably due to ingesting lower amounts of calcium (because it
has the same valence as magnesium) so I will have to adjust the
calcium to see what happens. In any event, I have not had any
more tachycardias since my magnesium and calcium balanced out
over a year a ago. The bottom line is that when you develop a
serious problem due to magnesium deficiency, you cannot expect an
instant fix. Chances are you've never given your cells enough
magnesium so how do you expect them to accept it all of a sudden?
You need to plan on many months of hard work on your diet and
supplements and then use lab tests to see where you're at. During
the whole process just take a lot of deep breaths and relax.
Doing that alone will help more magnesium to get into your
cells.
My last major migraine lasted 3 days and was triggered
(perhaps) by a chocolate éclair. Deciding I could take no
more I began taking magnesium supplements, 145mg per day
(combined pill with other vitamins/minerals), without fail. I had
heard of the possible link between low magnesium and
migraine.
My migraines are hormonally linked and triggered by food allergy
(broad beans, marmite, red wine etc). Since supplementation
approx 3 months ago, my migraines, although still regular, have
reduced from 2 days to about 6 hours and are much more
manageable. I'm convinced the magnesium has worked for me.
I have added material about "mitral valve prolapse" being a
magnesium deficiency on my web site. It is a year 2000 Russian
study. I am working with a young woman who has depression and
"mitral valve prolapse". I looked up magnesium and "mitral valve
prolapse" and BINGO!!!!
Please mention this on your site. See my page at
http://coldcure.com/html/dep.html and search for "mitral valve
prolapse".
George Eby
I'm 43 and have always suffered from migraines. I am currently taking slo mag but only 64 mg. per day. I have so much trouble with headaches and get very little relief from any medicines I've tried. I am also taking Diovan HCT for my blood pressure. I didn't have any trouble with blood pressure until the past two years. I'm premenopausal and still taking oral contraceptives (orthotrycyclen) to keep from menstruating through the month. My headaches seem to be much worse at the time of menstruation. There is a history of heart disease in my family and I've been scared with the symptoms I've had in the past year. After reading about premenopausal it seemed that the things I was experiencing are common. After reading many articles in this website I have decided to increase the magnesium I have been taking to see if it will make a difference.
At 42, I was diagnosed with end stage multiple myeloma (which
is cancer of the blood plasma/bone marrow) on Dec. 3, 1996, after
a 4 day stay in ICU where I nearly died from calcium overload (MM
leaches calcium out of the bones and clogs up the kidneys, which
then fail.) At the time I was told that I had 6 months to live
and that it is always terminal, no exceptions.
As I was praying one day, the Lord kept putting this word into my
mind "Magnesium." I didn't know why nor what magnesium did, but I
went to the store and bought a $2.97 bottle of magnesium oxide
and started taking 2 a day.
On Feb 3, 1997, the cancer doctor said to me, "Your reason for
coming here no longer exists."
Ten months later, my father died of lung cancer. In the ensuing
grief, I forgot to take the magnesium and was rediagnosed on Dec
4, 1997.At that time, the cancer doctor insisted that I take
Aredia, supposedly to keep the calcium in my bones. I was
allergic to it (as I am so many drugs), but he refused to treat
the calcium any other way. The Aredia caused full body Charlie
horses, a dozen or more a day lasting 15 minutes each time
On July 13, 1998, a spasm broke my hip as I was walking across
the floor. I never fell, as my daughter caught me. After hip
replacement surgery, I began experiencing intense pain and was
repeatedly put in the hospital.
In August 1998, my new cancer doctor told me that I had very
little time left and suggested a very caustic chemo to attempt to
extend my life (but it would not cure me).I refused, allowing
that the chemo would kill me before the cancer did! He then
suggested a very mild drug called Mephalen, but admitted that it
would take 3 months of it to kill 25% of the cancer and that I
simply didn't have that long (I had already gone way past the
original prognosis).I would only agree to the Melphalen, however,
and my husband and I prayed over the little pills as we would our
food, asking the Lord to bless it. I began at that time to take
the magnesium faithfully again, just 2 a day as before. Ten days
after beginning the Melphalen and magnesium, 75% of the cancer
disappeared, and by December 1998, all the cancer was gone. All.
And it has not returned, even though I refused to continue the
Melphalen.
I have faithfully taken 2 magnesium oxide a day since then. While
I give Jesus Christ all the praise for my healing, it is no doubt
that He lead me to take the magnesium, so I believe this is what
He used to cure me. I only recently began supplements of
glucosamin and chondroitins for the arthritis I got from my
ordeal, but did not take anything else nutrition wise before
this. I recommend magnesium to everyone I can, and it has
relieved my husband's chronic migraines, my sister's high blood
pressure, my son's ADD and smoking habit (after taking magnesium
once, he felt so good that he quit smoking entirely), and many
friends and acquaintances take it for a good night's sleep. I
wouldn't let a day pass without it ever again!
I had many of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, such
as
insomnia
muscle spasms
atrial fibrillation
high blood pressure
atherosclerosis
fatigue
involuntary movements
etc.
About a year ago I insisted that my cardiologist test me for
magnesium deficiency. He assured me that I didn't have a
deficiency, but just to satisfy me he ran the test. When the
results came in, it turned out that I did have a deficiency, and
he prescribed intravenous injection, and later oral
supplementation. I experienced much less insomnia, the muscle
cramps all but stopped. I developed diarrhea and discontinued the
magnesium. The insomnia worsened and the sore muscles and muscle
spasms returned. Began magnesium again, and again the insomnia
and muscle pain and spasms abated. Since I have been taking other
medications I cannot say as to how the other medical problems
fared with the magnesium.
I started having leg cramps 2 weeks ago, mostly at night, also feet and toes. It was so bad that I could not sleep. I asked my pharmacist, and he recommended magnesium 1 g tablets twice a day (morning and night). It's worth trying it out. I exercise at least 4 days a week approx 30 min 15 min. stationary bike (not too much tension) sit ups etc...but I never had that kind of problem before. I'm 53, in good health but with a bit of asthma (controlled) with pumps. I take my vitamins every day since at least 20 years and eat good. Last year my doctor sent me for a bone scan. It revealed a start of calcium deficiency. I boosted my calcium intake with calcium plus milk and juice, eat yogurt, cheese and as much dairy product I can. I'm on my legs a lot at work, but I have good shoes. I sincerely hope this therapy will help me.
My mother has been suffering from various ailments. Sore
muscles all the time labeled fibromyalgia. Most notably, she had
pain in her hands for about a year that was quite severe that
prevented her from using a pencil for any significant duration,
being barely able to be handling the steering wheel while driving
a car, and not really able to carry anything heavy.
For the year her hands were hurting her, I did not know about it,
since I had not kept in touch very well. But finally I visited
and I saw and heard about her condition. I had to carry things
for her while on errands, she could not drive, I saw her wince in
pain when attempting to lift a book or bag and so on. I saw what
she was taking in her pills (lots of calcium for her fibromyalgia
as the doctors had told her). Since I knew about the benefits of
magnesium, particularly in how it helps to dissolve calcium into
solution so as to make it more bioavailable, I knew what to do
right away. Getting her to do it was another thing entirely, but
I succeeded.
I had learned that in natural sources, the correct ratio is 2:1
magnesium to calcium. I learned this from a "world's greatest
health discovery report" that I received perhaps 7 years
ago.
So, I had her stop taking the calcium, thinking that the 1500
2000 milligrams she had been taking daily had created quite a
build up of the stuff in her body which was responsible for the
pain, as I figured it had deposited itself in her hands and
tendons creating the pain. I had her begin taking about 2000
milligrams of magnesium right away, within a week or so after
talking to her about the subject. It took quite a bit of
convincing, and she only wanted to try 1000 milligrams at first,
and was very reluctant to give up the calcium, but I did persuade
her after a few days of instruction and badgering. Within the
next day, her pain lessened, and by the third day, it went away
from her hands, and she felt a million times better. After about
a month, she was putting together shelves with a screwdriver,
applying hard pressure and having no difficulty.
That was about a year ago.
Again I came to visit now, and her health and strength and
stamina have deteriorated, and the pain has increased. She has
not been able to go to the gym in some time because of the
increased pain just everywhere in general. Reviewing her mineral
intake, we saw she was taking 700 milligrams of magnesium (from a
fibromyalgia supplement) and 600 milligrams of calcium. It seems
she forgot the correct ratio to take, and forgot that she
probably still had a build up of painful calcium to still get rid
of. This time, just now tonight, I convinced her to again reduce
the calcium in her "bed time" pill by taking only 1 instead of 2,
so that's 250 milligrams less of calcium daily, down to 350 mg. I
also convinced her to increase the magnesium by 400, so that's up
to 1300 mg. I'm sure she will see positive results and have the
energy to exercise again within a few days.
I'm brand new into the idea that magnesium could help migraines. I've been taking 500mg for two and a half weeks since my last migraine. Yesterday, I forgot!! I got a migraine which I treated with Maxalt (something I had never had before) and 750mg magnesium. After a 30 minute nap, I was well enough to continue with a normal day!!(That's unlike any migraine I've had!) Of course it could have been the Maxalt, but the fact that I forgot the magnesium that morning is quite interesting!
I have been using magnesium for the past six months. I started
using it, 500 mg per day, after I read a website proclaiming the
effectiveness of magnesium on migraine headaches. First, I must
tell you that I experience the "classic" migraine. By that I mean
that I have the "aura," or loss of vision temporarily and then
unbearable pain.
I can usually tell when I am about to experience a headache.
Typically it involves the convergence of several factors, to
include stress, being in the sun, hunger, and the consumption of
something like chocolate. This path virtually guarantees a
migraine headache. I usually avoid this path.
Since I have taken the magnesium, occasionally I have felt like I
am in the zone for a headache, but somehow avoided it.
In April, I took a trip to Hong Kong. Since I was out of my
routine, I forgot to take my magnesium on a daily basis. Within
seven days I had my first migraine since I started the magnesium
regimen. Since then, I have been diligent about taking 500 mg of
magnesium per day and have not had another migraine again
although I feel like I am in the zone from time to time.
Before magnesium, I used to get 3 migraine headaches per
month.
All I can say is that it has worked amazingly well for me. : D
I suffered badly, with several migraines per week for years.
My doctor told me there was nothing that could be done. I have
been prescribed many prescription remedies various Triptans,
antidepressants etc none worked.
I was extremely skeptical about trying Mg, as nothing had worked
in the past. From just after Christmas 2000, I have been taking
300mg Mg per day and am amazed at the reduction in my migraines.
From several per week, I might now get one or two per month. For
me, this is heaven. Now my migraines are under control, I have at
last been able to gather the discipline and do something about
the extra weight gained throughout the years of unsuccessful
treatments of migraine. I have even felt well enough to take up
exercising again.
I have suffered from classic migraines (w/aura) for several
years (I'm 44). I used to get 3 or more per week. I never kept a
diary to see what triggered them, but most of them seemed to be
brought on by stress. About 2 1/2 years ago, I started taking
magnesium (250 mg twice per day) at the suggestion of a friend. I
felt immediate relief, and didn't miss a day of taking the
magnesium for several months. Then, for some reason, I got a
migraine. I then concluded that the magnesium treatment was just
a coincidence. So when I ran out of my supply, I stopped taking
them for several days. During that time period, I got several
migraines, so I went back on the magnesium and haven't missed a
day, and haven't gotten even one migraine.
I'm convinced that there's something to it, and I've recommended
it to others.
Tue, 18 Sep 2001 23:27:19 +1200 I have been using a Magnesium Complex for a week now and my muscle burning in the back has just about gone.
My ten year old son was diagnosed with migraines about a year
ago and the neurologist put him on Propranolol. I had several
conversations with him in which I tried to ask him about
alternative treatments and attempting to find a biological cause
of his headaches which he absolutely refused to consider.
After being put on Propranolol my son continued to have headaches
(albeit low grade) 2 to 5 times a week. The Doctor's response was
to up the medication.
About 3 weeks ago I heard a show on Wisconsin Public Radio about
magnesium and B2 and migraines. I went out and got a magnesium
supplement and have been giving my son 250 mg every morning with
his regular vitamin supplement. He has been headache free.
I am going to start weaning him off the prescription medication
on Oct. 1st, assuming he remains headache free until then.
I am disillusioned and angry at the medical system. This doctor
made me feel stupid and belittled me for questioning his course
of treatment. I even went to a family practitioner for a second
opinion and while he was much nicer he backed up what the
neurologist said; there is no other way to treat migraine so I
might as well accept it.
My Mother and I both have severe [hypomagnesia]. We use [magnesium] to stop the heart palpitations, shaking, muscle cramps. We both cannot keep our levels up to get these symptoms to subside and we can't seem to find a physician that knows enough to help us.
I just wanted you to know that I have been taking magnesium for about a year now, and without it, my whole body hurts all the time. With magnesium, I can function normally, otherwise I am in constant pain in my back, legs, neck, etc. I still have some pain, but not like what I have without magnesium. Just thought you might like to know that it REALLY does help.
I was having severe back pain, muscle twitches, headaches
until taking 800 mg magnesium per day. The mentioned condition
has decreased and nearly subsided. I had believed a nerve in my
back was pinched for more than four years, as my condition
continued to get worse. Subsequent to batteries of different
tests my physician's diagnosis was Arthritis/Bone Spurs of the
spine, cervical stenosis, spondolyitis.
I have been on the above dosage for two months and have noticed
good results.
I use magnesium for my migraines. I have taken every over the counter and prescription drug for my migraines and NOTHING has helped me for more than 6 months. Now I am taking magnesium supplements and I no longer suffer from the migraines or the side effects.
I am currently taking two 250 mg tablets of magnesium per day
in an attempt to curb migraine frequency (and who knows: duration
and intensity, too maybe?)
My neurologist is not into nutrition (except for eating regular,
balanced meals) as a way to treat or prevent migraines.
I'm 42 and I suffer from migraine headaches due to low estrogen. I recently started taking magnesium and found relief.
I have suffered chronic migraines for over 2 years. Recently, I was prescribed to take 400mg of magnesium oxide daily. So far I have done very well, I have had 40 consecutive days migraine free.
My brother has used magnesium supplements successfully to treat cluster headaches which are very disruptive to his life. Unfortunately after either a year or 2 years of taking Mg he has become resistant and his migraine symptoms have become worse. He takes Mg daily due to increased symptoms of IBS with Mg he has taken doses between meals rather than with meals which has improved the symptoms of IBS. For a considerable time his the length of a cluster period reduced, the intensity of the migraine reduced and the time interval between headaches increased. I think the doses he was taking were in the region of 1500mg /d spread out in 3 doses. Reducing calcium intake also improved symptoms logically as Mg and Ca compete for absorption.
I am 25 year old woman. History of migraines, diagnosed at 14
years of age. Bilateral mixed hearing loss. History of Syncope.
Cluster headache onset at mean age of 19 years 1996. Trial of
typical prophylactic meds i.e. Topamaz, Verapamil, Sansert,
Depakote, and other meds. Unable to continue treatment due to
side effects. Current cluster began in Feb. 2001. Several
abortive, i.e. Amerge etc tried without success.
Presented on 18 Dec. 2001 at local ER, with flushed face,
localized tearing in left eye, and slight raise in temp. Given 7
liter per minute of oxygen, a bag of magnesium laced with saline
in IV drip, and then later 25 mg of phenergen and 25 mg of
Demerol IV. Discharged. Next morning woke with no cluster. None
since. Gained 5 plus pounds since treatment 83 pounds.(5 ft.1
in.)
This page was first uploaded to The Magnesium Web Site on November 13, 2002
http://www.mgwater.com/