Magnesium cream - how to make it and use it
From DoctorMyhill
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This page has been written by two CFS sufferers, Joe Olmi and Terry Ellison, for the benefit of all those who struggle with low magnesium levels. Many thanks!
Dr Myhill explains benefits of therapeutic levels of Magnesium in combating some of the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue in Magnesium - treating a deficiency. She also recommends magnesium by injection as the most effective method of achieving this, however this has the disadvantage of requiring routine injection and some patients can generate an intolerance or painful reaction over time to these injections.
A 2004 paper [1] describes an investigation into the transdermal absorption of magnesium sulphate by soaking in a hot bath containing a 1% solution of Epsom Salts. The author demonstrates that this is effective alternative (and pain-free) method for raising both blood and urine levels of both magnesium and sulphate. However, this method also has potential disadvantages:
- You need to be capable of tolerating a hot soak, and many CFS sufferers cannot.
- You need 0.5-1 Kg of Epsom salts per bath to achieve this concentration of salts.
This article describes a simple and extremely effective alternative that two CFS patients, Joe Olmi and Terry Ellison, have adopted and refined.
Transdermal absorption by topical cream
To use this technique, apply a suitable topical cream following a shower, bath and / or FIR sauna. You can simply make this cream up yourself. I (Terry Ellison) have been using this dermal cream for nearly a year now and my technique for making it up has changed during this time
Making up the basic cream
The basic constituents are Epsom salt, water and a simple dermal cream (such as E45) in a 2:1:2 mix. If you make a large batch then you will find that the cream tends to separate, so the easiest method is to make the Epsom salt / water solution in bulk (e.g. a 200g:100g mix). First dissolve the Epsom salt into boiling water in a pre-warmed jug. Mix (and if necessary microwave for 20-30 secs) until the salts are fully dissolved and allow to cool to room temperature. Keep it in a container with a sealed lid to prevent evaporation (e.g. an empty MMMs or E45 pot).
Mix the topical cream in small batches, using an old cup or similar small pot. A good quantity to use is a desert spoonful of solution and an equal amount of dermal cream, and this will typically last for 2-3 applications depending on how much you use. The quantity is small enough that separation shouldn't be an issue unless you use a smaller amount of cream to solution. Beat with fork or small whisk. Leave the cup in your bathroom with a damp cloth over the top to prevent drying out.
The base cream is a matter of personal preference and skin-tolerance. Simple aqueous cream is a lot cheaper than E45, but the lanolin in E45 does seem to give better absorption, feel and is less greasy, but some people with skin sensitivities react to it.
Applying the cream
The best time to apply the topical cream is immediately after a shower or bath. The more sweat and natural skin oils that you have removed the better, so it is better to apply it after a long soak or an FIR sauna. Avoid using one of the soaps that contains additives to give your skin a smooth soft feel, as the complex polymers which give this nice feel also tend to clog up your skin pores; stick to a plain bar soap or a baby soap. Dry yourself off and then apply a thin coat of cream over your full body. Just gently massage it into your skin until nearly dry. You might find it easier to get a partner or helper to do this for you. If you find this tiring, then lie in bed on a towel after application to allow the moisture to be absorbed / evaporate before you dress.
The cream is absorbed into surface layers of skin within 10-15 minutes if correctly applied. It leaves no visible residue on the surface of the skin, and the general skin condition seems to benefit from its application. Note that you will find that it takes a lot longer, perhaps 12+ hours to be fully absorbed into the bloodstream.
The one thing that we definitely wouldn't recommend is applying the cream after an Epsom salt bath, because you will find that because your skin is already saturated in Epsom salts when you do this, so none of the salts in the cream will be absorbed and you will find yourself left covered head-to-foot in a ghostly white powder as the cream dries! If you find any surface powder after normal creaming, then you are probably applying the cream too thickly.
Dosage
As a comparison the 0.5ml daily injection delivers perhaps 0.3g magnesium sulphate. Clearly only a percentage of the dermally applied Epsom salt is absorbed by the body, however, a typical per application surface dose is perhaps 7g magnesium sulphate, so the internally absorbed amounts may be comparable.
Personal experiences
Both authors recommend this as a cheap, easy and highly effective method of taking magnesium.
One of the authors has found that he especially needs magnesium supplements to help combat "mitochondrial stress" for example in that extended fatigue/exhaustion that can last for weeks after pushing himself too hard. The problem with such fatigue is that your cability to do higher exertion activities really falls off. Regular bathing and showering become a trial, and the need to cream after showering doubly so. However, the benefits of a full body cream in such circumstances are also noticeable within hours. So if you don't have the energy to shower, then still routinely apply the cream anyway; this might only be partially effective but it is still a lot better then going without the magnesium supplement.
The other author finds that application of magnesium cream to the entire body each day also acts as an effective anti-anxiety agent. Like many CFS patients, he also suffers with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In such cases the regular use of transdermal magnesium cream can be very beneficial, as magnesium deficiencies in the brain and nervous systems are known to exacerbate GAD.
- See also Dr Myhill's article Minerals and vitamins in creams which is based on this approach.
References
- ↑ Waring, RH, "Absorption of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) across the skin, 2004, Epsom Salt Council
