Magnesium for girls and women is a subject we don’t often read about. However, the mineral plays a very important role in a woman’s body of any age.
Every stage of a woman’s life is linked to high requirements of magnesium. Childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, the menopause, and the age of maturity – all of these create their own challenges and requirements.
Throughout the woman’s reproductive life, the body undergoes constant hormonal changes. Ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, the menopause – all of these put a lot of strain on a woman’s body. Hormone production requires a lot of magnesium, and the woman’s physiology means higher requirements in it. Magnesium deficiencies lead to hormonal imbalances, which in turn result in disturbances of body processes in a woman’s body.
On the other hand, hormonal changes lead to changes in magnesium levels. Oestrogen and progesterone rise during ovulation and menstruation lead to higher demands on magnesium, which decreases its levels in the body. A study of 19 women suffering from PMS has concluded that magnesium level decrease in women-sufferers as opposed to non-sufferers. (Biological Psychiatry Volume 35, Issue 8, 15 April 1994, Pages 557-561).
We have all heard of women craving chocolate just before the period is due. Dark chocolate is abundant with magnesium, and the body instinctively chooses the food containing it. It has been said to help with cramps and moodiness associated with PMS. Magnesium is a natural relaxant, so is irreplaceable in relaxing muscles and relieving menstrual cramps, which have been researched to be linked to magnesium deficiency.
Pregnancy puts an enormous strain on the woman’s body, with extra requirements of minerals not only for the mother but the developing child. Magnesium deficiency in pregnancy may lead to a very dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia which may lead to eclampsia – both conditions are associated with hypertension (high blood pressure).
Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salt) has been used in the treatment of women with pre-eclampsia for many decades. In hospitals, it is administered intravenously. However, many pregnant women use it transdermally, by taking Epsom Salt baths on a regular basis.
Transdermal application of magnesium means that the body regulates magnesium intake and will absorb the amount naturally required. Of course, it does not mean that a woman with any serious condition should resort to self-treatment. Magnesium baths are a preventative measure, and should not be used by women or natural health practitioners as a treatment.
Magnesium entering the woman’s body invariably benefits the child. It has been suggested that prenatal magnesium administration may reduce the risk of cerebral palsy for very low birthweight babies. (Nelson K. Magnesium sulfate and risk of cerebral palsy in very-low-birth-weight infants. JAMA. 1996;276:1843–1844).
However, where magnesium is administered to a pregnant woman intravenously, it can also cause hypermagnesemia in babies with such symptoms as flaccidity, hyporeflexia, and respiratory depression. (Lipsitz PJ. The clinical and biochemical effects of excess magnesium in the newborn. Paediatrics. 1971;47:501–509). This has not been said about transdermal magnesium applications where magnesium enters the body naturally.
A scientific study has shown that dietary magnesium deficiency in rats has resulted in failure to lactate and impaired growth and development in their offspring. (http://jn.nutrition.org/content/113/12/2421.full.pdf).
This shows that magnesium for girls and women is a subject which deserves much more attention. I will write separately about magnesium requirements for women approaching and going through menopause.
The best way to use Epsom salt is by having a bath with it. Use 500g of it per bath, 2-3 times a week, for a profound therapeutic effect. Even though it is unlikely that it could do anything but good, please do consult the doctor for advice on whether you have no condition which would contra-indicate such a bath.
Links & Information:
1. Where can I buy magnesium products? – http://www.saltsclaysminerals.com
2. Learn more about and book Far Infrared Magnesium (and other minerals wrap treatments in London, UK – http://www.purenaturecures.com
3. Learn more about and book the TRAINING (online and/or in person) to be able to do the treatment on yourself and customers – http://www.courses.purenaturecures.com
The way transdermal magnesium changed my pregnancy.
I have suffered from magnesium deficiency as long as I can remember and about 14 years ago I started on oral treatment. This made a whole lot of symptoms go away – goodbye to leg cramps, migraine, caries, depression, infections, you name it.
I have a 3 yr old son and my pregnancy with him was tough on me. I had migraine, severe cramps in arms and legs, hypocalcaemia, pelvic instability, skin problems (brown discolouration, dryness), high blod pressure, dizzyness and lots of nausea. I tried taking extra calcium to correct the blood levels but it just made my symptoms worse. I had the birth initiated at the hospital 16 days after due date. The birth took a long time and we had to stay in hospital 3 days. My son is well, though.
I had a tough time becoming pregnant the 2nd time, probably due to being 37 yrs old. About 6 months pregnancy I began to feel unwell again and this time I decided to do something about it. I needed motivation to eat enough magnesium (the pills are enormous and I have a bad tendency to “forget” taking my vitamins and minerals consistently).
So I searched the web and found out that it could be taken transdermally.
The last two months of my pregnancy I took my normal magnesium orally (6-900 mg) and applied magnesium oil about every 3rd day before showering. Also I used it in footbaths a couple of times a week.
I experienced that my muscles became soft, my skin was clarified, no discolouration, very little cramps in my calves, no pelvic pain (!), normal blood pressure, I was told all the time that I didn’t look pregnant, and hardly any water retention. I felt fantastic, no less.
I gave birth spontaneously 5 days before date, in 5 hours and no complications whatsoever.
I hope this is useful to someone in the same situation.