Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of The Magnesium Miracle was interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.
Take magnesium and melt your anxiety away
- how important is magnesium: enzymatic processes, mitochondria, heart health, anxiety
- how important is magnesium compared to calcium; and the vitamin D connection
- the medication fluoride concern and magnesium impact
- the symptoms of magnesium deficiency
- why we are deficient in magnesium
- dietary sources of magnesium and why diet is often not enough
- how to test your magnesium level
Here are some snippets from our interview:
If your magnesium is low, your adrenal glands, which require a lot of magnesium, get kind of trigger-happy. And you can start getting adrenaline surges when you’re under stress, blood sugar can go low and you think you’re having an anxiety attack or a panic attack.
Now, your cholesterol depends on a magnesium enzyme to balance cholesterol. If you have too much, it brings it down; if you have too little, it brings it up. It’s done through the mechanism of magnesium. But the statin drugs kill that particular enzyme! And, as well, they cause more magnesium deficiency because many of the statin drugs actually have a fluoride molecule attached, and that fluoride molecule will bind up more magnesium.
Here is one of the 2014 studies we mentioned: Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on physical performance in healthy elderly women involved in a weekly exercise program: a randomized controlled trial
Daily magnesium oxide supplementation for 12 wk seems to improve physical performance in healthy elderly women. These findings suggest a role for magnesium supplementation in preventing or delaying the age-related decline in physical performance.
Here’s the blog post: When magnesium makes me worse It also has information about magnesium RBC testing with RequestaTest.com and fluoride in medications.
This is the last study Carolyn mentioned – Magnesium deficiency induces anxiety and HPA axis dysregulation: modulation by therapeutic drug treatment.
Overall, the present findings demonstrate the robustness and validity of the Mg(2+) deficiency model as a mouse model of enhanced anxiety, showing sensitivity to treatment with anxiolytics and antidepressants. It is further suggested that dysregulations in the HPA axis may contribute to the hyper-emotionality in response to dietary induced hypomagnesaemia.
Carolyn’s gift 4 Weeks of 2 Year Wellness Program PLUS Invisible Minerals
If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here www.theAnxietySummit.com
Hi again Trudy,
I think talking about magnesium is critical especially as it plays such a big role in modulating anxiety and other symptoms that could be misdiagnosed as anxiety. I also have enormous respect for the work Dr. Dean has done to promote awareness of magnesium deficiency. I highly recommend her Magnesium Miracle book to anyone.
But I id find this particular talk played down the beneficial effects of other forms magnesium due to the focus on ReMag. I certainly plan to try ReMag myself, but for years I have had great success with other forms of magnesium. Dr. Dean does still provides alternate magnesium recommendations on her resource page, but did not discuss them today.
I am speaking as a biochemist and from experience on the following:
I would not use any form of magnesium (Mg) form that is largely not used by the body such as oxide. Of course, any Mg is likely better than none at all, so I am not questioning that positive studies could be produced using any form of Mg.
I currently use oral magnesium glycinate. I get it at my local compounding pharmacy in powder form. That way I can adjust my dosage easily. As a bonus, I am getting a nice dose of glycine which is a calming amino acid. When I need calcium, I can add calcium (sourced in the same manner) to my “cocktail” in a ratio that is suitable for my individual needs.
I know that a large number of people have found relief from anxiety using oral magnesium citrate via the Natural Calm brand. I used this form of Mg prior to the glycinate and can personally recommend it as well. It does have more of a laxative effect than glycinate, but many of us could use help with regularity anyway!
This page on Dr. Dean’s website provides recommendations for other forms of Mg including Natural Calm:
http://drcarolyndean.com/natural-health-resource/
If you would rather pay almost half price, I highly recommend purchasing Natural Calm at Vitacost, rather than the Natural Vitality website.
http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?NttSR=1&previousText=magnesium+calm&ss=1&ntk=products&Ntt=natural%20vitality%20natural%20calm
I could have signed up to receive substantial kickbacks for referrals to this website, but I prefer to show that I have no vested interest in Vitacost. They just have the best prices I have ever found for supplements. If you don’t mind trying their house brand, they have formulated a duplicate of Natural Calm that is even cheaper. (It was not available when I was using Natural Calm, so I have not personally tried it.)
I also use magnesium chloride transdermally. This is an excellent way of raising magnesium levels without (or in addition to) taking supplements. I started with the brand Dr. Dean recommends (Ancient Minerals) but switched to Life Flo after finding them identical in efficacy. Life Flo is much cheaper. You can buy flakes or oil. I prefer the oil (it is just a very concentrated brine, not a true oil) as it does double duty as an epsom salt replacement (magnesium chloride is better absorbed through the skin than epsom salts which is magnesium sulfate) and as topical oil. It even works as a natural aluminum free deodorant! It can sting sensitive areas at full strength, but it is easily diluted with a little water or added to your favorite “clean” body lotion.
http://www.vitacost.com/life-flo-pure-magnesium-oil-8-oz-3
Compare the $7.29 price of this 8oz bottle of Life Flo to the $29 price tag for 8oz of Ancient Minerals brand via their website (link on Dr. Dean’s page I provided above). Ancient Minerals is an excellent product too; just more expensive.
As with all recommendations, YMMV. (Your Mileage May Vary) 🙂
Hi Debbie
I appreciate you posting all this and am glad you’ve had great success with other forms of magnesium. My intention for the PS was to highlight that most forms of magnesium has benefits (we even have research supporting that magnesium oxide does!)
I personally like magnesium malate chelate and am looking forward to trying out ReMag too – for me and for some clients.
Thanks for sharing some of the options for sourcing
Trudy
I certainly did not mean to take anything away from your wonderful interview Trudy. I was very happy to hear the beginning of the PS, but every response seemed to lead back to ReMag.
My concern was that some people may feel there is no use in trying Mg unless they buy ReMag. Due to many people having financial limitations or being reluctant to purchase products via the Internet (especially internationally), I just wanted to add a little something. I know you are personally already well versed on the magnesium topic!
I have been on the fence about ReMag ever since it was released! I have had it in my online cart about 20 times. LOL
My problem is not being able to wrap my head around the mechanism difference between cellular absorption of ReMag vs. cellular absorption of a dehydrated atom of Mg from any other ionized source. The mechanism is too technical to get into here, so I will spare everyone. The FAQs for ReMag are unfortunately very vague. Since it is “proprietary”, giving it a trial is the only option.
I also like magnesium malate (from a biochemistry standpoint). I tried it myself (as well as malic acid itself) due to the positive studies of this form on fibromyalgia.
I should have mentioned in my initial post that I actually had low serum and urine Mg, so I have pretty solid proof that the supplementation is working.
In fact, my Mg, Ca, Cl, Na and K were all either “riding” or below specification in my serum & urine at one point. I could not even get a physician to care! I always ask for my own labs so I can chart them, etc. I am in Ottawa, Canada where the medical crisis is very serious. I am chronically ill (disabled) but have not even had a GP since 2011 (over 25% of the population does not have a family doctor here). It boggles my mind that the specialist I have been seeing via the hospital clinic system (10 minutes every 6 months!) doesn’t even notice or care about out of specification lab results. He even brushed off escalating polycythemia (too many red blood cells)and excessively low cortisol because “they are not related to the reason for my referral”.
I am sure you can tell I have lost all faith in conventional medicine at this point. 🙁 That is why this summit has meant the world to me. The feeling of connection to others who are just as frustrated and the sense of community among your caring brilliant speakers is something I just never got from reading papers and books.
Thanks again,
Deb
Thank you Deb for pointing out that I do recommend several different forms of magnesium on my website and blogs. It’s impossible to say all that should be said in one short interview so it’s always going to seem inadequate to the a well-educated listener. I’ve only just created ReMag because I get a severe laxative effect with any of the other oral forms. So, ReMag is there for people who get the laxative effect before the therapeutic effect. People have been able to switch from life-saving IV magnesium to ReMag, so that to me is a miracle. The manufacturer’s description of how picometer minerals are created is on the FAQ page of the ReMag website (www.rnareset.com).
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond personally Carolyn. I actually feel that I also need a higher therapeutic dose of Mg which is why I am interested in trying ReMag.
I have read the ebook at rnareset.com, but from a scientific standpoint I still don’t understand why ReMag is so superior. I don’t mean that I don’t understand what is written, just that there is not enough detail provided (for my level of knowledge) to explain the absorption mechanism differences. I hope that makes sense?
It is certainly not your issue. It is mine. The information you generously provide is likely far more than the layperson could absorb as it is.
Perhaps you (or someone in your company) could answer by in depth questions. I am not sure if the answer lies in that which is proprietary though.
Even with full disclosure, scientists often disagree with each other’s research conclusions. There is still a very large % of the scientific community that insist Mg cannot be absorbed through the skin. They argue that even with the addition of DMSO (yuck!) significant transdermal absorption would not be not possible. But based on my clinical “study of one”, I disagree!
Thanks for all your great work. I have your book (yes, I upgraded to the new edition) and have received you email tidbits for years.
Best,
Deb
P.S. I just noticed that my name was somehow switched to Dobbie in the replies. LOL
Hi Debbie,
I agree with you regarding the limited discussion on other forms of Mg. I understand, as Trudy says that their intention was not focused on that issue, but still, I thought it was too focused on ReMag. I appreciate the PS, though.
Right now, since I live in Europe, I will stick to other brands, cheaper and available. I might try ReMag or other products from Dr. Dean but in the future.
I also use the Mg chrolide transdermally.
Thanks Debbie for the info!!
Hello,
if you are gluten intolerant can you take ReMag™ Magnesium Solution? If you can take it, is Remag available in Australia?
Kind regards
Susie
Hi Susie – I’ll ask Carolyn to come and comment – Trudy
There is no gluten in ReMag or any of its processing.
We do ship to Australia.
Carolyn
Thank you Trudy and Dr Dean for this informative talk.
Regarding the foods rich in Mg, I got seaweed (such as kelp), raw cacao, nuts & seeds, green leafy greens. But I am not sure I got the herbs correclty (nettles, chickweed, dandelion leaves?).
Also, I have a question concerning the epsom salts bath. I tried them a few weeks ago for my daughter to see if it could help with her poor bowel movements. But I am uncertain about the dosage. How much is recommended for a 2yo child (using a small bath tub) ?
I am also trying to increase my own intake of Mg now that I see it has so much to do with… everything, but maybe with bone health (due to the balance VitD-Ca-Mg). I have osteoporosis and my reumathologist doesn’t have a clue why. I agree with Dr.Dean’s message: take responsability for your own health. I understand I have to honor medical doctors because they know, but most of them don’t go further. So after my reumathologist said “I have no idea why you are losing bone density at your age” (38 now, but started losing when I was 30y) I thought it was not a good enough answer for me.
Once again, thank you very Trudy for this summit and for this space to leave comments, questions and express ourselves.
Hi Cota
Yes, you have the herbs Carolyn mentioned. I use 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salts in a regular tub for an adult so I’d adjust accordingly for a child. I’ll ask Carolyn to come and comment too
Dr Susan Brown http://www.betterbones.com/ is a great resource for bone health too
Trudy
awesome! As always, very helpful trudy. I’ll take a look at Dr. Brown’s website.
And I’ll wait for Carolyn’s comments on Mg dosage.
I appreciate your support.
Yes, Cota: nettles, chickweed, dandelion leaves, and burdock are the 4 magnesium herbs.
For a 2 year old in a small tub – 1/2 cup Epsom salts will suffice.
Vit K2 is also very important for the bones. My resource for that is Blue Ice Royal – see my blog on supplements (http://drcarolyndean.com/2013/10/dr-deans-supplement-recommendations/) and read about ReLyte to help balance thyroid/adrenals and sex hormones as they relate to bone health. (Free ReLyte book under the FAQs at http://www.rnareset.com.)
Enjoyed this discussion on magnesium. Found it to be very informative. Especially enjoyed the section on….”.when magnesium makes me worse.” I have been one of those who seems to react to the magnesium with palpitations and tingling sensations in my arms. This is not the only mineral or vitamin I react to this way. Vitamin B gives the same response as well as some supplements. Is it possible that low magnesium causes me to react to other supplements as well?
Thank you Trudy and Dr. Dean for such a great discussion.
Tammy
Yes, Tammy. Vit B6, especially, helps the absorption of magnesium. so when you take B vitamins you can “stir up” the magnesium pathways and make your body think it’s waking up or revving up, which may be normal but can be interpreted as a problem.
Great interview. I don’t think different forms of magnesium was discussed though. I am chronically constipated, so I need the laxative effect. I take between 2 and 3 grams of mag. citrate every night, which doesn’t always work. I am probably magnesium deficient anyway since, as I understand it, that form isn’t useful in that way. Correct? How do we get tested for that? I do work with integrative practitioners, as I have a multitude of health issues which are off the radar screen for allopathic doctors.
Thanks so much.
Hello Lynn,
The magnesium RBC blood test will help define your levels. You can type that into google with my name to find out more. Or see my free eBook on ReMag (in the FAQs at http://www.rnareset.com) or my book The Magnesium Miracle.
Is the ReMag and ReLyte available in UK please?
We do ship to the UK and there is a UK distributor. Please email support@rnareset.com so this doesn’t keep sounding like a commercial for ReMag!!
Apologies Trudy!
Carolyn
Do you ship ReMag to Dubai
Oneil
You would need to contact Dr Carolyn Dean as this is her product
I enjoyed your interview with Trudy, very good info! I heard mention of a patient with ankle edema who you were able to treat with minnerals. Was that the ReLyte? My MIL has severe ankle edema and doctors don’t know why. They have her on a diuretic every morning and I’d love to buy her something else to try. She’s stuck at home near the bathroom every morning from having to take the diuretic every morning.
Thank you!
I find that a good sea salt in water, along with ReMag and ReLyte treat cellular dehydration.
Minerals are supposed to be inside cells – then the minerals pull in water behind them, hydrating the cells and making all the cellular processes work. This means less tissue edema and less frequent urination as the water is in the right place! It’s quite amazing how this happens so naturally. My ReMag and ReLyte books have all this written out in detail. They are free at http://www.rnareset.com under the FAQs.
Thank you, I will check those out!
Thank you, Trudy, for having the anxiety seminar. I choose some subjects in which I’m interested. Listening to the talk by Dr. Dean about magnesium, I have a question. My husband has spinal stenosis with pain in his back. We do take some magnesium capsules. As one cause of the stenosis is bone spur, could taking a large amount of magnesium, perhaps magnesium citrate powder, help decrease the spur? An alternative to shots and surgery would be good. He has lost weight by eating more high protein that includes meat, cheese, fats, and usually lower carbs including veggies, berries, and tangerines.
Thank you very much. Also, I have appreciated your info about amino acids.
Janie
I have worked with Ankylosing spondylitis and my products to amazing effect. With a bone spur – mag citrate may only be 20% absorbed, so you would get the laxative effect before getting tissue and cell saturation with magnesium. I would spray mag oil or ReMag on the area as well as take oral ReMag. Getting the Magnesium RBC blood test would help follow saturation. 6.0-6.5mg/dL is the optimum level. See my ReMag book for more details at http://www.rnareset.com under the FAQs.
Re ReMag product containing picometer size of Mg salt. Just wondering if Tissue salts MgPhos 6X potency (60 times dilution) would bring same benefits as these salts are also having concentrations of salts at cellular levels. Thanks
I write about homeopathic mag in my Magnesium Miracle book. It seems to help people utilize their magnesium better but it’s not going to give you the “physical substance” of magnesium that your body requires for metabolic processes.
I write about homeopathic mag in my Magnesium Miracle book. It seems to help people utilize their magnesium better but it’s not going to give you the “physical substance” of magnesium that your body requires for metabolic processes.
Aloha
Carolyn
RE Magnesium testing. I have heard from well known ME /CFS researcher Rich vin Krank
“The only test I know of that does a good job of measuring the tissue cell intracellular magnesium is the Exatest. Red blood cell magnesium level does not reflect tissue cell level well. There is the magnesium challenge test, also, but if the cell are not importing magnesium well, as in ME/CFS, this one won’t be representative, either. The Exatest is offered by Intracellular Diagnostics, Inc., in Medford, Oregon:www.exatest.com. Can your magnesium speaker comment on that?
Thanks
Aisling
Exatest is soooo expensive (hundreds of dollars), so I have a hard time recommending it. Plus an ND or MD has to do the mucus membrane mouth scraping for the test – so you have to pay a doctor’s visit.
Magnesium intake is not “dangerous” in any way so I don’t think you have to have a test before you take magnesium.
For my clients, it’s a way to follow mag saturation. For those on medications it’s a way of showing them that they can’t really increase their levels to optimum when they are on meds.
You can get Magnesium RBC testing for $49.00 and order it yourself through http://www.requestatest.com. Be warned however that the optimum level is 6.0-6.5mg/dL but the range in the magnesium deficient/sick population is 4.2-6.8mg.dL.
Carolyn
Dr. Dean, I found out that Medicare will pay for the Exatest through an email I received from the company. But for us ‘non-medicare’ souls it is around $300+. I did a ‘request a test’ and my number was 5.9 without being on any kind of Mg supplementation. I am also T2 but can control with diet. My daughter’s test came in at 5.5 and her main complaint is pain during periods. My sister came in at 5.1. I would love a talk on how to take Mg and VitD3 and VitK2 together so that the D doesn’t deplete your Mg. My D3 level is 18, my husband 19 (just diagnosed with prostate cancer at 52), so we would like to up our D levels w/o delepleting Mg. Any suggestions?
Hi Karen — I know this is YEARS later, but I too have been on a quest to find out the connections between D3 and K2 particularly as it relates to magnesium.
Did you ever hear back from Dr. Dean in this regard, or find another source for the information?
Many thanks for your response if you’re still out there…:)
Melissa
Hi Trudy & Dr. Dean;
I am a 74 year old male & I have taken total control of my overall Physiology, health & well-being. I’ve been battling cancer on & in my body, as well as several other degenerative conditions since 1997, when I experienced a life threatening “wake-up” call, “the gangrene is getting worse and our only recourse is amputation”. That comment scared the hell out of me, but totally changed my mindset and my lifestyle approach into my health care techniques.
I fired all of my Allopathically trained Doctors, and subsequently began reading every book I could find on NATURAL HEALING MODALITIES, no more “cut, burn, poison” methods for me. I have not stopped asking questions since, and will continue to do so. Also, in support, I’m presently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Science, as well as a Masters degree in Health Science and I do my best to research every thing related to my DNA & Physiology.
That said, due to the inexorably slow & gradual recovery rate, that many of these conditions seem to take, as an example, healing the chronic ulcers and former gangrene, which took several years to resolve; the lymphedema, venous stasis, cellulitis and neuropathy are ongoing difficulties to this day, and a lesion on my right temple which is a benign carcinoma, which manifest in 2008, bleeds almost every day and is now getting dangerously close to that right eye orbit.
My question to either one of you respectfully; Is it possible that my body could be deficient in Mg, due to my daily regimen; An intermittant fasting technique, veggie juicing – once or twice daily, one cooked/steamed meal per day, some nuts and/or seeds per day, several high quality supplements, including chlorella or spirulina some animal protein on occasion, all organic of course? My hydration habits are adequate, 3+ liters per day, I also exercise, manage stress, sleep 8-9 hours. Could the recovery time be age related? Thank You in advance. Ted
Hi Ted
I am sorry to hear what you’ve been through and commend you for changing your mindset and lifestyle.
I’m going to leave the magnesium question to Carolyn but will add my comments. I know Carolyn will likely add to what I have to say.
A few things jump out at me: some animal protein on occasion and one cooked/steamed meal a day. The body needs adequate protein for recovery and you don’t mention other sources of protein;good blood sugar balance is key healing and one meal a day is rather minimal; you may do better with more cooked food, especially nutrient dense and healing bone broths, organ meats and healthy fats like coconut and butter, and possibly fermented foods like sauerkraut.
I wish you more healing each day
Trudy