Research Magnesium

[Powder]

I have personally noticed a correlation between taking magnesium supplements and a change in my most disturbing PTSD symptoms, namely flashbacks, esophageal spasms, and armoring.

It is now being studied for memory and hippocampal volume and plasticity. Therefore, since that part of the brain is reputedly smaller in volume in chronic PTSD sufferers, it is being studied for PTSD.

In my experience, taking Magnesium leads to a Healing Crisis in Repressed Memories and releases pent up flashbacks. This might be "healing" but it's not a fun ride, to say the least.

Magnesium does seem to help release pent up armoring and body tension, as well as muscle cramps and spasms.

I like to get mine from whole foods, but taking the supplements does have a larger effect for me.

I'll be watching the research occasionally.

Here's what I found today:

A reviewer of several supplements on an online retailer: Link Removed

An info-mercial from a seller of the latest, MIT engineered form of magnesium for maximum brain change, magnesium-L-threonate, : http://www.lifeextension.com/magazi...m-compound-reverses-neurodegeneration/page-01

I plan to get some of this when I run out of my current magnesium supplements. Since a faulty memory is a typical stress response for me that interferes with my work and functioning, I think that if it helps with that aspect, it is worth the pay off in self-esteem or self-efficacy.

I welcome other information or opinion on the use of magnesium here, so please add your findings, and with thanks!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I have used magnesium in the past but didn't have noticeable effects as you have experienced.

I'm currently experimenting with amino acids which have greatly helped me.

I'm glad you posted this as more and more I'm seeing links to nutritional deficiencies in relation to increased symptoms.

Big pharma pushes drugs on us, but how many of us would truly find benefit from a natural supplement? I know that if I can improve as much as I have with the addition of non-essential amino acids to my diet, then I know there must be others out there who also have similar issues as mine. I think it's a shame that these natural avenues are largely sidelined by the psychological community. (I am largely "drug resistant" and now I'm finally starting to understand why.)

I hope that others start to look more deeply into these natural healing avenues. I know they aren't a cure all, but I have no doubt that improved nutrition with possible supplements could provide relief to many.

 

[Chava]

I don't notice it helping my pain or spasms much, or relaxing me, but I know it can't hurt. Helps with regular digestion.

 

[joeylittle]

Just check out where else you are getting magnesium from. Magnesium lowers blood pressure, and in excess can actually do some damage. So check your diet, look up some numbers, and make sure you're in the safe zone.

 

[Powder]

I'm pre-hypertension, even on anti-hypertensive drugs for my PTSD. Consuming more calcium, potassium and magnesium will lower Blood Pressure in 14 days even without removal of sodium from the diet. (Source)

Most people's diet is too high in sodium, beyond what is typically considered toxic. On the other hand, the diet is only 50% of what it should be for magnesium, calcium, and potassium.

It's true that moderating these elements is healthy, and some meds strip some minerals out of the body.

With PTSD, Stress hormones strip out Magnesium, and taking excess magnesium usually just results in the body's removing it as a laxative. I'm more concerned with being chronically low, and my memory is not getting better until I take magnesium regularly.

I suggest it as used regularly but not daily if much greens and veg are eaten. So if I consume spinach and a leafy greens and kale in the day, I don't take it because I already have eaten it. :)

 

[ihateusernames]

Interesting to think about. It's hard to say whether magnesium has had any effect on me. I have to take magnesium and calcium along with my vitamin D. The D by itself makes me really sick and I have to take it due to a deficiency that's slowly creeping back up toward normal. I've been taking all of them since the beginning of this year and have added a B complex over the past month. I've also been a wreck this year. But that's what preceded discovering the deficiency and starting the supplements so-- I couldn't accurately attribute anything to the magnesium itself. But who knows. Maybe.

Although I will add- I have been having a different kind of anxiety attack since I started them. I lose my breath and can't get enough air. It feels like I would imagine an asthma attack to be like. I even went and got tested for asthma. I was sure that's what it was. (It wasn't.) I don't know if that has any connection to any of the supplements or not, but I had never had it happen that badly before.

 

[Powder]

@ihateusernames I've had a similar anxiety attack that was like an asthma attack. It was about the same time period of a near drowning trauma. So in my case, I believe it is a type of flashback to the feelings of the trauma.

I do think that magnesium is a cathartic element, meaning that it brings things to the surface to catharsis. I'm not sure, but it's a hypothesis.

 

[joeylittle]

So if I consume spinach and a leafy greens and kale in the day, I don't take it because I already have eaten it

Yep, I think this is my bias - I usually have about 5 cups of leafy greens a day. I think there's more like a general concern, because people who start using supplements are often people who have also done a "lets get healthy" diet change, meaning they seriously up their vegetables, and double-dose with stuff meant to make up for the fact we don't generally get enough fresh green food. :banghead:

Sounds like you have it under control, tho, @Muse :)

 

[seedling]

I've been using the transdermal magnesium chloride in the lotion form. I used it regularly (2x daily) for about a year and use it occasionally now (3x a week). I found it put a stop to my twitchy legs at night that had been getting worse and worse after the onset of PTSD.
I usually had diarrhea with the pill forms so the lotion is great.

I use it on my husband as he stands at work and used to have terrible leg cramps during the night or in the early morning. They are rare now and if they come I rub on the magnesium lotion and apply the hot water bottle and they ease off right away.

 

[Powder]

You can soak in epsom salts that contain magnesium; I don't know how much is absorbed transdermally though. Maybe just enough to alleviate some muscle spasm. I haven't read up on that.