NESIUU.
by Carolyn Dean, M.D., ND
lend itself to easy measurement. Only i percent of the body's
magnesium is found in the blood stream, where it is main-
tained at a certain precise level. Therefore, an ordinary serum
blood test is unable to give even a rough estimate of the total
body magnesium. If magnesium is depleted from the blood due
to physical or emotional stresses, magnesium is immediately
grabbed from the bones and muscles to make up for the loss.
A debit at these sites results in muscle spasms, angina, osteo-
porosis and many other magnesium deficiency symptoms that
I will describe later. If dietary or supplemental magnesium isn't
forthcoming to replace magnesium losses, more symptoms de-
velop. So, in spite of a true deficiency a magnesium blood test
can still appear normal. This explains why medicine seems to
ignore magnesium and is not aware that almost 80 percent of
the population is deficient in magnesium.
Since a magnesium blood test is not an accurate way to
determine deficiency, how do you find out if you need to take
magnesium as a supplement? In The Magnesium Miracle I
listed all the possible symptoms and conditions associated
with magnesium deficiency. Muscle spasms, leg cramps, rest-
less legs, insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure, angina, and
heart palpitations came easily to mind, but even I was surprised
when I easily tallied 100 factors that identify the body's need
for more magnesium. Unfortunately, since doctors don't learn
about magnesium deficiency in medical school, all 100 factors
32 TOTALHEALTH Volume 29, No. 1
can go unrecognized and are usually treated with inappropriate
medicationsfurther compounding the problem.
How does magnesium accomplish its widespread activities?
It's all about the enzymes. Magnesium is involved with over
350 metabolic enzymes in the body making it indispensable as
a cofactor in the following crucial processes:
Temperature regulation
Producing and transporting energy
*/ Synthesizing protein
Transmitting nerve signals in the brain and throughout
the body
Relaxing musclesincluding bowel, heart, blood
vessels, fallopian tube, and skeletal muscles
Manufacturing bones and teeth
Detoxifying heavy metals including mercu^
t/ Neutralizing acidity in the blood from poor diet
and chemical toxicity
Digesting lipids and balancing cholesterol levels
Creating neurotransmitters like serotonin
Another question that many clients ask, "If we can't measure
magnesium levels how do we know what to take and how much to
take?" I tell people to do their own "clinical trial" of magnesium.
Since magnesium has a very low toxicity potential I suggest that
people can take it and see if their symptoms improve. The differ-
ent types of magnesium are very important. I don't recommend
magnesium oxide because we have recently learned that it's only
4 percent is absorbed, so most of it goes through the intestines
and can cause a laxative effect. That may be beneficial for people
who are constipated but you aren't going to absorb enough mag-
nesium for your enzymes to do their work.
The most common form of magnesium to take is magne-
sium citrate^the powdered forms are the best absorbed,
the capsules are next, then tablets. If you have a laxative
effect with magnesium citrate, you can use magnesium
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 've
you as broad a view a
grim picture of magn

glycinate, magnesium taurate, mag- 1. Alcohol intakemore than 7 drinks 36. Medicationstaking
per week a. Digitalis
nesium malate, or magnesium di-
2. Anger b. Diuretics
malate. The dosage of the elemental c. Antibiotics
3. Angina
magnesium, as listed on the label, is 4. Apathy d. Steroids
about lOO mg three or four times a 5. Arrhythmia of the heart e. Oral contraceptives
day. For example, a 500 mg capsule 6. Asthma f Indomethacin
7. Anxiety g. Cisplatin
of magnesium citrate will only give
8. Blood tests h. Amphotericin B
you about 100 mg of magnesium. i. Cholestyramine
a. Low calcium
If you suffer from loose bowel b. Low potassium j . Synthetic estrogens
movements as people with IBS-di- c. Low magnesium 37. Memory impairment
arrhea do, then you can avoid oral 9. Bowel problems 38. Menstrual pain and cramps
a. Undigested fat in stool 39. Migraines
magnesium and use magnesium oil,
b. Constipation 40. Mineral supplements
which is supersaturated magnesium a. Take calcium without magnesium
c. Diarrhea
chloride. This can be sprayed on the d. Alternating constipation and b. Take zinc without magnesium
skin and absorbed in sufficient quan- diarrhea c. Take iron without magnesium
tities to build up tissue levels of mag- e. IBS 41. Mitral valve prolapse
f Crohn's 42. Muscle cramps or spasms
nesium in the body. Dr. Norm Shealy
g. Colitis 43. Muscle twitching or tics
has done magnesium oil studies 44. Muscle weakness
10. Brain trauma
finding that absorption through the 11. Bronchitischronic 45. Numbness of hands or feet
skin helps promote normal levels of 12. Caffeinecoffee, tea, chocolate 46. Osteoporosis
DHEAin thebody. more than three servings per day 47. Paranoia
13. Chronic fatigue syndrome 48. Parathyroid hyperactivity
All in all, magnesium is the miracle
14. Cold extremities 49. PMS
that many people need to help jump 15. Concentration poor 50. Polycystic ovarian disease
start their energy and their health, i l ; 16. Confusion 51. Pregnancy
17. Convulsions a. Currently pregnant
18. Constipated b. Pregnant within one year
19. Depression c. History of preeclampsia or
20. Diabetes eclampsia
Carolyn Dean is both a niedical doctor a. Type I d. Post partum depression
and naturopathic doctor who assists in- b. Type II e. Cerebral palsy child
dividuals with all types of illness at any c. Gestational diabetes 52. Raynaud's syndrome
stage or severity. Dr. Dean specializes 21. Fibromyalgia 53. Radiation therapyrecent
22. Food intake: 54. Restlessness
in managing and healing often misdi-
a. Limited in green, leafy vegetables, 55. Sexual energy diminished
agnosed and chronic conditions such seeds, and fresh fruit 56. Shortness of breath
as digestive problems, hormone imbal- b. High protein 57. Smoking
ance, recurring infection, irritable bowel 23. Food cravings: 58. Startled easilyby noise
syndrome, widespread inflammation, a. Carbohydrates 59. Stressful life or circumstances
b. Chocolate 60. Stroke
allergies, anxiety, fibromyalgia, mood
c. Salt 61. Sugarhigh intake daily
swings, chronic fatigue syndrome, fluid 62. Syndrome X
d. Junk food
retention, lost vitality, and many other 24. Gagging or choking on food 63. Thyroid hyperactivity
conditions that often remain unresolved. 25. Headaches 64. Tingling of" hands or feet
Dr. Dean has been in the forefront of 26. Heart disease 65. Transplants
27. Heartrapid rate a. Kidney
health issues for twenty-eight years. Dr.
28. High blood pressure b. Liver
Dean has authored twelve books and is 66. Tremor of the hands
29. HomocysteinuriS
proficient in both conventional and al- 30. Hyperactivity 67. Water that contains:
ternative medicine. Dr. Dean offers Con- 31. Hyperventilation a. Fluoride
sultations for Health by Phone. Her Web 32. Infertility b. Chlorine
33. Insomnia c. Calcium
site is wvw/.carolyndean.com.
34. Irritability 68. Wheezing
35. Kidney stones

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