Magnesium: The Critical Mineral Nutrient Modern Medicine Ignores

Magnesium is rarely talked about in medicine. 

This is inexplicable to us, because its importance in the human body, and especially normal neurochemical function, is undeniably obvious. 

Magnesium interacts with neurons in an extremely important way. It suppresses their activation and signal transmission. It does this by plugging up a ion channel in the wall of the neuron, preventing it from initiating the electrical signal. And it does this in a very specific way, from the outside of the cell. 

These ion channels are called NMDA receptors, and are extremely large proteins which means they are very expensive for the neuron to produce. Since they require massive biochemical investment they are assets that last for a long time inside neuron cell membranes - on the order of many years. Without being renewed on a regular basis they can become damaged by oxidation, and be less able to bind to magnesium present outside the cell and reset the neuron to the inactive, relaxed state.  

If there isn't enough ionic magnesium outside neurons, your nervous system becomes hyperactive and too sensitive to what is otherwise normal stimulation. Inappropriate nervous system activation results in issues with sleeping, muscle spasm and tension, cramps, excessive stress and chronic pain. 

Replenishing the magnesium that exists in the spaces outside and in between cells - in the extracellular space - is not easy to do. Given the way chemistry works, the best option is to increase the local magnesium concentration as much as possible. It's nearly impossible to achieve this via diet, because magnesium levels must increase throughout your body and do so in a relatively consistent and even way, meaning you have to consume, and absorb, a massive amount of magnesium. Then it has to be transported by your blood everywhere, then it has to migrate out of the blood vessels and into the extracellular spaces. It's a problem that is very slow to resolve since it's driven by concentration gradients and relies on passive diffusion. 

A better solution to dietary magnesium supplementation when local inappropriate nervous system activation (pain, spasm, etc) is problematic, is local treatment. You can apply the magnesium to the spots that hurt and boost local magnesium stores using a product like our quality magnesium creams (with CBD or without). When magnesium absorbs through the skin, it goes directly into local tissues and blood vessels, and can elevate the local concentration where you need it. The response is faster and requires less magnesium. 

Our magnesium creams are also excellent for general relaxation and massage. Take some to your massage therapist the next time you go.  

Read about the significant benefit of dual-action MG+CBD here.