What is magnesium effective for?

In part 1, I introduced what magnesium is used for the body and what foods its found in.  But with magnesium supplements being “trendy” right now, what are they effective for:

  • Constipation. Taking magnesium by mouth is helpful as a laxative for constipation and to prepare the bowel for medical procedures.
  • Indigestion. Taking magnesium by mouth as an antacid reduces symptoms of heartburn. Various magnesium compounds can be used, but magnesium hydroxide seems to work the fastest.
  • Magnesium deficiency. Taking magnesium is helpful for treating and preventing magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency usually occurs when people have liver disorders, heart failure, vomiting or diarrhea, kidney dysfunction, and other conditions.
  • High blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia). Administering magnesium intravenously (by IV) or as a shot is considered the treatment of choice for reducing high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia) and for treating eclampsia, which includes the development of seizures. Research suggests that administering magnesium reduces the risk of seizures.

If you remember in my introduction I mentioned I took magnesium for PMS, I found it to be effective however medical science considers it “likely to be effective” i.e. it has not been compeletely proven.  I suspect I found it effective because I used to get strong period related cramps and magnesium is a well known muscle relaxant.

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