Sore Muscles, Headaches, Anxiousness, and Sleeplessness

What do these things have in common? Lack of magnesium. Symptoms of magnesium depletion include stress, fatigue, low energy, inability to sleep, muscle tension, spasms and cramps, anxiousness and nervousness, irritability, headaches, weakness, PMS, hormone imbalances, weakening bones, abnormal heart rhythm, and constipation. If you suffer from several of these, you might want to consider a daily magnesium supplement.

Most magnesium is stored in your cells, not in your blood, so blood tests aren’t really a helpful measure for this deficiency. I am sure you have experienced doing hard work and then feeling the achy muscles that follow. Some of that is caused by the body using up that stored magnesium in those muscles. Stress also will burn up a lot of magnesium from the body’s stores, so make sure to supplement more magnesium during times of stress or intense labor/work out.

Heart palpitations may also be caused by lack of magnesium, the heart is a muscle after all and the body likes to store magnesium in the muscles. One of the first things they will give you in the emergency room with heart palpitations is an IV of magnesium. Been working out in the hot sun and now feeling weak? Electrolytes including magnesium and minerals are important to be replenished to keep the body balanced.

One of my favorite forms of magnesium is CALM by Natural Vitality. It is a powder, which is mixed into water and then will fizz up. Best taken about an hour before bed, this will help with sleep. Magnesium relaxes the muscles and the mind from thinking too much. Ah yes…relax and be calm! This same company has come out with CALM Gummies that are delicious and wonderful for children too. I also like the CALM Magnesium Cream to rub directly on those hurting muscles. My daughter used this cream to relieve the horrible backache she had after her open heart surgery. The cream is another great thing to use with kids, try it for those “growing pains” or terrible leg/foot cramps.

Many people like the “glycinate” form of magnesium. It works well and is recommended often by doctors for women’s cramping and PMS issues. The glycinate form is a bit easier on the bowels and so can be taken in higher doses. Typically magnesium oxide is helpful for constipation, but some forms may be too harsh for those prone to diarrhea or IBS. Glycinate or malate forms may be helpful in these situations.

Another product which includes magnesium that I always keep in my purse is Formula 303. It is a homeopathic preparation which means that it has very little chance of side effects or interactions with medications. Formula 303 contains magnesium, valerian, and passion flower. I use it for headaches, achy muscles, or to help me relax when stressed and to help me sleep. This one I always take with me when I travel.

Stop by the store to try a sample and to discuss with me which product might be the best for your needs. Too much yard work or exercise? We have safe options for pain relief!

10 Ways to Detox Your Life

1.     Drink more water! “The solution to pollution is dilution”, Steven Horne. I like to add Cell Food to my water: which adds enzymes, minerals, and amino acids to help bring balance to the body and help to increase detoxification activity.

2.     Liquid Chlorophyll (Nature’s Sunshine) – Chlorophyll is the blood of the plant, providing concentrated nutrition. Usually from alfalfa which grows deep into the ground, absorbing the minerals found there, such as iron. Chlorophyll is both cleansing and building for the body.

3.     Chlorella (also Nori and Wakame seaweed) – consuming chlorella resulted in a significant reduction of dioxin levels in breast milk in a study of Japanese women. Chlorella has the potential to absorb heavy metals and has been used to reduce lead and mercury.

4.     Cilantro enhances mercury excretion following dental amalgam removal and decreases lead absorption in the bones of animals. Use cilantro any time you have been exposed to heavy metals.

5.     Probiotics restore the damaged environment in the intestines, facilitating excretion of toxicants, replacing them with healthy flora.

6.     NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine) enhance mobilization of toxicants from tissue storage sites and increased their rate of elimination. It also reduced and removed arsenic form the organs. Glutathione (in absorbable forms) facilitates the movement of toxins from fat storage.

7.     Bentonite clay and activated charcoal decreases the re-uptake of toxicants in the body by absorbing them and assisting their removal through the lower bowel. Use these any time you feel that you may have been poisoned.

8.     Eat plenty of Fiber! Fiber in the diet helps to keep the bowels clean and reduces absorption of toxins into the body. Psyllium is also a natural lipase inhibitor, which decreases the absorption of fat - and the toxins stored therein - into the body.

9.     Essential Oils which have been traditionally used to detoxify the body include: lemon, grapefruit, and peppermint. I love doTerra’s Zendocrine blend too.

10.   Herbs that have been traditionally used to detoxify the body include: aloe, buckthorn, bugleweed, burdock root, capsicum, cascara sagrada, cilantro,dandelion root, ginger, licorice, marshmallow, milk thistle, Oregon grape, red clover, sarsaparilla, turkey rhubarb, and yellow dock.

Consider including some of these into your daily lifestyle to improve the detoxifying of your body. We are exposed to multiple toxins daily, so we need to be aware and active in removing them from our lives as much as possible. Please stop into the shop to discuss with me some of the detox possibilities we have available, or call for an appointment to create a plan of action to meet your goals. I would love to partner with you as your health coach!