The Miracle of Magnesium
By Amy Guinther, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. MS
Many who see me professionally know that one of my favorite supplements to recommend is magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that has become depleted in our soils and food supply leading to widespread deficiency.
What does magnesium do? Magnesium is a mineral that is required for 325 enzymatic processes in the body, including the creation of energy by the activation ATP, our fundamental energy storage molecule. Magnesium is nature’s muscle relaxant. When there is excess calcium in the cell and insufficient magnesium, cramping, twitching and spasms occur. Magnesium also helps to transmit nerve impulses to and from the brain and is required to synthesize protein.
Magnesium has been proven to help with numerous health conditions including the following:
1. Anxiety and panic attacks
2. Asthma
3. Blood clots
4. Constipation
5. Cystitis
6. Depression
7. Detoxification
8. Diabetes
9. Fatigue
10. Food cravings, especially carbohydrates, chocolate & salt
11. Heart disease, arrhythmia & palpitations
12. Hypertension
13. Hypoglycemia
14. Insomnia
15. Kidney disease
16. Migraines & headaches
17. Musculoskeletal conditions including: fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramping, chronic neck/back pain
18. Gynecological conditions including: PMS, painful periods, infertility, premature contractions, eclampsia of pregnancy
19. Osteoporosis
20. Reynaud’s syndrome
21. Tooth decay
Unfortunately, many of these conditions are treated using painkillers, diuretics, bronchodilators, insulin, birth control pills, antibiotics or cortisone which further depletes magnesium stores. Interestingly, highly driven individuals who are under chronic stress are also prone to magnesium deficiencies due to the overproduction of adrenaline, which in turn depletes magnesium. Other factors that lead to magnesium deficiency include: excessive exercise, heavy sweating, alcohol &/or caffeine intake, high sugar intake and an imbalanced diet.
60-65% of magnesium is stored in our bones and teeth. The remaining 35-40% is found in the muscle/tissue cells and the body fluids. The highest tissue concentration of magnesium is found in the heart, which is why it can be considered nature’s calcium channel blocker, as well as in the brain.
The balance of calcium and magnesium: Calcium and magnesium are equally important in our body, however at a biochemical level, they work antagonistically and any imbalance can create numerous problems. Magnesium is required to dissolve calcium properly, and without it, you may experience calcium excess conditions like, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia, hardening of the arteries, calcium deposits and kidney stones. In people who are magnesium deficient, they often require a 1:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. If they are severely depleted, they may in fact require more magnesium than calcium, despite common beliefs.
Why are we so magnesium deficient? There are numerous reasons why we all lack adequate magnesium levels. Primarily, our soils have become depleted through modern farming methods using pesticides and herbicides, which has led to poor quality soil and a depleted food supply. In addition, our consumption of calcium containing foods has increased 10 –fold compared to the diets of our prehistoric ancestors, creating even more need for magnesium rich food. Other factors include soil erosion, burning off magnesium from acid rain and increased consumption of magnesium deficient processed food. In addition, the fluoride in our tap water and toothpaste binds with magnesium and makes it unavailable to the body. Compromised stomach and intestinal digestion, either due to aging or chronic antacid use, also leads to magnesium and other nutrient deficiencies. Certain foods can block magnesium absorption such as: tannins in green and black tea, raw spinach/chard, a high grain or protein diet and unfermented soy products (including tofu, soy milk, soy protein powders).
What is necessary to make magnesium work? Both calcium and magnesium are required for the other to work properly. In addition vitamin D is required for the body to utilize magnesium. Vitamin B1 is required for magnesium to enter into the cell to do its work. Selenium helps magnesium to stay inside the cell where it belongs.
What foods increase magnesium? Increase your consumption of green vegetables, nuts, legumes, green beans, seeds, wheat germ, kelp, brewer’s yeast and sea salt. Some herbs that are high in magnesium include, cilantro, burdock root, chickweed, dandelion leaves, dulse and nettles.
What is the best form of magnesium supplements to take? My favorite form of magnesium comes from magnesium glycinate, which has lower gastrointestinal effects. Other good forms include, magnesium taurate (good for cardiovascular problems), magnesium malate (good for fibromyalgia), magnesium citrate, magnesium orotate and topical magnesium oil. Look for the amount of elemental magnesium contained in your product, that is the amount to count towards your daily dosage. Avoid magnesium oxide which is very poorly absorbed (only 4%). Magnesium oil is a great way to replenish the body’s stores of magnesium quickly. According to Norm Shealy MD, a pain management expert, oral supplementation can sometimes take 6-12 months to restore intracellular levels, especially if you experience a laxative effect, but magnesium oil can do it in 4-6 weeks.
Optimal magnesium dosing: Take your first dose of magnesium when you wake up in the morning and the last dose at bedtime. If a third dose is required, take it late in the afternoon. My preferred method of dosing magnesium is to increase by one tablet every 2 days until loose bowels occur. 2-3 soft bowel movements per day is acceptable, but loose diarrhea indicates excess magnesium intake &/or the need to split up the dosage. If after splitting up the dosage to 3-4x/day, if you still experience loose stools you should lower the dose, until your stools become soft rather than loose. If you are unable to reach the level of soft stools, you may have an extreme deficiency and need to use a topical magnesium oil as well. Other rules of thumb in dosage include: 3.0-4.5 mg/lb of body weight per day, which translates to 600-900 mg/day for a 200 pound man. Others recommend slightly higher levels for athletes or those under extreme stress. Your amount needed may also change over time. As your deficiency is eliminated, your total daily dosage may be reduced. Use your bowel consistency as a guide.
To increase absorption: If you suffer from gas and bloating, take your supplement with a digestive enzyme that includes betaine hydrochloric acid. Magnesium can be taken with or without meals, but it is preferable to take it between meals. Magnesium is alkaline, and therefore can act as an antacid and inhibit the digestion of your food if taken with a meal. If loose stools occur, make sure you are not taking all your daily dose at once, rather dividing the dose throughout the day. If you experience diarrhea, split the dose up to 4x/day. If that does not help, then reduce your dosage.
Contraindications for magnesium therapy: Those with kidney failure should avoid magnesium supplementation, as they are unable to clear it from the kidneys properly. People with Myasthenia Gravis should avoid IV magnesium therapy, due to the muscle relaxant properties. People with excessively slow heart rates should avoid magnesium as it can slow the heart even further. People with bowel obstructions should avoid magnesium, as they can not eliminate it properly.
Source: The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean, MD, ND
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Functional Fertility
Functional Fertility: Optimizing Reproductive Health Naturally
By Amy Guinther, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., MS, MBA
Recent statistics show that 1 in 6 couples of childbearing age are experiencing infertility issues. Statistically, female factor accounts for 1/3, male factor accounts for 1/3 and both male and female account for 1/3 of couples struggling. Here at Isthmus Acupuncture Center, LLC we are offering a new service to help people in the area as well as those outside of Madison who are struggling with reproductive issues. After treating hundreds of people in our clinic, we have identified certain functional medicine tests that uncover hidden health issues affecting one’s fertility.
Imbalanced hormones most often result from other systems functioning improperly. We recommend four tests to evaluate important areas affecting reproductive health. Sometimes additional testing is required. These tests allow us to identify:
· Chronic stress and adrenal imbalances
· Specific hormone imbalances
· Pituitary-ovarian miscommunication
· Liver detoxification challenges
· Systemic inflammation due to allergies
· Sensitivities or gastrointestinal assaults
Our goal is to support your reproductive health so you can become pregnant naturally or with western assisted reproductive techniques. Additionally, improving the mother-to-be health promotes healthy and viable pregnancies.
The first round of tests include the following:
· Adrenal Stress Index ($120)
· Gastrointestinal microbial/parasite/fungal panel ($204),
· Expanded Female Hormone Panel ($270) or
· Expanded Male Hormone Panel ($120)
· Gluten sensitivity genetic test ($150)
Our consultation fee, in person or via telephone is $100/hour and supplements required for treatment are an additional charge.
By Amy Guinther, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., MS, MBA
Recent statistics show that 1 in 6 couples of childbearing age are experiencing infertility issues. Statistically, female factor accounts for 1/3, male factor accounts for 1/3 and both male and female account for 1/3 of couples struggling. Here at Isthmus Acupuncture Center, LLC we are offering a new service to help people in the area as well as those outside of Madison who are struggling with reproductive issues. After treating hundreds of people in our clinic, we have identified certain functional medicine tests that uncover hidden health issues affecting one’s fertility.
Imbalanced hormones most often result from other systems functioning improperly. We recommend four tests to evaluate important areas affecting reproductive health. Sometimes additional testing is required. These tests allow us to identify:
· Chronic stress and adrenal imbalances
· Specific hormone imbalances
· Pituitary-ovarian miscommunication
· Liver detoxification challenges
· Systemic inflammation due to allergies
· Sensitivities or gastrointestinal assaults
Our goal is to support your reproductive health so you can become pregnant naturally or with western assisted reproductive techniques. Additionally, improving the mother-to-be health promotes healthy and viable pregnancies.
The first round of tests include the following:
· Adrenal Stress Index ($120)
· Gastrointestinal microbial/parasite/fungal panel ($204),
· Expanded Female Hormone Panel ($270) or
· Expanded Male Hormone Panel ($120)
· Gluten sensitivity genetic test ($150)
Our consultation fee, in person or via telephone is $100/hour and supplements required for treatment are an additional charge.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Organic Acid Testing: A Picture of Cellular Health
By Amy Guinther, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., MS, MBA
Are you feeling a change in your energy levels? Do you find yourself craving sugar or caffeine as an afternoon pick me up? Are you gaining weight or unable to lose weight, despite proper diet and exercise? Are you experiencing anxiety or depression? Have you lost your mojo?
The fact is, there can be numerous reasons for all these complaints. We now offer a great test for screening a variety of complaints, called Organic Acid Testing. It involves collecting a urine sample and examining it for elevated compounds of cellular metabolism. Organic acids are involved in energy production as well as cellular maintenance and repair. This test allows us to see how well your body is functioning at a cellular level. This test identifies vitamin/mineral deficiencies, inhibited metabolism, energy production, impaired enzyme function, gut bacterial overgrowth and exposure to environmental toxins.
Organic acid testing can be great tool to identify the underlying cause of chronic disease and other health related conditions, such as:
• Weight Gain
• Poor Digestion
• Leaky Gut
• Bloating
• Food Allergies
• Autism
• ADHD
• Stress
• Mental Disorders
• Environmental Toxin Exposure
• Chronic Fatigue
• Hypoglycemia
• Weakness
• Hypothyroidism
• Cold Hands/Feet
• Low Energy
Identifying your personal metabolic roadblocks (because it is your urine, right?) allows us to tailor nutrient interventions, maximize effectiveness and efficiently restore your health.
Are you feeling a change in your energy levels? Do you find yourself craving sugar or caffeine as an afternoon pick me up? Are you gaining weight or unable to lose weight, despite proper diet and exercise? Are you experiencing anxiety or depression? Have you lost your mojo?
The fact is, there can be numerous reasons for all these complaints. We now offer a great test for screening a variety of complaints, called Organic Acid Testing. It involves collecting a urine sample and examining it for elevated compounds of cellular metabolism. Organic acids are involved in energy production as well as cellular maintenance and repair. This test allows us to see how well your body is functioning at a cellular level. This test identifies vitamin/mineral deficiencies, inhibited metabolism, energy production, impaired enzyme function, gut bacterial overgrowth and exposure to environmental toxins.
Organic acid testing can be great tool to identify the underlying cause of chronic disease and other health related conditions, such as:
• Weight Gain
• Poor Digestion
• Leaky Gut
• Bloating
• Food Allergies
• Autism
• ADHD
• Stress
• Mental Disorders
• Environmental Toxin Exposure
• Chronic Fatigue
• Hypoglycemia
• Weakness
• Hypothyroidism
• Cold Hands/Feet
• Low Energy
Identifying your personal metabolic roadblocks (because it is your urine, right?) allows us to tailor nutrient interventions, maximize effectiveness and efficiently restore your health.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
What's In Your Cart?
With the warm weather in the air, I am anticipating the fresh local food that comes along with the change in season. I can already taste the asparagus and morels as spring produces her first culinary treats. The ability to buy fresh local fare reminds me how important it is to eat with the seasons, and to always eat fresh food. Sometimes Feburary and March get pretty bleak and expensive as far as produce goes. The warm weather brings hope of blossoming gardens, farmers markets, and CSA’s (community supported agriculture).
Fresh produce becomes more abundant and more affordable in the warm weather. The difference between frozen vegetables and fresh vegetables is night and day. Fresh vegetables are more nutritious for you and taste better. Buying local fresh fare also supports the local economy. We get one chance at honoring our bodies and enjoying what is already around us. One expression of self love is choosing healthy nutritious food that has been handled with care and slowly grown in an organic environment. Being mindful of the food you choose and the people you buy it from further strengthens our connection to the community and earth.
I always thought that I was a healthy eater, but in my early twenties, I noticed I was choosing food that was organic, but processed just as much as any non-organic food item. I looked at my cart and it was full of beautifully designed boxes and cans, but not a lot of fresh veggies or fruit. I slowly started to change this trend. It was inconvenient and took more time, so I admit, I cheated a lot. But the more aware I became of my body and my health, the more I realized that cheating wasn’t really worth it anymore. I was usually left feeling bloated and had low energy. The cleaner my body became, the cleaner she demanded my diet become.
Despite the resistance and battle I put up, my health won. My body had to do a lot to get my attention, but in the end, with all the trouble and time included, it has been worth it. Now I can put about anything together and make a decent meal on a whim. It’s been 10 years that I have been cooking for myself and people no longer fear receiving a meal from me- they actually look forward to it. My mum even trusts me to bring a few dishes to family gatherings from time to time (this is saying a lot if you know my mum).
Now when I look in my cart, it looks like a beautiful array of vegetables, colorful ripe fruit, fresh herbs and sprouts along with heaping bags of nu ts, seeds and many other odds and ends. I knew I had made great strides when a new friend of mine opened my fridge and said “It looks like you are growing a garden in here,” and all I had to say was “Thank you.” So, I have two questions for you: What does your fridge look like? And, what’s in your cart?
Chandon Williams CA, CMT, CH
Fresh produce becomes more abundant and more affordable in the warm weather. The difference between frozen vegetables and fresh vegetables is night and day. Fresh vegetables are more nutritious for you and taste better. Buying local fresh fare also supports the local economy. We get one chance at honoring our bodies and enjoying what is already around us. One expression of self love is choosing healthy nutritious food that has been handled with care and slowly grown in an organic environment. Being mindful of the food you choose and the people you buy it from further strengthens our connection to the community and earth.
I always thought that I was a healthy eater, but in my early twenties, I noticed I was choosing food that was organic, but processed just as much as any non-organic food item. I looked at my cart and it was full of beautifully designed boxes and cans, but not a lot of fresh veggies or fruit. I slowly started to change this trend. It was inconvenient and took more time, so I admit, I cheated a lot. But the more aware I became of my body and my health, the more I realized that cheating wasn’t really worth it anymore. I was usually left feeling bloated and had low energy. The cleaner my body became, the cleaner she demanded my diet become.
Despite the resistance and battle I put up, my health won. My body had to do a lot to get my attention, but in the end, with all the trouble and time included, it has been worth it. Now I can put about anything together and make a decent meal on a whim. It’s been 10 years that I have been cooking for myself and people no longer fear receiving a meal from me- they actually look forward to it. My mum even trusts me to bring a few dishes to family gatherings from time to time (this is saying a lot if you know my mum).
Now when I look in my cart, it looks like a beautiful array of vegetables, colorful ripe fruit, fresh herbs and sprouts along with heaping bags of nu ts, seeds and many other odds and ends. I knew I had made great strides when a new friend of mine opened my fridge and said “It looks like you are growing a garden in here,” and all I had to say was “Thank you.” So, I have two questions for you: What does your fridge look like? And, what’s in your cart?
Chandon Williams CA, CMT, CH
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Essential Oils Built for You
What makes us different at Isthmus Acupuncture is that we are always striving to incorporate new modalities to help our patients reach their wellness goals. The latest editions are functional medicine and use of essential oils. We will explain functional medicine more in depth in a future blog. So, let’s talk about essential oils for now.
As an acupuncturist and massage therapist, I love to use essential oils in conjunction with treatments for two reasons. The first is that the treatments hold longer and my patients are reporting better results. The second is the bioavailability of the oils. Because essential oils are directly absorbed through the skin, they bypass the digestive system, and affect the body right away. People with compromised digestive health experience the greatest benefits and see immediate results because the oils do no require digestion the way herbs and supplements do.
Here at Isthmus Acupuncture, we developed a specialized system to check the oils with each individual to ensure selected oils will benefit you the most. Essential oils can reduce both physical and emotional complaints. Essential oils are made from the volatile oils of the plants, which contain the highest therapeutic properties of the plant or herb. Emotionally, the oils work great because they vibrate to the same frequency as our emotions. If we are feeling low, we can apply oils to raise our frequency, by raising our vibration and improving our mood. We carry many different options at Isthmus Acupuncture for physical and emotional issues. We can also custom blend oils specifically for you if indicated. Check with your provider to see what oils can benefit you today!
-Chandon Williams, CA, CMT, CH
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Isthmus Acupuncture Now Blogs
I decided to start this blog the same way I start my days, with an affirmation of gratitude. "Today will be a day of completion, miracles will follow miracles and wonders shall never cease. I give thanks for this perfect day. I am thankful for new communication tools and new ways to share information with like-minded individuals."
I would like to share with everyone some tricks I have learned that made my life easier and more fulfilling. I refer to these three items as my keys to success.
First of all, WANT is a four letter word. Want implies an unfulfilled desire and our subconscious cannot distinguish the difference in the energy vibration of this unfulfilled desire verses actually desiring to fulfill a need, wish or goal. When we use the term want in our daily conversation our subconscious continues to think that which we want we want to keep as an unfulfilled desire. Instead of want I use "would like" or "will have" in my conversation. Once I made this shift, I found myself achieving my goals with ease and fewer obstacles along my path.
Second, I use the affirmation "I have learned the lesson of _______, and do not need to repeat it again" every time I notice recurring problems in my life. Prior to using this affirmation, I would find myself often confronted with repeating problems in relationships or other areas of my life. When a friend saw me struggling in relationships she shared this with me. I affirmed "I have learned the lesson of choosing appropriate partners, and do not need to repeat it again." The next man I seriously dated turned out to be my husband who I've been happily married to since 2004. Note I did casually date (without painfully bad relationships) for a couple of years until I met him.
Third, the subconscious plays a significant role in obtaining goals. The subconscious is our inner child that stays with us as we age. So when manifesting or obtaining goals it is best to have inner dialogue and thoughts that please our inner child. Children like to be praised, play and be silly. It is best to use techniques like manifesting boards using pictures, meditations that would appeal to children and daily affirmations of gratitude for those goals you are looking to obtain.
I hope you find these tricks in life as powerful keys to success as I have.
I would like to share with everyone some tricks I have learned that made my life easier and more fulfilling. I refer to these three items as my keys to success.
First of all, WANT is a four letter word. Want implies an unfulfilled desire and our subconscious cannot distinguish the difference in the energy vibration of this unfulfilled desire verses actually desiring to fulfill a need, wish or goal. When we use the term want in our daily conversation our subconscious continues to think that which we want we want to keep as an unfulfilled desire. Instead of want I use "would like" or "will have" in my conversation. Once I made this shift, I found myself achieving my goals with ease and fewer obstacles along my path.
Second, I use the affirmation "I have learned the lesson of _______, and do not need to repeat it again" every time I notice recurring problems in my life. Prior to using this affirmation, I would find myself often confronted with repeating problems in relationships or other areas of my life. When a friend saw me struggling in relationships she shared this with me. I affirmed "I have learned the lesson of choosing appropriate partners, and do not need to repeat it again." The next man I seriously dated turned out to be my husband who I've been happily married to since 2004. Note I did casually date (without painfully bad relationships) for a couple of years until I met him.
Third, the subconscious plays a significant role in obtaining goals. The subconscious is our inner child that stays with us as we age. So when manifesting or obtaining goals it is best to have inner dialogue and thoughts that please our inner child. Children like to be praised, play and be silly. It is best to use techniques like manifesting boards using pictures, meditations that would appeal to children and daily affirmations of gratitude for those goals you are looking to obtain.
I hope you find these tricks in life as powerful keys to success as I have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
