Magnesium applied through the skin may ease MND symptoms
The availability of this therapy may provide welcome relief to sufferers of this progressive neurodegenerative condition.
MND refers to a group of incurable diseases that attack the motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord.
Deterioration of these cells lead to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility and stiffness or cramps in the limbs and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing.
Magnesium has been identified as playing a crucial role in helping to relieve muscle tension and cramping.
Low magnesium levels have also been reported in individuals suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS). These disorders have chronic pain as a common symptom.
At a cellular level magnesium allows the body to cleanse itself of disruptive heavy metals. A body replete with magnesium will be stronger, more relaxed and better able to resist stress.
Spray and soak
The BetterYou Magnesium Oil Original spray and BetterYou Magnesium Oil Original Soak are products that both contain a saturated solution of 31% magnesium chloride mined from the Zechstein sea deposits in Northern Holland.
“A few body sprays after a shower of our Magnesium Oil Original spray or a magnesium rich bath in our Magnesium Flakes could give some relief for those experiencing stiffness or cramps as part of their condition,” said Andrew Thomas, founder and managing director at BetterYou.
“The BetterYou range of transdermal magnesium supplements allow the body to absorb the mineral directly into the bloodstream, avoiding the digestive system. This enables larger doses to be taken by absorbing through the skins dermal layers.”
Recent guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) outlined the need to manage MND symptoms, including weakness in muscles and stiffness and cramps in the limbs.
Magnesium is usually obtained from an individual’s diet and is found in such food as dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit and dark chocolate.
Magnesium study focus
A trial by US researchers highlighted the mineral’s role in immunoregulation, whereby magnesium plays a critical regulatory role in NF-κB activation, cytokine production, and disease pathogenesis.
Likewise, a review attempted to summarise experimental findings that showed magnesium’s influence in modulating cellular events involved in inflammation.
BetterYou are now sponsoring a clinical study into transdermal magnesium therapy looking into its effectiveness on correcting low serum magnesium level in patients with small bowel stoma.
Working with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and led by Dr Jeremy Nightingale, the team believe patients with a small bowel stoma (which diverts faeces or urine into a pouch on the outside of the body) often have sodium, water and magnesium depletion.
“Low serum magnesium may require correction by either giving magnesium tablets through the mouth (which is known to be poorly absorbed) or through a needle passed under the skin or into a vein,” said Thomas.
“Magnesium absorbed through the skin, with no recognised side-effects, allows potential serum maintenance without the inconvenience and burden to patients of regular parenteral magnesium administration.”
