The Importance of Magnesium

​Why does my Massage Therapist always remind me to take an Epsom salt bath?
 
Baths with Epsom salts are relaxing but there are more benefits to the Epsom salts. Epsom salts are packed with Magnesium and magnesium offers us many health benefits.
 
Did you know that it is estimated that over 80% of North Americans are magnesium deficient? Magnesium is an essential mineral used by every organ in your body. Magnesium is also necessary for activating muscles and nerves, creating energy in your body, digesting proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and serves as a building block for RNA and DNA synthesis, and also acts as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin.
 
Magnesium deficiency triggers or causes the following conditions:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Asthma
Blood clots
Bowel disease
Cystitis
Depression
Detoxification
Diabetes
Fatigue
Heart disease
Hypertension
Hypoglycemia
Insomnia
Kidney disease
Nerve problems
Osteoporosis
Migraines
Musculoskeletal conditions – fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramps, chronic neck and back pain
Raynaud’s syndrome ​Tooth decay
 
These are just some conditions caused by magnesium deficiency. An Epsom salt bath is a great way to absorb magnesium since the skin is the largest organ of the body that allows for quick absorption.
Using Magnesium oil is an alternative for skin absorption. I often treat my clients with magnesium oil. The magnesium oil, accompanied with massage helps to increase relaxation, loosen knots, ease spasm, treats sports injury, increases muscle recovery and adds to your daily dose of magnesium.
With that being said, remember to have your Epsom salt bath after your massage therapy and be generous with the amount of salts that you add to your bath. Having an Epsom salt bath after your massage will help to increase your relaxation, further decrease muscle tension and provide your body with some Magnesium.
 
Shawna Klein RMT