Metals such as iron, copper and magnesium are vital to proper human nutrition. The normal sources of these metals are from the food we eat and water we drink because we can absorb them directly as they would often be poisonous. We have the take the mineral in another form that is safer by chemically bonding a molecule of the mineral to another substance which can be dissolved in water and can be available when digested. A common way is to produce a salt.

A salt is a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal. Therefore the action of sulphuric acid on magnesium produces magnesium sulphate and the action of citric acid on magnesium produces magnesium citrate. There are a whole host of different salts than be made by using different acids.

Therefore: magnesium sulphate is also known as sulphuric acid magnesium salt and magnesium citrate as citric acid magnesium salt.

A carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid; a chlorate is a salt of chloric acid, etc.

This is a list of some magnesium based minerals and their medical purpose administered is the appropriate dose:

• Magnesium carbonate which is an antacid.
• Magnesium chloride, an electrolyte replenisher and for removing waste products such as potassium and urea, as well as free water from the blood when the kidneys are incapable of this; called peritoneal dialysis.
• Magnesium citrate is a saline laxative used for bowel evacuation before diagnostic procedures or surgery of the colon.
• Magnesium hydroxide is an antacid and laxative.
• Magnesium oxide an antacid and laxative; also used to prevent hypomagnesemia (Low magnesium).
• Magnesium sulphate or Epsom salt is an anticonvulsant and electrolyte replenisher, also used as a laxative and local anti-inflammatory.
• Magnesium trisilicate is a compound of magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide with varying proportions of water; an antacid.

You can’t just view these forms of magnesium as just being magnesium they are unique chemical compounds in their own right and cause different effects. How much is taken at any one time; the dose also has an important influence. So taking a pinch of Epsom salts in a fruit juice will help to top-up a deficiency in magnesium but a tablespoon or more will cause diarrhoea and possible loss of electrolytes including magnesium. There is a tipping point for each mineral depending upon an individual’s tolerance and metabolism.

In smaller doses as health supplement the following uses are recommended.

• Antihypomagnesemic (To prevent low magnesium symptoms) - Magnesium Chloride; Magnesium Citrate; Magnesium Gluceptate; Magnesium Gluconate; Magnesium Hydroxide; Magnesium Lactate; Magnesium Oxide; Magnesium Pidolate; Magnesium Sulfate
• Electrolyte replenisher—Magnesium Chloride; Magnesium Sulfate
• Nutritional supplement, mineral - Magnesium Chloride; Magnesium Citrate; Magnesium Gluceptate; Magnesium Gluconate; Magnesium Hydroxide; Magnesium Lactate; Magnesium Oxide; Magnesium Pidolate; Magnesium Sulfate

By taking sufficient magnesium in the correct amount it can a useful supplement but take to much and the opposite is true. Doubling the dose doesn’t make you feel twice as healthy. The same may be true for the high purgative doses taken during liver flushing. One form of magnesium has replenishing side affect while the other may cause some dehydration.

Magnesium sulphate in ointments increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling which is caused by prolonged immersion water. I know than bathing in magnesium sulphate is very relaxing and makes the skin feel silky smooth.

Our intake of magnesium has declined because modern processed, nutritionally deficient food is 80% deficient in the mineral. It is alleged that up to 72% of women and 42% of men get less then the recommended level of magnesium. Magnesium is the fourth most commont mineral in the body with about 50% found in the bones. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs.

Our growth in knowledge indicates that magnesium is important for hormones such as insulin, thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, Also important for neurotransmitters like dopamine, catecholamines, serotonin, etc. It is magnesium that controls the fate of potassium and calcium in the body. If magnesium is insufficient potassium and calcium will be.