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Heartburn (acid reflux)

Heartburn (acid reflux)

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Detoxing, Gut Wellness, HEALTH, Pain and Inflammation

A burning pain or discomfort that is often felt in the upper/mid-chest/stomach area behind the breastbone. The burning sensation can often be felt rising up the throat. The discomfort may worsen when lying down.
Heartburn is often brought on when hydrochloric acid (the acid used by the stomach to digest food) enters the esophagus. The sensitive tissue of the esophagus is burned and irritated by the acid causing burning, pain, and discomfort.

Here are the common symptoms associated with heartburn or acid reflux:

1. A burning pain or discomfort in the chest behind the breastbone or throat after eating.
2. A sour or salty taste in the back of the throat.
3. Difficulty swallowing.
4. Feeling bloated, or needing to burp.
5. Nausea.

Treatments:

The following may assist with heartburn symptoms:
1. Drinking a large glass of water immediately after feeling an attack come on may help.
2. Mix 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and sip during meals (do not drink other beverages during meal times).
3. Have your meals at least 3 hours before bedtime.
4. Lying on the left side may relieve heartburn as the stomach is below the esophagus, also elevating the upper body on pillows may assist.
5. Dietary changes

NOTE: Over-the-counter antacids may provide quick relief however prolonged use may be masking an underlying condition. Since many antacids contain large amounts of sodium, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium taking these every day can lead to dangerous mineral imbalances. If you are taking antacids more than three times a week consult a medical professional.

Zeolite (aka Clino ultrafine) Powder by Bio-Sil

Zeolite (aka Clino ultrafine) Powder by Bio-Sil

*Removes poisons and toxins  *alkalizes the body  *healthy gut  *helps improve mood  *master detoxifier  *protection from harmful microbes  *strengthens immune system

This natural Zeolite, Clinoptilolite, was discovered to assist in removing toxic metal toxins through urination without depleting the body’s store of essential electrolytes. These studies are extremely encouraging, because they suggest Zeolites can help with alleviating accumulated toxic metals. The benefits of Zeolite have been known in the medical community for many years. They have been used for blood purification. Zeolite supplements have been used to detox the body of lead and also known to fight diarrhea and harmful organisms.

Bio-Sil’s Zeolite is a pharmaceutical grade, micronized (0.06 microns) powder of the highest quality and has no taste or odor which makes supplementing for you and your pets so easy! COA available upon request. Add to smoothies, fruit drinks and pets’ wet foods, e.g. tuna.

Nutrients and supplements:

1. Acid remedy – We have formulated Acid Remedy using all-natural herbs that help to balance your pH so that you will be in a position of better health. Not only does it assist with acid reflux and the consequent heartburn but it also helps to balance your bodily pH.
2. Bicarbonate of soda – helps neutralize the stomach acid that is generated during the digestive process and helps in the breakdown of certain enzymes.
3. MSM – helps to relieve hyperacidity without disrupting the acid-alkaline balance. MSM is able to decrease the severity of ethanol/HCl-induced gastric mucosal injury through inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation.
4. Digestive enzymes – are required for the proper digestion of food.
5. Probiotics – probiotic use can be beneficial for GERD and heartburn symptoms and to replace friendly bacteria in the stomach.
6. Vitamin B Complex – is required for proper digestion
7. Coral calcium – calcium magnesium has an alkalising effect that aids in binding up stomach acid.

Causes:

Several factors may be implicated with heartburn:
1. A defective esophageal sphincter muscle can cause stomach acid to slip into the esophagus.
2. When the esophageal sphincter muscle pressure is reduced as a result of alcohol, drugs, and smoking.
3. The volume of the stomach is increased after large meals.
4. Laying down or bending over after a meal thus allowing stomach acid into the esophagus.
5. Having a hiatal hernia.
6. Pregnancy and obesity may increase gastric pressure
7. Diet: eating certain foods may cause heartburn
8. Asprin and ibuprofen may cause heatburn
9. Pregnant women or women who are on birth control pills are more likely to suffer from heartburn since estrogens can weaken the esophageal hiatus muscle.

Underlying Emotions:

There may be feelings of fear, dread, prolonged uncertainty, and anxiety when suffering from heartburn

Those suffering from stomach problems may lack the capacity to cope consciously with annoyances or their own aggressive urges.

Diet:

1. Eating fresh pineapple or papaya with meals will assist with digestion

2. Avoid meat, alcohol, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, salty foods, coffee, caffeine, sugar, carbonated drinks, peppermint, spearmint, onions, chocolate, processed food, citrus fruits, acidic fruit juices, and tomato

3. Eat smaller meals, chew the food well, and eat more slowly

Article Source Link: https://natra-heal.co.za/heartburn-acid-reflux/ 

Cluster Headaches

Cluster Headaches

by | Feb 17, 2025 | MAGNESIUM, Self-Improvement

Cluster headaches are an excruciatingly painful type of headache that occurs in cyclical patterns or clusters. They are relatively rare but often considered one of the most severe types of headaches. These headaches typically come in groups or clusters, often lasting weeks or months, followed by periods of remission when the headaches cease.

Key characteristics of cluster headaches include:

1. Intensity: They’re known for their intense, severe pain. Many describe it as a stabbing or piercing pain, often localized behind or around one eye, although it can radiate to other areas of the face, head, or neck.

2. Duration: Cluster headaches are relatively short-lived compared to migraines, typically lasting between 15 minutes to three hours, but they can occur multiple times a day, sometimes up to eight times.

3. Frequency: During a cluster period, individuals might experience these headaches daily or almost daily, often at the same time of day or night. The headache attacks can be so predictable that they’ve earned the nickname “alarm clock headaches” because they sometimes wake people up at the same time every night.

4. Associated symptoms: They’re often accompanied by other symptoms such as tearing, redness or swelling in the eye, nasal congestion or runny nose on the affected side (referred to as “autonomic symptoms”), and restlessness or agitation.Cluster headaches are characterized by several distinct symptoms, and they often follow a pattern of recurring attacks during a specific period. 

Here are the typical symptoms associated with cluster headaches:

1. Severe Pain: The primary symptom is intense, excruciating, stabbing, or piercing pain, often described as a sharp, burning sensation. It’s usually unilateral, located around or behind one eye or in the temple, although it can radiate to other areas of the head, face, or neck.

2. Duration: Cluster headaches tend to be relatively short-lived but extremely intense. They typically last between 15 minutes to 3 hours, with most attacks averaging around 30-45 minutes.

3. Frequency: During a cluster period, individuals may experience multiple attacks per day, often at the same time every day or night. They can occur daily or nearly daily for several weeks or months, followed by a remission period when the headaches cease.

4. Autonomic Symptoms: Many people with cluster headaches experience additional symptoms on the affected side of the head, such as:
i. Redness or swelling in the eye.
ii. Excessive tearing (tearing from the affected eye).
iii. Drooping eyelid (ptosis).
iv. Constricted or dilated pupil.
v. Runny or congested nostril on the same side as the headache.

5. Restlessness or Agitation: During an attack, individuals may exhibit signs of restlessness, pacing, or agitation. They might find it challenging to sit still due to the severe pain.

6. Timing: Cluster headaches often follow a circadian rhythm, occurring at predictable times, which has earned them the nickname “alarm clock headaches” because they can awaken individuals from sleep at the same time each night.The treatment of cluster headaches aims to alleviate pain during acute attacks and to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks. 

Here are some common treatments and management strategies for cluster headaches:

1. Acute Attack Relief:
High-flow Oxygen Therapy: Inhaling 100% oxygen through a mask at a high flow rate can often provide rapid relief during an acute cluster headache attack.

2. Triptans: Sumatriptan injections, nasal sprays, or subcutaneous injections of other triptans are effective in stopping individual attacks by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation.

3. Local Anesthetics: Lidocaine nasal spray or drops may be used to alleviate the pain associated with cluster headaches.

4. Occipital Nerve Stimulation: For individuals who do not respond well to medications, occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) may be considered. This involves the implantation of a device that delivers electrical impulses to the occipital nerves to relieve pain.

5. Lifestyle and Behavioral Changes:
i. Avoiding Triggers: Identifying and avoiding triggers such as alcohol, strong odors, or certain foods might help reduce the frequency of attacks.
ii. Maintaining a Regular Sleep Schedule: Consistent sleep patterns can sometimes help in managing cluster headaches.

6. Alternative Therapies:
i. Melatonin: Some individuals find relief by taking melatonin supplements to regulate sleep patterns.
ii. Acupuncture, Biofeedback, and Meditation: These complementary therapies might help some individuals manage pain and reduce stress, potentially impacting the frequency or severity of cluster headaches.

 

Nutrients and supplements:

1. Magnesium – Some studies suggest that magnesium supplementation may help reduce the frequency and severity of cluster headaches. It’s believed to have a role in nerve function and might have a mild preventive effect.

2. Vitamin D – Deficiencies in vitamin D have been linked to various health issues, and some individuals with cluster headaches might have low levels. Supplementation may be considered if blood tests indicate a deficiency.

3. Melatonin -This hormone plays a role in regulating sleep patterns. Some people with cluster headaches find that melatonin supplements help in managing their sleep cycle, potentially reducing the frequency of attacks.

4. Omega-3s – have anti-inflammatory properties and might support overall health. Some individuals find that fish oil supplements or foods rich in omega-3s can have a positive impact on their headaches.

5. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – This compound is involved in energy production within cells and has antioxidant properties. While evidence is limited, some people with cluster headaches report a reduction in the frequency or severity of attacks with CoQ10 supplementation.

6. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2 – Some studies suggest that riboflavin supplementation may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines, but its efficacy for cluster headaches specifically is less clear.

7. Headache caps – for relief from mild to moderate pain. Headaches, flu, and fever pain as well as toothache.

8. Chronic pain – for pain that has been present for long periods of time.

9. White willow bark – contains salicin and therefore is the original aspirin. It is called the pain herb and traditionally it is used for headache, allergies, nerve pain, joint pain, backache, inflammation, fevers, neuralgia, gout, rheumatism, arthritic and menstrual pain. Acts as an analgesic for kidney, bladder and urethra irritations. 

Several factors are thought to contribute to the onset of cluster headaches:

1. Hypothalamus Dysfunction: There’s evidence suggesting that the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates the body’s biological clock and various autonomic functions, might play a role in triggering cluster headaches. Changes in the hypothalamus’s activity during a cluster period could influence the timing and intensity of attacks.

2. Trigeminal Nerve Activation: The trigeminal nerve, responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions, is believed to play a significant role. Activation or irritation of this nerve is thought to cause the intense pain associated with cluster headaches.

3. Vascular Changes: Changes in blood flow and dilation or constriction of blood vessels in the brain might contribute to the onset of cluster headaches. However, it’s still not fully understood whether these changes are a cause or a result of the headache.

4. Hormonal Changes: Some individuals experience changes in hormone levels during a cluster period, suggesting a potential hormonal influence on headache patterns. However, the exact role of hormones in cluster headaches is not entirely clear.

5. Genetic Predisposition: There might be a genetic component to cluster headaches. They sometimes run in families, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition or susceptibility.

6. Triggers and Environmental Factors: Certain triggers, such as alcohol, specific foods, strong odors, or changes in sleep patterns, might provoke or worsen cluster headaches in susceptible individuals. Environmental factors can sometimes play a role in triggering headache episodes. For cluster headaches, there isn’t a specific diet that’s universally recommended to prevent or treat the condition. However, certain dietary strategies might help manage symptoms and potentially reduce the frequency or severity of attacks for some individuals.

Here are some general dietary considerations:

Hydration: Staying well-hydrated is important. Dehydration can trigger headaches in some people, so drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day is advised.

Avoid Triggers: While specific trigger foods can vary among individuals, some common triggers for headaches include alcohol (especially red wine), certain aged or fermented foods, nitrate-rich foods (like processed meats), and foods containing MSG (monosodium glutamate). Keeping a food diary to track potential triggers might be helpful.

Maintain Regular Eating Patterns: Skipping meals or fasting can sometimes trigger headaches. Eating regular, balanced meals and snacks throughout the day may help maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent attacks.

Consider Nutritional Supplements: As mentioned earlier, some supplements like magnesium, vitamin D, or omega-3 fatty acids might have a role in managing headaches for some individuals. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplements.

Limit Caffeine: While some people find that caffeine can alleviate headaches, others might experience rebound headaches or increased sensitivity. Moderating caffeine intake or avoiding it during a cluster period might be beneficial for some individuals.

Healthy, Balanced Diet: Aim for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This type of diet provides essential nutrients and supports overall health, potentially impacting the frequency or severity of headaches.

It’s essential to remember that dietary changes might not have a significant impact on cluster headaches for everyone. The triggers and effects of food can vary widely among individuals, so what works for one person might not work for another. Keeping a detailed headache diary that includes information about diet, lifestyle, and headache patterns can be valuable in identifying potential triggers.

Article Source Link: https://natra-heal.co.za/cluster-headaches/ 

TOP 10 Signs & Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

TOP 10 Signs & Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

by | Dec 10, 2024 | Gut Wellness, MAGNESIUM, Self-Improvement

Katie Wells Avatar
Katie Wells

Reading Time: 7 minutes

This post contains affiliate links.

Magnesium deficiency is a widespread problem and some estimates suggest that over 90% of us are deficient. I’ve been writing about magnesium for years, but am even more concerned about this problem lately.

Why Is Magnesium Such a Big Deal?

Magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body and impacts blood pressure, metabolism, immune function, and many other aspects of health.

Some experts claim that magnesium deficiency is the single largest health problem in our world today. 

Why Is Magnesium Deficiency So Widespread?

There are many reasons that deficiency is so widespread in modern times (even though it wasn’t in the past).

Depleted soil conditions mean that plants (and meat from animals that feed on these plants) are lower in magnesium. Use of chemicals like fluoride and chlorine in the water supply make magnesium less available in water since these chemicals can bind to magnesium.

Common substances that many of us consume daily, like caffeine and sugar, also deplete the body’s magnesium levels…

So does stress.

In other words, the lucky (but small) percentage of the population that lives near the ocean (a good source of magnesium) and eats foods grown in magnesium-rich soil, drinks magnesium-rich water, and doesn’t suffer from stress or consume sugar or caffeine might be ok… but the rest of us might need some additional magnesium.

You Might Be Magnesium Deficient If…

Risk factors for low magnesium vary, but here are some clues that you might need more magnesium:

  1. You’re a sugar addict. (Quick, read this!…)
  2. You take calcium supplements.
  3. You drink soda and other sugary drinks.
  4. You suspect or have been diagnosed with celiac disease or other digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease.
  5. You consume a lot of processed foods and conventional dairy.
  6. You have a water softener or city water.
  7. You have Type 2 diabetes.
  8. You avoid green vegetables, leafy greens, and other magnesium-containing foods.
  9. You are an older adult, and/or take certain prescription medications.
  10. You eat food grown in depleted soils. (Uh, pretty much everyone!)

If you fall in any of these categories, read on!

Calcium = Fuel on the Fire

From my research, I’m convinced that excess calcium is a large part of this magnesium deficiency epidemic and that it contributes to so many health issues.

Here’s why…

While we don’t get enough magnesium, many of us get too much calcium. Calcium is added to many processed foods, dairy or dairy alternatives, and even orange juice.

When calcium levels in the body become too high, calcification can occur. Common sense, but there’s one big reason why this happens…

  • Each cell in the body has a sodium/potassium pump that regulates the balance of minerals inside and outside the cells.
  • Magnesium deficiency keeps this pump from working correctly. With too much calcium, the ratios are skewed, and the pump allows too much calcium into the cells. When there is too little magnesium, even more calcium is allowed into the cells.

Many nutrients come into play in the calcification equation, like vitamins K and D,  but the biggest factor for over-calcification is lack of magnesium.

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

Due to the importance of the proper calcium/magnesium ratio in the body and the function of the sodium/potassium pump, magnesium deficiency can lead to:

1. Calcification of the Arteries

Though this is not (hopefully) the first symptom of magnesium deficiency, it can be one of the most dangerous.

Calcification of arteries from low magnesium levels can lead to coronary problems like heart attack, heart failure, and heart disease.

Magnesium’s ability to prevent over-calcification is one reason why the Framingham Health Study found that consuming enough magnesium correlated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease.

In fact, half of all heart attack patients receive injections of magnesium chloride to help stop the blood clotting and calcification.

2. Muscle Spasms and Cramps

This was my most noticeable symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Just as calcification causes stiffening of the arteries, it can cause stiffening of muscle tissue as well, leading to cramps and spasms.

I had horrible leg cramps during one of my pregnancies. Potassium didn’t help at all, but magnesium fixed the problem almost instantly (which makes sense in light of the sodium/potassium pump).

Interestingly, muscle weakness caused by low potassium levels is linked to low magnesium (as explained in this American Family Physicians report) and adequate levels of one helps the other.

3. Anxiety & Depression

There is a lot of research showing that magnesium deficiency can have a tremendous impact on mental health.Psychology Today explains one possible reason:

Magnesium hangs out in the synapse between two neurons along with calcium and glutamate. If you recall, calcium and glutamate are excitatory, and in excess, toxic (link is external). They activate the NMDA receptor. Magnesium can sit on the NMDA receptor without activating it, like a guard at the gate. Therefore, if we are deficient in magnesium, there’s no guard. Calcium and glutamate can activate the receptor like there is no tomorrow. In the long term, this damages the neurons, eventually leading to cell death. In the brain, that is not an easy situation to reverse or remedy.

For me, more magnesium means fewer “mommy is stressed” moments with my kids…

4. High Blood Pressure/Hypertension

This is perhaps one of the most well-studied areas of magnesium deficiency. A Harvard study of over 70,000 people found that those with the highest magnesium intake had the healthiest blood pressure numbers.

A follow-up meta-analysis of available studies showed a dose-dependent reduction of blood pressure with magnesium supplementation.

A University of Minnesota study showed that the risk for hypertension was 70% lower in women with adequate/high magnesium levels.

5. Hormone Problems

I personally saw the effects of low magnesium in my hormone levels. The higher the estrogen or progesterone levels in a woman’s body, the lower the magnesium (pregnancy anyone?)

This is also part of the reason why pregnant women experience more leg cramps and women notice more of these muscular type complaints and PMS in the second half of their cycles when progesterone/estrogen are tanking and magnesium is depleted.

Muscle cramps related to the menstrual cycle can also be related to magnesium levels. Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of the book The Magnesium Miracle, often recommends that women with bad PMS and cramps take magnesium early in their cycles before the symptoms begin.

6. Pregnancy Complaints

Related to the hormone problems above, magnesium levels can drastically affect pregnancy health and mood. I noticed this I had tremendously less morning sickness during pregnancy when I supplemented with transdermal magnesium.

Magnesium is also often used to help with pregnancy-related hypertension and muscle cramps, to help ward off preterm labor and to alleviate headaches.

I personally always stuck to transdermal magnesium during pregnancy since it didn’t cause digestive disturbances, at least until I found the brand of oral supplement I now take (see below for both).

7. Sleep Problems

With all of the above symptoms of deficiency, it makes sense that magnesium would have a drastic impact on sleep, but the impact is often immediately noticeable when a person starts taking magnesium.

Dr. Mark Hyman calls it the ultimate relaxation mineral. Magnesium helps relax the body and the mind, which both contribute to restful sleep.

Additionally, magnesium is needed for proper function of the GABA receptors in the brain, and GABA is the neurotransmitter that allows the brain to transition to a restful state.

8. Low Energy

Magnesium is required in the reactions that create ATP energy in the cells.

Let’s flashback to freshman biology for a minute. ATP or adenosine triphosphate is the main source of energy in the cells and it must bind to a magnesium ion in order to be active.

In other words, without magnesium, you literally won’t have energy on a cellular level. This shows up as fatigue, low energy, lack of drive, and other problems.

9. Bone Health

Calcium is always considered the most important mineral for bone health, but it turns out that magnesium is just as important (or even more so!)

In cases of magnesium deficiency, the bones suffer in multiple ways:

  • Vitamin D Absorption: Magnesium is needed for vitamin D to turn on calcium absorption. This is why it is also important to get enough magnesium when taking vitamin D (or magnesium levels can become even more depleted.)
  • Proper Calcium Use: Magnesium is needed to stimulate the hormone calcitonin which draws calcium out of the muscles and soft tissues and into the bones. This helps explain why magnesium helps lower the risk of heart attack, osteoporosis, arthritis, and kidney stones.

10. Other Mineral Deficiencies

Many vitamins and minerals work synergistically and magnesium is a workhorse on this list. It is needed for proper utilization of calcium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin D, and many other nutrients.

By using magnesium externally, or transdermally (meaning “across the skin”) the body can absorb what is needed without absorbing to much. It is similar to soaking in an Epsom salt bath or in the ocean.

Unlocking the Secrets of Calcium and Magnesium: Your Path to Optimal Health!

Magnesium Deficiency: The Solution

Though the symptoms seem ominous, magnesium deficiency is actually a relatively simple deficiency for the body to resolve with the right form of magnesium.

Many of the magnesium supplements on the market are pills or solutions taken internally. These can be effective, but can also cause digestive disturbances or stress the kidneys.

Also, experts estimate that magnesium absorption in the digestive system ranges from 20-55%, depending on the source, meaning that half or more of the magnesium leaves the body as waste.

Current research shows that a combination of oral magnesium (if the right form) and topical magnesium is best for boosting low levels.

Oral Magnesium Supplement

This magnesium supplement is one of my favorites and as it is clinically proven to have a high rate of absorption (85%) and a slow-release delivery. It’s formulated to minimize digestive upset and also contains B vitamins.

Dietary Sources of Magnesium

Other real-food dietary sources of magnesium include:

  • dark chocolate (this is one reason we women often crave it)
  • nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin seeds and almonds (soak first if possible)
  • avocados
  • bananas (hmm, I’ll pass)
  • leafy greens such as spinach and chard
  • see below for more ideas!

Topical Magnesium Oil

My other secret weapon is topical magnesium. (I share what it did for me in this podcast episode.)

A solution of magnesium can be sprayed on the skin and the body can absorb what is needed at a much faster rate. The magnesium moves directly into the blood and tissues, replenishing the body’s needed magnesium stores more quickly and bypassing the kidneys.

I’ve shared my recipe for homemade magnesium oil (topical magnesium) and you can also try this Magnesium Lotion.

What I Do

I now use this transdermal magnesium each day and use it on my children. Dr. Mark Hyman of the Cleveland Clinic recommends up to 1,000 mg/day for adults and 4-500 mg/day for kids. We get this amount using the magnesium spray all over our bodies each night before bed.

In addition, I take some type of oral magnesium (Jigsaw Health is also a great option here) and try to consume magnesium-rich foods from organic sources with good soil quality.

For additional information, I shared this short podcast episode on magnesium with additional information.

Unlocking Vitality with Magnesium Spray | Maryke's Incredible Transformation

Do you ever struggle with any of these symptoms? Ever tried magnesium to help it out?

Do you have any of these signs of low magnesium? Do you think these tips will help?

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Terry Wahls, a clinical professor of medicine and clinical research and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, posters, and papers. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Sources
  1. Aarhus University. (2013, October 4). Research reveals the mechanism of the sodium-potassium pump. ScienceDaily.
  2. Shea MK, Holden RM. Vitamin K status and vascular calcification: evidence from observational and clinical studies. Adv Nutr. 2012;3(2):158-65.
  3. Hruby A et al., Magnesium intake is inversely associated with coronary artery calcification: the Framingham Heart Study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014;7(1):59-69.
  4. Sun Ha Jee, et al., The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. American Journal of Hypertension 2012;15(8):691–696.
  5. Zofková I, Kancheva RL. The relationship between magnesium and calciotropic hormones. Magnes Res. 1995;8(1):77-84.
  6. Rude RK, Olerich M. Magnesium deficiency: possible role in osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Osteoporos Int. 1996;6(6):453-61.
Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Sulfur – Insulin – Diabetes, Dr. Sircus Explains

Sulfur – Insulin – Diabetes, Dr. Sircus Explains

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Affiliate, Detoxing, Gut Wellness, Self-Improvement, SULFAR, INSULIN, DIABETES

Heavy metals like mercury, uranium, and lead attack sensitive sulfur bonds. The science of mercury toxicity shows us that mercurials are highly attracted to sulfhydryls or thiols. 

The mercury atom or molecule will tend to bind with any molecule present that has sulfur or a sulfur-hydrogen combination in its structure. 

A thiol is any organic compound containing a univalent radical called a sulfhydryl, identified by the symbol SH (sulfur-hydrogen).

Sulfur – Insulin – Diabetes

Published on August 9, 2024

Insulin’s functionality is significantly influenced by its structural integrity, which is maintained by disulfide bonds

Heavy metals clog up receptor sites, break and bend sulfur bonds in important enzymes like insulin, damage the DNA, and in
general muck up everything to do with healthy biological life.

The most common mode of breakdown is the sulfur-sulfur bonds. Organic sulfur is an acid-forming mineral that is part of the chemical structure of the amino acids methionine, cysteine, taurine, and glutathione.

Insulin has three sulfur-containing cross-linkages, and the insulin receptor has a tyrosine kinase-containing sulfur bond, which are the preferred targets for binding by both mercury and lead. Should mercury attach to one of these three sulfur bonds, it will interfere with the insulin molecule’s normal biological function.

Insulin’s functionality is significantly influenced by its structural integrity, which disulfide bonds maintain. The relationship between insulin and sulfur bonds primarily involves the biochemical interactions affecting insulin signaling and function, particularly in diabetes and metabolic health.

Disulfide bonds are primarily responsible for the strength and shape of proteins. Since sulfur bonds are required for proteins to maintain their shape, and these bonds determine the biological activity of the proteins, we can see why sulfur is critical for health and life itself.

Thiol poisons, especially mercury, and its compounds, reacting with SH groups of proteins lead to the lowered activity of various enzymes containing sulfhydryl groups. This produces a series of disruptions in the functional activity of many organs and tissues of the organism’.

Professor I.M. Trakhtenberg

Sulfur is required for the proper structure and biological activity of enzymes. If you don’t have sufficient amounts of sulfur, the enzymes cannot function properly. This can cascade into many health problems since, without biologically active enzymes, your metabolic processes cannot function properly.

Insulin and Sulfur Bonds

  1. Insulin Structure: Insulin is a peptide hormone composed of two chains (A and B) linked by disulfide bonds. These bonds are crucial for maintaining the three-dimensional structure of the insulin molecule, which is essential for its biological activity.
  2. Disulfide Bonds: Disulfide bonds are covalent links formed between the sulfur atoms of cysteine residues in proteins. In insulin, these bonds stabilize the hormone’s structure, allowing it to effectively bind to insulin receptors on cell surfaces and facilitate glucose uptake.
  3. Role in Diabetes: Proper formation and maintenance of disulfide bonds in insulin are vital for its function. Misfolded or improperly linked insulin can lead to reduced effectiveness, which is particularly relevant in diabetes management. Research indicates that oxidative stress can disrupt these bonds, potentially contributing to insulin resistance.

Dr. Budwig fed terminal cancer patients a mixture of cottage cheese skim and flaxseed oil. The Budwig diet and the Gerson Therapy diet are two leading anticancer diets. The badly needed sulfur protein L-methionine is found in cottage cheese. L-methionine is the essential amino acid responsible for breaking down omega-3 fatty acids. Sulfur is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates. Sulfur is required for proper assimilation of the alpha amino acids methionine and cysteine.

The National Cancer Institute found that individuals who ate the most allium vegetables (red onions, scallions, garlic, chives and leeks) had a nearly 50% lower cancer risk than those who ate the least. That page on the Cancer Institute has disappeared by one can find similar information here. (This is the first of three essays on sulfur, the next will be on sulfur and cancer and the third will be a general overview.)

The National Cancer Institute found that individuals who ate the most allium vegetables (red onions, scallions, garlic, chives and leeks) had a nearly 50% lower cancer risk than those who ate the least. A large-scale epidemiological Iowa Women’s Health Study looked at the garlic consumption in 41,000 middle-aged women. Results showed that women who regularly consumed garlic had 35% lower risk of developing colon cancer. In another study greater intake of allium vegetables (more than 10 g per day vs. less than 2.2 g per day) was associated with an approximately 50% reduction in prostate cancer risk.

The Hun Hordes of Mercury and Diabetes

An intense illustration of the Battle of the White Horse, featuring soldiers engaged in fierce combat on a rugged terrain

Mercury is an essential subject because mercury contamination causes disease. If one does not understand the Hun Hordes of Mercury story, one cannot truly understand diabetes. On August 1st of, 2006, the American Chemical Society published research that showed conclusively that Methylmercury Induces Pancreatic Cell Apoptosis and Dysfunction.[i] Mercury is a well-known toxic agent that produces various types of cell and tissue damage. Yet, governmental health agencies diminish this fact, exposing hundreds of millions of people to levels of mercury harmful to pancreatic health.

Diabetes, Chemical, Heavy Metal, and Radioactive Poisoning.  Few in the world of medicine see that diabetes results from poisoning. In volume 18 of Clinical Toxicology in 1981,[ii]there was a write-up about suicide attempts using rat poisoning where all four cases showed hyperglycemia and ketosis. The authors concluded that ingestion of rodenticide could cause diabetes mellitus after they noticed that the onset of diabetes mellitus varied within a very short time after swallowing the poison – only 4 to 7 days.

Medical science avoids telling doctors how sensitive the insulin receptor sites are to chemical poisoning. Patients treated with the atypical antipsychotic agents clozapine and olanzapine are showing increased risk for insulin resistance, according to a study published in the January 2005 issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journal.[iii] The American Diabetes Association warned people to watch for signs they are developing diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol if they take Abilify, Clozaril, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel, and Zyprexa.[iv]

Researchers were baffled by the increased incidence of diabetes in Appalachia. In West Virginia, the only state entirely in Appalachia, 1 in 10 people aged 18 and older were told by a doctor that they had diabetes in 2002. Dr. Robert B. Walker of Marshall, noting that West Virginia’s incidence of diabetes is 41 percent above the national average, said, “No disease stresses rural West Virginia families and health providers more than diabetes.”[v]

Up and down the eastern part of the United States, we find high levels of mercury. No one in mainstream medicine is taking into account the intensifying increase in background mercury contamination of fish, water, air, soil, and foods or calculating the hundreds of trillions of mercury atoms and molecules absorbed directly each day, day after day, year after year through having gram weight quantities placed directly in the mouth as dental amalgam.

Forms of Sulfur

Organic sulfur, MSM, DMSO, and lipid sulfur are the primary sources of sulfur for medical use. The lipid format allows rapid absorption and superior bioavailability. Each one-drop serving of Lipid Sulfur contains 500 mcg of sulfur.

Chelation of Mercury

 For a decade and a half, Dr. Boyd Haley, renowned former chairman of Kentucky University’s chemistry department, has warned us about mercury contamination. Haley’s chelator NBMI is astonishing and should be near the top of protocols for diabetes, cancer, and neurological patients (think autism, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease) and for anyone who has had mercury fillings in their mouths as well as for those who live downwind of coal plants, town incinerators, and crematoriums. NBMI reaches the blood-brain barrier and pulls heavy metals out of the brain, bones, and other tissues.

Magnesium and Insulin

Low levels of magnesium can, therefore, impede reactions of many enzymes related to glucose metabolism as well as insulin receptor function through increased microviscosity of the plasma membrane, thus decreasing insulin sensitivity.

Magnesium is essential for improving insulin resistance and is inversely associated with triglycerides, body mass index, and inflammation markers. Magnesium is necessary for both the action of insulin and the manufacture of insulin.

In a study from Taiwan, the risk of dying
from diabetes was inversely proportional to the level of magnesium in the drinking water.

Dr. Jerry L. Nadler

[i] Ya Wen Chen, Chun Fa Huang, Keh Sung Tsai, Rong Sen Yang, Cheng Chieh Yen, Ching Yao Yang,# Shoei Yn Lin-Shiau, and Shing Hwa Liu. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 19 (8), 1080 -1085, 2006. Institute of Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, and Department of Orthopaedics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, and Departments of Traumatology, Surgery, and Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan

[ii] Gallanosa, AG, Spyker DA, Curnow, RT. Clinical Toxicology, Vol 18. No.4, pages 441-449, 20 references, 1981 Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Autonomic and Peripheral Neuropathy After Vacor Rodenticide Poisoning: A review

[iii] Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62: 19 – 28.

[iv] Journal Diabetes Care. February 2004

[v] http://musom.marshall.edu/frontlinks/marshall-walterreed.htm

Article credit link: https://drsircus.com/magnesium/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-diagnosis/ 

Dr. Mark SircusAC., OMD, DM (P)

Professor of Natural Oncology, Da Vinci Institute of Holistic Medicine
Doctor of Oriental and Pastoral Medicine
Founder of Natural Allopathic Medicine

If you don’t have Magnesium in your house, get some today!

If you don’t have Magnesium in your house, get some today!

by | Nov 7, 2024 | Detoxing, Gut Wellness, MAGNESIUM, Self-Improvement, Vitamins and Minerals

Magnesium deficiency is a cause and essential treatment for cancer that oncologists completely overlook.  Magnesium is a serious cancer medicine because it stabilizes ATP and allows for DNA and RNA transcriptions and repairs. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to be carcinogenic, and in the case of solid tumors, a high level of supplemented magnesium inhibits carcinogenesis. Magnesium repletion has been shown to produce rapid disappearances of periosteal tumors.

Watch Dr. Sircus talk about Magnesium and how important it is for your body here.  

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms and Diagnosis

Published on December 8, 2009

Magnesium Thirst Magnesium Hunger;

We thirst for magnesium rich water.

Magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed because it does not show up in blood tests – only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in the blood.

Most doctors and laboratories don’t even include magnesium status in routine blood tests. Thus, most doctors don’t know when their patients are deficient in magnesium, even though studies show that the majority of Americans are deficient in magnesium. Consider Dr. Norman Shealy’s statements, “Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency” and that, “magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient.” The truth he states exposes a gapping hole in modern medicine that explains a good deal about iatrogenic death and disease. Because magnesium deficiency is largely overlooked, millions of Americans suffer needlessly or are having their symptoms treated with expensive drugs when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation. 

One has to recognize the signs of magnesium thirst or hunger on their own since allopathic medicine is lost in this regard. It is really something much more subtle then hunger or thirst but it is comparable. In a world though where doctors and patients alike do not even pay attention to thirst and important issues of hydration it is not hopeful that we will find many recognizing and paying attention to magnesium thirst and hunger which is a dramatic way of expressing the concept of magnesium deficiency.

 Few people are aware of the enormous role magnesium plays in our bodies. Magnesium is by far the most important mineral in the body, After oxygen, water, and basic food, magnesium may be the most important element needed by our bodies, vitally important yet hardly known. It is more important than calcium, potassium or sodium and regulates all three of them. Millions suffer daily from magnesium deficiency without even knowing it

In fact there happens to be a relationship between what we perceive as thirst and deficiencies in electrolytes. I remember a person asking, “Why am I dehydrated and thirsty when I drink so much water?” Thirst can mean not only lack of water but it can also mean that one is not getting enough nutrients and electrolytes. Magnesium, Potassium, Bicarbonate, Chloride and Sodium are some principle examples and that is one of the reasons magnesium chloride is so useful.

You know all those years when doctors used to tell their patients its all in your heads were years the medical profession was showing its ignorance. It is a torment to be magnesium deficient on one level or another. Even if it’s for the enthusiastic sport person whose athletic performance is down magnesium deficiency will disturb sleep and background stress levels and a host of other things that reflect on the quality of life. Doctors have not been using the appropriate test for magnesium – their serum blood tests just distort their perceptions. Magnesium has been off their radar screens through the decades that magnesium deficiencies have snowballed.

A man with magnesium deficiency
Magnesium Torment (Deficiency)

 Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

The first symptoms of deficiency can be subtle – as most magnesium is stored in the tissues, leg cramps, foot pain, or muscle ‘twitches’ can be the first sign. Other early signs of deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. As magnesium deficiency worsens, numbness, tingling, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur.

A full outline of magnesium deficiency was beautifully presented in a recent article by Dr. Sidney Baker. “Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction. Also, one may experience chest tightness or a peculiar sensation that he can’t take a deep breath. Sometimes a person may sigh a lot.”

“Symptoms involving impaired contraction of smooth muscles include constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear.”

“Other symptoms and signs of magnesium deficiency, in terms of how it affects the central nervous system, include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such vibratory sensations.”

“Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse. Be aware that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency; but, many of them often occur together. For example, people with mitral valve prolapse frequently have palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks and premenstrual symptoms. People with magnesium deficiency often seem to be “uptight.” Other general symptoms include a salt craving, both carbohydrate craving and carbohydrate intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness.”

Magnesium is needed by every cell in the body including those of the brain and is one of the most important minerals when considering supplementation because of its vital role in hundreds of enzyme systems and functions related to reactions in cell metabolism, as well as being essential for the synthesis of proteins, for the utilization of fats and carbohydrates. Magnesium is needed not only for the production of specific detoxification enzymes but is also important for energy production related to cell detoxification. A magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every system of the body.

Water rich in magnesium can prevent magnesium deficiency
Like water we need magnesium everyday. There is an eternal need for magnesium as well as water and when magnesium is present in water life and health are enhanced.

One of the principle reason doctors write millions of prescriptions for tranquilizers each year is the nervousness, irritability, and jitters largely brought on by inadequate diets lacking magnesium. Persons only slightly deficient in magnesium become irritable, highly-strung, and sensitive to noise, hyper-excitable, apprehensive and belligerent. If the deficiency is more severe or prolonged, they may develop twitching, tremors, irregular pulse, insomnia, muscle weakness, jerkiness and leg and foot cramps.

If magnesium is severely deficient, the brain is particularly affected. Clouded thinking, confusion, disorientation, marked depression and even the terrifying hallucinations of delirium tremens are largely brought on by a lack of this nutrient and remedied when magnesium is given. Because large amounts of calcium are lost in the urine when magnesium is undersupplied, the lack of this nutrient indirectly becomes responsible for much rampant tooth decay, poor bone development, osteoporosis and slow healing of broken bones and fractures. With vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), magnesium helps to reduce and dissolve calcium phosphate kidney stones.

Magnesium deficiency may be a common factor associated with insulin resistance. Symptoms of MS that are also symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle spasms, weakness, twitching, muscle atrophy,  an inability to control the bladder, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), hearing loss, and osteoporosis.  People with MS have higher rates of epilepsy than controls.  Epilepsy has also been linked to magnesium deficiencies.[1]

Another good list of early warning symptoms is:

Suggestive early warning signs of magnesium insufficiency:
Physical and mental fatigue
Persistent under-eye twitch
Tension in the upper back, shoulders and neck
Headaches
Pre-menstrual fluid retention and/or breast tenderness

 

Possible manifestations of magnesium deficiency include:
Low energy, Fatigue, Weakness, Confusion, Nervousness, Anxiousness, Irritability, Seizures (and tantrums), Poor digestion, PMS and hormonal imbalances, Inability to sleep, Muscle tension, spasm and cramps, Calcification of organs, Weakening of the bones, Abnormal heart rhythm.

Severe magnesium deficiency can result in low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). Magnesium deficiency is also associated with low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia). Magnesium levels drop at night, leading to poor REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep cycles and unrefreshed sleep. Headaches, blurred vision, mouth ulcers, fatigue and anxiety are also early signs of depletion.

soil depletion

We hear all the time about how heart disease is the number one health crisis in the country, about how high blood pressure is the “silent killer”, and about how ever increasing numbers of our citizens are having their lives and the lives of their families destroyed by diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and a host of other chronic diseases

Signs of severe magnesium deficiency include:

Extreme thirst
Extreme hunger
Frequent urination
Sores or bruises that heal slowly
Dry, itchy skin
Unexplained weight loss
Blurry vision that changes from day to day
Unusual tiredness or drowsiness
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Frequent or recurring skin, gum, bladder or vaginal yeast infections

But wait a minute, aren’t those the same symptoms for diabetes? Many people have diabetes for about 5 years before they show strong symptoms. By that time, some people already have eye, kidney, gum or nerve damage caused by the deteriorating condition of their cells due to insulin resistance and magnesium deficiency. Dump some mercury and arsenic on the mixture of etiologies and pronto we have the disease condition we call diabetes.

Magnesium deficiency is synonymous with diabetes
and is at the root of many if not all cardiovascular problems.

Magnesium deficiency is synonymous with diabetes and is at the root of many if not all cardiovascular problems.

Magnesium deficiency is a predictor of diabetes and heart disease both; diabetics both need more magnesium and lose more magnesium than most people. In two new studies, in both men and women, those who consumed the most magnesium in their diet were least likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the January 2006 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. Until now, very few large studies have directly examined the long-term effects of dietary magnesium on diabetes. Dr. Simin Liu of the Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health in Boston says, “Our studies provided some direct evidence that greater intake of dietary magnesium may have a long-term protective effect on lowering risk,” said Liu, who was involved in both studies.

The thirst of diabetes is part of the body’s response to excessive urination. The excessive urination is the body’s attempt to get rid of the extra glucose in the blood. This excessive urination causes the increased thirst. But we have to look at what is causing this level of disharmony. We have to probe deeper into layers of cause. The body needs to dump glucose because of increasing insulin resistance and that resistance is being fueled directly by magnesium deficiency, which makes toxic insults more damaging to the tissues at the same time.

When diabetics get too high blood sugars, the body creates “ketones” as a by-product of breaking down fats. These ketones cause blood acidity which causes “acidosis” of the blood, leading to Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to coma and death. It is also called “diabetic acidosis”, “ketosis”, “ketoacidosis” or “diabetic coma”. DKA is a common way for new Type 1 diabetics to be diagnosed. If they fail to seek medical advice on symptoms like urination, which is driving thirst they can die of DKA.

Oral magnesium supplements reduce erythrocyte[2] dehydration.[3] In general optimal balances of electrolytes are necessary to maintain the best possible hydration. Diabetic thirst is initiated specifically by magnesium deficiency with relative calcium excess in the cells. Even water, our most basic nutrient starts having a hard time getting into the cells with more going out through the kidneys.

Autism and Magnesium Deficiency

When dealing with autism spectrum and other neurological disorders in children it is important to know the signs of low magnesium: restless, can’t keep still, body rocking, grinding teeth, hiccups, noise sensitive, poor attention span, poor concentration, irritable, aggressive, ready to explode, easily stressed. When it comes to children today we need to assume a large magnesium deficiency for several reasons.

  1. The foods they are eating are stripped of magnesium because foods in general, as we shall see below are declining in mineral content in an alarming way.
  2. The foods many children eat are highly processed junk foods that do not provide real nutrition to the body.
  3. Because most children on the spectrum are not absorbing the minerals they need even when present in the gut. Magnesium absorption is dependent on intestinal health, which is compromised totally in leaky gut syndromes and other intestinal problems that the majority of autism syndrome disorders.
  4. Because the oral supplements doctors rely on are not easily absorbed, because they are not in the right form and because magnesium in general is not administered easily orally.

Modern medicine is supposed to help people not hurt them but with their almost total ignorance of magnesium doctors end up hurting more than they help for many of the medical interventions drive down magnesium levels when they should be driving them up. Many if not most pharmaceutical drugs drive magnesium levels into very dangerous zones and surgery done without increasing magnesium levels is much more dangerous then surgery done with.

The foundation of medical arrogance is actually medical ignorance and the only reason ignorance and arrogance rule the playing field of medicine is a greed lust for power and money. Human nature seems to be at its worst in modern medicine when it should be at its best. It is sad that people have to suffer needlessly and extraordinarily tragic that allopathic medicine has turned its back on the Hippocratic Oath and all that it means.

Article credit link: https://drsircus.com/magnesium/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-diagnosis/ 

Hi, I’m Dr. Mark Sircus, AC., OMD, DM (P), a doctor and writer of more than 23 books that have sold over 80,000 copies all over the world. My first major book was “Transdermal Magnesium Therapy” which afforded me the title of “Magnesium Man.” It has been translated into five languages and has reduced the suffering of many people.

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