Want to know how to make magnesium oil? The Journal of the American College of Nutrition says that at least 68% of us are magnesium deficient (most likely more), leading to a host of health problems — including insomnia, depression, heart disease, and fatigue. Applying it topically to our skin is perhaps the best tool we’ve got to combat that deficiency and improve our health and wellness.
While it’s true you can buy magnesium oil already made, it’s far less expensive to make it yourself (and surprisingly easy)!
What is magnesium oil?
First, I should clarify: magnesium oil is not an oil. It’s simply called magnesium “oil” because of the oily feel of magnesium chloride suspended in water. (Please note that this is not the same magnesium found in Epsom salt. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. This is magnesium chloride and is better suited for transdermal absorption.)
You’ll usually apply it to your skin with a spray bottle, then rub it in and let your skin absorb it over the next half hour or so.
Why use it?
It’s simple, really. Like basic arithmetic.
1) Most of us have a magnesium deficiency. Where we used to get magnesium from our soil and water supplies, we’ve now depleted our soil and scoured our water supply clean of trace minerals (source 1, source 2). So, we can either make the extra effort to eat more magnesium-rich foods like nuts, grains, and seeds, or we can supplement with magnesium.
2) Did you know magnesium is more easily absorbed transdermally through the skin than it is internally? (source)
1 + 2 = 3
3) Magnesium oil is a useful, inexpensive, and simple way to apply magnesium to your skin. It only makes sense to learn how to make magnesium oil!
How to Make Magnesium Oil at Home
The Players
- 1/2 C. Magnesium chloride flakes (where to buy magnesium flakes)
- 1/2 C. purified or distilled water (where to buy water purifiers)
The How-To
1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the magnesium flakes and stir well until completely dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then transfer into a glass spray bottle. I use this one.
(where to buy a nifty blue glass spray bottle)
How to Apply It
Spray magnesium oil on your arms, legs, and stomach daily.
You may experience a tingling sensation when you first start using it. That’s perfectly normal and short-lived; the effect fades after 10 to 20 minutes. After a while of routinely applying magnesium oil, you likely won’t experience the tingling sensation any more.
Use the magnesium oil liberally, starting with 6 to 8 squirts a day and building up to as many as 20. Magnesium oil will loosen your stool, so the test to determine how much you need to apply is to simply watch your bowel movements. If they turn too loose, then back off the magnesium a little.
Benefits of Using It
Since I’ve started using magnesium oil regularly, I’ve noticed immediate improvement in several areas.
1) I sleep more easily at night. This is by far one of the best benefits! I’m trying to prioritize sleep this year, and this is one more excellent tool to add to my tool belt. The link between magnesium supplementation and improved sleep quality has long been proven (source).
2) I don’t need to use deodorant. When I started supplementing with magnesium oil spray, I noticed my sweat smells … clean. I may sweat, but it doesn’t smell bad anymore! Did you know that not using deodorant can actually benefit the microbiome of your armpit and reduce the number of pathogens there? I’m serious! Researchers have actually studied this stuff (source).
3) I’m more calm. As a work-at-home momma homeschooling three children, I often think “stress” could be my middle name. When I regularly supplement with magnesium oil, the stress is less! I don’t jump out of my skin at surprises. I’m less likely to lose my temper. I’m able to stay happy and focused. It turns out scientists have been studying this effect of magnesium on stress levels, mild anxiety, cortisol responses, and more (source), so I’m not alone in feeling this way!
4) I’m lowering my risk of heart disease. In the last few years, researchers have been increasingly interested in the effect of magnesium on heart health. They’ve found an astonishing correlation between low magnesium levels in the body and increased incidence of heart disease (source). It’s even led some researchers to suggest we start re-introducing magnesium to our public water supplies (source)!
In short, making my own magnesium oil has been one of the easiest, most cost-effective, beneficial things I’ve done for my health in a while.
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Could you use epsom salt in place of the magnesium flakes?
NO! Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It’s less easily absorbed by your body than magnesium chloride.
You can still enjoy Epsom salt baths, but just know that for therapeutic purposes the best topical magnesium is magnesium chloride.
Hope that helps!
I agree the Mag. Chloride would be the better choice, but the difference in magnesium available for absorption is only 2% according to the National Institutes of Health. Are there other reasons to only use the Magnesium Chloride to make the “Oil”?
(Sorry, not trying to be a pain. Just want to see if I can start with ingredients I have on hand already, and make an educated decision. 🙂 )
From what I’ve read, the magnesium sulfate is less readily USED by the body. It’s better for triggering the detox (sulfation) pathway. So, if you started spraying with it, you’d likely get very loose stools quickly before your body had a chance to breakdown and use the magnesium.
So, even though your body is taking it in, that doesn’t mean it can use it all or in the same way. Thank you so much Kristen!
🙂
A basic chemistry class will tell you that the magnesium ion in the oil is not broken down. It is also the same magnesium ion as in magnesium sulfate.
Question: I’m only able to buy magnesium chloride powder where I’m living. Should I use about half the amount – in other words 1/4 cup magnesium powder to 1/2 cup water?
Hi. My wife made the salt water solution . I was curious as to how long will it last ? I mean is there an expiry date to it ? eg. 2 weeks, 2 months etc.
Once the Epsom salts are dissolved in water is there a chance of re crystallizing ? How long will the solution last effectively ?
I’m not understanding the science behind the difference between MgSO4 & MgCl with respect to absorption. Both are what are called ionic salts. Ionic salts dissolve into ions in water. That is – you have either Mg2+ ions and SO42- ions when MgSO4 is dissolved or Mg2+ ions and 2 Cl- ions for MgCl2. If the active component is Mg2+ and that’s what’s absorbed into your skin, why does it matter what other half of the salt is? Just based on that basic chemistry, it seems like epsom salts would have the exact same benefit. Is there a way to quantitatively test this? Has it been done?
Mg is absorbed into blood from epsom salts: http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/articles/report_on_absorption_of_magnesium_sulfate.pdf
Buy the cheap stuff & put it in a blue bottle.
Here’s another one suggesting that there is little, if any, difference between the two forms of the salt (although it doesn’t specifically mention skin absorption).
http://www.jle.com/en/revues/bio_rech/mrh/e-docs/00/04/11/9B/article.phtml
If you are worried about your Mg levels, and broke, might as well give epsom a shot. $4 for 4# on amazon.
Good point. I’ve been hearing a lot of people talking about how Magnesium Chloride is superior than epsom salt for magnesium oil, but I haven’t seen any plausible explanation. According to this website, magnesium chloride (the flakes) has 12% of the magnesium available for absorption while epsom salt has 10% available. Doesn’t seem much of a difference to me to justify buying the much higher price magnesium flakes.
Sulfate and chloride are both needed by the body, plus the mag. It’s cheaper to use the chloride for “oil” than for baths. You can also get bulk mag chloride for really cheap during the cold weather months, SafeStep 8300 driveway de-icer has been vetted as 100% pure mag chloride flakes. It usually costs about $20 for a 50lb bag and is available at Costco, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc.
This is the site I referred to
http://www.livestrong.com/article/416267-epsom-salt-vs-magnesium-chloride/
Where would you suggest purchasing a blue glass bottle?
The link is in the post, although perhaps it’s not as obvious as it could be! LOL.
Here it is again: http://amzn.to/18CDyCY
I’ll go see if I can edit the post to make the link more obvious. Thanks!
I had the same Q. about using Epsom Salt. Also, could it be dissolved in another “carrier” if the flakes/granuals are small enough? Such as a carrier oil or aloe vera for example. I like to avoid using water in my recipes, even if purified distilled.
As I wrote in response to Joshua above, this is NOT the same magnesium as Epsom salt. So, you can not use Epsom salt to make magnesium oil.
Also, I’ve never heard of dissolving magnesium chloride flakes in anything other than water. And, if you did so, the final result certainly wouldn’t be magnesium oil (which, by definition, is magnesium chloride dissolved in water). It’d be something else — whatever you’d concocted.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for this! I’ve been putting off using magnesium oil because of the cost… now I don’t need to anymore!
I have well water at our house. Could that work as well as the distilled water? Or is distilled the only thing that works?
Do you have any information about topical vs. oral magnesium? My husband recently started using natural calm brand magnesium powder supplement for leg cramps and has had great results. Is there any reason for him to consider switching to a topical preparation? Thank you!
I recommend reading the book Transdermal Magnesium Therapy by Dr. Mark Sircus.
I use that as well. Works great! I get all of the benefits listed in the article. It seems to me that the human body was made to absorb nearly all nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) via ingestion, not topically (with the exception of vit D). It makes more sense to me to ingest the magnesium. Also, 1 tsp of raspberry-lemon flavored magnesium powder (Natural Calm is the tastier one of the ones I’ve tried) mixed into my morning glass of water seems easier than spraying myself multiple times a day and hoping my skin absorbs the full “dose”.
I bought 400 mg Ionic Magnesium at the health food store. I am to take 3/4 tsp. in water. It tastes hot. could I spray this on my skin?
Are the blue glass bottles necessary? I’m OJ a super tight budget, and I’d rather buy a 99¢ bottle. Thanks for the tip!
*on
I would bet the cheap plastic bottles would be fine. If you buy the premade magnesium oil from Ancient Minerals, it actually comes in a plastic bottle. We all know plastic has a tendency to leach. I’d suggest finding a BPA free bottle and switching to glass later when budget allows.
I don’t think they’re necessary. I just like using as little plastic as possible, and blue and amber glass can help give tinctures and other homemade remedies a longer shelf life.
Benefit #4: relieves morning sickness! I am now 14 weeks pregnant…morning sickness knocked me on my tush at 5.5 weeks. After suffering in misery for a solid week, not knowing how I was going to survive, I consulted the chapter in your Beautiful Babies book. I started supplementing with a B complex vitamin, a prenatal, and magnesium oil. I felt 1,000 times better overnight. I attribute the initial improvement to the B vitamins, but then I noticed if I slacked off with the magnesium oil, I’d still feel pretty bad. A couple weeks ago, I decided, enough nonsense! I refuse to skip the magnesium oil before bed no matter how tired I am, and I am feeling SO much better. Just thought I’d share my story and thank you for your book. You saved me!
Thank you for sharing this! I am 6 wks pregnant and suffering from morning sickness, lack of sleep, and fatigue. I remember it was the same with my first pregnancy. I really am looking forward to making this and feeling the difference!
YES! I often wonder why I’m the only one preaching the benefits of magnesium (in combination with B vitamins) to combat morning sickness.
I’m glad you found Beautiful Babies so helpful!
Speaking of that, if you feel so strongly about how helpful it’s been, would you mind going and leaving a positive review/comment on Amazon to that effect? The more positive reviews, the merrier!
Thank you. 🙂
About how long will one 1/2 C flakes + 1/2 C water batch last for the average user?
Mine lasted about 2 months with daily use. I am using it as a deodorant, and it is very effective.
So, do you rinse the oil off after letting it soak in? Is the oil drying to the skin?
Hi!
I have read that NIGARI Solution is the same thing and much cheaper. Do you know anything about this?
Thank you!
Nigari is magnesium chloride in Japanese language.
I’ve been doing this for several months now, and have experienced similar results. I put it on right before bed, and it really helps me sleep better. Also, for those who asked, I put mine in a plastic bottle with no horrible results. Just wait until it cools to put it in the bottle. The best option? No, but it’s what I had…maybe someday I’ll actually buy a glass spray bottle. 🙂
I actually use a used large Stevia bottle with the included dropper; both are glass.
I’ve never heard of mag. oil applied topically causing loose stools. I’m not saying it can’t, but it’s my understanding than applying it to skin, aside from the fact that it’s likely better absorbed, another benefit is bypassing the digestive tract and avoiding GI issues. That’s been the case for me as well.
Also, mag. oil makes a magnificent pain reliever for sore muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. It works for me almost immediately. I separated my shoulder a month ago and mag. oil was my savior.
This is true as far as it goes. If you’re trying to take therapeutic doses of magnesium, taking it transdermally in the form of magnesium chloride will ensure you get MORE magnesium before you start to get loose stools. (See my conversation with Katrina above.)
But, trust me, when you’re taking therapeutic doses, you WILL get loose stools. So, at that point you need to back off a bit.
If you buy it as “nigari” which is pure food grade magnesium chloride flakes/powder it is sooooo much cheaper. It is used to make tofu. Price difference between Ancient Minerals vs. nigari is $.44/oz vs $.22/oz on amazon but if you live near any kind of Asian grocery store it is even cheaper since you are not paying for shipping.
Brilliant! Thanks for the info. Lots of Asian markets in the greater Seattle area. I wonder if tastes salty…like could I mix it with my sea salt to cut down on the sodium I ingest, as an alternative to “Lite Salt” (potassium chloride)?
Sorry if someone already asked this and I missed it. Is this safe for kids? Starting at what age? Should I use less?
Do you know if this is safe to use while pregnant?
Absolutely! In fact, it will help prevent a lot of pregnancy maladies.
Everything from morning sickness to muscle cramps to restless leg syndrome to constipation can be helped by supplementing with magnesium!
Is it a problem if I store my magnesium oil in a small stainless steel spray bottle? Thanks!
I don’t think it’d be a problem.
I’ve heard that chloride corrodes metal. Would you know anything about that?
I have the same question about stainless. The small stainless steel bottle is half the cost of glass and won’t break when dropped. I made some magnesium oil today and put it in a stainless steel bottle. Hope this is okay.
what is the shelf life of mag oil once made, i read another comment about mag oil for pain should you apply right where it hurts?
i made this today am going to put on my plantar facitis
this is such an interesting subject why did it stop here..hopefully i am getting the right information, my questions were not answered. i did apply to my foot with pretty good results
Hi Mary,
I made my last batch of magnesium oil using this method at least 4-5 years ago & it’s still fine. We’re still using it. Lately I’ve been using it on my 11 year old dog who had calcium oxide crystals in his urine. We rub it on his belly & sent him outside w/it on. His last urine test showed no crystals! We could also tell by his demeanor that it made him feel better. More lively & less grumpy.
what saved me when plantar fasciitis hits is stretching “my toes towards my nose” multiple times before bearing weight —dramatic improvement!
I want to start making this, and am wondering how much to use on my kids, ages 6 and 8? Thank you!
Hi Kristen –
The directions say to wipe/rinse off after 20 minutes on the ancient minerals oil – is this necessary? I’d be much better about using it if I just was able to go to bed after applying!
Thanks,
Danielle
I never wipe it off, but I understand why some do. It can leave a light filmy feeling afterwards as the salts in the oil dry on your skin. I’ve found that the feeling passes quickly and doesn’t really bother me, others don’t like it and want to remove it as soon as possible.
Hi Kristin,
My order of magnesium flakes arrived yesterday and I am ready to make my magnesium oil. Question: does it have to be made using distilled water or can regular tap or filtered water suffice? We have a well so there is nothing added to the water we use.
Thanks for posting this! My 82 year old mother-in-law suffers horribly from restless leg syndrome among other maladies. I hope this will help her!
The directions say purified or distilled water. I just used spring water. It came out fine.
Do you know of another place that sells the magnesium flakes? That radiant life website charges $72 to ship a $10 bag of flakes. That is beyond absurd!
I’m in Canada and bought mine from Good Health Naturally out of California. Not sure how I found them; must have used a link somewhere or search engine. They said they would contact me (for international orders) to let me know the shipping charge, but then they just shipped the items and didn’t charge me for shipping, which I thought was most wonderful!
I got 10 kilo’s for £40 from amazon.co.uk works out to $4 per kilo. Cheapest I could find anywhere and shipping was only £2.95 and arrived within 48 hrs brilliant stuff!
That’s INSANE! I hope no one buys from them.
Why not magnesium malate?
Thank you so much for this great tip! I’ve been thinking on buying some Magnesium oil but price is a bit over my budget. Hubby and I will begin trying to get pregnant in the next two months and this is going to be great to build up my magnesium levels. I am so happy I can now make my own!! I just ordered the Magnesium flakes and even the little cute blue glass bottle!!
Not sure if I’ll get an answer for this but here goes…I’ve got magnesium carbonate (climber’s chalk). Anyone know if this is OK to use instead of magnesium chloride?
I have the same question as Sherry and Rose, Can you use NIGARI Tofu-Makers Purified Magnesium Chloride? Is it the same? It cost $2.85 for 8 oz at the health food store. I wish I knew!! Thanks for all of the other info!
That’s what I have used for years & it works great!
Well, I guess I could give it a go and see if I get that tingling feeling. An earlier poster said that the Magnesium will go into the ionic form (Mg 2+) in water so I’ll see what happens.
any idea why magnesium oil would make my skin itch? I tried applying it in several places and had to stop because it drove me nuts after a few minutes. I don’t usually have super sensitive skin so it’s weird. also, what is your opinion about taking magnesium alone without the other things like calcium or potassium needed to process it?
I’m told itching and burning are signs you are low in magnesium. I had it too. I kept applying it and that went away. I also take a mag supplement now and use the vitacost version of Calm. So I’m feeling wonderful! Wish I’d known about mag during my pregnancies!
thank you for this recipe. i have used it extensively, given it to friends and really benefitted from the daily magnesium spray. LOVE IT!
Will this help (in addition to diet and exercise) for menstrual cramps? I have terrible cramps every cycle and I am looking to add more magnesium in hopes that it will help out.
Mg with Vitamin D3 for periods. Vit D will lower Mg so make sure you take enough Mg to cover. This has helped my daughter. Wish I had known about this 40 Years ago when I had such horrible periiods
Other than not getting enough magnesium through our diet, what depletes our bodies’ magnesium supply? vices? stress? ect?
I know stress does. There are other things too but I’m not sure what else w/o researching it.
Medications, including antacids and statin drugs, alcohol, and caffeine also deplete magnesium.
Medications steroids prednisone etc. some antibiotics & I heard too much calcium taken.
I applied my first application today. How long did it take until you noticed the benefits?
do i store the oil at room temperature? thanks.
I just started making my oil last night and had the first application. My RLS was nearly non-existent, thank goodness! I slept like a baby. My hubby has PLMD and I rubbed his legs with the oil and he also slept well. I did a bit of research on the distilled water. Distilled has all the minerals and other things removed from it, but will allow the oil a longer shelf life. My theory is that if you make small enough batches and use regular well/tap water that still has trace minerals in it (something our bodies need anyway), we would be able to use regular water and get the benefits. The oil would then be serving a dual purpose. Comments, thoughts on this?
Is it really necessary to heat the water to boil? I did not and just shaking it. Will wait till the flakes all dissolve. Thoughts? Just in writing tis they are dissolved.
We bought 2.75 # Life flo Magnesium chloride brine
(flakes) from amazon, looks enough to make a gallon, we are going to bottle it up and sell it through our school apothecary. Great price and good reviews.
Using transdermal magnesium does not cause the same effect as orally. So I have never had the magnesium oil cause loose stools. It is a wonderful way to get your magnesium. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi, thanks for the recipe.
I haven’t been able to get hold of distilled water, only de ionised water, used for car batteries and irons as a substitute for distilled water. Do you know if this is suitable for use on the skin?
Thanks
if magnesium chloride provides magnesium then wouldn’t it
also add chloride ions in the body. that would be very harmful
, please reply as it would add chlorine in our bodies and would not be a good idea at all.
Chloride does not equal chlorine.
I am wondering if it would work the same if I put a carrier oil in with it. I find it dries out my skin, horribly and no matter how many times I have used it, it leaves my skin burning, itchy and dry. Any thoughts?
Luana, I recently ready about the health benefits of magnesium oil and got some for my wife b/c she’s been dealing with lots of stress and having problems sleeping. She wouldn’t use it b/c it dried out her skin, so I’m wondering the same thing.
Thanks for a great article Kristen!
TRY ADDING A TOUCH OF GLYCERIN OR ALOE.
The elephant in the room nobody is willing to acknowledge. Our Skin PH is slightly acidic. If it gets alkaline it starts to itch and that is why if you don’t take bath you get itchy skin and then in your groins the skin tears up. (I know from not having bath for 3 days during military training) Its when bad bacteria takes host and they produce ammonia which is alkaline. Good bacteria produces acid like lactic acid or vinegar. Our skin hosts trillions of bacteria good ones and they thrive in the slightly acidic environment on the skin(yes this means that baking soda baths are pseudo science/logic never ingest or bath in Baking soda it will screw up your PH even your intestines are acidic that is why vinegar works so well to balance the flora of our gut) Worse comes worse you skin will start to tear and your skin can become prone to flesh eating bacteria(yes in theory dabbing Apple cider vinegar would be the best cure than antibiotics)
I have been searching high and low for anyone who has found a way to get Mg through an alternative preparation like mixing it with apple cider vinegar.
This dryness is nothing but our skin become alkaline(which is a bad thing for our skin though and its not the same as body acidosis) and then becoming a host to bad bacteria.
I thought I will share it with you. Ancient Minerals website claims that if you keep using it your skin will get used to it. IN theory it should not. I think people get used to it as they use regular cosmetics to moisturize their skin. Or people use coconut oil after. But I think its just covering up the real issue.
right now I am ingesting it. I stick to only applying it to the soles of my feet and my palm. I will be also making packs to but on my feet.
I am thinking that adding Mg to EV Coconut oil should take care of this problem. As coconut oil for that matter any oil is good for the skin bacteria. Its promotes the skin bacteria growth.
Its not really the oil that softens the skin its the bacteria growth that does the trick. One of the functions of the bacteria is to turn subcutaneous fat into moisturizing oil which keeps the skin supple and wrinkle free.
That is why regular cosmetics don’t work you have to keep applying them > What people don’t notice your skin only gets worse with regular moisturizers but they assume they are just getting older.
This is because all regular moisturizer and even some natural ones have chemicals that are preservatives. A preservative is nothing but a poison that kills all life including bacteria and mold It also kills good bacteria. Then in some cases the other chemicals are not good for the skin and decrease the PH value.
Whats shocking is that Dove is claiming their soap reduces acidity of the skin which is actually what you don’t want.
Coming back to the topic. So I am just wondering if I could use Coconut oil or olive as a medium or maybe jojoba.
I am trying to find out if the absorption will change. I hope it gets better.
The sad part is all the so called experts are not aware of refusing to acknowledge this. ANd this maybe because most people do use a lot of Moisturizers on their skin so they don’t feel the itchiness.
Also trying to find if adding vinegar would work. Also what is interesting that sea water does not dry out my skin(I am assuming its the same for everybody else too) Maybe we should find out what else is in there. Salt is very good for good bacteria only kills bad bacteria So maybe we can add salt to the Magnesium Oil. Have to find out if the salt wont get absorbed.
Hard water that has magnesium chloride with calcium compounds also dry the skin.
So i guess adding salt should take care of itchiness and the PH of our skin atleast it should save our good bacteria.
Another optino would be to see if Mangesium sulfate has the same effect. Its very calming for he skin I heard. So maybe we can use that soak a little longer as MgCl is higher absorbed as per certain schools of thought.
Last option is to apply Magnesium oil and then after an hour do damage control with some lactic acid/vinegar or coconut/olive/jojoba oils.
i will be making the magnesium oil today but im wondering if scented oils can be added? also, some say that it leaves a dryness on them…could a few drops of baby oil help that?
Baby oil is mineral oil which has NO place on or in humans or animals.
Hi Kristen,
I just wrote this post to spread the news and I wanted to share it with you and your readers:
For years one of my goals and great desires has been curing my painful menstrual cramps. I promised myself (and god, as I cried out for help to handle the pain) that if I could cure them, I would share my solution to help as many other women as possible. After several months of testing, I can say that I have finally found a cure that works for me. I have tried so many things before this. In my quest, I came across a lot of dietary advice recommending strict changes (cut out sugar, for example) that were hard for me to follow. In fact, I’m not sure I want to live my life completely free of sugar, or if that’s even possible. Suggesting these kinds of radical lifestyle changes to otherwise healthy women who experience painful menstrual cramps seems cruel and irresponsible since there are very few scientific studies on curing menstrual pain and therefore no proof these changes work. Suggesting a woman take strong pain medication each month also seems to be a band-aid, not a cure for the root cause. It is an outrage that the female reproductive system is still such a mystery to the medical community, and that doctors insist on prescribing artificial hormones for just about every problem that could occur within the system. Going on the pill often simply covers up hormonal problems and fertility issues that will have to be dealt with and understood later, when the woman goes off the pill. The pill can also cause mood alterations. I have almost felt like I had a different personality on the pill. On top of this, the pill may blunt a woman’s ability to instinctively select a genetically appropriate mate. But I digress. I know so many women who suffer monthly from overwhelmingly painful menstrual cramps. Some have passed out from the pain, many stay home vomiting, hoping that it will be better next month and that they will have enough sick days to cover them for the year. My pain was never as bad as throwing up or passing out, but I’ve spent 2-3 days per month silenced by the pain, staying home, or forgetting to breath as family and friends asked me if I was ok as my face was turning white and blotchy during a cramp. It turns out that for me, the solution is a topical application of magnesium chloride solution, more commonly called magnesium oil. Magnesium deficiency is extremely common and responsible for a wide assortment of symptoms and diseases. Every day, I apply magnesium oil all over my skin so that it can be absorbed transdermally. I followed these instructions to make and apply magnesium: https://www.foodrenegade.com/how-make-magnesium-oil/. Now each month, I still can feel my menstrual cramps slightly, but the experience is no longer intense and torturous. It feels natural. I still take ibuprofen to blunt the pain sometimes, but it’s no longer an absolute necessity. Please pass this cure along, ask me if you have any questions, and good luck. Every women’s body is different so this may not work for everyone, but if you’ve been suffering it’s worth a try.
Yes, Mg helps with painful periods. Wish I had known that 35 years ago, but I didn’t. I look up medical literature and actually back in the early 80’s they did know about Mg and painful periods and diabetes, but as is 35 years later, the ‘medical establishment’ won’t take the 1000s of studies and put it all together and say ‘yes’ this works, let’s do it. Also, you can find out more about Mg in book Magnesium Miracle and more about how Mg works with Vit D and K2. Daughter takes these and has almost no pain. We have tested her levels and she is below normal on Mg and Vit D. So we are working to get her levels up. requestatest.com for Mg RBC (red blood cell test) and try to get levels above 6.0. vit D3 levels 50 and above. One thing I did learn is that high doses of Vit D3 deplete Mg so it is a balancing act when you have both low.
Thanks for your interesting posts.
I am wondering what the difference between filtered and distilled water is… We have a basic water filter at home (remove chlorine and other things but not fluoride, not an RO). Would this work for the Mg oil?
My mum has Mg deficiency and osteoporosis – should the use of Mg oil be coupled with calcium tablets to even it out?
Thank you for your help
YES YES. Actually if your mom can take calcium via “food” instead of the supplementation it is better absorbed. Also look into Vitamin K2 and Vitamin (Hormone) D3 in conjunction with Mg and Ca. They all work together. Read the book: Vitamin K2, the Calcium Paradox. Excellent information.
Hi, this looks great and i’d like to give it a go making it. I live in the UK and distilled water is not easily available here. I’m wondering why distilled water needs to be used? If I used boiled tap water would that somehow reduce the effectiveness of the magnesium? Would be really grateful for advice. Thanks 🙂
1. I’m in my 50’s and have only now heard of this ancient magnesuim oil. On what I have read I believe I have suffered all my life with a deficiency – bad cramping and vomiting from my periods, and now hot flashes, an upper back problem due to manual work and stress, also migraines with aura to name some. Please advise if I am on the right track to ellivate my problems.
2. Also my sister-in-law suffered a bad migraine which put her in hospital for almost a week which left her with a slight speech impairment and has problems walking properly (in our eyes like a sort of a stroke -but was told it wasn’t due to all their testing). Will ancient magnisium oil help her recovery.
3. My daughter stopped breast feeding about 10 months ago and her periods have not resumed. She has had blood tests and all is apparently ok. Will ancient magnisium oil help her get her periods again.
4. How does it help type 1 diabetes?
5. Why does the ancient magnesium oil need to be wash off after half and hour?
Magnesium tablets stopped my migraines in minutes and were more effective than the Maxalt prescription meds that my doctor recommended with no residual hangover feeling. (FYI – Once I cut out wheat from my diet the migraines disappeared altogether).
I recently starting taking a new medication and headaches are a known side effect. When I take the pills together with a Bluebonnet magnesium tablet I don’t get the headache.
Hi will this work ok with tap water. I am from the uk
Magnesium ‘oil’ is termed due to the oily feel of the substance,especially the flakes. It is magnesium chloride & available from many sources.Dead sea salts are a inexpensive source as are others. Zechstein flakes are processed using heat as stated on their site. Does anyone know exactly how much magnesium is contained in the “1/2 cup” spray solution or is it measured by weight,(of the 1/2 cup)? Is the Zechstein 100% magnesium or are there other minerals in it? Regards tap water,the salts or flakes are ‘recommended’ for bath use so I assume distilled water is impractical unless there is a filter in the water supply.
Magnesium has helped me so much through this pregnancy with morning sickness and muscle spasms – I can’t believe the difference it has made! I’ve been taking an oral supplement, but want to try the oil.
My question is, can I use powdered magnesium in place of the flakes? I have Magnesium Calcium powder that I use in a toothpaste recipe and wondered if I could use that.
Thanks so much!
Could anyone comment on whether magnesium oil can be used for children? What would be a baseline dose and what symptoms would cause you to try magnesium oil?
Magnesium deficiency is very hard to test or spot. Children are not likely deficient but if you want to administer magnesium oil this is safe as the body (kidneys) will expel any overload. I would try very little and diluted to start with on less sensitive part of the body as it may be uncomfortable and may sting on the child’s skin until there is a tolerance developed. You can try the sorbolene method described below. Look for loos stool as this is a sign that the body has reached tolerance level for the time beeing. Many medication can be administered transdermal (through the skin) this way.
Children need many minerals and trace elements magnesium is only one. Look at delivering the equivalent of multi vitamin mineral mix this way and your child will grow healthy and strong. Do heed the warnings when over dose is possible. Unlike magnesium some other trace elements or vitamins are not easily removed by the body. Good Luck and happy child rearing Paul B
how do i keep the oil from feeling “flaky?” even after mixing, as it cools, it is flaky. i use it in my body butter and would like it to be smoother. i don’t want to buy the oil b/c from what i have read it is not as potent as the flakes.
Hi when the machnesium oil feels flaky the magnesium chloride is not dissolved enough in water. You need to use more water. If you want to use it as a cream I would mix with sorbolene this makes it nicer to apply however the effect may possibly be slowed. Sorbolene is a water-soluble oil mix. The magnesium chloride needs to be dissolved in water any other carrier needs to be water friendly. The name magnesium oil is very misleading, it is not an oil!. Many vitamin creams(A or E)are sorbolene based and can be used this way. For children this method is very good, use it sparingly at first, see if the child is not reacting to it. In time you can increase the dosage. hope this was o use cheers Paul B
do you know how many mgs are in this version of mag oil?
Nadezhka B-w
Where is the best place to apply it? Legs, arms?
I do arms and torso, Brandy.
Hi, great post! Do you also apply it on your children?
I have been reading about Concentrace Trace Mineral Drops which is a mineral supplements that can be added to water that has magnesium as well. How you try this? I am doing this research to minimize tics on kids. I will greatly appreciate a response, thank you!
http://www.traceminerals.com/products/liquid-tablet-minerals/concentrace-ionic-minerals
is it ok for pregnacy? i am havibg horrible insomnia and am at 28 weeks.
OK, question. I loved using mag oil, but it got to the point where I itched constantly and ended up with raw places. When I stopped using it, I cleared up, but my energy levels are definitely lower. Help???
Ryan Oppenheim this is what I was telling you
its great for people recovering from colorectal surgery. It relaxes the gut & rectal muscles even when they are damaged….A Mother who was nursing her baby recommended it to me & now I use it every day.
Cheryl, I had been using it for a while before pregnancy, but during pregnancy I lost my bottle (apparently rolled under my bathroom vanity lol) and didn’t make a new batch right away. I started feeling tired, getting achy and not sleeping. I made another batch, and also found the missing bottle. Ever since, I have lots of energy, no pain and sleep the whole night. I am 40 weeks tomorrow and still going strong!
You can also take Calm. It’s a magnesium supplement that is non gmo, vegan, gluten free.
Kathy Pleasants, maybe this would help?
Ty
My best friend gave me magnesium oil several months ago-It is fabulous.
I just read that ancient mineral flakes has higher sodium content than those flakes from the dead sea. Is the sodium content high in ancient mineral flakes and how will that affect blood pressure?
Is there a best time of day to spray on the magnesium or does it not matter? Thanks!
Forgive me if I have overlooked this question previously answered, but I was wondering if you have an estimate of how much magnesium is contained in this mixture per dose? How does it compare to the magnesium oil spray sold by Ancient Minerals?
Thanks!
I believe people living in artificially fluoridated areas can suffer from magnesium deficiency because fluoride binds to magnesium and prevents absorption.
http://fluoridealert.org/articles/50-reasons/
Been reading about magnesium lately..this is so timely…Thanks
I take magnesium daily and in the evening have a cup of Tulsi tea.
My husband began sleeping extremely well using daily Epsom salt baths. Then he ran out and didn’t mention it. He spent two weeks sleeping horribly until I realized he was out. Thankfully my magnesium chloride flakes arrived in the mail that very day. Not only does he sleep much better, it has helped his chronic back pain tremendously. I’ve been recommending this to everyone!
Jamie do you spray his back? How many times a day?
How about elbow tendonitis?
I was having muscle cramps in my legs so I started using the recipe I found on the Food Renegade blog with the magnesium chloride flakes. I had been using the spray for several months without an issue, but occasionally I would have a reaction whenever I ate certain foods. Then when I switched to fermented skate liver oil (with added orange, lemon & clove oil from green pastures, the itching & burning became very intense and it was just too much. I switched to using Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) in the recipe. I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks and so far it seems to be working just as well. I know that Dr. Sircus doesn’t agree that it’s as effective, but I will continue to experiment with it. At least until the current bottle of orange fermented skate liver oil is gone!
I saw this reply on a recent post on another wonderful blog about Mag Oil made from Ancient Minerals…
“… it seems the magnesium flakes are not as pure as the oil (more by-products in the flakes), so Ancient Minerals does not recommend making your own magnesium oil.
“… we do not recommend that our bath flakes be utilized to “create” an oil, as that would significantly increase the concentration of those by-products, and therefore increase your direct exposure to them.”
More on their blog: http://www.ancient-minerals.com/blog-post/bath-flakes-vs-oil/”
I would love to know your thoughts?
What about milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)? I already use it as a deodorant (works great!) and it’s already in a form that I can spread it on my skin easily. Will it make loose stools more quickly for the amt of magnesium you absorb or anything like that?
Can I use it on my children ages 9&4? And if so what is the best way of doing so?
Hi,
I buy reverse osmosis water. Will that work for making making magnesium oil? Thanks.
Thanks! This information has proven to be very very useful. I too made the mistake of buying magnesium oxide which made my stomach feel kind of odd. I’m not sure that I got more than maybe 40 to 80mg from taking 400mg twice daily.
Anyone have any idea on how to deal with the stickiness? It also burns like the fires of hell! 🙁 But Ancient Minerals has been on of my best investments so far. Completely eliminates the tummy upheaval caused by ingesting magnesium in any form.
It’s not as complicated as you people are making it. Any water you’d put on your skin is fine. I mix mine with tap water, which here is well water with gobs of calcium. I shower in it, so it’s good enough. I only mix 1/4 cup magnesium chloride in 2 cups water, so don’t have to heat it, just use a bit more spray since it’s a bit more diluted. It feels itchy and dry cause it’s a salt, same reason you feel that way after swimming in the ocean. If that bothered me, I’d spray it on an hour before showering instead of after. As it is, I spray a BUNCH of skin, usually my whole belly and thighs, after every shower. And the dry/itch feeling is how I remembered I did it, which is crucial for me to avoid fatigue. I dunno, comforting somehow. Epsom salts work too, though you’d need a different amount to get the same concentration as it has a different molecular weight. IME, neither cause the runs even when slathered on at high doses daily, as long as not taken internally. And there’s no point in not adding epsom salt to every bath or pool you get into all the time. Mg is good stuff.
Have to try this! Thanks 🙂
Simple explanation to make the mag oil. Thank you!
That stuff is TORTURE to apply. It’s like burning, itching acid. I tried (per your book) during my last pregnancy and thought I was melting.
But I do recommend your book to all my friends.
Katheryn Barrett: mix it into lotion so it isn’t so strong on your skin
I make my own & have gotten a couple of neighbors into using mag oil also
I had much the same experience as Katheryn, it was absolutely horrible on my skin, even diluted with _quadruple_ the usual amount of water. I wanted to claw my skin off. I use a powder I mix with juice instead, SuperMag from Nutrina which is similar to Natural Calm but unflavored, and occasionally take a bath with epsom salts although I have to rinse off afterward. If I let the bathwater residue dry on my skin it itches like mad even if I slather on oil or lotion.
Morgan
But it’ll burn you let someone set you on fire.
Great stuff.
Mari, I will definitely check out the Natural Calm alternative. I don’t like the stevia and won’t give it to the kids.
Anyone else just have a hard time with baths? I just dislike them.
I’ve read you shouldn’t wash off the Epsom salts as it dilutes the outcome since it’s absorbed thru the skin. Also if there is too much residue on the body, I’ve read all the crystals are not dissolved. I can’t give links or sources, just remember these little idiosyncrasies of Epsom salts and try to work around them.
Is there any oil in the “magnesium oil”?
I would think that rinsing off would be a good idea, once your out of the bath I don’t think you’ll be absorbing much more. I mix epsom salts into boiling water to make sure it gets all dissolved 🙂
April Maggio
Is there oil in this “magnesium oil”?
If itching and pain occur, water down the oil or just apply to the soles of your feet, I always tell folks soles first, least sensitive and largest pores.
Tami, magnesium chloride flakes mixed with water is just that, water and magnesium, it “feels” oily.
We were also taught to apply the mag oil, leave on for 20-30 minutes and shower. My husband applies his to his feet nightly.
It doesn’t burn me, but I don’t much like the residue :(. I made it, but haven’t used it for a while.
Sandi Chai Brown: neither do I, I usually put some lotion on afterwards
I have been using this recipe for mag oil for almost a year now. What I found that was when I ate certain food the mag oil burned when applied. when I eliminated those foods I had zero issues with burning. I always apply 20 mins before I hop in the shower or I will wipe off with a damp rag after 20 mins to get rid of that oily feeling.
Which foods in particular did you noticing caused burning when combined with taking the mag oil?
If I spray magnesium on my shoulders or chest, I break out rather severely. It seems to be pulling toxins out of my glands and maybe my heart? Has any else experienced this?
I take a supplement for muscle cramps. May try this, thanks.
So could magnesium flakes also be Epsom salt?
Can I use this on my children? They’re 11 and 8.
This is a good website that has a lot of information on the different magnesiums and the RDA. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
Patrick Hoeflinger Erin Atkeson
Mariah McGuire
Lisa Carter
Carrie … its helped me, and its fun stuff to make, and you can give it a scent with essential oils. Lavender is my fave.
Awesomesauce! I have a 9 year old that I have been thinking needs more magnesium…now after reading this, I am sure of it!!! Emma, I think you would enjoy this article.
I have Fibromyalgia and read in the Mayo Clinic website that they were doing clinical studies on patients with this disease and helping the symptoms of pain and fatigue. I’m going to give this a try! It is a horribly painful disease that most days the pain and fatigue make it difficult to get out of bed! Anything is worth a try!
http://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20112480
Dear Peggy , So sorry to hear about the pain. I really hope the magnesium therapy has helped. Shall pray for your recovery. suresh India
I made some “magnesium oil” a while back but don’t like the “coating” that’s left on my skin–I suspect I’d experience that from the ready-made magnesium “oil” as well. Will be trying a different magnesium oil and hope that residue doesn’t remain on my skin.
On the Ancient Minerals Web site, they have an article titled “Magnesium Bath Flakes vs Magnesium Oil” that tells why we shouldn’t use their bath flakes (the same ones you recommend above) to make our own magnesium oil. Their flakes are the only ones I’ve ever used to make magnesium oil. What are your thoughts on that article and their reasoning behind not using their flakes to make the oil?
Thank you, Kristen!
Can you use Magnesium chloride powder ?
Is it safe to spray on children under 5?
If I have 60 gr of magnesium chloride powder, how much water should I use and must it be boiling water to dissolve?
Hello-I bought a bottle of liquid msgnesium,can I use it as magnesium oil. Do I need to add /change anything? Thank you for an interesting blog. Keep up the good work
Hi there what if we have well water is boiling fine? Thanks you!
Can you use liquid ionic magnesium to make the topical spray. If you can how much do you use. I put the liquid in 2 capsules 50 mgs, each for my granddaughter to take.
Can someone email the response
Does magnesium have a use by date?
I have some I bought from Ancient Minerals a few year ago … would it still be ok? Looks and smells the same.
Thank you
Hi, I am wondering what the difference is between Epsom salt and Magnesium Flakes. Could I sustitute?
Thanks!
Thanks for the advice on how to make magnesium oil. My wife and I want to try this; however, it looks way too complicated for us! We might just buy some instead. We never knew that magnesium oil is actually not an oil — interesting! Thanks for the advice!
How long does the magnesium oil last??
How long can it last??
Is there a preferable water Ph that Magnesium Oil is best suited to make from?
In the recipe of making magnesium oil, do we have to boil the distilled water and then pour the flakes into it? I would also like to know if we can use it on hair as well?
Hi,I just read from Dr. Mercola’s site that we should be getting 1000 to 2000 mg of magnesium a day. I have been using the ancient minerals magnesium spray, but 8 squirts is only 100 mg. Would I be able to make a stronger oil if I made it myself? Or would I just as pray it on a few times a day?What do you recommend I do to ensure I’m getting enough. I don’t really want to take more supplements since I’m already taking 7 to 9 in the morning and night. Thanks – Joanie Hartman
Hi.
I weighed half a mug of water (200 g) and half a.mug of Magnesium.Chloride flakes (100 g).
Should I be using equal quantities by volume (ie 200 g water with 100 g Magnesium Flakes) or equal quantities by weight (ie. 200 g water with 200 g Magnesium Flakes) ?
Obviously there is a big difference here. I don’t want to make a half strength or a double strength solution.
Can anyone help please?
Namaste
Hi, why do you need to boil distilled water? True magnesium chloride will dissolve well in cold water won’t it? Thanks!
Can you pls. Send me ancient minerals magnesium flakes as you’re really an advocate in helping people with several health issues? My mother died last Christmas 2018 and it really assuage my grief finding people so kindhearted like you sharing the wonders of nature in healing God’s greatest masterpiece. My address: Ana Maria Cura-Alvar
3rd house from Brgy. Hall
Front Kamalig Store, Centro Matatalaib, Tarlac City 2300
Philippines
+639996720980
thank you for sharing
Thanks for sharing! Can this mag oil be used on a child that is 60 lbs? How many sprays?
Thanks!
A
I made mine from Epson salt and distilled water and now that it’s cooled down it’s kind of thick and grainy. How can I help this?
I didn’t even realize there was a difference between Epsom salt and Magnesium Chloride flakes. I have always used Epsom salt in my bath water and for soaking sore feet after a long day at work.
Thanks for writing such an informative article. I’m going to look for Magnesium flakes from now on!
Magnesium oil, despite its name, is not actually an oil, but a concentrated solution of magnesium chloride and water. It is a highly effective and rapidly absorbed form of magnesium that can be used topically on the skin. Magnesium plays a crucial role in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle function, nerve transmission, and energy production. Using magnesium oil can help alleviate muscle cramps, reduce stress, promote better sleep, and improve overall relaxation. Application is simple – just spray a few pumps onto the skin and gently massage it in. The skin acts as a highly efficient pathway for absorbing magnesium, bypassing the digestive system and avoiding any potential gastrointestinal issues. Whether you’re an athlete looking to prevent muscle soreness, or simply seeking a natural way to enhance your well-being, incorporating magnesium oil into your daily routine can provide a multitude of benefits.
If I have magnesium chloride tablets can I just grind them up and dissolve that in boiling water to make this spray? If so, how much would I use?
Kudos! This information is a perfect match for my needs.
Thank you for sharing this informative guide on how to make magnesium oil at home! Your detailed instructions make the process accessible and offer a fantastic alternative for those seeking the benefits of magnesium. Grateful for the step-by-step guidance—it’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in incorporating magnesium oil into their wellness routine. Your effort in providing this DIY recipe is truly appreciated, offering a natural and cost-effective solution for promoting health and well-being!
To the Renegade –
I debated with myself a bit if it might seem strange to you that I’m writing this after just having just signed up into your website, but I really wanted people to see that probiotics can have a significant quality of life effect given the right circumstances.
Then I ran into your recipe for baked oatmeal, which has been my breakfast for over a year (with unsoaked rolled oats), and your reference to Sally Fallon (Morell), and I have copies of Nourishing Traditions, Eat Fat Lose Fat and Nourishing Broth in my bookcase, and Mary Enig, who wrote some great articles on saturated fats over 20 years ago.
So then I thought “What’s to lose?”, “Why not?”.
The following describes a very rapid elimination of some rather severe symptoms I’ve been plagued with for quite some time now. I want to be sure that you know that I’m telling you this not so that I can somehow get some attention, but so that more people (not you) can realize that in certain circumstances, probiotics can have an extraordinary and rapid positive effect on some very difficult stomach/gut situations.
My situation had fairly well sucked most of the good aspects out of my daily living. A good day was reduced to not having symptoms so bad that they interfered with going to sleep and sleeping at night.
So, without further ado . . .
Around 8 years ago, I discovered that my gut wasn’t very pleased with gluten . . . so I carefully avoided gluten. As a few years rolled by, my gut got more sensitive until bloating and often pain started mid morning and increased through the day . . . day after day, week after week, month after month. This was far, far more troublesome than merely annoying.
If I ate an apple, I got stomach pain, so I quit eating apples. A cup of coffee did the same, so I quit that, too. There were other consequences of my situation that I’m not going to describe involving diarrhea and constipation . . . but were fairly nasty.
I was taking a daily probiotic, extra strength Gas-X, and I went from taking a hydrogen blocker to a stronger ppi, and then to the ppi plus the hydrogen blocker and gulps of antacid during the day. My endo and colo both looked good with no signs of H. pylori. My gall bladder’s been removed.
I had a very slight improvement just before I saw a gastro M.D., although eating a test slice of bread produced bloating and pain for 3 – 4 hours. Gastro Guy said he’d like to hold off a deeper exam and treatment until we see if the slight improvement becomes significant. I’m not good at holding off, and I continued to think about what additional steps I could take.
All I could think of was to increase my probiotic intake . . . so I went for it. With very little research, I ordered a kombucha SCOBY. While waiting for its arrival, I did some more research and found that milk and water kefir would yield more probiotics, especially milk kefir. So, I ordered both milk and water kefir grains.
Within two weeks I was brewing kombucha, milk kefir and water kefir, and drinking their products as they became available from the small SCOBY and limited kefir grains which I had recently received. After a week or so, I had sufficient products available to start my wellness program.
Current info I’ve read says you should test the waters by slowly easing into the ingestion of kombucha and kefir until you reach about two cups per day. I’ve never had a difficulty with fermented food, nor did I have any problems with the kombucha and kefir I had just started to drink, so I jumped right into the deep end of the pool. I started off with two quarts per day.
I expected that, over time, probably months, I would see at least some lessening of my symptoms, and hoped for a significant positive result.
After a week, I noticed a reduction of my symptoms, which became about an 80% reduction after another week, and no symptoms at all after the third week . . . and I could eat bread again with no bloating, pain or gas. Apples and coffee were OK, too. I quit the ppi and went back to the hydrogen blocker, and didn’t need gulps of antacid during the day. I’ll try to wean myself off the hydrogen blocker next.
It’s now been six weeks and I’m fermenting kombucha, and milk and water kefir, tomato juice, beet juice, tea, cabbage and carrot sauerkraut and cabbage relish. I’m still drinking two quarts of kombucha/kefir each day and still have no digestion problems.
Gastro Guy was amazed. I’m grateful.
CS
Thank you for sharing this informative guide on making magnesium oil! As someone interested in natural remedies and wellness, I found your blog post incredibly valuable. Magnesium oil is known for its many benefits, from promoting relaxation and better sleep to relieving muscle cramps and improving skin health.