DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Why are magnesium baths so important for fibromyalgia warriors?

People battling chronic illness are notoriously low in magnesium, an essential building block for our bodies. Magnesium isn’t the only mineral our bodies don’t get enough of, but today we’re focusing on magnesium.

Magnesium is important for everybody, but especially for fibro warriors. Most of us don’t have magnesium to perform all the functions our body needs. Following are some of the things you might feel if you’re magnesium deficient.

Magnesium deficiency symptoms include:

• anxiety and irritability
• restless legs syndrome (RLS)
• sleep disorders
• nausea and vomiting
• abnormal heart rhythms

• low blood pressure
• confusion
• muscle spasms
• weakness
• unhealthy nails
• seizures

Courtesy of VeryWell

Low magnesium levels may also lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s involved in these conditions as well as depression, migraine, PMS, RLS, and sleep.

Magnesium is found in several foods, including nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), vegetables (spinach, avocado, black beans, baked potatoes, broccoli, carrots), grains (whole wheat bread, magnesium fortified cereals, oatmeal, rice), meats/fish (salmon, halibut, chicken, beef), fruits (bananas, raisins, apples), and dairy (yogurt, milk).

As I mentioned, though, most of us are deficient in magnesium, so maybe we don’t absorb it as well as others who don’t battle fibromyalgia. So what’s a warrior to do? Get magnesium in a more direct way!

Take a bath!

Both Epsom salts and magnesium flakes work for this purpose. You’ll want about two cups for a “normal” tub. Check with your manufacturer if you have a spa tub or other specialized tub to make sure adding things to your water won’t hurt them.

Why is this method so effective? Because your skin is very good at absorbing things, so when the magnesium melts into the water, and your skin comes into contact with it in many places since you’re lying in the bath, it soaks it up like a parched garden finally getting a good watering.

Magnesium supplements also exist, and there are debates about which type is best. If you’re a fibro warrior, you’ll probably want to take a supplement. But the way I look at it is…why only use one method to ensure you get enough of a crucial compound?

Here are some products to try (my favorites!):
Epsoak Epsom Salts, 19.75 lbs

Dr. Teal’s Lavender Scented Epsom Soak, 48 ounces (lavender is a good addition to your bath, since it’s also beneficial to fibro warriors)

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes, 8 lbs

Life-Pro Pure Magnesium Flakes, 44 ounces