Magnesium is a mineral that is often recommended during a detox, and for good reason: it relaxes muscles, including those of the bowel, helping the body release toxins and clear up any blockages.

So on my recent foray into the world of detoxification, I was glad I had recently gotten my hands on some topical magnesium products from Ancient Minerals: some magnesium bath flakes, a concentrated magnesium gel, and a magnesium oil spray.

Of course, magnesium can be taken orally, but many health experts believe that topical application is preferable because it allows the magnesium to enter directly into the bloodstream and bypass the digestive tract. Oral magnesium supplements can also cause diarrhea, which interferes with the mineral’s absorption.

According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of The Magnesium Miracle, up to 80 percent of the population suffers from magnesium deficiency. Low levels of magnesium have been linked to health conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, migraines, fatigue, heart disease, muscle aches and twitches, stress, and many others. I can definitely relate to some of these symptoms, like the fatigue and muscle aches, so I was eager to try the products. (For more information on the importance of Magnesium, read my article “Magnesium: The Miracle Mineral” on Healthy Theory.)

The recommended daily allowance for magnesium is between 350 and 400 mg per day, which Dr. Dean states is actually just enough to ward off deficiency. To restore cellular magnesium levels, Dr. Dean recommends up to twice that amount. (Ancient Minerals recommends 3-4 mg per pound of body weight, which would put my daily dosage a bit lower.) Many magnesium supplements contain only 60 mgs, another reason why supplements aren’t necessarily adequate. Even if you have a supplement that appears to contain higher amounts of magnesium, only a small percentage of that magnesium may actually be absorbed by the body. Supplements in the form of chelated minerals (two or more elements bonded together,) such as magnesium taurate or magnesium glycinate, actually contain less magnesium than they may appear to: The actual amount of magnesium in 500 mg of magnesium glycinate is only 50 mg.

Topical products, however, contain much higher levels of magnesium. The product use guide for Ancient Minerals reports that 8 sprays of the magnesium oil deliver approximately 100mg of elemental magnesium, and 1 tsp of the magnesium gel delivers 490mg of elemental magnesium. I tried the spray first, figuring that if it took 15 sprays to cover my entire body, I’d be looking at a more-than sufficient 1500 mgs daily.

However, I soon discovered that topical magnesium application is not exactly a spray-and-go operation. It takes about 20 minutes for magnesium to be completely absorbed into the skin. After 20 minutes, the magnesium may need to be rinsed or wiped off to alleviate the skin irritation that can occur. This irritation can present as a minor tingling or as crazy insane itching. On my legs, it was tolerable. On my upper back, however, it was usually more than I could bear. (The instructions also state that you can make a solution with half magnesium oil and half water to reduce skin irritation.)

I eventually switched to using the spray just on my legs, and using a little bit of the gel on my back only after a workout to keep any muscle soreness at bay. When the 20 minutes is up, I wipe it off with a damp washcloth and follow with my Skin Grapefruit Pom body lotion, which usually takes care of the itching.

The bath flakes pack even more punch, with a whopping 15 grams (15000 mg) in one cup.  I’m not much of a bath person, but for the health benefits involved, maybe I could become one. The bath flakes (which can also be used as a foot soak)  also don’t cause any skin irritation.

Despite the somewhat high-maintenance application process, I do think the products’ benefits are worth the effort. You just have to plan ahead and make time for them in your daily routine, and find the appropriate product or combination of products that works for you. The most immediate benefit I have noticed is the reduction in muscle aches. Even with a regular yoga practice, I used to frequently suffer from stiff and sore muscle, but I haven’t had any backaches in weeks. And my energy levels are better, which is probably due to a combination of the detox and the magnesium.

As a side note, Dr. Dean’s web site also states that the muscle-relaxing properties of magnesium can also lead to sexual benefits for women, which is maybe reason enough to add these products into your daily routine.

For more about topical magnesium products, visit Ancient Minerals.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I also received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”