A Brief Study of Magnesia Group

Magnesium Group

Magnesium is the natural component of the earth and found in the upper earth surface (about 25%) between the Lithosphere and the Hydrosphere.

In the human body magnesium is the essential component of each & every cell. Many important enzyme systems and enzyme reaction require magnesium as an essential component - these enzyme reactions including the transfer of phosphate ions from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the form adenosine diphosphate (ADP) - with the release of a large amount of energy. All life processes require this ATP-ADP conversion reaction as it is the basic way in which energy is conserved and released in the cells of all living beings.

In CSF, the magnesium content is higher than that of the serum. In the bones, the magnesium affinity is much less than that of the calcium. There is also a necessity to maintain a correct balance of calcium and magnesium ions in the cardiac and skeletal muscles in order for them to function properly. Any imbalance in these two ions will result in pathological disorders affecting the person. The careful balance between ions of calcium and magnesium in the blood is also important for nerve impulse transmission & nervous communication in the human body. Magnesium has antagonist relation with the calcium. This antagonism had been demonstrated on the frog's heart by Dr. P. Trendelenburg in 1912 ( vide. Arch.f.exp.Path.u.Pharm., vol.69, p79) and Dr. Wiechmann in 1920 ( vide. Arch.f.d.ges.Physiol., vol.182, p24). Increased introduction of magnesium provokes an increased excretion of calcium in urine; thereby Ca 2+ goes out of the tissue component. By increase of the magnesium content in the serum, the binding capacity of the cartilage for the calcium is impaired. This is probably connected with an opposing property of penetration so that closely related ions collect on the site of action, the surface of the colloidal particles.

The Mg 2+ has an important relation to the nervous system. Injection of magnesium salt in large doses provokes a narcotic condition. Initially the peripheral paralysis appears and the muscles lose indirect excitability. Respiratory muscles are involved for sometime and then, central paralysis with loss of consciousness. Intra-lumbar injections result loss of mobility & sensations of the lower half of the body. The 'Magnesium-narcosis' is the effect of the large doses and does not ordinarily occur after oral administration - due to its poor absorption property. By the addition of saponins, the rate of absorption increased. Magnesium-narcosis can immediately be interrupted through the intra-venous injection of calcium. This extensive physiological influence of magnesium have been drawn by Dr. P. Delbet in 1930 ( vide. 'What Rôle Does Magnesium Play in Biologic Processes?').

Nerve impulse conduction is often increased by low levels of magnesium in the body fluids, as this situation results in the speeding up of nerve impulses - thus low levels of magnesium can directly increase muscular irritability and contractibility in the body. Physical symptoms such as persistent muscle tremors, uncontrolled movements in hands & face, as well as convulsions can often affect the person if there is a severe deficiency of magnesium in the body.

An imbalance in the metabolism of calcium can also result during a magnesium deficiency, with the consequent deposition of the mineral in the soft tissues of the body. In such situations, it is also common for bone deformities to develop in person. There are other long term effects of persistent magnesium deficiency which include degeneration of the kidneys & renal tissues, degeneration of skeletal & cardiac muscle, as well as degeneration of endocardium, skin and teeth. Magnesium deficiency can also directly affect the blood levels of other ions like calcium & potassium and level of these ions in the body is often depressed. There is a resultant accumulation of large quantities of the mineral sodium in the tissues & this often results in œdema. At the same time, it is important to remember that local tissue deficiencies of magnesium can come about even without the actual blood levels of the mineral falling below what is normal. This situation can lead to development of physical symptoms that are hard to pinpoint.

The ability of animals to adapt to cold conditions can be lowered if they are deficient in magnesium. The physical symptoms seen in animals deficient in magnesium include ulceration, calcification of the kidney & resultant stone formation, a reduction in lifespan, impaired function of heart & blood vessels as well as damage to the heart. Rats tested in the laboratory showed a reduced motivation to learn during some experiments related to magnesium deficiency; the deficiency also induced seizures in the rats. Only animals which were forced to perform in order to survive showed the normal levels of activity and motivation. The deficiency largely impacted voluntary activity in the test animals and did not have as much of an effect over involuntary actions.

Many different physical symptoms are caused by magnesium deficiency in the human body. These include persistent lethargy, generalized muscular weakness & knotting of muscle & nerve fibers (fasciculation), sudden onset of gross tremors, problems like tetany, sudden writhing movements in hands, mental & physical irritability, sudden mental changes, muscular convulsions, constant stupor, coma, spells of dizziness, as well as psychotic behavior. Symptoms may also include an exaggeration of the reflex actions, muscle jerks & seizures. Magnesium deficiency affecting babies & children and can induce a complete loss of appetite, failure to grow & impaired development, presence of a generalized apathy, presence of muscular irritability, hallucinations & mental confusion, generalized weakness & flaccidity - occasional spasticity & rigidity in body, onset of muscular tremors, twitches, as well as sleep apnœa (a condition where breathing stops suddenly) and rapid increase in pulse rate.

The hypothetical connection between sudden infant death syndrome and magnesium deficiency has also been suggested by some of the researchers and clinical scientists working on magnesium deficiency in humans.

Magnesium deficiency also often induces the condition called as neonatal tetany - exhibited as muscular convulsions, even if the major bio-chemical symptoms seem to suggest the low levels of calcium in the circulating blood. Injected magnesium supplement often alleviates the condition in such infants better than calcium; this is supposedly because the magnesium deficiency in the body is said to cause a very severe drop in the blood levels of calcium. These two minerals are thus connected bio-chemically and have a joint effect on the body. The metabolism of calcium in the body is again influenced to a great extent by magnesium. Supplements of magnesium can often alleviate cases of the rickets in children, if large doses of the vitamin D have not been able to bring positive results.

Some amount of magnesium is available in all natural foods. The best sources for the mineral magnesium include vegetables like legumes, all kinds of nutsand whole grains. Magnesium is found in rather small amounts in meats, and all non-vegetarian foods are relatively poor in this mineral, even then magnesium is found in high amounts in shellfish. Most of the mineral magnesium found in grains and many different foods is eliminated after they are refined, for this reason, magnesium is found in rather small quantities in white flour, similarly all other refined grains are also poor sources for the mineral.

People who use potassium-depleting prescription medications often suffer from a deficiency of the mineral magnesium as a side effect. A magnesium deficiency can also become established in people who use too many laxatives. The other potential causes of magnesium deficiency include long term alcoholism, injuries from severe burns, long term diabetes and heart failure.

Magnesium deficiency has been detected in almost two-thirds of all people in some intensive care hospital units in the United States. The onset of chronic diarrhœa, severe pancreatitis and other disorders connected to malabsorption have also been linked to a magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency can also cause long term physical fatigue, abnormality in heart rhythms, a generalized muscle weakness as well as muscular spasms. It can induce long term depression. It can bring on loss of appetite; it can also cause listlessness and depletion in the levels of the mineral potassium. As some serious symptoms associated with deficiency of magnesium can be quite serious and may require intravenous administration of magnesium supplements, they should be treated by medical doctors preferably in a hospital environment or in a clinical setting.

Usual Dosage : -

Magnesium requirements differ from one individual to another and differ across age groups as well. Infants have RDA magnesium of 60 mg. This can go up to 450 mg for lactating and pregnant women. The RDA of adult men is 350 mg, while that of adult women is 300 mg of supplemental magnesium.

Side Effects and Cautions : -

People who consume a lot of magnesium at one time are often affected by persistent diarrhœa. This condition can often be induced by dosage amounts as low as 350mg - 500 mg daily in some people. Excessive use of magnesium supplements and a large intake of magnesium containing laxatives can induce the development of far more serious side effects in a person. Such problems are unlikely to be brought on by the amounts of magnesium normally found in most nutritional supplements. Magnesium supplements must never be used by people suffering from kidney disease unless the supplemental regimen is approved by a doctor and done under medical supervision.

Important Medicines

• Magnesium carbonicum [Carbonate of Magnesium].
• Magnesium muriaticum [Chloride of Magnesium].
• Magnesium phosphoricum [Phosphate of Magnesium].
• Magnesium sulphuricum [Epson Salt].
• Magnesium fluoricum [Fluoride of Magnesium].
• Magnesium iodatum [Iodide of Magnesium].
• Magnesium bromatum [Bromide of Magnesium].
• Magnesium aceticum.
• Magnesium borocitricum.
• Magnesium usta.
• Magnesium silicatum.

Mental Generals : -

• Repression.
• Insecure feeling.
• Dreams of dangers, robbers, loneliness.
• Themes of being left behind on a railway platform & the train departed with all relatives while the patient was left behind.
• Panic with relatives, meeting friends, being with relatives who are actually dead.
• Neglected feeling.
• Hate aggression in any form.
• Pacifism is the key-note.

Physical Generals : -

• Right -sided affection.
• Chilly ; all complaints < by cold.
• Marked Periodicity.
• Slow metabolic action.
• Poor resistance; lack of vitality; increased susceptibility - leading to allergic manifestations.
• Affinity to Nervous System - leading to narcotic manifestations.
• Tendency to new growth.
• Mainly Psoric & Sycotic predominant.
• Desire for meat, vegetables and refreshing things.
• Aversion to cooked food, sweets, fatty things.
• Milk intolerance.
• All the discharges are sour, profuse & foul.
• Menses very dark - like tar; many complaints are excited or aggravated in relation with mense.
• Sensitive both mentally & physically; especially suited to children & women; worn-out constitution and chilly patients.
• Neuralgic pain; darting, tearing, boring & shooting.
• Unrefreshing sleep; more tired in the evening.
• All symptoms are < rest, touch, cold, 7 am, right side and > walking about, warmth, pressure, bending double.

Magnesium Carbonica

Magnesium carbonate has a long history of use as a laxative. It is still used in the pharmaceutical industry as a bulking compound in powder formulations and is an ingredient of some antacids. In industry it is used to make bricks, insulating compounds and as filler for paper and plastic paints.

Parts Used : - Magnesium carbonate.

Source : - Magnesite; which is found in Austria, China and the USA.

Uses : - Mag. carb. is used to treat taste disorders; e.g. a bitter taste in the mouth; with thick, white mucus on the tongue. It is also effective for digestive complaints that are accompanied by a desire for acidic drinks - e.g. constipation, indigestion, diarrhœa & heartburn - where acid splashes back up into the gullet. It is also given to infants who fail to thrive; with limited weight gain, a delay in muscle development and an inability to hold up the head.

• Magnesia produces a catarrhal condition of stomach & bowels; with marked acidity. A sour smell from the body, especially in children.
• Adapted to broken-down, 'worn-out women'; with uterine & menopausal disorders.
• Bad effects of shock, blow, mental distress. Ailments from excess of care & worry; with constipation & heaviness in abdomen.
• Marked 'periodicity'; all symptoms worse every third week.
• Mag-c is often used for complaints arising in people who have taking magnesium carbonate to sweeten the stomach.
• Menstrual flows only at night or when lying, ceases when walking. Menses scanty & late; flow acrid, dark, pitch-like (Kali mur.); difficult to wash off (Medo.). Colic followed by leucorrhœa.
• Dreams of fire, flood, robbers, quarrels, money, pleasures, misfortunes, dead persons. Awakes at 2 or 3 am and cannot fall to sleep again. Inclination to go to sleep during daytime. Unrefreshing; more tired in the morning than on retiring.

• Modalities : - < warmth of bed; every 2 nd day; every 3 rd week; milk; starchy food; uncovering; draft of air (facial neuralgia); wet-rainy weather; change of temperature; cold; night; smoking (headache).

> motion; warm air; walking in open air. Cold water better toothache for a while then aggravates.

• "Touch & pressure aggravate almost all symptoms, but pressure in abdomen ameliorates menstrual flow". Pain is worse on the side laid on.

Relations : - Complementary: Chamomilla.

Antidoted by : Ars., Cham., Merc., Nux-v., Puls., Rheum.

Antidotes : Acet-ac.

Compatible : caust., Phos., Puls., Sep., Sulph.

Duration of action : - 40 to 50 days.

Magnesium Fluoricum

Fluoride of Magnesia Mezger Planet: Mercury

It has got localized affinity to bacterial infections - especially Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. Its organic affinity covers Liver, Pancreas and Digestive passage. It is effective when Sulphur and Hepar sulph. fails to improve.

Modalities : - < sleep, especially after lunch; few days before menses; early morning; 3 am.

> movement in fresh air.

Magnesium Muriaticum

Chloride of Magnesia Planets: Jupiter, Moon

Mag-mur is indicated when excessive weakness if felt after sea-bath. Especially indicated for diseases of women; spasmodic & psycho-somatic complaints; complicated with uterine disorders; who have suffered for years from attacks of indigestion or biliousness. Toothache; unbearable when food touches the teeth. Pressing pain in the liver region; < walking & touching. The liver is enlarged; palpable, especially when lying on right side (Merc-v., Kali carb.). Constipation; stools hard, scanty, large, knotty like sheep's dung; difficult to pass; crumbling at verge of anus (Am-mur., Nat-mur.); of infants during dentition.

Summary of Indications : - Women's disorders; constipation; liver disorders.

Modalities : - < Immediately after eating; lying on right side; from sea bathing.

> from pressure and motion; open air ( except headache).

Relations : - Similar to Chamomilla in diseases of children.

Antidotes : Ars-a.; Camphora-off.; Cham.; Nux vom.

Follows well : Bell., Lyc., nat-m., Nux-v., Puls., Sep.

Duration of action : - 40 to 50 days.

Magnesium Phosphorica

Phosphate of Magnesia

Magnesium phosphate is a Schüssler tissue salt. It is called " Schüssler's Hot 7". He believed that the homœopathic remedy was good for diseases that affect nerve endings in the muscles or muscular tissue itself. He was justified, for a lack of magnesium in the body, produces symptoms like spasms and cramps.

The great anti-spasmodic remedy. Cramping of muscles with radiating pains. Neuralgic pains > by warmth. Especially suited to tired, languid, exhausted subjects. Indisposition for mental exertion. Goitre.

Parts Used : - Magnesium phosphate.

Source : - Prepared chemically from magnesium sulfate and sodium phosphate.

Uses : - This remedy is used for complaints that affect the nerves and muscles e.g. aches and pain; with cramps; neuralgic pain and a constricting sensation. It is also an excellent remedy for colic; pain is > from pressure, doubling over and warmth; < touch & cold. Complaints treated are often on the right-hand side of the body and there is a tendency to be chilly. People who require this remedy may be very sensitive or intellectual.

Mind : Laments all the time about pain. Inability to think clearly. Sleepless on account of indigestion.
Head : Vertigo on moving; falls forward on closing eyes; > walking in open air. Aches after mental labour, with chilliness; always > warmth ( Sil.). Sensation as if contents were liquid; as if parts of brain were changing places; as of a cap on head.
Eyes : Supraorbital pains; < right side; > by warmth applied externally. Increased lachrymation. Twitching of lids. Nystagmus; strabismus; ptosis. Eyes hot, tired; vision blurred; colored lights before eyes.
Ears : Severe neuralgic pain; < behind right ear; by going into cold air and washing face & neck with cold water.
Mouth : Toothache; > by heat & hot liquids. Ulceration of teeth; with swelling of glands of face, throat & neck and swelling of tongue. Complaints of teething children. Spasms without febrile symptoms.
Throat : Soreness & stiffness, especially right side; parts seem puffy; with chilliness & aching all over.
Stomach : Hiccough; with retching day and night. Thirst for very cold drinks.
Abdomen : Enteralgia; > by pressure. Flatulent colic; forcing patient to bend double; > rubbing, warmth, pressure; accompanied with belching of gas, which gives norelief. Bloated, full sensation in abdomen; must loosen clothing, walk about & constantly pass flatus. Constipation in rheumatic subjects due to flatulence & indigestion.
Female : Menstrual colic. Membranous dysmenorrhœa. Menses too early, dark, stringy. Swelling of external parts. Ovarian neuralgia. Vaginismus.
Respiratory : Asthmatic oppression of chest. Dry, tickling cough. Spasmodic cough, with difficulty in lying down. Whooping-cough (Coral-r.). Voice hoarse; larynx sore & raw. Intercostal neuralgia.
Heart : Angina pectoris. Nervous spasmodic palpitation. Constricting pains around heart. It prevents Myocardial Infarction.
Fever : Chilliness after dinner & in the evening. Chills run up & down the back, with shivering; followed by a suffocating sensation.
Extremities : Involuntary shaking of hands. Paralysis agitans. Cramps in calves. Sciatica; feet very tender. Darting pains. Twitchings. Chorea. Writers' & players' cramp. Tetanic spasms. Weakness in arms & hands; finger-tips stiff & numb. General muscular weakness.
Modalities : - <rightside; cold; touch; night. >warmth; bending double; pressure; friction.
Relationship : Compare: Kali phos., Coloc., Sil., Zinc-m., Dios.

Antidotes: Bell., Gels., Lach.
Dose : First to twelfth potency. Sometimes the highest potencies are preferable. Acts especially well, given in hot water.

Magnesium Sulphurica

Sulphurate of Magnesia / Epsom Salt Planets: Moon, Venus.

Adapted to allergic; tubercular diathesis. Depressive condition with hypersensitivity. Tendency to spasm in the hollow organs. Thick, profuse leucorrhœa assumes menses. Greenish urine with red sediment; Diabetes mellitus.

Modalities : - < morning; on awakening; closed vehicle; traveling on a train. > moving in fresh air; washing in cool water; rubbing; walking.

Sources : -

• Leeser, Otto: Text Book of Homœopathic Materia Medica (Reprint 1989; B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi; p 185-204).
• Bœricke, William & Oscar E.: Pocket Manual of Homœopathic Materia Medica & Repertory (Reprint 1996; B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi).
• Murphy, Robin: Homœopathic Remedy Guide (2 ND edition, Jan. 2000; IBPP, New Delhi ).