Are you Magnesium Deficient?

Magnesium is vitally important to our bodies. It is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Because of some modern day farming practices and the fact that our soil has been depleted as a result, magnesium is no longer sufficiently available in our food. Most health professionals that understand the importance of magnesium agree that assimilation through the skin is the best way to supplement magnesium. Magnesium skin products have been used to relieve muscle cramps and fatigue, as well as assisting in pain management and inflammation.

While it is understood that magnesium is not the answer to all of the world's ills, there is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, adrenal fatigue, diabetes and others.

List of common deficiency symptoms:

Depression, mood swings, anxiety

Gut Disorders

Behavioral disturbances, irritability

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Muscle Cramps and joint pain

ADHD

Allergies

Constipation

Poor Dental Health

Calcium or potassium deficiency

Epilepsy

Parkinson’s disease

Multiple Sclerosis

muscle tremors

Sleep problems, insomnia

PMS, infertility

Migraine

Cluster headaches

Osteoporosis

Premenstrual syndrome

Chest pain (angina)

Cardiac arrhythmias, heart flutters

Coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis

Hypertension

Type II diabetes

Asthma

Brain fog, difficulty concentrating

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, consider a magnesium supplement to see if your symptoms improve.There are tests available to check your magnesium levels, but it's not necessary to begin taking a magnesium supplement. Magnesium is a safe mineral that does not build up in the body. "Too much” magnesium,  will just produce a laxative effect that eliminates the excess, in which case you can reduce the dosage. However, if you are on prescription medications you may want to ask your doctor if you can take magnesium, they will probably say no or they will do a standard serum magnesium test, which usually turns up "normal". Research for yourself, and make an informed decision. 

In their paper published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Drs. DH and DE Liebscher examine the difficulties in diagnosing magnesium deficiency through symptoms and testing, and offer a proposed solution. Based on their clinical experience with mineral imbalance, the authors suggest as an option, beginning magnesium therapy and supplements as soon as possible, for a minimum of one month’s duration or until levels are clearly improved.

These recommendations echo the general sentiment that magnesium supplementation is safe and recommended, especially for the estimated 75% of the population with below the recommended daily magnesium intake.

Old Paths Wellness offers a magnesium supplement in the form of a cream. It is our top seller and many customers have provided testimonies of how our Moisturizing Magnesium Cream has helped relieve their symptoms. You can order your first jar of Magnesium Cream at our online store. Give it a month, and see if it will make a difference for you!

This information is for educational purposes only and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Seek medical advice from a licensed medical provider.  
source: ancient-minerals.com

Petroleum Jelly: Good or bad?

Take a look in your medicine cabinet, and you're likely to find a jar of petroleum jelly. It's used for so many things, from baby's bottom to your chapped lips.

 But is your trusty petroleum jelly really a "cure-all"? More importantly, is it as harmless as you think? Here is an analysis by New York-based dermatologist Dr. Alan Dattner, founder of HolisticDermatology.com, and celebrity makeup artist Katey Denno.*

 

What Is Petroleum Jelly?

Petroleum jelly is a derivative of oil refining. Originally found coating the bottom of oil rigs in the mid-1800s, it's a byproduct of the oil industry and therefore an unsustainable resource (read: not eco-friendly). It's commonly used topically to cure everything from dehydrated, flakey skin to diaper rash.

 

Why Is It Potentially Harmful?

Though generally regarded as safe, the components that are removed from the oil during the refining process of petroleum jelly are carcinogenic in some cases. "Vaseline supposedly has all of these [components] removed," Dr. Dattner says. "But there are probably plenty of petroleum jelly imitators, and one doesn't always know the extent that they're removed." Denno also points out that, since petroleum jelly can be found in "different grades of purity," you don't always know how non-toxic your petroleum jelly-based beauty products really are. (For the record, Vaseline is highly-refined, triple-purified and regarded as non-carcinogenic.) As for your skin? Petroleum jelly can create the illusion of moisturized, hydrated skin, all the while suffocating your pores. It's water-repellant and not water-soluble, meaning it merely seals the barrier so that moisture does not leave the skin. So while you might feel the instant gratification of a softened surface, you're actually drying out your pores by keeping out air and moisture. What's more, the thick texture makes it difficult to cleanse from the skin, so never slather petroleum jelly on an unwashed face if you want to avoid breakouts. "It essentially seals in the dirt," says Denno. People suffering from skin conditions like acne and rosacea should stay away from petroleum jelly altogether, since such thick emollients can aggravate those conditions. Those who rub Vaseline on dry, cracked noses to get through a cold might want to think twice, too: If petroleum jelly gets into the lungs, it can cause lipid pneumonia. It won't happen if you apply it once in a while, but Dr. Dattner recommends not making a daily habit of it.

 

Why Do People Use It?

"It's an inexpensive way for a formulator to offer the appearance and immediate feel of hydrated skin," Denno says explaining why petroleum jelly crops up in our beauty products. As a mineral oil, it doesn't actually moisturize, but it does a good job at holding in moisture -- if you make sure to thoroughly wash and moisturize your skin before application, that is. When you wash your skin with soap, you destroy some of the barrier and remove natural oils, so petroleum jelly can help repair that barrier if used properly, Dr. Dattner says. "It’s like putting a piece of plastic over your skin -- it prevents evaporation," he explains. But everyone is different, so it's important to see how your skin reacts to Vaseline or any other petroleum jelly-based products before committing to a regimen.

 

What Can You Use Instead?

Don't think you have to forfeit the soothing feeling of petroleum jelly if you are trying to avoid its potentially harmful properties. If you're looking for a dewy moisturizer, just opt for more natural alternatives and check ingredients. Products containing beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter and cocoa butter seal in moisture and don't come with some of the risks of petroleum jelly. "Remember that some of these products are absorbed into the skin, so it's nice to use something that you wouldn't mind putting into your body," Dr. Dattner says.

 

Non Petroleum Jelly produced by Old Paths Wellness contains organic extra virgin olive oil which absorbs into the skin to moisturize and revitalize while the beeswax and vitamin E seals and protects it. Because our non petroleum jelly is made with all natural ingredients, it is safe for you and your child's skin. For those who use essential oils topically, it works as a carrier oil. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed. Another way we encourage "abundant living naturally".

 

*Excerpt from The Huffington Post article entitled, Petroleum Jelly May Not Be As Harmless As You Think by Rebecca Adams, October 23, 2013.