Why Magnesium?

Occasionally, patients ask about the ingredients in the nutritional supplements that we carry. One of these preparations is Formula 303, a homeopathic natural relaxant. Since many chiropractic patients suffer from muscle imbalance, tightness, and spasm, Formula 303 has proven to be very useful in their treatment. In addition to its botanical ingredients (valerian root and passiflora), this product also contains the mineral magnesium carbonate. Let’s take a closer look:

Why might we need extra magnesium? Although magnesium is found naturally in many foods, we don’t always eat the balanced diet that would provide enough, and there can be times, especially as we age, that the digestive system does not process and retain it efficiently. Other factors, such as using diuretic medications, or even consuming too much sugar, alcohol, or caffeine, can also interfere with absorbing the mineral. Magnesium is a hard worker in your body! It is a stabilizer, working as a team with calcium to regulate all your muscles. Magnesium is the mineral which causes a muscle to relax and loosen; without it, your muscles would be in a constant state of contraction! It is critical for proper nerve function, and for helping the heart maintain a normal rhythm. Magnesium activates more than 300 enzyme systems in your body! 

Even if you are not currently deficient in magnesium, the small amount contained in Formula 303 could be the extra “boost” that your muscles need temporarily, to achieve a relaxed state. In combination with the other active ingredients, it may relieve the intense pain of muscle spasm, and improve your chances of getting to sleep and staying asleep longer. 

As with any supplement (or prescription drug) that you are given, be sure to follow instructions on how much to take, how often, and for what period of time. It’s always a good idea to talk to your primary doctor and your pharmacist, to make sure that any new product can be safely used along with your medications and your current health conditions.

For more details from the National Institutes of Health, go to https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/