Magnesium (Mg) is
a trace mineral that is known to be required for several hundred different functions in the body. A significant portion of the symptoms of many chronic disorders are identical to symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
Studies show many 
people in the U.S. today do not consume the daily recommended amounts of Magnesium. A lack of this important nutrient may be a major factor in many common health problems in industrialized countries. Common conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a Magnesium deficiency. Perhaps not coincidentally, these conditions also tend to occur in clusters together within the same individual. A magnesium deficiency as a root cause would provide a logical explanation of why some people suffer from a constellation of these types of problems.
Magnesium helps synthesize the genetic material in cells, and helps to remove toxic substances, such as aluminum and ammonia from the body. Adequate amounts of magnesium are needed to insure proper heart function. A deficiency of magnesium may increase heart disease by decreasing free radical damage. Calcium and magnesium help regulate the heart rate. Magnesium relaxes smooth muscle, including the heart, and calcium constricts or activates smooth muscle. Magnesium plays a significant role in regulating the neurotransmitters. A deficiency in magnesium can cause depression, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, heart disease and arrhythmia, constipation, insomnia, loss of hair, confusion, personality disorders, swollen gums, and loss of appetite.
Magnesium is a natural sedative and can be used to treat muscle spasm, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and constipation. It also helps with intermittent claudicating, a condition caused by a restriction of blood flow to the legs. Magnesium is also effective in relieving some of the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Women who suffer from PMS are usually deficient in magnesium (as is 80 percent of the general population).
New studies are validating what many nutrition-oriented physicians have known for years; a magnesium deficiency can trigger migraine headaches. Magnesium helps relax constricted bronchial tubes associated with asthma. High intake of calcium may reduce magnesium absorption. Simple sugars deplete the body of magnesium! So does stress, and magnesium is a potent anti-depressant!
Toxicity: Symptoms of magnesium toxicity include nausea, lethargy and difficulty in breathing. Magnesium supplemented above 600 mg. can cause loose stools and diarrhea, but this is quickly remedied by decreasing the dosage.
