Magnesium for Better Sleep

There are many reasons why some people don’t get a good night sleep. Working night shift or odd hours, or interrupted sleep patterns from the introduction of a new baby are reasons that are explainable and also not always able to change. But other things like tight muscles causing tension, anxiety and emotional stress and growing pains in children can often be helped by the use of good quality magnesium such as Bioceuticals Ultra Muscleze Night powder, Ethical Nutrients Mega Magnesium or Amazing oils organic magnesium oil.

Magnesium as a muscle relaxant

There is nothing like the pain experienced in the middle of the night when you are gripped by a muscle curling cramp in your calf. Some people, in fact a lot of people experience muscles spasms, cramps, twitches and pain especially at night which keeps them and often there partner awake.  Cramps such as these can be caused by too much calcium in the muscle. Calcium is needed for muscle contractibility, not what you need at night whilst you are sleeping. Magnesium can transport this calcium out of the muscle and initiate muscle relaxation. Magnesium is also needed to reduce the excitability of muscle fibres. You can take magnesium orally before bed if you are experiencing any muscle tension, Bioceuticals Ultra Muscleze Night powder, Ethical Nutrients Mega Magnesium  or/and spray Amazing oils organic magnesium oil directly onto the muscles that feel tight. This is especially good for those tension headaches coming from tight neck muscles.

Magnesium for a healthy stress    response

We know when we get a good night sleep every worry seems less in the morning. Taking to bed the concerns of the day will often keep people awake at night and no amount of reassurance from your partner to stop worrying will alleviate the anxiety and over-thinking. A certain amount of stress is actually good for us. It allows for our body to respond to an imminent danger or internal issues. It is when we have chronic stress that causes the problems like lowering our immune system and causing sleeplessness. Magnesium can calm down the irritated brain by reducing the amount of stress hormones released. Stress can increase the need for magnesium and a lack of magnesium can increase stress in the body. By supplementing with BioCeuticals Ultra Muscleze Night before bed you will be able to handle your stresses and get a good night sleep, or is it get a good night sleep and handle your stresses. Either way it’s a win/win situation.

Magnesium for children

Mummy legs hurt. What parent hasn’t heard this cry at some time in their Childs early development? You cannot see a wound, so you worry what could be causing this distress. The little ones have a restless night and so do the parents. Growing pains in children occur when the large bones of the body grow quicker than the attached connective tissue causing muscle, ligaments and tendons to feel tight and achy. Magnesium and stretching can give relief. Amazing Oils organic magnesium oil spray is an easy way to ease your child’s discomfort. It will work within minutes after applying directly to the achy areas or to the soles of the feet. Due to the fact that it is a salt it may leave an itchy sensation, this is normal and can be relieved by the applying over a moisturizing cream or oil. (A little foot massage never hurt anybody).

Some Forms of Magnesium work better than others

Magnesium can be available in a variety of forms, and are used for various conditions. Magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) is used to help with constipation for example. Magnesium chloride has excellent topical absorption so works well in sprays and bath salts that use the skin for absorption.

Some magnesium products come with partners (co-factors) to help them absorb better by escorting them into the cells, and some magnesium are made in a way to have good bioavailability.

Sleep

In the case of sleep we want a form of magnesium with good bioavailability that will not cause any digestive issues (you don’t want to be woken up from this deep sleep we are trying to promote to have to go to the toilet).

Bioceuticals Ultra Muscleze night powder is an amino acid glycinate form that is very well recognised by the body. This particular product also contains lactium, a milk derivative that helps with stress; and sour cherry which can help increase melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that lets us know when it is time for bed and promotes a good night sleep. It naturally builds up during the day light hours through time in the sun, but for a variety of reasons, a lot of us don’t always get enough outside time for this to happen. Up when it’s light, to bed when it’s dark and time outside sounds ideal!.

Ethical Nutrients Mega Magnesium also uses a glycinate form of magnesium and supports the absorption of this with co-factors such as vitamin b 6.

BioCeuticals Ultra Muscleze Night is a Practitioner Only product and will need to be prescribed by your Doctor or Naturopath.

Author Superpharmacy Naturopath