Do Epsom Salts Help?

Discussion Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It is named Epsom from the town in England, close to London where it was supposedly discovered. Magnesium is an important trace element. It is a co-factor for ATP metabolism, DNA and RNA synthesis and regulation, and multiple other enzymatic reactions. Hypermagnesemia is quite uncommon and usually would occur because of renal insufficiency or being iatrogenically produced. Hypomagnesemia is a serum concentration of < 0.75 mmol/L. Symptoms are often non-specific such as lethargy, anxiety, headache, decreased appetite, nausea and sleeping problems. Muscle spasms and muscle associated pain can occur. Arrhythmias and central nervous system problems including seizures can occur. Hypomagnesemia can frequently co-occur with other electrolyte abnormalities such as hypocalcemia or hypokalemia. Magnesium is commonly used to treat cardiac problems such as cardiac failure and arrhythmias, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. It can also be used as a secondary treatment for severe asthma, temporizing treatment for digoxin toxicity, and as an anticonvulsant if appropriate. It can be used for patients with hypomagnesemia due to malnutrition as well. Magnesium is given orally or intravenously usually to treat these and other conditions. The skin is the largest organ and is designed as the barrier to the outside world. A transdermal substance has to pass through the epidermis and the stratum corneum which specifically are designed to negate such passage....
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news