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Other Surprising Applications of Magnesium Sulphate Paste

by — Last updated: 2020-10-05 in Drugs & Medications
Reviewed by Medical Team — 2017-09-20

Table of Contents

Magnesium sulphate paste is usually applied as a "drawing ointment" for boils, carbuncles, and other skin infections. However, there are many other applications for this versatile, natural remedy.

There are even more applications for magnesium sulphate paste.

Magnesium Sulphate Pastes Relieve Allergies and Asthma

Part of the problem in asthma and hay fever is the hair-trigger reactivity of the nervous system in the nose, throat, and lungs. Magnesium slows down nerve impulses, and reduces the speed and severity of allergic reactions. Magnesium sulphate pastes will not cure allergies or asthma, but they usually make the symptoms a lot more bearable.

Magnesium Sulphate Pastes May Help Improve Attention Deficit Disorders

In ADD and ADHD, the brain is so active that nucleus acumbens, the "conductor" of brain traffic, becomes overwhelmed by impulses. It can't sort out input into the brain so that the most important information is acted upon. Magnesium helps the brain regulate its "speed limit" and relieves some of the symptoms of attention deficit and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders by increasing the focus of people with ADHD.

Magnesium from magnesium sulphate pastes and magnesium from supplements are even more helpful for ADD and ADHD when they are combined with low-dose vitamin B6.

Just the recommended daily intake (RDI) is enough to improve functioning. A French study found that combining magnesium and vitamin B6 helped school children with ADHD reduce repetitive behaviors, improve language skills, and improve social interaction, although different children respond to this intervention in different degrees. [4]

Magnesium Sulphate Pastes May Help in Preventing Breast Cancer in Women

In the United States, most women who have passed menopause get on average just 115 mg of magnesium from their diets, far less than the 300 mg minimum recommended for prevention deficiencies. At the same time, many women take supplemental calcium to stop bone loss and osteoporosis.

The ratio of magnesium to calcium in the diet turns out to be an important predictor in whether or not women get breast cancer. The higher the ratio, the lower the risk. Magnesium sulphate pastes help women get the magnesium they need to offset the higher amounts of calcium in their diets, particularly if they are consuming extra dairy products or taking calcium for bone health and density. [5]

Magnesium Sulphate Pastes May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

One of the ways in which the body deals with high blood pressure is insulin resistance in which the body's tissues stop responding to insulin properly, a phenomenon that slowly but surely leads to type 2 diabetes. If you stop the high blood pressure, you may also stop diabetes. Using magnesium sulphate pastes may not lower blood pressure a lot, but the magnesium they provide may be just what your body needs to lower blood pressure, stop diabetes, and prevent its complications, such as diabetic retinopathy and cardiovascular disease. [6]

How do you use magnesium sulphate pastes for all of these interventions? It's very simple. As a hair care cream commercial in the United States used to say, "A little dab'll do you."

Just spread a small amount of mangesium sulphate paste over a small area of skin, say 2 inches by 2 inches (5 cm x 5 cm) on a part of your body where it will not stain clothing or be otherwise noticeable, allow it to dry, and go about your business for the day. Rinse it away the next time you shower. Your body will get a boost from the magnesium your skin absorbs, without any risk of diarrhea that can be caused by magnesium supplements (because the mineral never passes through your digestive tract), and slowly but surely you are likely to feel better.

READ Want To Stop Type 2 Diabetes? Go Nuts!

There is just one more thing you need to know about magnesium sulphate paste. When you are using it to treat skin infections, wash your hands thoroughly and properly before and after application. You don't want to spread the infection, particularly to your eyes, and you don't want to dip your fingers back into a jar after touching your skin without washing them first. Neither do you want to introduce new pathogens to an already existing wound.

Common side effects of magnesium sulfate are diarrhea and an upset stomach. However, if you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should contact your health provider right away:

  • Signs of an allergic reaction (rash; hives; itching; breathing difficulties; chest tightness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
  • Dizziness, flushing, or faintness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Muscle paralysis or muscle weakness
  • Severe drowsiness
  • Sweating

Such side effects are rare, but serious. For the rest of us, however, Epsom salts are a safe and healthy way to boost our health.