Magnesium offers hope in the fight against depression

Depression is a horrible state of mind which can lead to suicide if not dealt with properly. The psychiatric drugs prescribed by the psychiatrists have been noted to be very dangerous due to a myriad of potential side effects. The natural remedy magnesium offers significant hope in dealing with depression.

Magnesium has surfaced as offering a great deal of hope in fighting depression. The National Institutes of Health reports that magnesium is one of the most vital minerals in the human body. Magnesium is associated with brain biochemistry.

Depression has been seen with magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has long played an essential role in homeopathy for use as a remedy for many mental health problems. Almost 100 years ago there was a paper written about the beneficial effect of magnesium sulfate used hypodermically for patients with agitated depression. Many pre-clinical and clinical studies have offered support for the initial observations that magnesium benefits the treatment of depression.

It has been reported by Elsevier that rapid recovery from depression has been seen with magnesium treatment. Major depression is a serious mood disorder which is associated with anhedonia and intense sadness. The symptoms of depression severely disrupt a person’s life and can even lead to suicide. The antidepressant drugs themselves are not always helpful and have a myriad of potential adverse side effects. These drugs have been implicated with an increased risk for suicide in many people.

Neuropathologies have been noted to occur with magnesium deficiency. There has been an increase in magnesium deficiency in people because only about 16 percent of the magnesium which is found in whole wheat remains in refined flour. Furthermore magnesium has been taken out of most drinking water supplies.

Neuronal damage which can occur due to magnesium deficiency may manifest as depression. It has been hypothesized that magnesium treatment is effective in treating major depression which results from intraneuronal magnesium deficits.

Researchers have found magnesium to usually be effective for treatment of depression. Other types irregularities in mental well being such as insomnia, suicidal ideation, anxiety, irritability, postpartum depression, short-term memory loss, IQ loss, and cocaine, alcohol and tobacco abuse have been observed to benefit from magnesium.

It appears that dietary deficiencies of magnesium along with excess calcium and stress may cause a myriad of negative symptoms which include anxiety, agitation, irritability, confusion, asthenia, sleeplessness, headache, delirium, hyperexcitability and hallucinations. It must therefore be considered that magnesium deficiency may be the cause of most major depression and associated mental health problems.

Eating foods high in magnesium such as nuts and seeds, dark leafy greens and fish is a good idea. It has also been suggested to fortify refined grain and drinking water with magnesium to pre-twentieth century levels. Magnesium supplements also appear very helpful in helping to beat depression.