Minerals and vitamins in creams
From DoctorMyhill
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Vitamins and minerals have traditionally been given by mouth in the form of pills or powders. However, there is no doubt that some people are made worse by this. There are several possible explanations for this but the two most likely will be allergy and the fermenting gut (instead of a digesting one). Bacteria and yeast are as hungry for trace elements and vitamins as we are and will gratefully accept such a free lunch, multiply up their numbers and ferment even harder! When foods are fermented instead of being digested, this can produce all sorts of noxious products such as alcohol, D-lactate, hydrogen sulphide and probably others, all of which overload the liver detox system and have the potential to inhibit mitochondria and cause foggy brain symptoms. See Fermentation in the gut and CFS.
Minerals and vitamins delivered through the skin
One way to get round this potential problem with supplements by mouth is to take these supplements through the skin. Of course, this makes perfect sense – the skin is permeable, spa therapies have been of proven benefit over thousands of years and, indeed, many drugs are delivered as patches through the skin. So there is no reason why supplements should not be equally well absorbed.
Epsom salts in the bath
Indeed, a study done by Rosemary Waring at Birmingham showed that Epsom salts in the bath was a very efficient way of raising levels of magnesium in the blood. She did trials with people looking at the absorption of Epsom salts in bath water. A 15 minute bath at 50ºC with a 1% solution of Epsom Salts caused significant rises in plasma magnesium and sulphate levels together with an increase in magnesium excretion in the urine. To achieve a 1% solution, a standard UK bath of 15 gallons requires 600grams, (just over a 1lb) of Epson Salts. The water should feel slightly soapy. In this experiment there were no adverse effects, indeed 2 of the volunteers who were over 60 years of age commented without prompting that their rheumatic pains had disappeared. See Absorption of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) across the skin, 2004, Epsom Salt Council.
Epsom salts in the bath not only improve absorption of magnesium, but they are also a useful way of detoxing persistent organic pollutants back through the skin again. Do not be afraid to use soap which breaks down the lipid barrier of the skin and should improve movement of magnesium in and chemicals out.
Supplements in creams
I have to say I did not think this would be effective, but I have had happy clinical feedback from patients taking minerals and vitamin B12 in the form of creams that you rub into the skin. Below are the recipes I am trying at present.
Whilst using transdermal vitamins or minerals, do not wash the skin too often simply because you will wash them out. It may well be that these creams are good for skin conditions because many such condition are associated with low grade infections or allergies. Minerals, for example, will help to sterilise the skin and reduce the bacterial and yeast load. Furthermore, many reactions to substances are mediated by mast cells, which release histamine. Magnesium stabilises mast cells and therefore this would help to increase the threshold at which one started to react allergically.
You should not put anything on your skin that you are not prepared to eat! This is because absorption through the skin is so good. Many creams contain synthetic oils and chemicals. My preference is for a coconut based cream because this contains medium chain triglycerides which nourish the friendly bacteria on the skin.
Make you own cream
Creams are simply emulsions of oil and water. I use my coffee bean electric mill to mix coconut oil with water and use a little lecithin to blend the two.
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoonful lecithin
Blend to make a cream of mayonaise like consistency. Keep in the fridge.
Magnesium in a water based cream
Minerals tend to liquifiy the cream if left to stand so the best thing is to mix the minerals with cream just before applying it.
- 5mls of cream (about two teaspoons)
- your daily dose of magnesium. One gram of magnesium chloride contains 100mgs elemental magnesium. Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) is similar.
Use your finger to mix the magnesium salt into the cream – the magnesium salt dissolves readily and you can feel this happen. If your Epsom salts contain small crystals, it may take longer to dissolve. There is no problem with grittiness with magnesim chloride. I also add in one gram of ascorbic acid - an excellent antioxidant to protect against free radical damage to the skin.
The RDA for magnesium is 350mg daily when given orally, but of course not all of it is absorbed. At present I do not know the relative figures or percentage of absorption through skin compared to the gut, but, as I say, the clinical feedback is encouraging suggesting that worthwhile amounts are absorbed.
MMMs in water based cream
The principles are the same as for Epsom salts in coconut oil cream. The recipe here would be:
- one dessertspoon (10ml) of coconut oil
- one teaspoon (5ml) of water
- one day's supply of MMMs (this will depend on your body weight – one gram of MMM per 2 stone body weight up to a max of 5 grams daily. So a 10 stone person (or above) would need 5 grams of MMMs.
- one gram of ascorbic acid
Blend in food blender (or coffee grinder) - this also helps break the minerals down to make a smoother mix. The new batch of MMMs also contains vitamin D and vitamin B12, which should also be well absorbed through the skin. One week's supply can be made up in advance and kept in the fridge.
B12 in cream
B12 patches are available on the market and the figures suggest that about 6% of the B12 is absorbed through the skin.
- 100ml of cream
- One gram of pure B12. I can send this to you. It looks like a small amount, but a little bit goes a long way!!
Mix. Appyl one lml (which contains 10,000mcgms) daily. The 100ml pot will last over three months. If 6% is absorbed then this equates to 600mcg, which is equivalent to a daily injection of B12 at my currently recommended rates. The B12 cream is a lovely pink colour and this will stain the skin pink temporarily, but the stain goes over a day or two.
Ascorbic acid in cream
This is a good way to keep the skin slightly acidic and protect the skin from pro-oxidant stress such as sunshine. This may protect against the development of age spots and sun damage. Simply stir some ascorbic acid (vitamin C) into the coconut oil cream. I would suggest one gram of vitamin C per 10 grams of cream. Ascorbic acid could also be added to any of the above recipes.
Supplements in water
This is another way to get minerals and water soluble vitamins onto and through the skin if you dislike the cream. Simply mix the daily dose of minerals, water soluble vitamins (all the B vitamins and vitamin C) with just enough warm water to dissolve them. You need surprisingly little! Apply with a sponge all over the body. Initially there is an oily feel because magnesium chloride in the MMMs is hygroscopic, then the skin feels a bit sticky as it dries, but soon it feels dry.
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