Magnesium may help stave off cancer, study says

By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Dear Jonathan: My mother's doctor has said she needs to take 1500 mg. of calcium and 2000 or units of vitamin D for her osteoporosis and 750 mg. of magnesium. Is this too much for an 82 year old woman? -David, Longmeadow Dear David: I am not a doctor, but Lawrence Resnick, MD a professor of medicine at Cornell Medical Center says that it is. I am impressed that her doctor recognizes the need for magnesium. It is important for a person of her age to get the proper form of calcium. An amino acid chelate, such as a citrate, malate, or lysinate are denser forms and more readily absorbed. A minimum of a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium is suggested. Too much calcium leaches magnesium which is very important for assimilation. For fifty years women were told to take high doses of calcium (usually the wrong form) and still we have not seen a decrease in osteoporosis. If anything, there has been an increase as evidenced by the increase in osteo pharmaceuticals. Osteoporosis results in the loss of calcium not the lack of calcium intake. High protein in the diet can exacerbate the problem. Food based calcium from green leafy vegetables , nuts and other dietarty sources are more easily absorbed. We have a sheet here at Herbarium with over fifty sources of calcium, other than dairy products. That might be the way your mother can get the extra calcium without having to take more pills. Additionally, many of these other sources contain magnesium. Ain't Mother Nature grand? Dear Jonathan: Is there any natural way to treat scabies? -Rita, Southwick Dear Rita: A topical treatment of Tea Tree oil (Melaleuca), Lavender oil (Lavandula angustafolia) and Goldenseal root has traditionally been used and has been quite effective. Dear Jonathan: I have Diabetes and neuropathy. My feet are numb and tingling. Is there anything at the Herbarium that I can use? -Carl, East Springfield Dear Carl: We have used several products over the years. Since I don't know if you have Type 1 or 2 diabetes, I will address the neuropathy. Our Nerve and Osteo Support, B complex, and Ginkgo are the items that have shown the most promise. The extra magnesium in the N&O and B complex help with nerve function while the Ginkgo helps with peripheral circulation. A massage of true Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia) can also help. Update: Yet another reason to make sure your magnesium intake is sufficient. A report in the February issue of the Journal Nutrition cites a Japanese study of over 40 thousand men and 46 thousand women indicated that magnesium intake is inversely associated with the incidence of colorectal cancer in men. Western studies have shown the same encouraging pattern. Magnesium is essential for DNA synthesis and repair. The study did not find a significant association of magnesium intake and cancer risk in women. Still it provides one more indication of the minerals importance. Next month I will update you, dear readers on new and exciting research on vitamin D. Stay tuned! Jonathan. Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. If you are requesting additional information from Jonathan, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.