Probably the one best supplement we've added to LuLu's repertoire since starting biomedical interventions last November has been Magnesium Sulfate Cream. Our DAN! doctor prescribed it to help with meltdowns and rages, but for LuLu it is significant in other ways as well.

Magnesium is a trace mineral required by our bodies. American diets are notoriously deficient in magnesium. The best sources being nuts and seeds like sesame and sunflower seeds, as well as almonds, walnuts and cashews.

And even a slight deficiency can show up as sensitivity to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching, trembling, apprehension, insomnia, muscle weakness and cramps in the toes, feet, legs, or fingers.

Now that I'm finally grasping the magnitude of magnificent magnesium -- I'm realizing how deficient LuLu has been all along. She has always had severe noise sensitivity and muscle cramps in her legs. For years we've written the cramps off to "growing pains". About 18 months ago she started developing noticeable tics. And of course, there are all the anxiety disorders, depression and irritability.

The doctor recommended that we buy the magnesium sulfate in cream form and apply it as a massage twice daily. The brand we use comes from Kirkman Labs. It is well blended and rubs easily into the skin. I attempted to make a homemade recipe a few weeks ago, and while it smelled wonderful, the concoction separated as it cooled and is gritty when applied to the skin. So, it was back to Kirkman's.

Magnesium Sulfate is Epsom Salt. Some people find relief from their magnesium deficiencies through taking frequent Epsom salt baths. But the salts can be drying to the skin, so the cream has seemed to work better for us. The truly amazing thing about the cream is that it sometimes calms a child's meltdown right after being applied! I guess the body just absorbs it through the skin much faster than ingesting it.

Magnesium deficiency is associated with a variety of diseases/disorders including Tourettes, ADHD, schizophrenia, fibromyalgia, asthma, diabetes, mitral valve prolapse, migraines, restless leg syndrome, and TMJ. It is interesting to connect LuLu's Tourettes and ADHD with her leg cramps and TMJ symptoms. Amazing!

This website - called the Connective Tissue Disorders website - contains some links to interesting medical research on magnesium deficiency.

All I know is that for LuLu magnesium is making a difference -- her tics are down and no complaints of leg cramps for some time now. And it does seem to produce a calming in her when we administer during a meltdown.