Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Magnesium Spray?BenefitsDoes It Increase Magnesium Levels?How to UsePrecautions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Magnesium Spray?
Benefits
Does It Increase Magnesium Levels?
How to Use
Precautions
Magnesium spray is a product that is applied externally on the skin. Though it is touted to promote muscle relaxation, improve sleep, and manage migraines, studies of its effectiveness have yielded mixed results.
The following article covers the benefits of magnesium spray, its uses, and its safety considerations.
Female experiencing pain in her foot at home.Gabriel Mello / Getty Images
Gabriel Mello / Getty Images
Magnesium is a mineral that plays an important role in many of the body’s processes.
It is essential for the following:
Listed below are the recommended daily amount (in milligrams, or mg) of magnesium intake based on age and other factors.
Magnesium spray is a liquid form of magnesium that is applied to the skin. It has been marketed for promoting muscle relaxation and sleep.
Because magnesium chloride hexahydrate is water soluble, it typically takes the form of a spray.
When to See a Healthcare Provider About Muscle PainThough self-care is appropriate for muscle pain from minor injuries or exercise, see your healthcare provider if you have severe muscle pain.
When to See a Healthcare Provider About Muscle Pain
Though self-care is appropriate for muscle pain from minor injuries or exercise, see your healthcare provider if you have severe muscle pain.
Magnesium Spray Benefits
Despite this scarcity, some studies look at the localized effect of magnesium spray in improving a sore throat after surgery and nerve, muscle, and joint pain.
Intubation-Related Sore Throat
Compared to a placebo (an inactive substance), topical magnesium reduced sore throat severity after surgery in people undergoingtrachealintubation(a procedure for opening up the airway).However, further studies are necessary to clarify the optimal dose of topical magnesium.
Nerve Pain
Peripheral neuropathyis nerve damage that causes a tingling and numbing sensation in the arms or legs.
Chronic Muscle and Joint Pain
A small-scale study assessed whether applying magnesium to the skin would improve the quality of life of 40 female participants withfibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. The study suggested that four sprays of magnesium chloride solution twice daily to the upper and lower limbs for four weeks may benefit those with fibromyalgia. However, further dose-finding studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm this result.
Does Magnesium Spray Increase Magnesium Levels?
Currently, little research shows that topical magnesium impacts serum magnesium levels.
Magnesium is transported into the cell via magnesium transporters. Because the outer layer of the skin does not contain magnesium transporters, magnesium absorption occurs in the small areas of the sweat glands and hair follicles.
It is also important to note that the study’s author declared a beneficial interest in transdermal (via the skin) magnesium cream products.
How to Use Magnesium Spray
In one study, magnesium chloride solution was given in a spray bottle and used as follows:
Avoid magnesium chloride sprays if you’re allergic to them or their components. Seek immediate medical attention if you have asevere allergic reaction to them(such as itching, hives, or shortness of breath).
Other than skin irritation, topically applied magnesium chloride solution has no known side effects.
Summary
Some studies have shown that the topical use of magnesium sprays can reduce the incidence and severity of an intubation-related sore throat after surgery, decrease the frequency and severity of nerve pain symptoms (peripheral neuropathy), and improve chronic muscle and joint pain (fibromyalgia).
However, larger studies of various populations are necessary to clarify the optimal dose for each of the aforementioned conditions.
More research is also necessary to determine how the use of topical magnesium affects magnesium blood levels.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality—transdermal magnesium?Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. Published 2017 Jul 28. doi:10.3390/nu9080813National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Kuriyama A, Maeda H, Sun R.Topical application of magnesium to prevent intubation-related sore throat in adult surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Anaesth. 2019;66(9):1082-1094. doi:10.1007/s12630-019-01396-7Athavale A, Miles N, Pais R, et al.Transdermal magnesium for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in chronic kidney disease: a single-arm, open-label pilot study.J Palliat Med. 2023;26(12):1654-1661. doi:10.1089/jpm.2023.0229Engen DJ, McAllister SJ, Whipple MO, et al.Effects of transdermal magnesium chloride on quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia: a feasibility study.J Integr Med. 2015;13(5):306-313. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60195-9Kass L, Rosanoff A, Tanner A, et al.Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: a pilot study.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174817. Published 2017 Apr 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0174817
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality—transdermal magnesium?Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. Published 2017 Jul 28. doi:10.3390/nu9080813National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Kuriyama A, Maeda H, Sun R.Topical application of magnesium to prevent intubation-related sore throat in adult surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Anaesth. 2019;66(9):1082-1094. doi:10.1007/s12630-019-01396-7Athavale A, Miles N, Pais R, et al.Transdermal magnesium for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in chronic kidney disease: a single-arm, open-label pilot study.J Palliat Med. 2023;26(12):1654-1661. doi:10.1089/jpm.2023.0229Engen DJ, McAllister SJ, Whipple MO, et al.Effects of transdermal magnesium chloride on quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia: a feasibility study.J Integr Med. 2015;13(5):306-313. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60195-9Kass L, Rosanoff A, Tanner A, et al.Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: a pilot study.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174817. Published 2017 Apr 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0174817
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality—transdermal magnesium?Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. Published 2017 Jul 28. doi:10.3390/nu9080813National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Kuriyama A, Maeda H, Sun R.Topical application of magnesium to prevent intubation-related sore throat in adult surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Anaesth. 2019;66(9):1082-1094. doi:10.1007/s12630-019-01396-7Athavale A, Miles N, Pais R, et al.Transdermal magnesium for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in chronic kidney disease: a single-arm, open-label pilot study.J Palliat Med. 2023;26(12):1654-1661. doi:10.1089/jpm.2023.0229Engen DJ, McAllister SJ, Whipple MO, et al.Effects of transdermal magnesium chloride on quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia: a feasibility study.J Integr Med. 2015;13(5):306-313. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60195-9Kass L, Rosanoff A, Tanner A, et al.Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: a pilot study.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174817. Published 2017 Apr 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0174817
Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality—transdermal magnesium?Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. Published 2017 Jul 28. doi:10.3390/nu9080813
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.
Kuriyama A, Maeda H, Sun R.Topical application of magnesium to prevent intubation-related sore throat in adult surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Can J Anaesth. 2019;66(9):1082-1094. doi:10.1007/s12630-019-01396-7
Athavale A, Miles N, Pais R, et al.Transdermal magnesium for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in chronic kidney disease: a single-arm, open-label pilot study.J Palliat Med. 2023;26(12):1654-1661. doi:10.1089/jpm.2023.0229
Engen DJ, McAllister SJ, Whipple MO, et al.Effects of transdermal magnesium chloride on quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia: a feasibility study.J Integr Med. 2015;13(5):306-313. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60195-9
Kass L, Rosanoff A, Tanner A, et al.Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: a pilot study.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174817. Published 2017 Apr 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0174817
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