Re: A: long term magnesium use

[Guest guest]

Dear Deanna,

I have had good results healing anal fissures using number 2 suppositories from wise women herbals (hemorrhoid formula) as well as an internal herbal formula primarily containing Centella asiatica, which is specific for anal fissures; the formula probably contained other healing herbs like calendula, hydrastis, symphytum; zanthoxyllum to drive the herbs into the pelvis; an anti-spasmotic like viburnum opulus; something relaxing to the nervous system like scutellaria or melissa;

sounds to me like she has spastic constipation that has some strong, far reaching emotional connection; as long as there are spasms it will be difficult to heal any fissures;

you might be treating a symptom that could be a guideline for the whole healing process, which doesn't mean that you shouldn't attempt to help relieve it; I just wouldn't make this the focus of my treatment; her case will in all likelihood require a long time to unfold and the constipation/holding on will eventually relieve itself. I sometimes tell patients like this to try to be grateful for these symptoms as they really are a red flag that can be used to monitor stress response or on the other hand relaxation response and healing progress.

le Duebendorfer, ND

Sandpoint, ID

long term magnesium use

Hi I am working with a 48 year old woman who has been using 1500mg ofmagnsium every day for 10 years to keep her stools loose. If she cutsdown on the magnsium her stools get harder and she has extreme painfrom an anal fissure. She can remember needing suppositories forconstipation as far back as 3 years old. At 15 she was diagnosed withan anal fissure. The fissure didn't bother her much until she startedtaking Paxil 10 years ago for depression and anxiety. For a year, shefelt like "she was torn open" until she started the magnesium. Nowshe has chronic loose stools and I am not sure if she is absorbing anynutrients. The fissure is worse in the fall and winter. She wouldreally like to get off the magnsium, but is afraid. I would like tofind a way to heal the anal fissure. Has anyone had experience withsomething like this? What would be the best way to go about gettingher off the magnesium? What do you think are the effects of being onthis much magnesium for so long? Other issues we have been working on: Anxiety - taking Paxil 25mg but wants to get offI have tried 200mg of Zen (GABA and theanine), valerian SE, inositolpowder, withania powder, adrenacalm and DHA. Hx of drug and alcohol abuse - she uses alcohol to "self-medicate"when feeling stressed or anxiousuterine fibroidintermenstrual bleeding and irregular cycles- she may be going intomenopausejoint problems - various joints, move arounddysmenorrhea - she is doing seed cyclinginsomnia - wakes at 4-5 AM and can't get back to sleep. I would really like some ideas about helping her with the anal fissureso she can get off the magnsium. She is currently doing BTGs, UNDA 1,20, 258, calc flour 6x, MSM, valerian and bottoms up balm topically. Thank youDeanna Berman, ND, CMIthaca, NY