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What Are the Medical Uses of Magnesia Phosphorica?

M. Haskins
M. Haskins

Magnesia phosphorica, sometimes called Mag phos, is a homeopathic remedy prepared using the salt magnesium phosphate. According to homeopathic practitioners, this remedy has many medical uses for a wide variety of health problems, including various types of pain, muscle tension, indigestion, and fatigue. It is often used specifically as an anti-spasmodic remedy and to treat conditions that involve cramping and neuralgic pain, or nerve pain, such as headaches and abdominal cramps. To make this remedy, magnesium sulfate and sodium phosphate are mixed in water, and the resulting crystals of magnesium phosphate are pulverized with lactose before being prepared in the form of liquid dilutions, tinctures, and pills. Magnesium phosphate is considered safe to ingest, but the medical effectiveness of this homeopathic remedy has not been scientifically proven.

Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that became very popular in the 19th century. In homeopathy, Magnesia phosphorica is a well-known and commonly prescribed remedy for a wide range of health problems. It is used as a sleep aid, to help relaxation, and to treat coughs and colic. It is primarily used for pain relief, however, and may be prescribed to relieve the pain associated with teething, ear infections, and menstruation, as well as muscle pains, toothaches, and headaches.

Bowl of magnesia phosphorica.
Bowl of magnesia phosphorica.

Similar to other homeopathic remedies, Mag phos is available in various potencies. The potency of a homeopathic remedy does not depend on how much of an active ingredient it contains, but instead on how much the active ingredient has been diluted with water or alcohol, and on how many times the preparation has been vigorously shaken, a procedure known as succussion. Dilution and succussion are thought to activate the medical properties of the ingredients and increase the potency of the remedy. Homeopathic practitioners also believe that the medical effects of a remedy vary depending on its dilution, and how many times it has been shaken.

Homeopathic formula.
Homeopathic formula.

Magnesia phosphorica has not been scientifically proven to have any health benefits, but it also has no known side effects. Magnesium phosphate, the active ingredient, is listed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. This means it is considered safe as an additive in food, cosmetics, and drugs. Outside of homeopathy, it has been used as an antacid and a laxative.

Discussion Comments

anon1002311

Science is not the only answer. Some things we cannot see yet we accept them as truth. I read a lot about alternative remedies, and I love science as well.. I believe we people need to accept the progressive evolution towards more 'high sensitive remedies'

Thoughts are energy as well. When somebody hurts someone with words, you can't see the words, yet our reaction can be very severe, closed throat, pain in the heart etc. This is how I see homeopathy. I love it and it has worked immensely with me as well. Thank you for reading. Kind regards

anon998980

I'm a skeptic, and have never been a fan of homeopathic remedies. However, after having a pinched nerve in my neck for 2 months and trying various pharmaceutical drugs, my sister gave me some mag-phos. By the next day the pain was gone and I have become a true believer. If it worked for me why not others. I just don't understand why the medical community does not promote this over opioids.

anon994207

Out of sheer pity I shared a few doses with an old friend walking with the help of a stick as a result of LBP. He has since thrown away the stick.

anon992807

Mag phos works for cramps (menstrual).

anon968150

@Strawcake: I hate to say it but you are very wrong. No, Mag Phos is not a placebo, but actually works for RLS. Having been on Gabapentin, Requip, Amytriptyline and other prescription drugs, I know for a fact Mag Phos works. I no longer take those prescription drugs and now sleep at night and after being on the Mag Phos for pain numbness and tingling for years I have improved 90 percent. Plus I use a heating pad in the evenings which also is very effective.

I was a disbeliever in the beginning but not now. I feel like myself again and not a zombie while I took those prescription drugs. If prescription drugs work for you then by all means go down that path.

anon959080

I use Mag Phos regularly for intense, debilitating cramps in my calf, shin, thigh and foot. I keep a bottle beside my bed, because when they strike I cannot walk to the bathroom to get them! This works within a minute, sometimes faster. I can literally feel the cramp relaxing. I have suggested and given these to my two brothers-in-law, both of whom are great skeptics of "natural medicine), and they both say that this remedy is amazing.

If I do not have this remedy, I keep a bottle of blackstrap molasses (which contains both magnesium and potassium) for a relief from the cramps. Popping a remedy tablet is much easier! This is not just placebo effect by any means! (I mean homeopathy remedies for many other issues and find them very effective. They are also inexpensive!

Talha12345

If someone is suffering from deficiency of Magnesium, is it good to take magnesia phosphorica? Please let me know.

anon925225

As someone who suffers debilitating muscle aches due to adrenal exhaustion, I'm absolutely going to try magnesia phosphorica. I've tried another homeopathic for internal shaking and after months of trying many other things, this seems to be the 'thing' that is helping me.

I understand some believe its a placebo effect, but after trying so many other things, it was just one more thing to try and it's working.

anon336338

I am a physiotherapist working with patients who are often in a great deal of pain, taking high dose painkillers, not getting much pain relief but suffering the side effects of prescribed drugs. For the last two years I have been recommending Mag Phos (with approval from a homeopath) and many of my patients report relief of pain to the point where they have been able to reduce their prescribed drugs.

It's also good for hangovers!

anon322687

I have endometriosis and have suffered life debilitating pains for almost 20 years! Magnesia phosphorica is the only thing that has ever helped and with prolonged usage as well as calcium supplements, I now have hardly any pain at all.

anon317330

Magnesium deficiency is known to the scientific/medical community to cause muscle twitching and cramps. So, it would make sense that something with magnesium in it would help alleviate those symptoms!

anon316240

I'm only posting anonymously due to time constraint but I use magnesia phosphorica for RLS or "restless leg syndrome," a severely debilitating syndrome causing insomnia, twitching and movement. From day one my RLS disappeared. Sorry, strawcake but nobody will convince me it's not the mag phos doing its magic.

anon311172

I get two weeks of mind-numbing menstrual cramps a month. I sought this out because I knew taking that much pain medication was probably not good for my liver. This has worked wonders for my cramps. Placebo effect or not - it's amazing and has changed my life.

anon305791

For all the naysayers on here about homeopathy, and mostly for magnesia phosphorica working for pain, I know for a fact it works. I had a friend tell me about 15 years ago for using for menstrual cramps, and I still use it today. It has worked every month.

My first day is very painful and I pop about four or five pellets under my tongue and within 15 minutes to a half hour, they have either subsided or gone away completely. I'm glad I didn't wait for so called "science" to tell me that it works. Most of my remedies I have found this way. Not all of them have worked, but most have. If the FDA would actually work to help expose these kinds of cures, instead of being in bed with the pharmaceutical industry, we would have more things available.

anon299216

I call it snake oil. They make billions of dollars in the homeopathic/vitamin industry. Because of their influence, they get to make claims without proof.

If it really worked, it would be easy enough to do recognized tests to prove it. No doubt there is a placebo effect also involved.

anon276476

The problem with only using things that are scientifically proven is that we would never find out about natural solutions that really work! This is because to prove something scientifically takes scientific research studies, which are very expensive and have to be funded.

Pharmaceutical companies fund studies that help them develop and sell their drugs, but who would fund a study of banana peel as a wart remedy (try it, it works), or--in this case--homeopathic magnesium for cramping?

anon263667

Lately I have been experiencing severe leg cramps, while sleeping. I recently took this medication in pill form dissolved under the tongue, and it has proved to be most amazing, and I am able to sleep at night without experiencing the severe leg muscle cramps. Kudos to you.

sunnySkys

A friend of mine takes Magnesia phosphorica 6x for menstrual cramps. According to her, it works really well. I don't know anyone who has taken it for anything else though.

I personally prefer conventional medicine, so I'll stick with an ibuprofen next time I have abdominal cramps. But if you're into homeopathy and natural medicine, I don't see the harm in trying this stuff to see if it works for you.

JessicaLynn

@strawCake - I will admit that homeopathy does sound a bit odd. Even I shook my head a little bit reading about how shaking it a certain number of times can increase the potency of a homeopathic remedy. It's sounds pretty ridiculous.

However, I will say that I have taken homeopathic remedies with a degree of success. There's one for stress relief and anxiety that I use sometimes, and it definitely works. I don't think it's the placebo effect either.

I've never taken Magnesia phos, so I can't vouch for that remedy. But I wouldn't discount it without trying it.

strawCake

I personally think it's a little silly to use remedies that haven't been scientifically proven to work? What's the point? Any good effects you get from taking something like Magnesia phosphorica are probably just all in your head. It'd be cheaper to just meditate or something!

However, at least Magnesia phosphorica side effects are pretty much nonexistent. I hear all the time about people using natural remedies that come with some pretty unpleasant side effects. If you must take some weird alternative remedy, it's at least a good idea to take one that can't hurt you! That way you won't end up any worse than you already are.

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    • Bowl of magnesia phosphorica.
      By: Jiri Hera
      Bowl of magnesia phosphorica.
    • Homeopathic formula.
      By: by-studio
      Homeopathic formula.
    • Magnesia phosphorica is used as a sleep aid.
      By: Konstantin Yuganov
      Magnesia phosphorica is used as a sleep aid.
    • Magnesia phosphorica may be used to treat indigestion problems.
      By: snaptitude
      Magnesia phosphorica may be used to treat indigestion problems.
    • Magnesia phosphorica may be used to treat teething, ear aches and colic.
      By: Galina Barskaya
      Magnesia phosphorica may be used to treat teething, ear aches and colic.
    • A homeopathic physician may prescribe magnesia phosphorica to treat a persistent toothache.
      By: Eléonore H
      A homeopathic physician may prescribe magnesia phosphorica to treat a persistent toothache.