Magnesium to the rescue
If you've ever had sore shoulders, restless legs, a tension headache, or felt like your nerves were frayed spaghetti, let us introduce you to our new best friend: magnesium. Specifically, the Relaxing Magnesium Roller—my secret weapon for dance floor survival at this year’s Shambhala Festival (yes, I brought them as party favours, and yes, people were lining up to get rolled down right on the dance floor). Within seconds of rolling it onto necks, temples, and shoulders, people were exhaling like they’d just had a full body massage. Fast-acting, non-greasy, and ultra-portable—this little roller is here to turn your tension into toast.
Here’s the magic: magnesium absorbs much faster through the skin than through your gut. Oral supplements can be hit or miss (hello, tummy troubles), but when applied topically, magnesium bypasses digestion entirely and heads straight for your bloodstream and muscles. It’s like express delivery for your nervous system. Plus, this mineral MVP is responsible for over 300 functions in the body! Here are 10 of my faves:
Magnesium benefits
🌿 Relaxes tight muscles
Magnesium plays a key role in muscle contraction and relaxation. It competes with calcium, which causes muscles to contract. Without enough magnesium to counterbalance, muscles can remain tight, crampy, and fatigued. This is why topical magnesium is often used by athletes and those with chronic pain to soothe spasms and reduce post-exercise soreness.
🌿 Calms the nervous system
Magnesium acts as a natural calcium blocker at nerve synapses. It prevents overstimulation of nerve cells by binding to and regulating NMDA receptors, which are involved in pain perception and stress response. This is why magnesium is often referred to as a "natural chill pill"—it literally helps the brain stop firing on all cylinders and return to a calm, regulated state.
🌿 Supports deep sleep
Magnesium helps regulate neurotransmitters like GABA, which promotes relaxation and sleep. It also helps maintain healthy melatonin levels. A deficiency can lead to insomnia, restless legs, or frequent night waking. Many people find that applying magnesium topically before bed promotes quicker sleep onset and more restorative sleep cycles.
🌿 Eases anxiety and irritability
Low magnesium levels are directly linked to increased stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks. Magnesium modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs our stress response. It reduces the release of cortisol and supports serotonin production, promoting emotional balance and resilience.
🌿 Aids in energy production
Every single cell in your body requires magnesium to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the main energy currency of the body. Without it, mitochondria can’t function properly, leading to chronic fatigue, brain fog, and even hormonal imbalance. If you’re tired all the time, magnesium may be a missing piece.
🌿 Regulates heartbeat
Magnesium is essential for electrical impulses in the heart and the movement of potassium and calcium across cell membranes. It helps maintain a steady rhythm and can prevent arrhythmias or heart palpitations. For people with cardiovascular concerns, topical magnesium can be a gentle and supportive daily ritual.
🌿 Boosts brain function and focus
Magnesium supports brain plasticity, memory formation, and cognitive flexibility. It’s especially concentrated in synapses, where it modulates signal transmission. A deficiency can impair learning and concentration—especially in children and adults with ADHD. It also protects the brain from oxidative stress.
🌿 Supports hormone balance
Magnesium helps regulate estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone production. It’s especially important during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and can reduce PMS symptoms like irritability, cramps, and bloating. It also supports thyroid and adrenal health by modulating the body's stress response.
🌿 Helps maintain bone density
While calcium gets all the attention for bone health, magnesium is just as vital. It’s required to convert vitamin D into its active form and plays a structural role in bone mineralization. Without adequate magnesium, bones become brittle—even if calcium intake is high.
🌿 Helps reduce frequency and severity of headaches
Magnesium deficiency is common in people with chronic migraines. It helps relax blood vessels, balance neurotransmitters, and reduce inflammation—all of which can prevent or reduce the intensity of headaches. Applying magnesium to the temples or neck can offer rapid relief when symptoms begin.
Pretty wild that one humble mineral can do all that, right?
Want to learn how to make this dreamy roller yourself? Our Matka Lab members get the full recipe, formulating instructions, and ingredient sourcing tips. You’ll even learn about customizing it with your favourite essential oils or herbal infusions. Join us and get rolling—literally—with the tools to care for your body in a way that’s natural, effective, and handmade with love. 💫
ATTENTION!
Take your skincare DIY projects to the next level with our Advanced Natural Skincare Formulation Masterclass
If you are interested in learning more about formulating professional all natural skincare products from the comfort of your home, saving you hundreds of dollars, and being in full control of what goes into your products - follow the link below to our “Advanced Natural Skincare Formulation Masterclass” in collaboration with Pacific Rim College, Victoria.
You will learn the basics of formulating, a huge ingredient glossary, how to create and convert a recipe from % to g, pH testing your products, safely preserving your products, and how to bring a product to market in Canada if you wish to start selling your beautiful creations.
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