I was just on the tinnitis board and posted a similar message.

I have been trying Natural Calm (pure elemental magnesium citrate powder mixed with water) and have had astounding results with my hyperacusis. Aftrer about 4 days of taking this my hyperacusis is GONE. Yes I mean gone. After two years of suffering.

It seems all this time I had a magnesium deficiency.  I had even tried other magnesium brands and they did not work for me. Not aborbable. This Natuural Calm is the only thing that has worked. I have also tried calcium and magnesium, many, many different brands. I thought that because I was over 50 I just had to have calcium, WRONG.  Did not work. Turns out I needed ABSORBABLE MAGNESIUM.   Anyway, try this product. You can get it an any health food store or on line. 

I no longer have to wear cotton in my ears to work with my head phones on. Also my ear fluttering and spasms appears to be totally gone. The popping and noises are almost all gone. The best news is the hyyperacusis, gone! Dishes clanging, etc do not bother me now.  My tinnitis is much quieter, barely a slight ring.

I am just blown away by this product. I hope it can help others. Try it, for 18 dollars a bottle of powder it is worth it. I take 4 tsp per day or 2 tsps morning and 2 tsp at night. Mix wiht hot water.  Very easy. If you get diarrhea just back off a bit. Diarrhea will not hurt you.  I have not yet got diarrhea after 4 tsp.  I must be really depleted. I eat EXTREMELY WELL and still am depleted!! I drink tons of fresh juices, veggies, nuts, etc. Go figure. So simple. Sounds too good to be true but it is true. This stuff works!

Here is a link if you want to read more.

http://www.vites.com/articles.shtml

No I do not sell the stuff. Just trying to help.  Many times hyperacusis, tinnitis, ear issues, stress symptoms,  etc are really a magnesium deficiency due to stress and the body's depletion because of stress and other factors. Magnesium flies out of the body whenver we get excited, stressed, nervous, mentally or physically! You have to replenish it or you are on the road to ill health.

Good luck and God Bless,

Raylee

Hi Raylee,

I went to the link you gave.  I happen to be a big believer in vitamins and minerals.  I know alot about magnesium, because it's especially important for the heart and nervous system, and helps with osteoporosis and nerve disorders.

I asked my internist (who is holistically-directed) and he said there is no real problem with taking magnesium alone as in the formula you mention, as long as you don't take too much.  Anything over 1,000 mg. of magnesium/day for an extensive period of time can have the opposite effect, and result in muscle weakness.

On the site you link to, they offer several supplements.  Some are with only magnesium, some combine magnesium with calcium.  They even say that after several weeks of taking magnesium alone, some people's symptoms can return.  Then, they recommend going on their Calcium/Magnesium formula.

I am copying below in red from a page on their website; I intersperse with my own comments in black:

Please note that the purposes of all of the above formulas, is to regulate calcium/magnesium levels in the body. Needs may vary during different stages of one’s life. Whenever possible, we recommend kinesiology testing to determine the right formula.  (I put this in bold print, the point is, even they recommend seeing an "expert" - my preference would be a nutritionist - to determine the right formula).

Many people can’t tolerate high calcium supplements (short or long term) and react to it adversely. For such people (perhaps the majority) magnesium alone or CalMag Plus will do a much better job regulating calcium levels in the body (as magnesium is what makes calcium active, as well as ridding the body of excess calcium, which is toxic).  (This is very true; but it is also why a PROPER BALANCE between calcium and magnesium is so important.  To say "take magesium and not calcium" is not always correct). 

Different folks = different proportions
Always keep in mind that different people require different calcium-magnesium ratios.  (Exactly right!  The best way to determine this is to see a holistic doctor FIRST, and get a blood test (or saliva test, hair test, whatever is required) to determine any deficiencies.  After all, if you already have an excess of magnesium in your body, you wouldn't want to add to that.  Would you?)

Some require only magnesium (Natural Calm), some high magnesium and little calcium (Cal Mag Plus) and some high calcium, low Magnesium (CalMag).  (Again, testing would show what you need and what you don't). 

Changing/Replacing a formula:
Many will do great on long term Natural Calm on a regular basis, while some others will eventually need to periodically switch between the Natural Calm and one of the CalMag formulas to ensure calcium deficiency isn't induced by magnesium over-consumption.  (Calcium deficiency can be very bad if you are over 50 and may be prone to osteoporosis.  I have scoliosis, and I am always conscious of taking calcium.  Too much calcium, however, can result in stiffness.  I think again, balance is important and knowing what you're deficiencies are, if any).

Change the existing formula ONLY if (1) the person gets no benefits from it or (2) it introduces new symptoms.

As long as a person does well on any given formula, he should be left on it.

Overall, this company does provide very extensive information and their products look good!   My only concern (for myself) is that I tend to do poorly on citrates, because they are very, very acidic.  That could be a problem with people who have stomach disorders (ulcers) or skin problems.  I have photosenitivity and my face is sensitive to sunlight, and citrates can make that worse.  I do notice, however, that the company also makes a magnesium carbonate formula.  If the citrate is the one that works, I can try it and see.  I've taken citrates before, the worst that happens is it won't work for me, but I like the fact that the company explains how to take the supplements, and what to expect from them. 

Since I always take magnesium every day, I will look into Vitality's products, they do look good overall.   Thanks for the link.

All the best,

Bonnie 

What an incredible story!  Well for 18 dollars I thought it's worth a shot so I picked up a bottle today at the local health food store. It's a lot cheaper then seeing a faith healer and works almost as fast, and the worst you can do, at least in the short term, is give yourself involuntary GI detox.

Well I took the manufacturers recommended starter dose of just 1 tsp. almost four hours ago and so far nothing is happening. What's taking so longgggg?????!!!!!

Seriously Raylee, why did you start with such a high initial dose, and, was your T and H triggered by acoustic trauma or something else?

Thanks, Preston

Great post Bonnie!  I echo your comments.  I have one of the healthiest diets of anyone I know...I exercise regularly, sleep 8 hours a day, meditate (occassionally)...and so one... I'm 36 and look younger.  Unfortunately, my ears also feel like crap.  And it seems its directly related to noise exposure.  When I push it too much, the ears get more sensitive.

So, am I going to stop taking vitamins and eating healthy.  Hell no!  Because when the ears improve someday, I'll be healthy as an ox!  Are oxes healthy?

Numerous health advocates have been talking about synthetic vitamins and or improperly absorbed vitamins as actually being detrimental rather than beneficial, as they can cause the body to lose vitamins rather than gain them.

Hi Ken, I believe the phrasing is "healthy as a horse", and "strong as an ox", but I see no reason why horses can't be strong or oxen healthy too!

Hi Bonnie, Your Boris Karloff spoof was very funny!!! Glad you got that off your chest... now you can breath easier. You'll be happy to know that I have an appointment with a holistically oriented MD in a couple of months (yeah long wait). He's the director of complimentary medicine at a local hospital and also a member of some holistic physicians alliance. I assume he'll order blood tests, hair analysis, etc. and then I'll have a better idea where I'm at in the nutrition and heavy metal depts.

As for occasionally eating stuff that's consider bad for you, there are beneficial chemical substances produced by the body in response to a feeling of satisfaction or well being. So those occasional French fries or donuts or whatever, while they look bad under the microscope, could be somewhat beneficial if you have an emotionally uplifting experience when you eat them (occasionally).  

I hear ads for the Swedish Duxiana beds all the time in on NYC radio. I checked out epinions and it's a mixed bag; some people love 'em and others just hate them, and not just because they cost a small fortune either. If you ever do find a good mattress let us know, your opinion would be valued.

Hi MIA, Yeah I found myself getting bloated from the product for a couple of days but I seem to have adjusted to it now. I haven't tried the mega-dose that Raylee mentioned. She was taking other magnesium products before and possibly could tolerate the higher dose right off the bat. My diet is pretty good (my opinion) yet my intake of magnesium rich foods is probably a little light, plus the stress of have T&H (among other stresses in life) can contribute to a deficiency. If I do try a higher dose I won't maintain it for long because as we've read here, there can be complications even with the best of vitamin products.

Raylee, where are you... could you give us an update?

__________________

Regards,

Preston

Yes I'd agree that if you are taking supplements that you should use a good quality highly absorbable form. A few years ago I started taking B vit. and Mag. oxide, but after 6 months or so I saw no improvement and stopped. I've since learned that these Vit. and Minerals, even though produced by a supposedly good company were not readily absorbed and most likely I was just spinning my wheels using them. I'm trying the vit/min thing again with better products and also adding natural foods to the menu i.e. spirulina, bee pollen, nut and seed butters, whole grains, pumpkin seed oil, and so forth.

A point that many nutritionists make is that most people on the standard American diet cannot readily absorb vit/min from food or supplements because their GI tract, including intestinal flora and fauna, is so screwed up. This is the result years of eating processed foods, improper eating habits like eating too fast, watching TV and reading while eating, eating at the wrong time of day, eating too many acid causing food, and so on. Plus many people have a high degree of toxins accumulated in their systems so the basic metabolism is under stress. So holistic health professionals often advise their clients to address the GI tract/toxic substance problems along with a food/supplement regimen.

In many European countries mega-vitamins can only be obtained by prescription. I'm not sure why that is but I've assumed the laws are to protect people from harming themselves through improper use of supplements. Of course the dangers of vit. misuse are minuscule compared to most of the prescription compounds in existence.

Oh by the way, I've read that some Md's practicing TRT will occasionally prescribe Xanax or like drugs for their patients during the course of the therapy. Dr Nagler was one of those Md's and he also used Xanax during his own course of TRT. If I understand correctly, he believes the benefits of these drugs outweight the detriments, including the allegations of impaired brain plasticity, which is vital to TRT.

_________

Regards,

Preston

Hi Preston,

I totally agree with you about the natural foods menu. Some of thoses products the bio doctor recommended like what you mentioned above are found at Trader Joes natural health food chain's...

She wants us to shop there so there we went.. It totally different store from Safeway which we normally go too. But the stuff we need is mostly at this other store..

What a change in menu and my gals are such picky eater's thou the food looks O.K. to me... It just stocked differently...

But the absorbility of certain vitamins and supplements is so true.. The hard solid ones can go right thru a persons gut.. They have taken X-rays on what happens with this before and goes straight thru and out..

I chew anything in hard looking form up first and pop in my mouth cod liver oil or vitamin E gel caps..  I don't mind the taste.. Lots of people do... but I have seen what happens when your body can't digest the vitamins and it goes right thru..

The chewable form I like for my kids but it has to taste a certain way for them..  And its hard to get away with with mixing stuff " powdered " in food or juice with them.. Expecially my one daughter she catchs on so quick and then that food is no longer on her lists of foods to eat anymore..

But the gut.. Yes.. Thats so important the digestion..  I think thats where this provider is going first for my twins.. This will take years.. Really... This is a long process plan and will be very costly..

But they are autistic so it so much different for them then it is for me..

Thanks for reminding me about the regulation of supplements.. I totally forgot as I've been more busy lately....   

What concerns me is What do regulated supplements cost.. And whats the avalabilty of supplements in that form to the general public...

This is Life Extension and the way they see it....

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/jul2005_awsi_01.htm

Its just a thought....  

Preston wrote:

Oh by the way, I've read that some Md's practicing TRT will occasionally prescribe Xanax or like drugs for their patients during the course of the therapy. Dr Nagler was one of those Md's and he also used Xanax during his own course of TRT. If I understand correctly, he believes the benefits of these drugs outweight the detriments, including the allegations of impaired brain plasticity, which is vital to TRT.

Preston

Thanks Preston.  Once again, wisdom is priceless!  I am really beginning to believe the better way to go is with supervised and moderate (not excessive) drugs.   Vitamins make me feel worse sometimes, especially too much B12, which can agitate the nerves.  Why would you want to make yourself edgy and nervous, which can only make hyperacusis symptoms worse?  I don’t like taking Valium, but without it sound is unbearable.

Bonnie just wanted to say I am under the care of a Naturopath (who is a medical doctor as well) and I rang her after reading about the magnesuim and she said to give it a go, she knows what I am taking and recommended much of it....

I am not self treating but thanks for your concern... 

MIA

Excellent MIA!  I’m glad it’s working out for you !  Unfortunately, it isn’t for me.  Valium is better.  Actually, NOTHING is really better.  I want to feel the way I did before the MRI when I didn't have to take anything.  You know.  Like...NORMAL!

Hi Lynn,

I'll quote some of what you said in previous posts, also in color, with my response to certain important issues you raised.

But even thou in certain case's drugs may be a lifesaver.. There are far more dangerous and far more likely to kill ya or mess you up then vitiamins or minerals are...

I wish I could agree with you on that.  I don’t.  I suggest you get the book, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” edited by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (I believe the original edition was published by Dr. James Balch years ago).  There are a huge number of headings for vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, herbs, etc. followed by full length articles on specific ailments and nutritional prescriptions that could help with those ailments.  What I like about this book is that warnings are given for specific vitamins.  For example, a copper overload could damage the retina.  Vitamin D and boron can cause toxicity if not balanced with Calcium and Magnesium.  Vitamin K should never be taken without a doctor’s supervision if you have a blood clotting disorder (many new osteoporosis supplements include Vitamin K).  Too much folic acid could cause seizures in people like myself, who suffer with a seizure disorder.  

BTW, a lot of people don’t know this, but some of the most “natural” foods in the world can cause trouble.  With regard to seizures, the herb “sage” is extremely dangerous and should not be used as a seasoning by epileptics.  Conversely, manganese is excellent as an aid in preventing seizures.  But again, only under a holistic doctor’s supervision and without self-medicating.  Other “natural” foods that are potentially problematic are the nightshades, which include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes.  These can cause serious arthritis symptoms to flare up.   And certain remedies for arthritis (such as flaxseed oil) can cause flare-ups if your body is not capable of converting the prostaglandins properly; and instead of alleviating pain may make pain worse.

And for those who are vegan vegetarians and get most of their protein from soy products, this can be a serious problem.  Aside from the controversial estrogenic effects that come from eating soy in excess, soy is a also a zinc antagonist, and zinc is crucial for the balance of copper.  Just some stuff like that. 

Medications can become a crutch in the way of true healing and learning other behavioral or copeing lifetime skills.

This is true with anything, including vitamins.  While you don’t become addicted to vitamins per se, you certainly do “feel” it when you go from taking megadoses to quitting cold turkey.  The reason vitamins don’t work as well as drugs for specific ailments is precisely because the potency level is not high enough.  That’s one reason the real purpose of vitamins is to PREVENT disease, not to CURE AILMENTS.  Once you have an ailment, it is very rare for micronutrients to be taken in excess and for a person to see results as they would with a drug.   I’m all for drinking wheat grass juice; and it is a wonderful preventative against cancer, as green tea, and glucosamine/chondroitin and MSM are against inflammation.  But once you have a malignant cancer, tragically, you usually need to take more aggressive therapy, including chemo.  I’m sorry to say, it’s unpleasant and unfortunate but those are the facts.

As mercury is in the air, water, food and just all around us... this can go as well for most people on this planet as we are not liveing in a natural environment  as much as a man made polluted one..

But I believe that building up ones health and certain supplements are helpfull in that process.  And certain foods like cake and french frys and donuts can clog up the ol blood pump…And watch out for that can of tuna... Fish use to be a number one food source.. Its too bad things have gotten so bad that we do need more supplementation in life then when things were more natural home grown and less polluted...  

Lynn, I know you’re very passionate about the toxicity of mercury, and the points you make about greasy foods are true.  But I wouldn’t go crazy about the latest reports about fish and mercury.  Mercury in dental fillings is not good, but removing solid metal fillings that contain mercury can actually be much worse for your health.   If the fillings are strong, leave ‘em, and just get composites in the future.   Just eat sensibly, have tuna in moderation (yellow-fin is great, if you can find it), eat meat, eat poultry, eat veggies, eat fruits, eat yogurt, eat grains, eat a little butter, eat a little snacks, drink coffee and alcohol in moderation and believe me, you’ll do fine. 

What concerns me is What do regulated supplements cost.. And whats the avalabilty of supplements in that form to the general public...

This is Life Extension and the way they see it....

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/jul2005_awsi_01.htm

I’m a member of Life Extension Institute.  I receive their magazines each month and take a number of their vitamins.  However, their vitamins tend to be on the very high potency side, and not every vitamin is good for everyone.  Their regular multi has a massive amount of B12 and other B’s as well, and tons of herbs that don’t all agree with me, and so now I’m taking their twice/daily multi which is lower on the B’s.  I’ll probably moderate my use of those vitamins as well.

There’s a doctor (chiropractor) in California named Dr. Bruce West.  I receive his newsletter “Health Alert,” and I agree with his philosophy that micronutrients through diet and low potency vitamins may ultimately be the way to go.  I’m not sure; I haven’t tried Standard Process Labs yet.  But those vitamins are extremely low in potency and food based, based on homeopathy.  The vitamins were invented by a biochemist a hundred years ago and they’ve been around ever since.  I may give it a whirl.

Another thing I've discovered about the H problem.  While Valium works very well in helping ease the symptoms, cutting down on coffee at night also is a very good idea.  If you go overboard with any stimulants, including B vitamins and coffee, you're probably over-stimulating the auditory nerve and that can increase noise intolerance.  I guess that's why I'm also not a big B vitamin fan, they are good for stress, but stimulate the nerves as well.

Let's face it: there are many 4 pack-per-day smokers, as well as drug addicts and alcoholics that live to be 90, while abstainers can die from cancers at 30.  Look at folks like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; they were HUGE druggies in their day, but they seem to be alive and kicking butt in their mid sixties.  A "healthy lifestyle" may make you FEEL BETTER, but it doesn't make you LIVE LONGER.  The bottom line?  It all comes down to two things:  STRESS and GENETICS.  You can't change the genes you're given, but you can reduce your stress.  And reducing stress is what prolongs life, not vitamins, exercise or a "healthy" diet.  

Of course, I'm severely stressed out 7/24/365, so what does that tell you about my future?  

Take care, be well.

Bonnie

"I'd rather be addicted than afflicted."

Part two to the post above... from...

http://www.healingleaves.com/amazingHealth/Heavy_Metal.html

V c) Amalgam Removal without Patient Protection

This study measures the mercury level when amalgams are removed not following the protocols presented above.

Molin, M., Bergman B., Marklund, S.L., Schutz, A., Skerfving, S., "Mercury, Selenium, and Glutathione Peroxidase Before and After Amalgam Removal in Man" Acta Odontal Scandinavia; 48:189-202. Oslo. ISSN 0001-6357 (1990).

ABSTRACT: In 10 healthy persons all amalgam fillings were replaced with gold inlays. Blood and urinary levels were measured on 10 occasions during a 4-month period before and a 12-month period after amalgam removal. These variables were also measured three times in 10 healthy controls. A strong statistically significant relation was found between plasma mercury values and both the total number of amalgam surfaces (r=0.71, p=0.0006) and the total surface area of the fillings (r=0.73, p=0.004). In the immediate post removal phase plasma mercury rose three- to four-fold, whereas the urinary and erythrocyte mercury rose about 50%. These peak values declined to the pre-removal level at about 1 month after removal. Twelve months after the removal plasma and urinary mercury levels were reduced to 50% and 25%, respectively, of the initial values for the experimental group. Apart from the significantly lower plasma selenium values 5 and 10 days after removal no significant differences were found with regard to plasma selenium or erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase either within or between the experimental and the control groups. A large number of supplementary biochemical analyses did not show any influence on organ functions or any differences between the groups before or after the amalgam removal. Amalgam fillings considerably contributed to the plasma and urinary mercury levels.

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I know on other threads I posted other sites of information on this subject as well..  Still envy my husband...... I wish mine where out ......

The PDR For Herbal Medicines and the one for vitamins Forewarded by David Herber, MD, PhD, Facp,Facn Professor Of Medical And Public Health Director , UCLA Center for human Nutrician is a good book on concerns over interactions with prescription with the most frequently prescribed drugs..

Its good reading.. I still feel good about what I did to help myself.. And I still think magnesium and B vitamins are a good thing with our exposure to sound over time to do..

The biomedical doctor I am seeing for my children did not warn me to stop giveing my children the supplements I am giveing them right now...

I feel good about this.. I did buy some supplements from her that are probably of better quality that I got from her before there indivdual testing results will come in.. But not to give it to them till after...

They have to change their eating habits first before any bio treatment and thats not going to be so easy to do..

Have you ever tryed to reason with an autistic child or make them eat something they don't want to eat... Believe me.. Its really hard to do if not almost impossible.. But I'm working on it...

I can't wait to see what the testing shows...   

I have only intermittent access to the web when I visit a library so I may not be able to respond quickly but would appreciate any knowledge anyone might have on this subject.

I had a bad noise exposure which sent me into extreme hyperacusis relapse.  At the time I had seen the first half maybe of the postings on this topic.  I was in a hurry to recover and so, unwisely, I think, in retrospect, I ordered this stuff.  I tried one teaspoon or tablespoon (whatever the official dosage was) the first day and it had no effect at all.  So the second day, I just went ahead and took the dosage the initial writer said was helping - 2 doses in the morning and 2 in the evening.  Then I had an effect of extreme discomfort in my ears and maybe all over my skin --of itchiness and burning, I think.  I never took anymore of the stuff.   Now two weeks later, I seem to have suffered severe hearing loss?  Could the magnesium have caused that? 

Out of time on computer so logging off before I lose this.

Hi everyone,

Lydia wrote:

So the second day, I just went ahead and took the dosage the initial writer said was helping - 2 doses in the morning and 2 in the evening.  Then I had an effect of extreme discomfort in my ears and maybe all over my skin --of itchiness and burning, I think. 

Too much of any vitamin or mineral can cause certain reactions in people.  That's why I said in previous threads that before you try a new supplement, it's a good idea to check with a nutritionist or holistic physician first.

I take magnesium periodically, although too much weakens the muscles in my back unless I balance with an osteo supplement that includes calcium, D, boron, zinc, etc.  However, I have scoliosis and my doctors always advised me to keep my back strong with an osteo supplement.

When I take magnesium, it is the oxide form, which supposedly is the least effective form.  But it is also the safest, and doesn't cause reactions like magnesium citrate, asparate or glycinate.  It is very unlikely though, that the magnesium you took caused any hearing loss.

Preston:  You are right about prednisone, but it MUST be taken immediately after the hearing loss.  I know, because my husband woke up ten years ago suddenly with no hearing in his right ear and extreme vertigo that lasted for days.  The doctors did not administer the right treatment initially.  They gave him Antivert for the vertigo (and it worked) but nothing for the hearing loss.  David then went to one of the top doctors in NYC who tried to reverse his hearing loss by administering prednisone, but it was too late.  It was given several weeks after it happened when it should have been given to him immediately, but the first two doctors David went were ignorant of this fact.  Today, David has no hearing in his right ear and gets tinnitus in his left ear right before bad rainstorms. 

BTW, David's brain/ear MRI came out normal at the time of his hearing loss.  The doctors never found the reason David lost his hearing so suddenly, although he has genetic hearing loss in his immediate family (his dad has Meniere's disease). 

All the best,

Bonnie