Re: epsom salt baths, sulfate, sulfur foods & plasma cysteine

[Guest guest]

>

> I find that I do well with Epsom salt baths and think it is the

> sulfate. I didn't get a Epsom salt bath for approx 1-1/2 weeks.

> When I did, it really helped relax me as well as relieve strong

> feelings of agitation, frustration, etc. as well as the aches and

> pains.

>

> I supplement magnesium regularly (every 3-4 hrs or so) so I assume it

> is the sulfate in the baths that helps more when I get them. I've

> been trying to figure this out but am unsure if I'm putting things

> together that I shouldn't be.

Well the improvements you describe sound more like it is helping

with magnesium deficiency. You are probably absorbing a lot more

magnesium from the bath than orally. You could try increasing your

oral intake of magnesium to tolerance and see if that helps reduce

those symptoms more generally, rather than just when you take an

epsom salt bath. Taking taurine with magnesium is supposed to help.

Or you could try epsom salt cream for more magnesium as well as

sulfate.

> If I need more sulfate does that mean I need to eat more sulfur foods

No, these are independent issues.

> too? Does that mean I probably have low or normal plasma cysteine?

I don't think it's clear from your response to epsom salt baths

that you are low sulfate. It is possible, though.

If you are low plasma sulfate, that doesn't tell you anything about

plasma cysteine level.

> Does this also mean that my phase 2 liver sulfation pathway is also

> slow/screwed up?

Sulfate is needed to make your sulfation pathway work. This

has nothing to do with your cysteine status.

I'm confused if these are separate issues or if I

> should be connecting these dots.

Separate.

> If this is the case that I should be eating more sulfur foods and do

> have low or normal plasma cysteine – should I be doing anything else

> to help myself? Is there anything else that I can use this

> information to deduce?

Not that I know of.

--

> Thanks for all of your help.

>