Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Nervousness

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Magnesium is frequently used to support or treat symptoms of nervousness, anxiety, and related mood disturbances. The justification for its use is grounded both in physiological mechanisms and a growing body of scientific evidence, although the strength of that evidence is moderate rather than conclusive.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in the nervous system, including involvement in neurotransmitter release, neuromuscular conduction, and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is central to the body’s stress response. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to anxiety and nervousness in both animal and human studies. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have examined magnesium supplementation for anxiety symptoms, with some studies reporting modest reductions in subjective measures of anxiety and nervousness, particularly in people with low magnesium status or increased stress.

However, not all studies have found significant benefits, and many trials have limitations such as small sample sizes, short duration, or lack of standardized assessment tools. Nevertheless, the overall trend suggests that magnesium supplementation may provide some benefit for individuals experiencing nervousness, especially if they are deficient or have increased physiological demands (e.g., during periods of high stress).

In summary, while the use of magnesium for nervousness has a plausible biological basis and is supported by moderate scientific evidence, it should not replace established treatments for anxiety disorders. Instead, it may serve as a useful adjunct, particularly for those at risk of magnesium deficiency.

More about magnesium
More about Nervousness

Other health conditions supported by magnesium

Abdominal Pain
Abscesses
Acid Indigestion
Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Adrenal Fatigue
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Colon (atonic)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Gastritis
Headache (cluster)
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores