How I cured my son's facial tics

[Wonder-Full]

OK, I just have to share because it was such a dramatic change and something so simple!

Over the past 6mths my 6yr old had developed a lot of facial grimacing, squinting and rapid blinking. It would come and go and got to the stage where it was making dh and I cringe with how obvious and unusual it all was. At this stage I didn't know these were actually tics until someone on another MB said that's what they were.

Once I had a name for it, a bit of googling and questioning led me looking into magnesium deficiency (which I already knew was a sign of things like twitching leg muscles in people who are sleeping along with a few other things). Anyway, I came across an online article from a mother (can't find it now) who had the same issue with her son and how she cured own sons facial tics by increasing magnesium in his diet. I can't recall if she suggested having an epsom salt bath, but that was the "quick fix" angle I decided to take.

During the time that his tics came back full force and were getting bad I realised that he'd really increased his calcium intake in the previous 2 mths (which is a mineral that needs to be well balanced with magnesium otherwise will throw things out with being able to be absorbed efficiently - best ratio is 1:2 cal/mag) as well as having dropped eating as many nuts and peanut butter (as his appetite reduced so did the "snacks" in between meals which these things were).

(my son was on high dose steroids that increased his appetite and therefore was eating a lot of nut type snacks in between meals and steroids also have a link with depleting magnesium).

So there you have it. A once off full bath with about a cup of salts in it and soaked for 1/2 hr and he came right. I have done this twice over the past 6mths (the first time was just a guess but sort of put down to coincidence and I didnt' know what he had were called tics at that stage). It was only after the 2nd bath last week when he was at his worst that we noticed the immediate turn around. And he's back to eating more mag in his diet and less calcium.

[magical1]

I love stories like this!!

If you had taken him to a Doctor I hate to think about the life of drugs they would have sent him on.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

That is exactly what I would have recommended had you asked here. Though I might have also suggested sprinkling magnesium citrate into something, or capsulating it as well.

The great thing about finding the answers yourself, is that it increases your confidence and ability to do that with other things as well. Then, you KNOW what you KNOW, not because someone told you.

Yeah to Magical's comments. I don't think doctors even figure about magnesium, period.

[Wonder-Full]

The funny thing was MT, is that I wasn't specifically asking about my ds's strange facial things at the time, I just randomly mentioned it as a side and someone said "hey, I think those are tics btw" lol. We were kind of living with it and didn't notice the severity until I started honing in on them once I figured they all belonged together with a name if that makes sense? It was just the blinking initially and I thought eye problems, dry eyes or something like that. Then the other grimacing started.

But yep, cool that I figured it out myself and makes it much more meaningful.

[gilima]

really cool!!

I also love how espom salts (cheap and easy to get) is so simple to use:)

[jul511riv]

I hardly ever get on here to check the website, as I am still feeling like crap from all day morning sickness and a need for a middle ofthe day nap and I can just never seem to get (you can see my other thread, though I don' think anyone responded to it...but now that I'm here, I'll go over and check) but I just wanted to say that this is awesome. I would have totally focused on diet and not a "quick fix" to go along with it. Way to go, mama!

[Wonder-Full]

I would have totally focused on diet and not a "quick fix" to go along with it. Way to go, mama!

totally! Diet is the best, but I've been working on my son's diet for 6mths and fighting it every step of the way due to the steroids he's on (came off them last week - yay!) so I must have been going backwards despite knowing I needed to get on top of it until things hit crisis point where it was really obvious something was out of whack. Fortunately due to Hilary's post on magnesium I was quite aware of epsom salt baths as a good immediate helping hand.

Anyway, both DH and I noticed yesterday he was starting to roll his eyes again when he talked to us (and no he wasn't doing this :eyeroll: :giggle:) so another bath for him last night.

Does anyone know if I can safely rely on the baths to do the work? Would it be more effective to give him a supplement or continue to offer through food and perhaps build the baths in as a regular weekly thing?

[magical1]

I don't think you can O.D on epsom salt baths, supplement and do it once a week if that is what fits in with you. Make sure that you are not giving any Soy products which inhibit magnesium uptake.

Floradix make a good whole food magnesium syrup supplement that you could use everyday for a child.

Just keep at it.

[jules]

I do epsom salt baths for Restless leg syndrome and take magnesium supplements. If I don't do it on a continual basis, it comes back.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

REad a book called The Miracle of Magnesium. A hyped up title, but it's true.

[Wonder-Full]

Is that by Carolyn Dean? I can get it through interloan.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Yes, and it's a good book.

[dreamboat]

I used magnesium to cure my daughter's night terrors.
I love the stuff and i cant believe the many benefits to be had from using it.

[Wonder-Full]

OK, so he keeps regressing and changing the way he tics! So I'm thinking I really need to supplement him. Only problem is that I have the horsetablets I'm taking and I can't imagine getting those into him (even halved). Any suggestions for how to supplement kids?

I'm currently reading The Magnesium Miracle (renamed, updated version) but unsure on how to proceed - maybe need to finish the book, but just looking at my lovely boy screwing up his face, rolling his eyes and jerking his head just makes me sad and want to do something right now! I'm reading as fast as I can.

It talks of not supplementing for kidney failure - via google I can't find any contraindications in regards to Nephrotic Syndrome, so would think we're ok there (anyway he's in remission and no longer on steroids so in effect doesn't have it atm).

I have Mag Citrate tablets that the author of the book rates quite highly. I tried crushing it but it just floated on the surface of the water and clung to the glass, so that was a no-go (ds wouldn't even attempt to take it looking like that). The author talks of mag oil - but my gosh, it's SO expensive ($200 for 1.8l or $50 for 250 mls). I am increasing mag foods, but I want a quicker fix for now.

I'm also unsure where she talks of the mg in a tablet, yet the elemental mag is what we need to be looking at - neither of the bottles I have talk of elemental amounts - so would they be automatically referring to elemental?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

We use magnesium citrate powder. Just put it in gelatine capsules. Assuming he can toss down capsules?

[TanyaL]

I open capsules or use a powdered form and mix in a small amount of juice. A very small amount, I give my kids quite a few supps and everything goes in 2 tablespoons of black cherry juice, so if it were just the mag, it'd be maybe 2 teaspoons. Mix for a minute and it'll not float around undissolved. My kids take it like medicine from a spoon.

We've used mag citrate and glycinate. Glycinate seems better for my husband but the rest of us seem fine with citrate. In the US, there's also a product called Natural Calm which has some flavor and it dissolves quite well.

[Wonder-Full]

OK, that's good to know that it dissolves (patience isn't one of my best traits :eyeroll: probably ties in with my need for Mag too being a bit of an energetic Type A lol). No, can't see him going with a capsule (he also has the mag deficiency of gagging/choking - that was an interesting discovery - somthing I also do, how does one manage to choke on their own spit so often :giggle:).

I have some cranberry juice here, so that would work.

I've been trying to find an online source of Mag Citrate - MT, where do you get yours from? For now I'll just crush one of my tablets and give it to him.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Megavitafit in christchurch ... Freephone 0800961111

It's more expensive than sodium ascorbate though.

[Wonder-Full]

Thanks! Will do a price comparison with the Solgar brand I have based on giving him a half crushed tablet a day.

Do you supplement with calcium at all? I noticed in the book (that I was just reading while having an epsom salt bath with the kids :D) that often she would prescribe the mag supps for a month or two and then introduce calcium as well.

[magical1]

Floradix make a good whole food magnesium syrup supplement that you could use everyday for a child.



This is a good product as I said earlier in the thread for kids... not too much money and easy to get them to take.

[Wonder-Full]

Thanks, forgot about that, sounds good, will check it out. :D

Magical, I recall you mentioned digestive enzymes elsewhere, can you tell me about these? Are they good for low stomach acid? DS and myself also suffer from this (going on the beetroot/red wee test and for DS some of his foods still come through undigested which I think must be related) and wondering if this is what the enzymes are for? I have read that fermented vegetables are good for increasing stomach acid, but I have to be honest and say that it's not likely to be a goer for us atm. I had DS sip ACV in water before meals today but not sure if that's the best way to remedy this.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Thanks! Will do a price comparison with the Solgar brand I have based on giving him a half crushed tablet a day.

Do you supplement with calcium at all? I noticed in the book (that I was just reading while having an epsom salt bath with the kids :D) that often she would prescribe the mag supps for a month or two and then introduce calcium as well.

No, because the current magnesium situation world wide, is because people's intake of calcium is too high in comparison to magnesium.

I just supplement according to my own symptoms at the moment. I sort of know my body.

As to the kids, what they do is now over to them.

[magical1]

Enzymes are essential for everyone as far as I am concerned. Low stomach acid I'm not aware of so much but they will help keep things balanced. Beetroot is probably not a good test! I think even my wees go red after a couple of days of beetroots, certainly number twos every time I eat it. Have to remind myself I'm not dying. Too much info, sorry. Gotta love them though

You can use fresh pineapple, papaya or dried if you want to take a whole food slant on it... or you can use a broad spectrum enzyme supplement if you are interested, which will help digest all food groups. My kids have a real reaction (in a good way) to chewy papaya enzymes and they are easy and pleasant for them to eat. Here is a link.

http://www.healthy.co.nz/view-product-288.html

Have you tried colostrum? If you want a bit more info on this and haven't got it already just shout. I can hunt out the link that I have for one that is good for kids to chew.

What food exactly goes through undigested? and then you will really be able to tell what enzymes there are that are needed.

[Wonder-Full]

Thanks MT, yeah my kids eat yoghurt and cheese daily, and I don't offer milk to drink so they're probably good for calcium along with other food sources.

Magical, thanks. I might up the raw fruit/veges with meals to see if that helps first up. I have noticed any grains that I have tried to reintroduce after having been on the GAPS diet tend to go through undigested (but he doesn't get a sore tummy or any other reaction). I found it also happened with potatoes until his body readjusted to them (I had to go back to 1tsp of potato a day and slowly build up). Not sure if this means he's intolerant or will just take time to get used to them - and perhaps the enzymes (and/or stomach acid) will help.

[Serephina]

You can buy HCL betaine and pepsin tablets that will help with low stomach acid. Bitter herbs will do the trick as well, but may not be palatable for children.

I've found that soaking grains, nuts and legumes overnight really helps with digestion too.

[Wonder-Full]

Thanks Serephina. Have you given the HCL to kids? All the ones I've seen only give adult instructions and I'm not sure enough on self-prescribing.

I'm going to make him a magnesium-diet hot porridge for breakfast tomorrow and will go soak the grains (millet and quinoa) and nuts in a minute.

[Serephina]

I've not used them with children and the brand I have only has adult directions.

A quick google search turned up this page which does include directions for children:

http://shop.gapsdiet.com/product.sc?categoryId=5&productId=15

[Wonder-Full]

Thanks! I do recall reading that ages ago (too much damn info trying to make its way and stay in my brain atm). So I could probably find a product in my health shop and providing that the adult dosage is the same as she suggests I could probably safely assume the children dosage would be the same. Interesting (and pleasing to note) that it should only need to be supplemented for 2wks-2mths before the body starts to produce it on its own and that there is a way to tell via the burning that occurs when it's not required.

[Serephina]

That's what I would do. There's always a fair bit of trial and error with these things. Perhaps just start off slowly and see how you go?

I'm sure the GAPS book makes mention of enzymes but mine is (always) out on loan. I think I need to buy a second copy!

[Wonder-Full]

Yeah, my mum bought the book, but I think hers is out on loan too. Are you still doing the GAPS diet?

[Serephina]

Not at the moment. I do need to get back onto it though.

[Wonder-Full]

OK, so in 3 days of supplementing and diet changes and we are back to no more tics! :D If anything else, I am finding this literally the Magnesium Miracle lol.

He is complaining of a sore thigh on one leg though which is surprising as I would have thought if it were musculature that the mag would have helped (he was doing some bike riding on a hilly race track yesterday which could be the cause).