This whiny bug calming rub with magnesium will help calm your whiny beasts before bedtime and give them the magnesium they need at the same time! I know that virtually all of us are deficient in magnesium and have tried multiple methods of magnesium supplementation without really moving any of them to a habitual state. The reason why is the following:
- Oral supplement – Loose stools. Oral magnesium supplements can run right through you causing loose stools. This is not something I wanted to give to my daughter and husband when introducing them to magnesium! You have to get the dose just right and frankly it is hard to get enough without causing the loose stool issue.
- Magnesium oil – Prickly and itchy skin and not enough magnesium per application. Magnesium oil is easy to make (just add a full bag of magnesium flakes to 2 cups of warm water), but I must have super sensitive skin because it feels very prickly and itchy when I put it on. My daughter hated when I applied magnesium oil to her skin as well. Another issue with magnesium oil is that as a general rule of thumb, an appropriate daily intake of magnesium should be approximately 3-4 mg per pound of body weight. For example, a 150lb female would need from 450mg to 600mg per day. A 40 pound preschooler would need between 120mg and 160mg. Women who are pregnant or lactating also have elevated magnesium requirements (FYI ladies, this can help prevent morning sickness!). One teaspoon of magnesium oil contains 560mg of elemental magnesium. 8 sprays of magnesium oil only provides approximately 100mg of elemental magnesium on the skin. Your body will absorb only what it needs. By my calculations, I would need to spray 40 times a day to get what I needed daily and spray another 10 times on my daughter. This has not been possible in my household! Has it worked in yours? I didn’t think so.
So how do we get enough magnesium without these issues?
I have been giving my daughter epsom salt baths every night which is great. But to give her an added magnesium boost and add a nice ritual to our bedtime routine, I decided to make a whiny bug calming rub with magnesium to rub on her feet and neck. Her favorite bedtime essential oil is Peace & Calming, and so is mine, so I used this blend. If you enjoy Lavender before bed, you can substitute that as well.
Whiny Bug Calming Rub with Magnesium!
This recipe makes about 1 cup of calming rub. A tsp of this rub should provide approximately 150-200mg of elemental magnesium. For a small child this is enough. For a 150lb adult female, apply 3-4 times daily and you will get enough!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup of magnesium oil
- 50 drops Peace & Calming essential oil (where to buy)
Directions
Gently warm the shea butter with the coconut oil by placing them in a glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water (or you can use a double boiler). Once they are melted and incorporated, remove the bowl from the heat and allow to cool a bit. Once it starts to set (about 20-30 minutes later), scoop the mixture into a stand mixeror hand mixer and whip it until incorporated. Slowly pour in the magnesium oil and essential oils. Turn up the speed gradually until you have a nice whipped rub.
Scoop the mixture into airtight glass jars and store away from direct sunlight. Use nightly before bed by rubbing on the feet, forearms and neck. Breathe in the peace and calming and feel it relax your whole body!
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Further Reading from Around the Web
- Attend one of my Essential Oils 101 classes here!
- 5 Uses for Peace & Calming Essential Oil
- Everyday Essential Oils: Peace & Calming
- How To Buy Therapeutic Essential Oils
- 50 Uses For Essential Oils
More Essential Oil recipes here!
- DIY Peppermint Muscle Balm
- Homemade Non-Toxic Vapor Rub
- DIY Roll-On Perfume
- Essential Oils for Kids and Families
Thank you so much for this recipe, I’ve been looking for something like this! I have magnesium gel, what is the difference between gel and oil? Thank you for all you do!
I think the gel is an attempt to also make it stronger and less prickly than the spray. I would stick to an oil for this recipe though.
Could this help with my 6 year olds constipation? I would love to get her off the Mirilax!!! Always read that magnesium was good for this but didn’t know how to give to her. And of course doctors never want you to try alternative treatments so they aren’t much help with this. Do you ever have to worry about too much magnesium??
Transdermal magnesium does not get the bowels moving but the oral dose would. I would focus on healing her gut though and eating more fermented foods. Miralax is not good to use like that!
Cheryl, my son had to be on Miralax for far too long too. What really helped him was fruits like guavas and Ya pears. I think they’re sometimes called Asian pears too, or at least they both look similar. It took some time, but he hasn’t used the Miralax in a year and a half or maybe even two years now. I don’t know if you have a 99 Cents Only store near you, but they often carry the pears, two to a pack, wrapped in white mesh, at ours. One of the cashiers was the one who told me the pears were good for constipation when I was buying them. I can’t promise they’ll work, but it’s probably worth a try.
I would use Milk of Magnesia instead of Miralax! Much more natural and a source of magnesium, which will help with constipation.
Miralax is safer than milk of magnesia
I just started taking this orally this week, 1/2 tsp in the morning and another 1/2 tsp at night, and so far, no issues, so will try to slowly bump up the dosage. I’ve also for the last month been doing the spray on my feet, mixed with lavender oil, and have now added a magnesium flake/epsom salt bath once a week to my routine. I’m definitely eager to try this though!
oops, forgot my question! Will this get hard in cold temps?
I can’t seem to find what magnesium you are using. Can you tell me the name and were you buy it?
Thank you!
I bought the magnesium flakes here: http://www.homemademommy.net/supplements-superfoods
I add aloe to my magnesium oil to make it less prickly. But this looks great!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I think I got something wrong making it. I just don’t know what! The rub made my feet (and hands from applying it) really prickly, almost like the spray-on oil. What could have gone wrong?
Hmmm…that hasn’t happened to me or anyone else in my family…not sure what went wrong for you. I am sorry!
Constanze, I’m guessing here, but at least for us, when we are particularly low on magnesium (or so I assume) the oil is particularly prickly. As we up the frequency of baths and oil application it seems to get much better. For example first few times I used flakes with our daughter she couldnt tolerate (would be too itchy/prickly) the bath unless it had literally 5-10 flakes, now she can tolerate a cup full. No one in the family has noticed this from this rub but we have all been doing the baths with the flakes 2-3 times a week so I assume we arent too low? Wonder if how strong it ‘prickles’ also relates to types/sensitivity of one’s skin. Sorry to hear about the prickles.
and I think I feel a slight prickling in my fingers now after putting it on on the rest of the family! not strong, but noticeable
I have been putting this on my daughter nightly but last night she did complain for the first time that it was prickly. I wonder if it just depends on if some of the magnesium oil hits the skin first. Or it could be that she just didn’t want me messing with her! I actually rubbed a bit of plain coconut oil on over it (at her request as she is used to me doing this for hot essential oils) and it fixed her right up and she didn’t complain any further. I haven’t felt prickly at all and have been using it twice daily since I made it…and I am sure I was deficient!
Thank you for this recipe. Made it and used tonight on one of the kids and husband. We love it!
Btw, I used a hand-held electric mixer… and it takes a long time with it! Took over 30min to get it to a thick enough consistency, so if you have a standing mixer – I’d use that! I used extra virgin coconut oil (recipe doesnt specify), maybe it wouldn’t take as long with other types? I can see ours have diferent melting points (they aren’t always liquid/solid at the same time but are kept in the same place)
I used raw virgin coconut oil. The shea butter was particularly firm to me this time around. Yes–a hand mixer would be tough – you got a workout I am sure! Glad you liked the end result!
Sounds awesome. Would I be able to use the magnesium oil I’ve made…?
Also, I don’t have that particular EO blend. Could you recommend a few that would compliment this recipe? I know lavender would be a start.
Thx, Pam
Hi Pam,
Yes–you can use your own magnesium oil you made – I did that! Lavender would be another option – Yes! Enjoy!
Thx for such a speedy reply. It took longer to get back to this page than it did for you to reply… 😀
What are the oils in your ‘Peace & Calming’ blend?
Thx again, Pam
Pam,
The oils in the Young Living Peace & Calming blend are: Blue Tansy, Patchouli, Tangerine, Orange and Ylang Ylang. It smells divine!
Sounds like such an awesome cream, I’m off this w/e, I just may try it. Thx for sharing what’s in the EO blend. Enjoy your w/e…Peace, Pam
This may sound super weird but do you think this would work on my dog? I mean, she’s smaller than a toddler so I’d have to use less, but she has a magnesium deficiency as well and she tends to eat clay and concrete. I’ve found that 1) good supplements for pets are expensive and 2) it gives her digestive issues as well. The last thing you really want in the house is a dog with diarrhea. After reading this I was thinking maybe rubbing some on her belly each day would help. Any thoughts?
I really would not know. I think this is just for humans…
Why apply on just those areas? Could this be made into a body butter? My 5yr old has some dry skin i’d like to take care of after his nightly bath.
Apply anywhere you would like.
Thank you so much for this recipe! My lotion was a little runny so I added 2 more Tbsp to it. It works good on my achy knees and muscles too!
this is by far my favorite lotion recipe i’ve made. i bought shea butter just to make this and it was so worth it. i used “pep talk” essential oils which is a mixture of lemon, orange, peppermint and cardamom. it is spicy and sweet. i just rubbed it all over myself and can’t stop smelling it haha
it is a little prickly on my hands but that’s because i have dry hands. everywhere else it feels great!
The texture is excellent, maybe a little too hard, so I’ll use a bit less beeswax next time maybe. On the other hand, too little beeswax will not get a proper emulsification. I used a lot less: 1/4 of your recipe. Magnesium chloride is extremely expensive around here (55euros per kilo) and I didnt want to waste 30dollars on a testing lotion. I used an immersion blender and it worked perfectly.
Hi Lindsay! Can’t wait to make this for my son. Just wanted to let you know I clicked your link for shea butter and it took me to a link for coconut oil instead 😉
just wanted to say i’ve made this three times already!! it’s my favorite lotion ever and i just can’t go a day without using it!!
i’ve been making my own magnesium oil because it is SUPER CHEAP.
i want to start giving this lotion as gifts. it’s amazing.
I just got my Young Living starter kit today – brand new to Essential Oils and I love them already! I am diffusing peace and calming in my boys room – would it be overkill to use this lotion on their feet and diffuse it too?
It should be fine!
I made this last night and have already had great results – kiddo had a cub scout camp out last night which totalled 3 hours of sleep and a grumpy camper/family. My kiddo who will usually fight a nap was out like a light and super calm. He loved have it massaged on his feet.
One question – mine is super runny. Did I not use enough shea butter? Any suggestions? Could I stick it in the fridge or would it ruin if I do that and then take it out? Thanks for all the great recipes – I’ve been using the scar oil for a while and it works great as well!
Yay! It is likely that the temperatures are warmer now and the coconut oil is all warm and melted. You could use tallow instead of coconut oil next time.