20/05/2025
DID YOU KNOW WHY MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE IS CALLED 'MAGNESIUM OIL?'
The term "magnesium oil" is indeed a misnomer since the substance is not technically an oil. It was likely coined due to the oil-like feel of the magnesium chloride brine on the skin, not because of its chemical composition. The slippery texture that resembles an oil is due to the hygroscopic nature of magnesium chloride, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the environment, including the skin.
As for the origin of magnesium oil, it's not attributed to a particular place or time. Magnesium chloride brine, often sourced from seawater or salt mines, has been utilized for various purposes throughout history. Its use for health and wellness applications, specifically transdermal (through the skin) magnesium therapy, is relatively recent, gaining popularity over the last few decades.
The concept of using magnesium transdermally likely originated from practices in holistic health communities, which noted the benefits of magnesium and sought effective methods of application or ingestion without the side effects sometimes associated with oral supplements. The term "magnesium oil" and its marketed health benefits have proliferated through wellness publications, online health forums, and product marketing.