The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Salt
Posted by Cindy (Bay Minette, Al) on 02/26/2017
★★★★★
My dad suffered for years from horrible leg cramps at night. He was waiting at an appointment one day and started talking to the man next to him. Some how they hit the subject of muscle cramps. He told my dad to keep a shaker of salt on his night table. When he was struck with a cramp, to pour a few grains in his hand and lick it. He tried it and it works. You get an immediate release of the cramp. I have used this through the years and it has never failed me, not once.
Replied by M in m
(Md)
05/31/2021
★★★★★
Salt
Posted by Wendy (Perth, Western Australia) on 06/07/2011
★★★★★
I've never been much of a salt user. I've always suffered from muscle cramps on and off but I ended up with horrendous leg/foot cramps during the hot weather this last Summer so I started drinking electrolytes and adding a little sea salt to my cooking. The cramps have completely stopped. Isn't salt required in the cells for electrical impulses to be carried?
Replied by Francisca
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
06/07/2011
Replied by Andy
(London)
02/12/2017
Simple Exercises
Posted by Mary Beth (Pittsburgh) on 09/20/2019
★★★★☆
Leg Cramp Reliever I have been impressed that this works for leg and feet cramps. I saw this guide in Peggy Brill's book, "The Core Program". She suggests you do these exercises -- all of them -- ten times, before you go to bed. Lie on your back with legs flat, keeping your hands at your sides, palms up. Retract your neck: elongate the back of your neck by tucking your chin down towards your chest. Hold this, holding for six seconds, and then release it. Next, press your shoulders together and down into the mat or bed. Hold and count for six seconds -- and then release. Next, cough to pull your rib cage down. This will contract your abdominal muscles. Hold for six and then release it. Next, tilt your pubic bone, as if toward your navel. Thus, you will flatten your abdominals into the mat or bed. Hold for six and release it. Final exercise (in this set -- because you will do these ten times) -- extend your legs as long as possible while also pressing the backs of the knees into the bed or mat. Flex your feet at the same time. Hold for six and release it. People (like my mom) have serious problems with this pain in the middle of the night. This JUST might HELP!
Soap
Posted by Ronald (AZ) on 08/31/2022
★★★★★
Soap worked for me! I've had muscle cramps in my legs in the past but never like this. I played pickleball in the sunny Phoenix Arizona 100 degree heat for 2 1/2 hours in the morning and must had been dehydrated. I drank water but that didn't help. I went to bed around 11:45pm and woke to a single quick sharp pain muscle spasm on the back side of my leg right below my butt around 1:30am. I would massage the area but it would still keep doing it every few minutes. I would get up and stretch my hamstrings which did release the pain. But then it started doing it every 15 seconds. I got up and checked what earth clinic suggested. I drank a couple big swallows each of diluted apple cider vinegar, pickle juice and electrolyte beverage but nothing helped.
Then I shook my head in disbelieve and opened a fancy small hotel bar of soap from Italy and put it against my skin on the back of my leg where the pain was. This soap did say the ingredients did contain a combination of fragrances and essences. Within 4-5 minutes the pain was going away. I went back to bed and placed it against my skin where the pain would come. I had a couple more attacks but it was much reduced pain. Then no more! Zero! I fell asleep with no more attacks. I told my pharmacist friend the next morning and she researched and found a study that showed 42% of people found it helpful. Some think that the natural essential oils contain a common component called limonene. Studies show that it has spasmoltyic activity inhibiting muscle spasms. One person actually applied liquid glycerin to their skin which worked. This is found in most lotions. The study also said people found that Dove and Dial didn't work. Another study suggested that some bars may contain magnesium. I just know every 15 seconds I was getting acute pain to the same spot keeping me awake for two hours and that the bar of soap stopped it in its track within a few minutes.
Soy Lecithin
Posted by Tom (Livingston, Tx) on 05/30/2016 64 posts
★★★★★
Two people I know cured their leg cramps by taking one 1200 mg soy lecithin softgel daily. Taking it evenings might be preferable because that's when I take it to help me sleep and it works great.
Stretches
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 12/22/2023
★★★★★
My husband has always been prone to cramps in his calves at night. It was always worse on days he worked out in the heat. He learned to eat a banana before bed or take blackstrap molasses. Recently though, these things haven't helped. Lab work showed his potassium, magnesium and sodium levels to be normal. Some research helped me learn that leg cramps are more common as we age and that muscles can shorten. He is 57. I found a simple stretch for him to do. He uses a red resistance band (that I put on his nightstand so he doesn't forget) and loops it over his foot. He gently pulls the band to stretch his calf (keeping his leg straight) and holds it 30 seconds. Then he switches legs and holds the stretch for 30 seconds. Then he repeats this. This is a total of 2 minutes of stretching before bed, while sitting in bed with his legs out in front of him. I wanted it as doable as possible. This worked for him the first night. He doesn't have to be reminded to do his stretches. He does them because he knows they work! ~Mama to Many~
Replied by GertJr
(Madison)
12/24/2023
Replied by Elena
(Dallas)
12/24/2023
Replied by Gary
(Kitchener On)
12/24/2023
Supplements
Posted by David (Paradise, CA) on 04/23/2008
★★★★★
I have had truly excellent results using a product found in some health food stores called Ionic-Fizz Calcium Plus by Pure Essence Labs. It is a little hard to find so I mentioned the product name. Thank goodness I always have some in my kitchen cabinet. After working in the garden all day yesterday I took a nice long shower, changed into my "comfy" clothes and sat down in front of the fire to relax. Within a very few minutes I was seized by a painful leg cramp. I attempted to get up and the cramp got worse...a lot worse. I immediately started to deeply massage it to get the blood flowing and the pain just escalated as the cramp continued to increase in intensity. I managed to hobble into the kitchen bent over nearly double with the pain and got down the container of Ionic-Fizz. The whole time I was scared to death that I would fall to the kitchen floor and would not be able to reach the container or the phone. I quickly mixed a little Ionic-Fizz with regular tap water, drank it and within 30 seconds the pain was completely gone...and did not come back. This has happened three times in the past few months and I just thought that I would pass the information along. No one wants to be in pain and this easy way of eradicating the pain, nearly instantly, is wonderful. You might try it.
Replied by Prioris
(Fl)
10/29/2013
Supplements
Posted by Deirdre ( LA)
★★★★★
My mother had been experiencing severe muscle cramps at night in her legs. Her toes too would sometimes go into excruciating spasms. She bought liquid calcium/magnesium and started taking it before going to bed. The cramps stopped right away. As long as she takes the supplement daily, she does not get the cramps.
Replied by Dee
(Nc)
10/17/2017
Supplements
Posted by Patty (Chatham, NJ)
★★★★★
I'd been taking calcium supplements for quite a long time, and began developing leg and foot cramps so severe that they'd awaken me. I found out that calcium, when taken without magnesium, depletes the system of the latter; so the two supplements must be taken simultaneously. No more muscle cramps.
The String Method
Posted by kay (waco, tx) on 09/03/2007
★★★★★
string helps with leg cramps- i keep string tied in a circle just big enough to slip over my foot, next to my bed-when i feel a cramp starting to wake me-- i slip the string on my foot and it stops-- i have no idea how- and have been doing this for about 4 years now -- so i know it works --' a lady at work told me about it-- the cramps were so bad- they would wake me from a sound sleep -- and by the time i walked or rubbed them away -- i was wide awake and had trouble going back to sleep -- some times i put string on both ankles -- i have wore them to work when i was havng trouble with toe cramps--
Replied by Sue Jones
(Uk)
10/23/2015
Replied by Pam
(Mississippi)
05/13/2016
★★★★☆
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Fran (01247) on 09/08/2016
★★★★★
For leg cramps, I use 1 glass of tonic water each evening! it must have QUININE as an ingredient. Polar and Schweppes, have natural quinine! I am sure other brands must have it but, some don't !!
Replied by Timothy
(CA)
04/03/2023
★★★★★
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Kilee (Ontario, Canada) on 05/09/2014
★★★★★
Hi all, just a quick post for those who suffer from leg cramps. I used to get them often, mostly at night. My calf muscles would bunch up like baseballs, I would grab my foot and push the heel down and pull the toes upward.it would help if the cramp was just starting.One day, after suffering a really bad one the night before, my sister asked me why I was limping. She gave me a super remedy. Just drink a juice glass of tonic water. It is the quinine in it that does the trick, don't wait till you have the cramp, drink a small glass everyday.
If my muscles hurt from over use, I put a cup of epsom salts in a nice warm bath, pour my tonic water over a couple ice cubes with a squeeze of lime juice and, if it was a rough day, a little dash of gin. Works for me every time. Joking aside, it works because the quinine in the tonic water relaxes the muscles and your body absorbs magnesium from the epsom salts after the warm water opens the pores and soothes the aches. Give it a try (no gin needed) let me know if it works for you as well as it has for me. My sister's Doctor told her about the tonic water cure, the epsom salts is a well known old time remedy, I fine tuned the rest.
Regards to all.
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Bob A (Tucson, Az, Usa) on 09/22/2013
★★★★★
My mother (now 90 yo) said that HER mother told her that night-time muscle cramps are easily dealt with by an 8-oz glass of Quinine Water (also known as Tonic Water at the grocery or liquor store) just before bed. I do this whenever I have leg muscle aches and I sleep like a baby. Works much better than aspirin or ibuprophen. Tonic water contains a small amount of quinine, which is incidentally the main worldwide treatment for malaria for the past 100+ years.
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Norm (Menifee, Ca, Usa) on 04/19/2012
★★★★★
I take one swig of Schwepps if have a leg cramp and it goes away immediately. It's the quinine that does it. It doesn't matter how old the tonic is or even if it has been opened. The drug stores sell quinine tablets for the same purpose but I find Schwepps works just as well. Besides you can always use Schweppes to make vodka tonics.
Tonic Water With Quinine
Posted by Cml (Bellingham, Ma) on 11/13/2010
Tonic water with quinine is an excellent remedy for leg cramps. About 4-6 oz is all that is needed and it usually works within 1-2 minutes.
