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.
Hydrogen Peroxide Topically
Posted by Nattakit (Bangkok, Thailand) on 02/26/2011
★★★★★
I woke up one night with a terrible muscle cramp at my calf. The muscle was hard as stone and caused a dreadful pain. I could only think of a small atomiser filled with H2O2 for my inhalation. I then sprayed over my calf within seconds the pain was gone and with some rubbing, the muscle was soft and the next morning I walked without any pain or stiffnes in the muscle. I used 3% H2O2. This works well in my other time.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Housemouse (Dover, Oh, Usa) on 02/25/2011
★★★★★
I noticed in the uses you list you omitted the fact it will take away leg cramps! Drink a shot of it straight.. Major leg cramps are gone pronto
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.
Bar of Soap
Posted by Edward (East Tawas, Mi) on 10/18/2014
★★★★★
Perhaps the potassium in the soap was used up and required a new bar?
Epsom Salt
Posted by Coco (Oleron, France) on 03/28/2010
In France you can buy Chlorure de Magnesium in the pharmacie, or Nigari in any health food shop like biocoop. Works great, really cleans up the body and relaxes the muscles. With 20gr you make 1 liter, taking 5cc a day for 20 days, then take a pause of 10 days. It's recommended to take a B-vitamin complex, like brewers yeast (find it in any supermarket in France) at the same time.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lori (Victoria, KS) on 06/30/2009
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
My husband has been taking 2 tsp of ACV 2 times a day for a couple of months for leg cramps. He takes the ACV with a medicine spoon and drinks it straight then chases it with water. Today he is experiencing tooth pain, not really sensitivity but pain. We are wondering if this could have anything to do with the ACV. He has been getting relief from his leg cramps so we hate for him to stop taking this. He was having such severe leg cramps that he wasn't able to get more than a couple of hours sleep at a time before being awakened with a cramp. He is carefull not to get the vinegar on his teeth and doesn't think that he can dilute it and drink it with water.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Shelagh (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) on 02/12/2009
★☆☆☆☆
This is a bit crazy- I fell on the job last June & tore my anterior deltiod- I am receiving massage therapy and chiropractic treatments which are helping- but the healing is so slow going it's making me nuts! I am 51, I kayak for 'therapy' and have been unable to do this since my fall. And last night I fell again; tripped over a raised bit of something in the concrete... this time I badly injured the opposite elbow- I was actually sitting on the cold ground for a half hour before I could catch my breath & talk myself into biting the bullet through the pain & forcing myself to get up. I had my cell phone and actually considered calling the police for assistance!
I endured interesting muscle spasms all night & even throughout today as I tried to straighten my arm... elbow hurts like hell if I attempt to straighten it- I will seek treatment for this since I am still dealing with shoulder issue.
Ironically, now my 'bad' shoulder is my 'good' one. Sigh.
My question: what to do for acute intense muscle spasms? I rested last night with my arm elevated, iced, rubbed Epsom salts into the area for magnesium... massaged with witch hazel, wrapped in rags with ACV... I took 3 500 mg caps of turmeric. Sleeping was still a miserable ordeal. A slightest movement would send screaming spasms into my elbow and forewrm... causing my hand to clench...
I finally bought otc pain relievers this afternoon because I had to work...
Tonight I can't sleep for the pain... am going to make a cayenne concoction with turmeric... repeat some of my machinations from last evening, see if I can dream up any magic potion... in the mean-time, any other suggestions?
Thanks people. Peace.
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Mary (Gainesville, Fla.) on 02/01/2009
★★★★★
I drink a half glass of tonic water for leg cramps. It containes Quinine. I get up in the middle of the night and it takes about ten mins. to work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sleepless Sac (Sacramento, Ca) on 09/24/2012
I get arch cramps in my feet, wondering if doing the ACV just before bedtime is effective vs. waiting for the nocturnal cramp to occur and THEN doing the ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mary (Grand Forks, North Dakota) on 06/02/2008
★★★★★
I had once read that APV helped Charlie Horses. So when my husband had one after a hard day on his legs, I gave him 2 Tbsp of ACV in a glass of water. I don't know which worked best, the ACV or the shock when he drank it. Since then, we have used it many times with almost immediate relief of the Charlie Horses or cramps in the legs or groin.
White Vinegar
Posted by Julia (Butler, Alabama) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
My mother, father, and grandmother use white vinegar for muscle cramps. When one attacks - they get a couple of paper towels and pour the white vinegar on til soaked and apply directly to the cramp. This works everytime. Hope it helps others.
Mustard
Posted by Sam (Bournemouth, England UK) on 11/21/2007
★☆☆☆☆
I am currently in extreme pain. MY foot is badly cramping after a lot of exercise this week . . . i knew i didn't need to loose weight!!!! LOL I've read all comments on here and tried mustard to no avail and a hairdryer which eased my pain but only when the heat was over my foot. I'm now sat with my foot in a bowl of boiling hot water which is dulling the pain and making it slightly more bareable. Should i have been able to lay my hands on string at 1:42am i would give it a try. I am praying this is going to be a one off . . . but take comfort in knowing others sit wde awake in agony not knowing what to try next either!! At least your comments have made me smile in my hour(s) of need!!! so thank u
The String Method
Posted by Sue Jones (Uk) on 10/23/2015
Can you please tell me more about the tied string and where do you place it? Thank you.
DMSO
Posted by Mike (Chicago, IL) on 09/27/2008
what is dmso?
Mustard
Posted by Helen (Long Island, New York) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
A teaspoon of mustard cured my leg cramps the other night. It worked within minutes.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Robin (OH) on 10/24/2020 3 posts
I would like to read the specifics of how you made your own lite candied ginger. Thank you.
Ivory Soap
Posted by Francis (Honolulu, USA)
★★★★★
I have some friends who suffer from leg cramps at night. I subscribe to Health & Healing and and found an article about the cramps and a cure that works. It said to keep a bar of "Ivory" soap on your nightstand and when the cramps come, just rub the soap bar on the leg and the cramps will go away very quickly. I told my friends about it and they tried it and said it works. In the article Dr. Whitaker said he doesn't know why it works but it does.
Buffered Salt
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 11/28/2009
JAN, cramps are usually caused due to the lack of electrolytes. Athletes are given Gator or Power ade to prevent this. It works for me and I'm not a jock.
Supplements
Posted by Dee (Nc) on 10/17/2017
What is the name of the liquid calcium/magnesium supplement taken by your mother?
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.
Pickle Juice
Posted by Josie (Koyuk, Alaska) on 08/23/2010
Just out of curiosity, would a taste of Soy Sauce work twice as fast? My dad is 55 and strong, but I've noticed, over the years, he'd have severe cramps, he blames the water system also. Why am I asking? Because I'm also worried that, what if these are symptoms or signs that something may go wrong. Even so, he believes in drinking alot of water everyday. Sincerly,
Me
