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.
Nettle Root Tea
Posted by Bioh4ck (England) on 06/16/2020
★★★★★
Having bad leg cramps most of my life, I finally found the solution that works by mistake while drinking nettle ROOT tea for something else.
I started drinking nettle root tea for my low blood iron levels, only to discover it cured my night leg cramps or charlie horse cramps as some call it. I collect the nettle roots from a near by field, wash them, dry in the sun for a few days and then grind them up which is the tough part of the process. I try to find the older nettle roots in big patches because they grow their roots over the ground and not in the ground, so no digging, I collect a big bag full which will last me the year or so. Just make sure to wear gloves and long sleeves so not to get stung when ripping the roots out.
If I go on a long walk, or a hard days work or take a hot bath or sunbath for to long due to the sweating out of minerals, I would get bad cramps in the evening mainly when in bed, so I make sure I drink a cup of nettle root tea. Drop a couple of teaspoons of dried nettle root in a saucepan and boil for 5 to 10 mins. Strain to a mug and drink. Taste is good too.
Works every time for cramps.
Acupressure
Posted by Judy (Crystal River, Fl) on 09/16/2018
The antibiotics they gave me for H. Pylori made me ill. I took mastic gum for two weeks every morning, when tested and it was gone.
Acupressure
Posted by Carlos (Texas) on 06/11/2018
★★★★★
Rub your stomach in a circular motion (clockwise) with a little pressure for a couple of minutes to help stop the leg cramps...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Richard (Canada) on 03/05/2018
★★★★★
I just started taking apple cider vinegar. I had muscle cramps before that and now I don't. It started right away.
Mustard
Posted by Lily (Atascadero, California) on 12/27/2017
Reply to person with middle finger cramp... I had a severe cramp to my middle finger that caused me not to be able to move it...it was bent and I could not straighten it. A friend got me to try a parafin wax bath (In which) you coat your hand with hot wax) you cover your coated hand with plastic (a baggie will work) Immediatly after the treatment ..I was once again able to move the finger. I had the condition for approximately 2 years..and am happy to say that it has never returned even after 11 years. I now own one of those wax baths but haven't had to use it since the friend let me use hers!
Supplements
Posted by Dee (Nc) on 10/17/2017
What is the name of the liquid calcium/magnesium supplement taken by your mother?
Acupressure
Posted by Bodulica (Barrie, Ontario) on 09/29/2017
★★★★★
Somebody suggested pressing the spot just under the nose or biting the upper lip to stop leg cramps. It worked!
Magnesium
Posted by Janet (In) on 09/27/2017
Grace. First a mag tablet caught my eye. You can reduce it in water. It will become more bio available to the body. If it takes longer than 5 to 8 minutes to break up, chances are it is noy breaking up in your gut. Also you can take your mag oil as supplement. Magnesium chloride, 5 to 6 drops in water provides approx 250mg of mag. 2x a day.
My husband has had some cramps. He depletes all his minerals working 7 days 12 hours in the heat.
These are often impossible to determine why. I have a list of steps I take from this happening.
Serrapeptase, high potency. As a precaution against any blockages.1 capsule on empty stomach in am.
Baking soda. 1 whole lime, 6 to 8 tsp, squeezed in a glass or 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Add 1/2 tsp baking soda. Let fizz. Add 1/2 glass of water and drink. 2x a day 1/2 hour after meals 5 days out of 7.
Am. 1/4 tsp of potassium bicarbonate powder added to 1/2 glass of water in am.
Iodine foot painting. 5% lugols iodine painted on foot in 1 inch square on foot before bed. This enriches the iodine in lower body as it often gets little being used up in the rest of the body is a great companion to mag oil.
1/4 tsp of sea salt in water. This provides all the trace minerals in correct amounts to enhance mineral status.
Progesterone cream. Applied 2x a week to help balance hormones. Apply to trunk 1/2 tsp. This was surprising but it worked.
Liquid chlorophyll 1/2 tsp in a liter of water. Add 20 drops liquid phosphorus. Drink 1 oz as needed. This is also a great pain tonic.
20 mule team borax. 1/8 tsp in a liter of water. Drink through the day in beverages. 4 days out of seven. Balance hormones. Replaces fluoride with boron in body.
My daughter applies potassium bicarbonate directly to her leg to stop cramping. She reduces it in water and swipes it on.
I suspect you need a good vitamin d levels test. You may find out you are low. It is foundational to health. Good levels allow for absorption and utilization of all your efforts. My Mom had restless legs that got cramps and painful. Taking d3 and its companions made all the difference. There is a home test too. I have not tried myself. Reading Dr. Michael Holicks book or watching his you tube information and following his dosage chart (google it) will offer great insight into this.
These are all effective on their own. But cramping and heath status can be many things. We have found it takes a day to discover if you are on the right track. 3 days to be well on the way to stopping and real healing.
Eliminations
Msg
Table salt..use sea salt only
Plastic
Aluminum
Foods containing...gmos...commercially grown insecticide sprayed food. Glyphosates..gluten
Soy
Fluoride
Aspartame
Bath soak or 1/2 the ingredients for foot soak.
2 cups epsom
1 cup borax
1 cup hydrogen peroxide...to oxygenate the body
1 cap fish tank dechlorinator...to protect heart from chlorine steam. 20 minutes.
Janet
Magnesium
Posted by Carnic Eagle (Australia ) on 09/27/2017
I sometimes find it's more circulation issue than than lactic acid build up? I have found stinging nettle herb great.
Magnesium
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 09/26/2017
Try a Calcium-Magnesium combination for leg cramps. Has worked every time for me.
Magnesium
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 09/26/2017
Grace, try eating a banana a day for leg cramps.
Magnesium
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Usa) on 09/26/2017
Runners use vitamin E for muscle recovery....
When did they start and what was happening to you, your environment or diet when they started....information helps a lot when trying to find solutions. Does an aspirin or blood thinner like galic capsules help it....might be blood clot...
Magnesium
Posted by Teena (Melbourne Australia) on 09/26/2017 233 posts
Hi Grace I would still suspect a mineral requirement not being met. Add some Trace minerals to your daily water or more easily add 1/4 tsp sea salt (with it's 84+ essential minerals) to your daily water. And make sure you are drinking enough water for your body weight, so many of us are not. Also see watercure. Best to you
Magnesium
Posted by Grace (Camp) on 09/26/2017
★☆☆☆☆
I soak in epsom salts, apply mag oil, take a mag tablet daily, add potassium with my supplements, etc and still have leg cramps. No prescription meds to cause it. What else can I try?
Hypothyroidism Link to Leg Cramps
Posted by B From Tx (Texas) on 06/11/2017
★★★★★
I was diagnosed as hypothyroidism 20 years ago. I visited my daughter in Montana and went to see a naturopath. He suggested thytrophin pm from Standard Process which I still take every day. Also, I take vitamin d3 because it is low. I would just like to say if anyone has leg cramps (charlie horses) it could be your thyroid and therefore best to check. Its a bummer, but better to be safe. I will never take medication from the main stream doctors. My thyroid issue is under control and so is leg cramping of which is a symptom of low thyroid and low vitamin d3.
Pickle Juice
Posted by Gingerkat (Mcdonough, Ga) on 06/05/2017
★★★★★
Pickle juice is miraculous for leg, foot, or hand cramps
Pickle juice works within seconds whenever I have muscle cramps in my legs, feet, or hands. I couldn't believe it when one of my friends recommended it but it has never failed to work.
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.
Salt
Posted by Andy (London) on 02/12/2017
Correct; Sodium is an electrolyte.
An additional side note: Magnesium is important for a myriad of processes in the body; muscle cramps are resolved with an adequate amount of bioavailable Magnesium.
Mustard
Posted by Stuman (Oceanside, Ca) on 12/29/2016
★★★★★
Mustard provided immediate relief for my night time finger cramp. 2 teaspoons of mustard at the time of the cramp has given me relief within 10 seconds of ingestion.
I am still looking for a preventative solution to my overnight, middle, finger cramp.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Adrienne (Idaho) on 11/20/2016
★★★★★
Hi,
Posted by Passion4film87 (Elgin, Il) on 08/01/2016
I had radiating pain on the entire left side of my mouth from who-knows-what, and not even Aleve - my go-to painkiller - was helping. Then I remembered - apple cider vinegar! I drank about 2oz. of it (like a shot, LOL) and then swished with a mouthful. My pain was instantly gone. Literally instantly. It hasn't been back, about 24 hours later. WOW!
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/home-remedy-toothache-tooth-pain.html#acv
I just wanted to add that I did that, drank a shot of ACV one night when I got a cramp in my foot, and the cramp stopped instantly, before I even finished the ACV! I'm glad to have read your experience because that was so weird I wasn't sure it was the ACV. I'd love to know why that worked. I had a medium intensity cramp in my foot so I got out of bed, hobbled down the hallway to the kitchen and that did nothing for the cramp. Some say walking helps, and I believe that is true, but it didn't affect this cramp. Then, it took some time to get the vinegar out, find something to pour it into, etc. But it stayed the same until I swallowed the vinegar, and I only did that because I had just read about vinegar for cramps, I.e. I had no expectation that it would work at all. It actually startled me, it was like a small miracle!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gloria (Pgh, Pa.) on 11/04/2016
★★★★★
God bless you all. I jumped up 3am with pain in right foot, and left calf. Finally in between tears I found this forum. The cider w/mother worked miracles like it does for so many other things its worth its weight in gold.
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 !!
Magnesium
Posted by Julie (Melbourne) on 08/29/2016
★★★★★
Liquid magnesium is actually magnesium oil. It works almost instantly when rubbed on a cramp. If you get leg cramps, they often originate in the buttocks, so rub some on there as well. Magnesium oil is far more effective than oral magnesium as it penetrates the muscle itself, releasing a spasm. It is not exactly an oil but magnesium chloride in saturation (with water) which gives it an oily feeling. If it stings your skin, just wet your hand with a little water and rub over the spot. That usually solves the problem.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kerri (Nj) on 08/24/2016
Yes, it most likely is the ACV. ACV erodes tooth enamel. When taking ACV it is best to mix it in water and sip through a straw.
Loosely Tied String
Posted by Deb Nelson (Aws) on 08/22/2016
★★★★★
For muscle cramps, I don't know why it works, my family ties 100% cotton string loosely around the ankle. We use string used to tie roasts in the meat market. Can be purchased at any kitchen store. This remedy has been used in our family for five generations or more. I keep my strings on at all times. We put them on children with growing pains, pregnant moms, and older friends.
Magnesium
Posted by Kenneth Paul (Santa Fe City, Tejas State) on 07/30/2016
Give magnesium ascorbate a try for you muscular cramps. It helped mine, and boosted my immune system also.
Magnesium
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 07/30/2016
To Linda,
My choice here in NZ is Magnesium Chloride LIQUID by "Clinicians" (that IS the brand name here in New Zealand). Maybe you can't get it in the USA but good luck with a substitute brand if available. "Clinicians" may send their products to you (I have no vested interest in any company-I just like what I know works for me) I wish you well. That one worked a treat for me. It's not often in life you get such quick results really. Apparently if you overdo the dosage it just "loosens you up" a bit!
Magnesium
Posted by Linda (California) on 07/30/2016
Hi, will you let us know the brand that works best for you? You say you take a liquid magnesium and it works pretty fast on leg cramps. There are so many kinds it gets confusing. Thanks for a reply!
Magnesium
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 07/21/2016
★★★★★
Magnesium is essential for a host of bodily functions. Muscles depend on magnesium a great deal. The modern Western diet mitigates against adequate magnesium balance in the body. The average, modern person lacks enough magnesium and this can often lead to a miriad of problems, the cause of which (inadequate magnesium in some/many cases), is frequently over-looked. Even if our food choices contained adequate magnesium (very doubtful these days because of soil depletion), then we are still left with the problem of the difficulty of the body being able to ABSORB whatever magnesium is available. Magnesium is not easily absorbed internally!! What to do? Well, I have found that Magnesium Chloride is the most easily absorbed and it fixed my severe, leg muscle cramps in a flash! Really ... very quickly. I was so impressed. Other people favour other types such as the Citrate form but for actual severe cramping I would stick with liquid Mag. Chloride as I know it worked for me at least. Having said all of the above, spraying on just a little Mag.Gel to the affected site and giving a QUICK, brief rub will help greatly, as will Epsom Salts 15 minute bathing, as Magnesium is often best absorbed through the skin (trans-dermally).
Acupressure
Posted by Mary (Arcadia, California) on 07/19/2016
Dear Donna, I use 1 tsp of yellow mustard to get rid of cramps anywhere on the body. It works like a charm I just put it in my mouth drink a little water and let it go down. You don't even feel the pain from the cramp on your muscle afterwards. Peace, Mary
Acupressure
Posted by Donna (Ontario) on 07/18/2016
★★★★★
For leg cramps - acupressure on the opposite leg, at the same spot as cramp is in affected leg. Always works for me. eg. I will have a cramp in the right calf but no pain in that spot on the unaffected (left) side; but when I find the exact spot, deep, on the left side, it will be very painful to rub there. Left sided pain subsides when rubbed in a minute or two and then the cramp in the right leg subsides shortly thereafter.
