Muscle Cramp Remedies

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.

Mustard

Posted by Art (Mt. Marion, Ny) on 02/22/2012

Many have mentioned the effectiveness of pickle juice to relieve muscle cramps, well dill pickle juice is usually loaded with mustard seeds. Perhaps it's the salt and mustard thing working hand-in-hand.

DMSO

Posted by Fuzzball (Nanuet, Ny, Usa) on 02/01/2012

Dmso is great for many things, including helping to turn cancer cells into good cells, but it stinks to high heaven. If you plan to use this remedy, wait about an hour then wash yourself. You can get this at most pet stores. Make sure it's 70% dmso, 30% distilled water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Timh (Louisville, Usa) on 01/17/2012 2043 posts

Asg01, please accept my addendum as the phrases "leg cramps" and "sleep deprivation" are flashing light alerts for Magnesium deficiency, as the body very sorely needs this as well as many other minerals. As for the Ginger, it is quite possibly not really a cure but a simply a relief as there are no known Ginger deficiencies in the human body. The Coca Cola fix is another sign of mineral deficiency as Cola is loaded with phosphorous, (but causes calcium deficiency).

A few mo ago I started a good Ionic Trace Minerals (72 known bioavailable mins) from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and immediately (within hrs) felt profoundly better. There are tons of studies and ongoing on the importance of Minerals alone in human and animal health. In Livestock Agriculture, almost all animals in the developed world are supplemented with Minerals as a rule because intensive productivity depraves the soil and foods.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Asg01 (Ventura, Ca) on 01/16/2012

After some years of severe leg cramps at night and, occasionally other odd times, I discovered that Pickled Ginger was not a cure for this sleep depriving problem, but actually a cure.

I acually eat about two or three ounces several time each week (three or four portions) and have virtually eliminated all muscle cramping. I now never awaken at night. In the past three years, when I have failed to remember or traveled without access, the problem returns until I can restart the regimen.

Unbelievably, for urgent relief of an acute cramp, a few ounces of Coca Cola work like magic. However, should I need quick relief in the future, I will certainly try ACV or Pickle Juice.

Ginger would probably work in any form. The pickled variety I discovered while eating lots of Sushi and have not bothered to try other forms of the plant. Good luck to all.

White Vinegar

Posted by Sammyhome (Mclean, Va) on 11/01/2011
★★★★★

It works....

My search for a remedy to my thigh muscle cramp led me to this thread... I had some Apple Cider Vinegar sitting out here which I used for my Gastric problem. Mixed it up with some honey and water and drank it. 20 minutes later the pain is gone.

This is the second time ACV has saved me. I had big relief from my Gas and heartburn issues with ACV before.

Just try it for yourself.. Make sure to get an organic version of ACV.

Acupressure

Posted by Gottasmyl (Dundee, Scotland Uk) on 10/09/2011
★★★★★

Acupressure by pressing the bone between your nostrils with your index fingers works to get rid of my leg cramps. I am 27 years old and had never suffered from this problem until about 2 weeks ago when I started a course of antibiotics to get rid of helicobacter pylori. Tried everything I could think of but nothing worked. Someone suggested I press the bone situated between the nostrils with my forefinger and it instantly went away. It's amazing!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Bobeena (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/18/2011

the tooth pain is a result of the acv. Vinegar will strip the enamel from your teeth very fast. you should try drinking it with a straw to minimize tooth contact.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ronnie (Oak Island, North Carolina) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

For leg cramps or back cramps apple cider vinegar will eliminate them within seconds, almost imediately

Bar of Soap

Posted by Jennifer (Baskin, La) on 06/29/2011
★★★★★

I could not believe the bar of soap actually worked! I woke up last night with severe leg cramps and tried everything to get rid of them. I then saw the advice here and decided that using the soap wouldn't hurt.. I just put the soap in the bed and went back to sleep. No more cramps!

Salt

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 06/07/2011

Eating bananas and magnesium or magnesium chloride help well with cramps!

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?

Energy Medicine Technique

Posted by A (Toronto, Canada) on 06/05/2011
★★★★★

I tried a energy medicine technique called "one hand near one hand far" on leg cramp - it worked. One hand 5 or so inches from the leg cramp (hand palm facing the cramp) the other hand about 15 inches from and just below the belly button area (palm facing toward but just a few inches below the belly button). Imagine energy flowing from the cramp up the arm and down the other arm to go into just below the belly button area. Keep doing it for a minute or 2 until better.

2 chinese medicine doctors I know use this general technique. I cant say its safe or not for other body issues, but it worked for leg cramp for me.

Magnesium and Dill Pickle Every Day

Posted by Azuresea (Singapore, , Singapore) on 05/30/2011
★★★★★

Magnesium does work. I found that out by accident when I took a cal-mag zinc supplement. Almost immediately, my cramps went away in a matter of hours. In fact, I suggest that one takes magnesium at least once a month as adequate amounts prevents body from absorbing other heavy metals like aluminium, lead, mercury etc.

http://www.mg12.info/articles/cramps.html

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Kortni (Sonora, Ca) on 05/09/2011
★★★★★

My grandma taught me this trick. Both she, my dad and I get horrible cramps (doubling over) and within minutes of taking a shot (or making a hot lemon, apple cider vinegar, honey tea) the cramps usually go away. Sometimes I have to do it every 30 min but my body is pretty out of whack because I have lyme and cirrhosis so I am just thankful to have relief. It helps my dad, he only needs to take it one time.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Crampless (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 04/08/2011
★★★★★

The vinegar works. I knew of this remedy from a friend whose son used get leg cramps. I got a Charlie horse last night. My husband massaged it out but everytime he stopped massaging, it would knot back up. He could feel the muscle knot up like a brick. I told him to get the vinegar. I was in so much pain I drank it straight and the muscle relaxed immediately. My husband could even feel it relax. Caution - stick to a tablespoon or 2. I gulped down so much, the vinegar messed up my stomach, but it was worth not having that pain.

Buffered Salt

Posted by Sue (Delray Beach, Fl) on 04/03/2011
★★★★★

My husband was told that when he gets the cramp, to just take a little salt - I put some sea salt in a dish next to the bed - when he gets a cramp, he takes a piece of salt, and is still amazed that the cramp disappears immediately. And he doesn't have to take anything daily because it works!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Viola (Hampton Bays, N.y.) on 03/31/2011

reply to David of Chicago, Ill. -- You tell a Doctor

Walk

Posted by Sue (Fairfax, Va) on 02/28/2011
★★★★★

When I am awakened at night with leg cramps, the only thing that work for me is to put on shoes (with support, not just bedroom slippers) and walk around the house. Use normal steps as if you were walking down a sidewalk; it seems to "reset" the muscles. I've tried all the other remedies and this is the only one that works consistently.

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

Niacin

Posted by Ss (Santa Barbara, Calafia) on 01/09/2011
★★★★★

Niacin is EXTREMELY effective for leg cramps. Unlike magnesium, it does NOT result in muscles becoming so relaxed your body's energy levels appear to be reduced.

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.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 11/01/2010

Olivia, be aware that when you are tested for something it often doesn't mean much because the levels they find normal are maybe not! These are conventions. The same goes for the amounts of vitamins and minerals you need a day, they are conventions too and often far off what your body really needs. This is the reason I am not so keen on testing my blood anymore unless I would have a doctor who really knows the true levels. Just look at cholesterol, it needs to be lower and lower (they say)although it is known that low cholesterol is more dangerous than high and that in women and older men you should never try to lower cholesterol. Still.... There are already tests which suggest that normal cholesterol can start at 0. If molasses helps you, no matter what the blood test says you must be low on something!

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Olivia (Imperial, Ca) on 10/31/2010
★★★★★

I have been taking molasses for about 4 years now and it works like magic. One day I had a leg cramp at night that was so bad I was literally dragging my leg down the hall to the kitchen to get at the molasses. I just dipped the spoon half way into the jar and then ate it off the spoon and drank a little water to get it down. It's the same molasses you will find next to the pancake syrup. My doctor check me for potassium, magnesium and calcium deficiency, but all was normal. I don't know what it is but it works. It has been a life saver. You're able to get right back to bed with no problems.

Pickle Juice

Posted by T Byrd (Milan, Tennessee) on 10/04/2010

I accidentally found a "cure" several years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night with leg cramps as well as a terrible taste in my mouth. So I hobbled to the fridge to drink some dill pickle juice to chase the taste from my mouth. Lo and behold, my leg cramps went away. I now take 2 to 3 tbls of ACV with warm water and 1 tbls of local grown honey and don't have cramps like I used to. When my stomach acts up, I add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to the mixture and drink it down while it's bubbling. Works every time. If you like dill pickles, I suggest making your pickling recipe without the pickles and keep it in your fridge. I still drink dill pickle juice cause I like it.

Bar of Soap

Posted by Mtnwindsong (Lubbock, Tx) on 08/28/2010

Change to new bar of soap when it quits working. I can taste soap when I drink water first thing in the morning so I think something in the soap is going into your body.

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

Bar of Soap

Posted by Traveler (Santa Barbara, Ca, Usa) on 04/29/2010
★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I found on the peoples' pharmacy website a recommendation for using soap for restless leg syndrome. I think any soap works well, though you could google search people's stories. All I know is that I recommended it to my father, and while it didn't work for his restless legs at night, it DID work on his leg cramps for around two months. After that, the effect, sadly, wore off. For those who want to try, just put a bar of soap (doesn't have to be expensive, I remember people writing about trying it with the little hotel soaps) under the sheets near your legs or even touching. If you start to feel a cramp coming on, put the leg into contact with the soap. My father saw results within three days. Unfortunately, it didn't last-- but it was nice to know that it worked for at least two months for him.