Muscle Cramp Remedies

Pickle Juice

Posted by Dorthy (Salt Lake) on 11/17/2006
★★★★★

Dill pickle juice cured my severe leg mucle spasms following knee replacement surgury. I found one site that said the pickle juice gives us acitic acid. Whatever it does, it worked almost instantaneously. I would like to find another way to stop the spasms, there is not a lot to do with bottles of pickle without the juice. Eating just the pickle does not give the same relief.

Pickle Juice

Posted by Lani (Eugene, OR) on 03/29/2008
★★★★★

Pickle juice cured my leg cramps - immediately! I have been having severe leg cramps (mainly at night) for months.They wake me up many times each night.Tonight, as I was watching TV,the cramps came on hard. I decided to get on internet to look for a cure. I eventually came upon pickle juice and decided to try it because I had some in the refrigerator and I like the taste.I poured a small glass (4 ounces of sweet pickle juice) and drank it.I sat down to watch TV again and the cramps were gone. It is hard for me to believe that pickle juice would work so fast and so well, but it did.I just poured another glass and put it on my bedside table to use in case the' leg cramps return tonight. Shall let you know what happens!

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.

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.

Buffered Salt

Posted by Jo Anne (Clearwater, FL)
★★★★★

Living in Florida, the heat can be harsh on one who works outside in it. My husband had been having severe muscle cramps and low energy. Our pharmacist recommended a salt supplement called Thermotabs (a buffered salt supplement). After taking this daily, he has no muscle cramps and also has a higher energy level. Hope this works for you too. Take as directed on the bottle.

Cold Showers

Posted by Araeshkigal (Hurst, TX) on 02/16/2007
★★★★★

I first started taking cold showers as a suggested remedy for migraines. It more than worked. It also helped alleviate skin breakouts, regular muscle cramping, and some blood pressure issues (I changed nothing else in diet or exercise to be sure this was what was having the effects) I find it's best to start barely warm and slowly get to cold. If you can't stand ice cold at first just go "on the cool side" till you get a tolerance. You don't have to *freeze* to get the benefits. Also I find cold baths do *not* have the same theraputic effect as' cold showers (anyone else?)

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

Mustard

Posted by Ruth (Banning, California) on 11/27/2006
★★★★★

A teaspoonful of prepared Mustard like Frenchs brings toe and leg cramps relief. I have tiny packets of mustard (that I purchase at Smart & Fiinal restaurant suppliers) and carry them in my handbag and at my bedside for quick relief. It works fast 99% of the time.

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.

Heat

Posted by Anne (Mineral, VA) on 04/20/2007
★★★★★

I have been waking up in 30-minute intervals between 2:00 a.m. until I finally get up at around 8:00 a.m. with extremely painful leg/foot cramps. I used to run to the bath tub, sit down on the side of the tub, and run the hottest water I could stand over my calf. I discovered by using my hair dryer on high heat, following the calf muscle that's cramping to my foot area that's also cramping, helps as a quick emergency tool. But I really am looking for a remedy to avoid having cramps in the first place. The heat helps stop the cramp, but it keeps returning after a short while. What I wouldn't give for a full night's sleep! I think I'll try the pickle juice tonight!

Magnesium

Posted by Phyllis (Rockhampton, Australia) on 05/14/2007
★★★★★

I have been dealing with the pain of cramps for a lot of years now, however as I am getting older & the pain is now so painfully excruciating I am going to make sure I get a cure for this problem, NOW. I bought a bottle of "BIO magnesium" last night & out of three nights cramps I didn't get any cramping even though I can still feel the cramp lying in waiting, & I had 12 hours sleep, WOW, I feel like I need mores sleep now because I have been so badly deprived of sleep from the extremeties of the pain. I also bought ?Mersyndol" which the chemist herself said would help me get some sleep, in which it did. I will post my latest knowledge back here again soon!..

DMSO

Posted by Janice (Ocean, NJ) on 06/19/2007
★★★★★

I pulled a muscle in the upper middle back and could not turn my head full left or right. I rubbed in DMSO, & soon after, the pain was gone. It lasted the whole day, but I did have to reapply at night & then the next day. After about 4 days , the pain was completely gone! This is an amazing site--my new bible---thank you for everything!

Dietary and Herbal Suggestions

Posted by Gabby (Dallas, TX) on 07/01/2007
★★★★★

I suffered over 20 years from nighttime toe, foot and leg cramping. It would usually start at around 3am and go on until I got up.

Instead of just treating the symptoms I tried to find an actual cure and I found out the following: Don't drink alcoholic beverages (a glass or two per week is fine), don't eat much sugar or sweetened food, don't drink caffeine especially no sodas with caffeine. Caffeine free sodas work okay but keep in mind that it is not healthy anyway. Stop smoking if you do (that wasn't a hard one, was it?), drink plenty of water, at least 2 quarts (liters) per day and make sure it is good water (not tap water) and finally the most important: Go to bed before midnight! I believe this is especially true because our organs regenerate themselves during the night. I am not sure but I believe that at 3am the liver starts to regenerate which would mean that this is the weak spot of us "crampers". To support the liver, one can also use the herbal supplement "Milkthistle" (in german Mariendistel) which can help tremendously. If I follow this rigorous regimen, I am cramp free!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sandy (Oakland, CA) on 07/02/2007
★★★★★

I used to get serious leg cramps and tried vinegar from a recommended home remedy. One to 2 onces of apple cider vinegar brought relief from almost any cramp within a minute or so. A happy side effect was the complete elimination of heartburn. I had an ulcer as a teenager and very serious heartburn as an adult. I used to take wads of antacids, but haven't touched one in over ten years. As an avid bike commuter I became aware of the requirement to drink plenty of water at least 24 hours before riding. This keeps my cramping to a minimum. The total combination of adequate daily water and periodic vinegar (apple cider vinegar is the tastiest and gentlist) and consistent aerobic, sweat exercise has eliminated the above two maladies and when combined with adequate sleep, has eliminated fatigue.

After 15 years of personal experimentation I have become convinced that a regimen of organic, pesticide-free food, adequate water, sleep and daily exercise is the key to be a default state of human health.

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--