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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gail (Melbourne, Australia) on 01/17/2008
★★★★★
for anyone who can't take acv for their restless legs they can rub it into their legs, this works just as well as taking it internally
Iron and Potassium
Posted by Linda (Orlando, FL) on 02/23/2007
★★★★★
I have taken potassium supplements for many years (plus iron and calcium) to control my RLS symptoms. It took me a while to find the right balance of supplements, but my RLS rarely keeps me from falling asleep. It still bothers me on long car trips or in a long movie if I'm tired.
I had a sleep study done a couple of years ago, and the doctor remarked at how much leg movement I have in my sleep (even with taking the supplements). He indicated that RLS is associated with low iron. So, I increased my iron a little, and the symptoms improved. I know, however, that the potassium helps because if I run out of it my legs are "dancing" within a couple of days.
Folic Acid
Posted by victoria (burkburnett, texas) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
I had heard that for those who inherited restless leg seem to require high doses of folic acid. I've tried this and it works great. I take about 20, 800mcg's at night.
Baking Soda
Posted by Pat (Fredericksburg, VA, USA) on 08/07/2007
★★★★★
I have restless legs at night sometimes. Since reading about the many cures here I have tried 1/4 tsp of baking soda in a cup of water: within 20 minutes my legs are calm and I am able to sleep. I haven't found anything else that helps; won't try pharmaceutical drugs to help, don't want any side effects. The baking soda really helps me!
Avoid Deodorant With Aluminum
Posted by Judy (Loveland, Co) on 08/10/2007
★★★★★
When I was pregnant, I had terrible RLS in the third trimester. After I had the baby, it got much better. Unfortunately, five years later, I had a miscarriage and seemed to have RLS again. It wasn't as severe as the first time but it kept me up at night none the less. Meanwhile, I had started using regular deoderant with the aluminum(sp) in it. I read that that is one of the contributing factors of RLS so I stopped using antiperspirent. (Of course I use something to deoderize like a mineral rock :)) My mild case of RLS is gone.
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Posted by Glen (Valdosta, GA) on 09/09/2007
★★★★★
I heard from a friend that he didn't drink diet soda because of the RLS he experienced. I realized that when I'm on the road (truck driver) drinking diet sodas I'm fine, but when I get home all I drink is tea with splenda. Within one week I'm experiencing RLS and, as mentioned in one of your posting, herpes outbreak. I think this is pretty conclusive. The word really needs to get out about this.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Jennifer (Greenfield, WI) on 02/28/2007
★★★★★
I went to the health food store to ask about what I could give my 15 month-old son for constipation. They suggested 1-2 tsp. of blackstrap molasses in his bottle. I bought the bottle, came home, came to this website and discovered all different things this stuff is good for. I am 8 months pregnant. I was having a lot of trouble sleeping and developing symptoms of restless leg syndrome (common in pregnancy). I decided to give it a shot. Long story short, my son is pooping like a champ and I started sleeping through the night without any jerking limbs ON THE FIRST DAY! I ran out for one day, and I had a horrible night sleep. I am amazed and delighted.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Su Su (Sacramento, Ca) on 09/10/2007
★★★★★
Blackstrap Molasses which I was taking for something else, cured my RLS. I had been drinking warm soymilk with one tablespoon of molasses every morning and when I ran out my RLS came back. I then read about a new study that said iron might cure some RLS. The day I started back on molasses, my symptoms disappeared.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Kim (Westport, Ma) on 11/16/2007
★★★★★
Hi, there is a cure for restless leg syndrome, and it comes in the form of BLACK STRAP MOLASSES. While using BSM for I discovered that my restless leg syndrome stopped completely, as long as I use it daily. I have suffered for years with this condition, family members, my dad , brother and aunt have it so hereditary I am sure and from what I read there are plently of pills doctors will prescribe for you, but for me natural is the only way to go. I take 1 tablespoon a day of BSM, I use it to manage my female issues and PMS, and heavy bleeding, that now is cut in half, and the happy side affect to that regimine was the cure for my restless leg syndrome, which caused so much pain, and movement just to fall asleep. I have to say that this website has given me my life back in a way that is a miracle. No pills for me if I can ever help it. I look up a syndrome, or condition and more then likely I find it here and I try it and or apply it to my own life and see how it goes. So far so good. I believe that we know ourselves better then any doctor ever could. This website could be the very thing that saves your life. I mean more and more on tv to radio I see and hear more and more about restless leg syndrome and companies promoting more and more medicines for the syndrome so they can make money, if they did research like I did online they would see the cure right in front of them, it comes up in my search right away. Simple and inexspensive and it doesn't hurt the body in other ways. I get frustrated just seeing commercials trying to get people to take there drugs. Anyhow, BSM 1 tablespoon a day has cured my RLS and I am forever grateful. I do my best to promote this site to friends and family and I know they get tired of listening to me sometimes, but thats OK! The truth here for me is a miracle so passing it along is just what we're supposed to do. In the right kind of world. Thanks a million to all have written here.
Balm With Menthol and Methyl Salicylate
Posted by marco (ocampo) (la puente, Ca) on 09/14/2007
★★★★★
any pain relieving balm with the active ingredients menthol and methyl salicylate should relieve your rls in about 15-25min. i used some extra strength balm which was kinda ICY to numb the discomfort and HOT to relax it away worked wonders for me and it should for you enjoy!
Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium; Alkaline Diet
Posted by Ed (Lower Burrell, PA) on 09/16/2007
★★★★★
I have been working with a naturopathic doctor for a number of ailments. Although I do not have RLS, this Dr. has a radio show (620am) in Pittsburgh and has commented on RSL causes. It is usually a mineral deficiency. Adding Calcium, Magnesium or Potassium is typically the remedy. However one must be aware that there is also an underlying cause depleting minerals in the body. Soda pop (pH=2.5), coffee (pH=5.0), alcohol can pull minerals from muscles (cramps) and bones (thinning) to ring the body back to alkaline (the blood is tightly regulated at a pH of ~7.4). Try cutting out such items and supplement with good quality minerals and you should see a marked improvement. Good luck!
Examine Mineral Deficiencies
Posted by Linda (Orlando, FL) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
I have suffered from RLS most of my life (I'm 47)and discovered the link between RLS and mineral deficiency about 20 years ago. I have supplemented with Potassium, Calcium and Iron. I cook my own food, eat very little processed stuff, and have always craved spinach and broccoli (I even like brussel sprouts!). But even eating all the right stuff, I still need the supplements. I also suffer from endometriosis (horrible female problem), which I think is also related somehow to the mineral deficiency. I have been taking Blackstrap Molasses (full of good minerals) for about a year to try to combat those symptoms. I haven't experienced the "miracle cure" other women have written about, but at least I'm off the Percocet! Recently I have been reading on this site about magnesium supplementation. Am I right to think that low magnesium can cause malabsorption of other minerals? I'm going to try it for a while and see what happens.
Cereal High in Iron
Posted by Mary (Chicago, IL) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★
I use Cream of Wheat for my RLS!! My legs have always hurt plus I've had poor circulation for as long as I can remember. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, so I researched causes and found one reason was an Iron deficiency. I then researched foods rich in Iron and came up with Cream of Wheat, 1 cup equal to 10 mg. and Total, 1 ounce equal to 18 mg. RDA is 19 mg. per day. Don't care for Total that much but love COW. Have now been taking it for 3 weeks straight, my legs are totally cured. How long did it take? Instantly. I noticed the results after the first time I took it. Even I can't believe it, it's a miracle!!!
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Rich (Orlando, Florida) on 01/13/2008
★★★★★
A simple bar of regular Bath Soap placed under your bedsheets below your feet works amazing well to get rid of "Restless Legs"! It doesn't really seem to matter what type of soap is used, and you can even leave the soap in its wrapper. I'm not sure why this works, but I'm sure it has to do with the "outgassing" of the soap chemicals, which you can smell. Or it may have to do with the Molecular structure of soap, and the energy those molecules put off and how they influence your muscles. Either way, it works! I have read about this several times in "natural health" articles and have had many people use this. They think it sounds crazy, but they are happy either way with the results. We have found no negative side-effects with doing this. Try it yourself and stop your Restless Legs in your bed at night!
Magnesium
Posted by Paige (Portland, OR) on 03/16/2008
★★★★★
I have had problems with RLS and have found two remedies that work for me.
The first is magnesium supplementation, which I see is often mentioned on this site. When I feel the twitching, unable-to-stop-moving feeling, I get out of bed and take the recommended dose of a calcium/magnesium/Vitamin D supplement. I get back in bed and am asleep before I remember to check if it has worked. This doesn't seem to have a cumulative effect; I have to take this most nights. I might not need it a few times a week.
The second remedy I've found is a very healthy diet. When I eat nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and a little fish, I never get RLS symptoms. As soon as I add unhealthier things to my diet, it comes back. I hope this is helpful to some of you out there and I hope you try some of these remedies before turning to Requip or some other drug.
