Effective Natural Remedies for Restless Legs Syndrome Relief

Homeopathy

Posted by Megan (Sydney, Australia) on 12/27/2011
★★★★★

I want to share a remedy I have found for Restless Legs Syndrome. 'Restless Legs Relief' is a homeopathic remedy found in Health food stores. I spray 4 squirts under my tongue and no restless legs anymore. What a relief, as continually having to move my legs around was stopping me sleeping. I had tried the bar of soap remedy to no avail. Hope this helps!!

Coconut Oil

Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 05/24/2012

Just to ad an update. I also found that using Kombucha tea helps a lot with my RLS. I us both the coconut oil and kombucha and very seldom have any RLS problems. As for the disclaimer that you should get medical advice from a Doctor first, every time I have been to see a Doctor they try and give me a prescription. I rarelly ever waste my time with doctors any more since all they know is drugs, they have lost contact with real cures. I am far more healthy for it, and I fell 20-30 years younger. I have been curing all my health problems without the side effects of prescribed drugs. Thank you Earth clinic.

Homeopathy

Posted by Lee (New York) on 08/09/2011
★★★★★

I have had restless leg syndrome for most of my adult life. I'd get it for a couple of nights every now and then, but now I've had it every night for over a month, it's very distruptive to sleep. I have tried many of the remedies on this site, only to get about 1 1/2 hours of relief before I'm up again. I went to the Dr. for a blood test to see if I was deficient in anything, but I'm not.

I came across a homeopathic remedy called Restful Legs by Hyland. OH, BLESSED RELIEF! I realize that different things work for different people, especially for this condition, but you might want to give it a try. They have a website you can google. I purchased it in a health food store, but it is available in chain drug stores as well according to their website. It's relatively inexpensive.... about $8.00.

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Sherri (Houston, Tx) on 01/03/2012
★☆☆☆☆

The bar of soap didn't work for me either. I try not to drink caffeine in the afternoon, and get plenty of water intake. I'll try the niacin. The best thing I've found, is "Restful Legs" a homeopathic remedy that you put under your tongue. It lets me get back to sleep in 10 minutes. If I run out, I drink a large glass of water, and that will help. But then you might wake up to go to the bathroom. It's very frustrating!

Aspirin

Posted by Deborah (Bellingham, Wa, Usa) on 04/14/2011
★★★★★

I just recently found this site and have read everything here about Restless Legs Syndrome.

Everyone in my family has this problem and I have had it since I was a small child. In my family, the "cure" for an episode of RLS is aspirin. Two 325 mg tablets stops all the twitching and crawling sensations in 12-15 minutes and keeps working for at least 3 hours. I go from total twitching overload to sound asleep in moments.

I have been to several specialists about my restless legs because it has become much worse as I get older (I am now over 60). And I develop a temporary tolerance to the aspirin if used day after day, so that I need 3 tablets or 4 to stop the symptoms if I have taken aspirin every night for a week or two. Aspirin has its own serious side effects, especially in these quantities. But, after a couple weeks of no aspirin, 2 tablets will stop the symptoms again.

The neurology specialists I have seen are surprised that common aspirin completely relieves my symptoms. They tell me they have never heard of this or read about it. Their answer is various prescription drugs that have serious side effects for me. I am very interested in several of the remedies described here, but wanted to share my family's experience as well. Has anyone else tried aspirin? It is obviously not a cure, but it stops the symptoms so I can sleep. That's BIG help when you have serious RLS.

Aspirin

Posted by Kellyd (Seattle, Wa) on 08/09/2013
★★★★★

The reason aspirin is helping may be because it thins the blood, thus helping one's circulation. I've found RLS to be directly related to circulation issues...

Baking Soda

Posted by Ginny (Tampa, Fl) on 09/12/2010
★★★★★

Try an OTC pain relieving cream, usually with menthol like you would use if your muscles were sore and keep it by the bed. Apply to the base of your spinal cord and around low back area. This method works for me 99% of the time, but last night was so bad that didn't work well enough. So I looked up RLS on EC: I had my husband massage my lower body briefly (he used sides of hands in chopping motion) and then I drank a small amount of baking soda in water and that did the trick! Thanks to EC and contributors!

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Cynthia (Jacksonville, Alabama) on 04/23/2010
★★★★★

I wanted to thank you for the bar of soap idea. This is the weirdest coolest thing I've found yet. Not only does it work for restless legs, but for almost any ache and pain you can imagine, for me. Neck aches, headaches, back pain, flitting pains, on and on. I just hold the still wrapped ivory soap bar in my hand while I sleep or even hold it on the pain directly. I've even seen it help sore throats and mouth sores. It is the weirdest thing, but it is beautiful. We even have a bar in the living room so if we need it, we have it handy. It even helps my hubby and he's a hard sell. I just wish I understood it. God bless this site and all the sharing going on!

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Alain (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) on 03/25/2010

An explanation to the soap bar use for the restless leg syndrome.

1st a soap is alkaline. It has to be to remove oil and grease as they are acids (as in fatty acids!).

For instance check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_(soap)
where it says "The Ivory soap bar (classic) had contained: sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernelate, water, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, and fragrance.[7] The soap bar had a determined pH value: 9.5. "

Surprise, its pH is 9.5 i.e. alkaline. Also notice it has magnesium sulfate i.e. Epsom salts.

Now from http://www.progressivehealth.com/RLS-magnesium.asp
you can read
"Magnesium for RLS

If the massive amounts of body magnesium are low, you can have restless legs, cramps of the uterus and other muscles, migraines, and other problems. It is an essential mineral critical in 300 enzyme reactions in the body.

Calcium, magnesium, and potassium all have an effect on muscle contraction and relaxation. In addition, they help nerve transmission. Experts say that you can help calm your legs and get some rest by making sure that you're getting enough of all three minerals. Taking a daily dose of between 800 and 1,000 milligrams of calcium, 300 milligrams of potassium, and 500 milligrams of magnesium at bedtime may help reduce RLS symptoms.

Magnesium is important for muscles to be able to relax, while calcium helps them contract. Too little magnesium in relation to calcium (or low levels of both) can make muscles cramp more easily and may make some muscles, like the smooth muscles that wrap around big blood vessels, stay somewhat contracted.

Magnesium deficiency can make muscles go into spasms easily. When you're short on magnesium, the waste products of metabolism, such as lactic acid, are harder to flush out, so you may get tired, burning, sore muscles."

Now check https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/restless_legs.html
and see how many post refers to minerals, magnesium, blackstrap molasses.

So definitely, RLS is related with mineral deficiency. Therefore I would suggest people with RLS to consider alkalizing protocols that would include multi-mineral like BSM ...

Search about how to take magnesium. One way is externally with Epsom Salt baths. Or take a pinch of ES with a heavy meal or with a glass of water. Magnesium will help the liver and kidneys in the digestion of proteins. I am now taking about a total of between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon a day of ES with my water through the day with beverages. But one must start slowly first. I need less ES in the summer when a eat a lot of fresh veggies.

For lengthy and technical articles on minerals you can read the following:

This, http://www.acu-cell.com/acn.html , for a very lengthy article on Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin D.

For muscle spasms http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-mus.html

And this, http://www.acu-cell.com/femn.html , for iron and manganese.

For good natural sources of numerous minerals you can take BSM and cold water kelp.

Alain

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/13/2009 490 posts

Hello Barbara,

I haven't checked this out personally but have read that putting a bar of ivory soap in the bed gets rid of restlessleg sysdrome. Nobody seems to know how it works but have read where several different people with restless leg syndrome says it works. One of the claimants said you don't even need to remove the wrapper from the bar of soap.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Luis (Cali, Colombia) on 07/13/2009
★★★★★

Dear Barbara:

1. A half cup of soy milk added with 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses, 1 capsule of folic acid (1000 mcgr.) and 1 table of potassium citrate (250 mgr.). Use your blender.

2. A strong alcohol massage in both legs (calf), before going to bed.

It is working to my mother, so far. No more sleeping interruptions.

To your best days.

Luis

Baking Soda

Posted by pro8688 (Vincentown, NJ) on 03/17/2009
★★★★★

Baking soda cured my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome).

Up to now, I have used a 500mg magnesium tablet and it worked for several years...take a tablet and 20 minutes later no more RLS.

Lately, it isn't working as well, so I came back to EarthClinic.

I tried the baking soda... one quarter teaspoon in a half cup of water...it worked fine...30 minutes and no more RLS.

What a blessing to have this site to reference!

Horse Chestnut

Posted by Carl (Studio City, CA) on 02/22/2009
★★★★★

Horse Chestnut tabs from a health food store will relieve symptoms of RLS in some people. There is some evidence that insomnia and RLS may be secondary to folic deficiency. People with a family history of RLS may benefit from taking 5-10 mg per day of folic acid. However, those taking folic acid should make sure they are receiving at least 500-1000 mcg of vitamin B12. Also, consult a physician before using folic acid if you have epilepsy as folic acid interacts with some epilepsy medications and can trigger a seizure in some people. Obviously, from the discussion, different people benefit from different supplements and treatments. One should experiment carefully until you get it right.

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Jack (Hendersonville, NC USA) on 01/11/2009
★★★★★

Took a drug every night at bedtime to ease RLS so I could get some rest. Discovered that the drug would become ineffective after 24 months and then there was no help. Desparation began to mount.

At dinner one night a friend told me about the bar of soap. He was very sheepish because he thought I would laugh. When I didn't, his wife presented me with a bar of Ivory Soap. Used it that night and threw away the drugs. That was 4 months ago. Since then, no drugs, no RLS, and lots of sleep.

I use Ivory Soap unwrapped between the sheets somewhere between the waist and knees. There may be variations that also work but I am not broke so I will not fix it.

Prescription Drug Link to Rls

Posted by Jon (Australia) on 11/03/2014

Yes, that is because antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and antiemetics reduce the amounts of iron in the brain can cause restless leg syndrome.

Supplementing with molasses or plant-source iron helps.

Cereal High in Iron

Posted by Mare (Il, US) on 02/01/2015

UPDATE: It's been a long time since I posted my miracle cure of Cream of Wheat for my RLS. Just so you know, I still use it, but don't use it exclusively for my RLS, I use something else. The reason being, I found the root cause of my problem (from my doctor) is related to my diabetes, it's diabetic neuropathy. Although I still have it, it's now manageable and doesn't affect me like before. At least I know. Feel free to contact me about what I take.

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.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 07/02/2012
★★★★★

Blackstrap Molasses for RLS

The problem of all the sugar in BSM was a concern to me. I found that by putting BSM into Kombucha tea then let it sit for about a week, the kombucha would eat all the sugar and leave me the minerals and every thing good about BSM, plus the goodness of the kombucha. I put in kombucha tea that has already been fermented, a scoby and the amount of BSM as I would normally use sugar. Next I will try kombucha coffee made with BSM, will probably make a strong tasting coffee kombucha.

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.

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.

Magnesium

Posted by Amanda (Orem, Ut) on 03/20/2007
★★★★★

I have had restless leg syndrome for years. One day a lady suggested magnesium to me. Now I take magnesium at night and find it helps my legs relax and I can get to sleep. My mother also has restless leg syndrome and has been taking medications for it but has had a lot of side effects. I told her about magnesium and now she only needs half the medication that she used to to get to sleep. Hopefully this helps other people.

Magnesium

Posted by Leena Medina (Anaheim, Ca) on 12/02/2010
★★★★☆

I read all the comments made on controling restless leg... I want to add that I read the book, RLS cured forever and the author suggestion an elimination diet of all forms of dairy products (casinate, whey, milk, non-dairy creamer, etc). My RLS has improved 98%... I believe I was experiencing an allergy to dairy products due to a mineral deficiency my body is experiencing. I feel much better but it has been difficult at times when I crave donuts or products that contain dairy. However, it is worth not having RLS. I also want to add that I recently had a baby and I give him formula (I must be highly sensive to exposure... Throw-up.. Spills.. etc. ) so I believe this is why I still get some RLS. Anyway, I am going to try the vitamins, vinegar/water, blackstrap molasses and ivory soap. Thank you for all the info.

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.

Iron and Potassium

Posted by Donna (Brattleboro, VT) on 04/27/2009

Of course, it goes without saying to check with your doc before starting ANY supplements. It is not actually low iron that can cause RLS, but low Ferritin stores. I have not seen anyone mention this.You have to ask for the Ferritin test, not just an iron test. It all depends on how your brain assimilates the iron, and stores it. Your iron level is another whole test. and, that would be why Molassess helps because of all the iron in it. Remember one "cure" that works for one person, will be troublesome for the next one. using the word cure with RLS is a misnomer, as there is no cure. Like there is no cure for diabetes. You can control the symptoms at times for RLS, but not cure it.

Calcium Lactate

Posted by Niecie F. (California) on 04/26/2020
★★★★★

My RLS has diminished about 95 percent since taking calcium.

I mix 1 tablespoon of Standard Process calcium lactate powder in my evening kefir drink. Standard Process also carries it in tablet form in which you would take six per day. It is my understanding that calcium lactate is the most absorbable form of calcium and I would only recommend taking this form from Standard Process.

I also take Dr. Berg's electrolyte powder and extra magnesium. I also used to get severe toe and foot cramps. With taking these supplements, all cramps are gone too.