Effective Natural Remedies for Restless Legs Syndrome Relief

Avoid Sugar

Posted by Kathleen (Pitt Meadows, B.c. Canada) on 11/26/2012
★★★★★

RLS - I find I get this awful sensation in my legs within 1 hour of consuming anything with sugar if I'm not active. Usually it hits in the evening while I'm sitting around and then in the night.

Even one candy is enough to trigger it so try to find something else to snack on in the evening and see if it helps.

Bach Flower Remedies

Posted by Tweetylynn (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 11/20/2012
★★★★★

Bach's Rescue Remedy works like a charm. Two sprays in the mouth at night and I'm asleep before my horrible restless legs start up. Five nights in a row so far and no RLS.

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Ris (Dubois, Pa) on 10/12/2012
★★★★★

For everyone who tried the bar of soap (for one night). Give it some time. I was on med. for my RLS. I heard about the soap and put two bars (1 ivory and 1 dial) under my sheets, I kept taking my meds for a week before going off of them. no problems, unless I kick the bar of soap out of the bed- I don't put them under the sheets- and don't retrieve them the next night. don't keep the wrapper on the soap and don't put it in a sock. go ohh natural.

Eliminate Coffee

Posted by David (Greenville, Sc) on 10/04/2012

Try this; worked for me. My leg agitation would drive me crazy at night and I realized that there was a corrolation between intake of sugar after six oclock or so, and the irritable leg issue.

Two solutions: First I cut way back on night time consumption of sugar products. Especially damaging is sugar late at night. That almost always caused RLS.

But, if I break down and do have the ice cream etc. And know that the irritation is likely, in fact, I usually can feel it coming on even before I am ready to sleep, I use a solution of baking soda in water; a half teaspoon in a half cup of water and apply on my knee caps... Which is where the irritation centers in on me. Then I drink the remainder of the soda/water. That combo alkalizes the body. The sugar is a terrible cause of acidic body condition, probably produced over a lifetime of too much sugar consumption and the inability to metabolize it efficently gives a side effect of acidic condition which perhaps along with insulin issues causes the RLS.

This formula really works. No sugar at night but if you do and the RLS starts take the baking soda in water topically and drink the rest to create an alkaline condition.

Baking Soda

Posted by Dq (Lore City, Ohio) on 10/03/2012
★★★★★

I was on the hunt to see what I had on hand and what worked... Good news, the baking soda mix worked little before the 20 mins (17mins), as of right now 26 mins I still feel the ease of the pains going away. Thank you all for sharing.

This helps alot for the RLS (ressless legs syndrome)
1. glass of water (warm) 8oz.
2. 1/4 tsb baking soda (sodium bicarbonate 100%)
3. Stir it for 30 seconds
4. Drink it all down
5. write the start time down and wait for ease of pains to go away (feeling easement at 17mins)

Thank you everyone.

A Bar of Soap

Posted by Barbara (Denver, Co) on 09/26/2012
★★★★★

Wow! A big yea for the bar of soap! I have had restless leg for years, and just suffered through, banging my foot on the floor incessantly (which helps not at all :) Since beginning medication for hypertension it has gotten worse, and keeps me from sleeping at times. Last night I came to this site, not really thinking I'd find anything but hoping...

The bar soap idea seemed pretty strange, but the whole alkaline thing suggested by a contributor appealed to me, so I gave it a try. I use coconut soap and didn't think that would work, but my daughter had a little scrap of a bar of Dove which she prefers. Since it was pretty small, I gently rubbed it over my legs for a few minutes - not making much contact at all. Then I just let it sit atop my legs. Seriously, that was the last time I felt the effect of RLS! I slept the night with that little scrap on the sheet under my legs, and that was all it took. I slept soundly through the night, not waking once (which is notable in that I'm taking a diuretic in my drug coctail!

Fantastic! I love this website and all the wonderful people who contribute. Thank you!!!

Magnesium

Posted by Cate (Melbourne, Australia) on 09/21/2012
★★★★★

When I was pregnant with my first son I was still exercising like a maniac in the pool. My legs were so restless I was up 3/4 of the night stretching them out beside the bed. My husband couldn't stand the interruptions and even slept next door. At the time I took a synthetic supplement of magnesium, postassium, sodium and one other, forgotten which. It had heaps of sweetness so was of negligible use.

Three or four years later I'm on a 'primal' (aka paleo/ancestral/caveman) diet which has been a MASSIVE boon to my whole body and mind, the legs are fine, no problem there at all now.

I do also have a pretty serious magnesium (and vitamin C) bath every week. I look forward to it after a full-on week because I sleep like a baby, my body is so thoroughly relaxed.

I use organic vege, meats, fruit and coconut oil/good fats. I soak my nuts and seeds in brine till they start to ferment, and the magnesium is mag. Chloride, 450grams, and very pure. I've also used cheaper epsom salts which are fine too.

Power to ya. : )

Avoid MSG

Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 09/19/2012
★★★★★

Not eating MSG stopped my leg jerks. When I eat MSG, the twitching starts again. I have been avoiding it for several weeks now and my legs have been quiet.

Eliminate Benadryl

Posted by Rsw (Uniontown, Oh) on 09/18/2012
★★★★★

I have found this to be true, also. NyQuil always was a problem and kept my up all night, but as I have gotten older, Benedryl and other such OTC drugs that you mention, now cause me to be drowsy but completely unable to sleep with increased RLS symptoms.

Eliminate Benadryl

Posted by Little Wing (Marshfield, Ma) on 09/17/2012
★★★★★

I find benadryl makes my restless legs MUCH worse, as does anything like this or any of the PM medicines (Excedrin PM, Advil PM, etc.).

Cotton Sheets

Posted by Kate (Raleigh, Nc, United States) on 09/16/2012 6 posts

This is a very interesting post about cotton sheets for restless legs. I don't have restless legs, but I do have trouble sleeping. Although my quilt is made of a combination of cotton and linen, my sheets have polyester in them and so does my mattress cover. I'm going to start shopping for cotton sheets and a cotton mattress cover. Sleep is so important for our happiness and well-being. I believe we should make sleep our number one priority (well, actually, in addition to nutrition). Thank you, Makayla, for sharing your experience with us!

Cotton Sheets

Posted by Makayla (Knoxville, Tn, Usa) on 09/15/2012
★★★★★

I'm a 31 year old female, and have been suffering from restless legs since I was about 14 or so. I finally think I've figured out what's been causing it, though I'm not entirely sure why - polyester bedding.

I've tried just about everything, including magnesium, potassium, massage and the good old bar of soap trick, but nothing worked. I always though it had been something that I was, or wasn't, eating.

After buying a new bedspread, I noticed that it had been a few days since I'd had my jumpy legs. Took a little while to figure it out, but for the first time in probably my life, I was sleeping with 100% cotton sheets and a 100% cotton woven bedspread. And my restless legs were GONE.

I don't know why this is... Maybe the polyester I usually use doesn't let my legs breathe, or maybe there's even something going on with static electricity. I've tested this a few times since I've noticed, and my old comforter gives me restless legs every time.

This may not work for everybody, but if it maybe helps one person, I'll be happy! I know how frustrating this condition can be.

Examine Mineral Deficiencies

Posted by Alan (London, Uk) on 09/04/2012

Hi what has helped my wife and a few friends with this is bicarb of soda flat teaspoon in half cup of water. or my wife favors, no joke, rubbing a bar of soap on her legs then sleep with it in the bed, dry soap.

Examine Mineral Deficiencies

Posted by James (Manchester, Ct) on 09/04/2012

It's been 9 years since my son was born and I started taking Mirapex for my RLS (so that my wife could sleep when she came back from nursing our first child during the night). I've had to up the dose considerably (in order for me to even fall asleep now... With terrible side effects). Read about Magnesium and took some at intervals today. Staved off the nightly RLS symptoms until 10:00 p.m. However, at about midnight I woke with symptoms again and have been up for 6 hours now. Found your website and drank the ACR/honey mix 30 min ago and downed two tablespoons of molassis 15 min ago. Rather than a controlled study... I needed some relief. I hope for better tomorrows. I'll keep you posted. Peace to you all and thanks for sharing your results with others. Having no control over such a debilitating health concern has left me so bummed out.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 08/12/2012

Hi Jay, I had really bad RLS for a few years. Eventually, the pain that would surge through my legs during the night would not go away and I dealt with continual pain that would radiate down my legs constantly.

I know this sounds drastic, and it is, but I went raw and did green juicing everyday. Hoping to detox and find my body's health again. It only took about a week for the pain to completely disappear after changing my diet this way! After I began to slowly add in soups, then meat again. That Christmas holiday a family member made her spinach cheese pie and I couldn't resist though I'd completely eliminated dairy when I went raw. Within about 30 minutes the excruciating pain was back! Of course, I saw the correlation immediately.

Well, I stayed off dairy for about a year and then began making kefir from raw milk since I'd read that could help with people who reacted to dairy. It is now about 2 years later and I can eat dairy again without my body reacting. Anyway, I tell you all this because I think it has to do with toxicity in our body. I believe if you clean up your diet and detox it will disappear. I know how awful it is to live with this so, it may be something to consider. The BSM may not be enough. Wishing you the best, Lisa

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Jay (Jerome, Idaho) on 08/12/2012

I am 41 years old and took abilify for over a year and found thats it gives you the hateful side effect of rls. I have it so bad that my arms twitch as well and I get no sleep at all. I will try this black strap molasses and see if it will help.

Quinine

Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 07/30/2012

Hi Jo, I bought the Schweppes brand a couple of years ago on recommendation from my chiropractor to take tonic water. My neck and trapezius area had completely seized up so badly, I couldn't move. I bought the well- known brand and promptly drank it. I began to then have my negative reactions that I get instantly from sugar. I avoid sugar because I am sensitive to it. I looked at the ingredients and was upset that the second ingredient was corn syrup high fructose and the second sugar. I didn't take any more after that in spite of the fact that the quinine was supposed to help the muscle spasm. I have since learned there is very little quinine in this company's tonic water.

Then, about a year later, I noticed that one of my favorite health food stores here in LA was now carrying a few brands of quinine and of very high quality. The one I chose had purified water, natural bitters, handpicked quinine, lemon juice extract and organic agave as the sweetener.

I just wanted to pass this info on to others that might have issues regarding ingredients. Hope it helps, Lisa

Quinine

Posted by Bess (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 07/30/2012
★★★★★

Hi Jo from Surrey - I'm not Dolly, but my Dad uses tonic water for restless leg syndrome. He uses either Schweppes or Canada Dry tonic water - 4 ounces at noon and 4 ounces about one hour before bed. You may not need as much (his is quite severe). You also may want to check out magnesium (most people are deficient in magnesium). I have RLS to a lesser extent (not as severe as Dad's) and I find that taking magnesium citrate (about 1 teaspoon in 2 or 3 ounces of water) nightly helps. I use a magnesium citrate powder called "Calm" but there are other good products available in health food stores. I find powder or liquid is better than a tablet because it gets into the bloodstream faster. Transdermal magnesium also helps (60% magnesium chloride to 40% water) rubbed into the legs before bed. It does tend to leave an oily film on the sheets though if you don't rub it in thoroughly. Good luck! Bess

Quinine

Posted by Jo (Surrey, Uk) on 07/30/2012

To Dolly from Brighton. Wonder if you could advise about the quinine in the tonic water. When you refer to the well-known brand are you referring to the one that starts with the letter S and ends with the letter s? Also, can you please advise how often your husband drinks this for his restless leg syndrome and in what quantity? Many thanks.

Quinine

Posted by Dolly (Brighton, United Kingdom) on 07/29/2012
★★★★★

This remedy was given to me by a friend and my husband has used it with highly successful results. It's quinine. He takes it by drinking a well-known brand of Tonic Water (not all tonic waters containe quinine) - but I know you can't advertise. I understand you can buy quinine so could be worth a go. (Hmm think it is a natural substance??).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 07/12/2012
★★★★★

This Apple Cider vinegar and honey recipe cures RLS. The recipe for it is 2 qts. of water to 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/3 cup honey. Drink 8oz. 4x/day. The vinegar and water will stop restless legs in approx. 5 to 15 mins. Every time. Take as needed.

Many other benefits to drinking ACV as well:

1 tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in 4 ounces of purified water after a meal has been used as a natural remedy for heartburn and as a replacement for toxic heartburn medications.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar may help improve bowel irregularity, thereby removing toxins from the body at a faster rate.
Helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes giving a smoother texture and complexion.
Raw Apple Cider vinegar may also help with joint pain and stiffness.
Apple Cider Vinegar helps to break down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them. For this reason, many diets include ACV in their regimen.
On a small scale, ACV was studied by researchers at Arizona State University. The preliminary study was published in the Diabetes Care journal. It reported that ACV helps reduce levels of glucose.

Cereal High in Iron

Posted by Bess (Calgary (home Of The Stampede!), Alberta, Canada) on 07/12/2012

Hi Carlos - Along with being checked for anemia as suggested by Blanche, have your thyroid checked too. Restless leg syndrome can be a problem for those suffering from hypothyroidism. Also, make sure you are not dehydrated (check out the water cure on the Internet - you add just a little bit of sea salt with your water). Although magnesium (CALM) really helped me with RLS, perhaps you need to apply magnesium oil transdermally on your legs/feet (I believe Bill's formula is 60% magnesium chloride and 40% distilled water). Good luck - I hope you find something that works! Bess

Aspirin

Posted by Zoe (Seattle, Wa) on 07/12/2012
★★★★★

Yup, aspirin works for me. I read somewhere that RLS is basically the brain mis-firing low-level pain signals. Aspirin works to block just enough of those signals that RLS goes away - other painkillers work, Tylenol is the safest to take long-term (some studies show elevated liver enzymes after a few weeks, but nothing to be alarmed about and no liver damage occurs). Aspirin has side-effects like blood-thinning if taken over the long-term. I just switch 'em off, but do talk to your doctor.

Cereal High in Iron

Posted by Blanche (Iberia Parish, Louisiana) on 07/11/2012

Are you by any chance anemic? That is one of the contributing factors.

Cereal High in Iron

Posted by Carlos (Dundas, Ontario, Canada) on 07/11/2012

Been taking cream of wheat for six months and it is doing nothing for my nightly restless legs. Tried the soap, no effect. Tried magnesium with and without calcium, tablets and powder (CALM), no effect. Would cutting out one or two cups of coffee in the morning really make a difference? The only sure thing which works is walking around for about two hours between 2 AM and 4 AM, plus some tylenol. Don't ask me why. Carlos.

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.

Magnesium

Posted by Terri (Spooner, Wi) on 06/10/2012
★★★★★

Amazing! I have been soaking my feet in a 50/50 magnesium flake to water ratio for seven days. On the second night my legs got restless during the middle of the night, though not in the evening as they always had as well. I have had this for YEARS!! I can't believe that all I had to do was soak the bottoms of my feet for half an hour. (Magnesium supplements did not have this effect.)

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.

Niacin

Posted by Anne (Seattle, Wa) on 05/23/2012
★★★★★

I have used 500mg of Niacin twice a day for years to fight insomnia and RLS. When I ran out of Niacin for a week my insomnia and RLS returned with a vengence. I dug through my cupboards, found some and was asleep 30 minutes later.

Niacin deficiency is pinpointed as the culprit in many neurological issues by Dr Hoffer including ADHD There is rumors of a toxicity issue with long term high doses but many people have taken up to 3000mg daily long term.

Light Therapy

Posted by Jbrown82 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 05/14/2012
★★★★★

I've been using light therapy to treat my RLS for 18 months now and it's been working great. I use it for 30 minutes a night every night and if I use it faithfully I never have a problem. There's been a few times I've gone on a trip for over a week and forgot to bring my device and my RLS came back but after I get back on it it works! I bought it from this company here in Canada called Tranquilmed. Has anybody else found success with using light to treat RLS?