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.
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.
Hydration
Posted by Lardiver (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 02/25/2011
★★★★★
I have found that if I drink 2 - 3 glasses of water befor going to bed it stops the RLS. Also foods that start up my RLS like chocolat, junk food, and more, the 2 to 3 glasses of water stops it. At first I thought I would be up all night peeing it out but usually only about once, must have something to do with laying down. Try it if you get desperate like I did.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Larry (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 01/27/2011
★★★★☆
Ok I have been using the BSM for a few weeks now. My RLS is mostly gone but stil some tension in my legs, but I have had the RLS for 25 years now so it may take some time to get rid of it completly. I am also using goji berry juice, its working wonders, my eyes are starting to get better. Between the BSM and the goji berry Im getting a lot healthyer.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Larry (Abbotsford, Bc Canada) on 01/13/2011
I will give the BSM a try, thanks for the info, if it works for me your a life saver, if not thanks anyway. Larry
Examine Mineral Deficiencies
Posted by Laura (Mt.olive, Ms. Usa) on 01/10/2011
After having hemorrhoid surgery I had terrible RLS every night. Also had heart surgery 6 weeks before hemorrhoid surgery. Dr. gave me Meripex which did not help with RLS. @ 65 years enough is enough!!! Been taking percocet like Linda from Florida said she did also. Anxious to try some of the remedies suggested in the testimonials. Will let you know the outcome.........Laura
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Margaret (Denver, Co) on 12/09/2010
"three places inside the legs that feel hard and painful" sound like trigger points. Check out the book "Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" by Clair Davies to see if it makes sense to you. I've suffered from RLS for about 10 years and finally reached out to a naturopath who immediately knew what caused it and what to do. RLS is from lymphatic waste pooling in the legs which irritates the nerves, causing the muscles to spasm. This made perfect sense to me, but I'd never thought of it before. Before I went to the naturopath, I'd been taking 3 capsules of magnesium asporotate (Solaray brand) before bed, which works as a muscle relaxant. (Taking much more than that has a laxative effect. ) I'd also do deep runner stretches of the hip flexors, which were the muscles giving me all the trouble. This helped somewhat. Often I'd be up 2-3 times during the night, awakened by jerky legs. I'd walk around the house, sometimes almost to the point of tears because it was SO incredibly frustrating. The magnesium and stretching helped, but obviously they weren't enough. The naturopath suggested the following things which worked like magic:
- 10 to 15 minutes daily bouncing on a mini trampoline. This helps stimulate and clear the lymphatic system
- homeopathic lymphatic drops daily, again to stimulate the lymphatic system
- curcumin daily to clean out the liver which deals with waste delivered to it by the lymphatic system
- yoga, especially inverted poses. For the last 25 or so years I've taken good care of myself: exercised regularly, eaten health food, drank plenty of water, taken supplements. I was already avoiding foods that cause toxins (waste) in the first place--meaning junk food and foods I was allergic to. This was a difficult problem to solve. Now, I usually sleep normally and have slacked off on the trampoline. (If I did the trampoline daily, I'd probably have a complete cure. ) When I exercise a lot, the RLS flares up. I can usually stop it and get back to sleep by deep leg stretches and then a shoulder stand for about 5 minutes. This was really affecting my life in a negative way. I'm so thankful I found things that worked and hope others do too.
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.
Pineapple Juice, Tonic Water, Nutmeg
Posted by Tulip (Monticello, Arkansas) on 11/14/2010
★★★★★
For RLS: 3 oz. Pineapple Juice, 3 oz. Tonic Water with quinine, and a couple of shakes of Nutmeg. Mix these 3 ingredients together and drink nightly about 30 minutes before your RLS usually kicks in. I was given this recipe by a holistic doctor and it works every night.
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 M.h (Paisley, Scotland) on 08/16/2010
★★★★★
Tried the bar of soap under the sheet two years ago and it's been like a miracle. I change it for a new one every few months and it always works for me. M. H.
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Janet (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) on 06/07/2010
★★★★★
I am 62 and have had RLS all my life but have never used prescription meds for this. Last nite I couldn't get to sleep because of the RLS and turned on my computer and went to this website. I read about the soap and decided, why not. When I got to bed, I held the bar of soap (which I had put into a sock) and NO RLS. When I woke up this morning, the soap was no longer in my hand but it didn't matter. I never have a problem with RLS once I am asleep; it's just that period before I fall asleep. If I don't lie perfectly still during that period before sleep, I will always get RLS. So, after I was holding the soap, I moved my legs around and around and around, to see if RLS would appear and it never did. Thank you so much for this website...amazing information.
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
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Blanche (New Iberia, La.) on 03/24/2010
★★★★★
Yep. I felt a little foolish doing this, but it does indeed work for RLS. I happened to use an old bar of Lifebuoy soap, and it is firm enough to have lasted for at least three years. Every now and then I use it for handwashing or something and it seems to revive the smell of it, which I happen to like.
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Cynthia (Jacksonville, Alabama, Usa) on 03/24/2010
★★★★★
Well, I've tried taking just about every nutrient listed to varying degrees of success. The ivory soap bar seems to be the easiest and works the best. I tried putting it in socks, which worked well, but my feet ended up getting too hot and I had to pull them off with little crumbles of soap going everywhere. I tried a bar of soap still in it's pkg and found, rather than letting it kick around randomly in the bed, if I just held onto it it worked fine. I wake up, and I'm still holding onto the bar of soap. It's like a security blanket or something. It really does work. It's verrrry weird, makes little sense and whoever thought of it is a genius. How it works, I can not understand, but it does. Thank God for home remedies. If you havn't tried it, please do, it's strange but works for me. Thanks to everyone on this site for your help~ Namaste
Avoid Deodorant With Aluminum
Posted by Beth (Vista, Ca, Usa) on 03/18/2010
You can make your own deodorant:
5 tbsp. Virgin Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder (or Corn Starch)
1/4 cup Baking Soda
5 drops Tea Tree Oil
Optional: Jasmine Oil or any Good smelling Essential Oil
Mix the powdered ingredients together
Add the Tea Tree Oil to Coconut Oil (and Essential Oil Fragrance) and stir
Drizzle into powdered mixture until it forms a ball sort of like play dough consistency.
I store mine in a small jar. Cleaned out pimento or small artichoke jar works well.
Apply with fingers.
Hope it helps!
Avoid Deodorant With Aluminum
Posted by Cynthia (Jacksonville, Alabama) on 03/17/2010
Thanks very much for this site. I've gotten a lot of good ideas from here. I had to laugh at the dog chasing cars in the dreams comment. I can relate. My dreams totally evolved around my kicking legs. I was wondering if aluminum deoderant was behind my rls. We had been using Lavelin for years and suddenly couldn't get it anymore.I bought another kind at the HFS and the label said- no alumninum chlorhydrate. I got faked out by the label and started using it. Then my hubby noticed on the back real small it said- active ingrediant- aluminum. I thought- I'll just use it up since we paid for it. I started eventually to get rls and was wondering if it had to do w/ it. Tom's makes a deoderant w/o aluminum and my hubby likes it. Remember those "mineral stones" are made of aluminum. Learn from my sheeple move and read the fine print~
I've been trying a bunch of stuff that has been reported on this site. It seems to help, unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly which thing is working. One thing I've done too is cut way back on eating Tums for indigestion. I read on the internet it can be an iron blocker. Since I'm a vegetarian, I have to be careful about getting enough iron as it is. I've started back using vinegar for indigestion, it works well and is supposed to be good for rls anyway. I've also cut way back on aspirin, it supposedly can block iron absorbtion is what I read. I've beefed up on slow absorbtion, fem iron (not taking within one hour of tea- tea (chai) is supposed to block it), molasses, magnesium, D-3, folic acid, taking vita C with iron pill, and I tried the baking soda in the water. Baking Soda is really not the healthiest thing long term either, but when you're hurting, you really don't care. I also tried a massager, and hot bathes, so far all those things have helped some. The socks in the bed have helped a lot, I do have a problem with cold feet. I'm going to try the sliver of ivory soap in the socks tonight when I go to bed. What's kind of weird right now is, my legs quit aching and now my arms are instead. They never hurt before.
Hopefully, stopping the aluminum deoderant will make it go away. These other things to speed it up. I knew the Tums were my downfall also.
I'm certain if I keep diligent, I'll get back on top of it again.
Thanks again for this site and for everyone's posts. Thank God for the internet. If we had to rely on doctor's we'd really be screwed! They have their place, but it helps to have tried and true natural and safe remedies that work and being able to share them. God bless you all~ Namaste, Cynthia
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sal (Fresno, Ca, 93726) on 01/04/2010
★★★★★
Yes. Thank you so very much for posting this. It really worked for me. About an half an hour to an hour before I go to sleep, I warm up a glass of water (8 oz. or so) and add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey. (I buy the one that says unfiltered apple cider vinegar made from ripe apples - organic, pasteurized). This formula really worked for me. The taste is good and I read a lot of things about apple cider vinegar, it is supposed to be a very good thing and has been used for centuries safely. So definitely give it a try. Thank you again!!!
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Sal (Fresno, Ca, 93726) on 01/04/2010
★★★★★
Yes. A bar of ivory soap also worked for my RLS. You would have to put a new one every now and then.
Baking Soda
Posted by Mark (Roanoke, Va) on 12/16/2009
★★★★★
Drink the Baking Soda/water. IT REALLY DOES WORK! Allow 10 to 20 minutes and you're good. THANK YOU so much to the original poster.
Baking Soda
Posted by Kristy31 (Highgate, Vt) on 10/28/2009
Do you rub the baking soda and water on your legs or do you drink it?
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Alimaacd (New Fairfield, Ct) on 08/06/2009
I have no problem calling something a cure if it does the trick! I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis / Hypothyroidism and my last bloodtest showed low Ferritin which can be a precursor to Anemia. Molasses is one of the high iron suggestions to help increase iron levels. It provides the body with something it needs....that's a cure! Obviously if you are not taking in enough of the vitamins and minerals it needs it will again become deficient.
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Stephanie (Racine, WI) on 07/29/2009
★★★★★
I have used the bar under the sheets as well. I think it is a life saver!!! another trick, if you wear socks to bed at night; you can also use a sliver of soap in each sock. I do this too, when my husband complains about the bar of soap in the bed.
Poppy Seeds
Posted by Anita (Princeton, WI) on 07/29/2009
★★★★★
I have suffered from restless legs for 15 years (since I was started on an SSRI for depression). I could not go off the antidepressant because otherwise I would become unable to work. When I took hydrocodone for a pain condition, my restless legs went away. My doctor tried me on all sorts of medications for restless legs and nothing worked. When I told her that hydrocodone worked, she said "I cannot prescribe that for restless legs or I could lose my license." So, I did some research and found out that hydrocodone, like other opiates are made from poppy seeds. Now I take 1 pound of poppy seeds (you can get from bulk food stores) and mix with 16 ounces of fruit juice. Shake well for 20 minutes. Poke small holes in the top of the fruit juice bottle and drain out the juice. Drink approximately half cup of that juice every night and you will not have restless legs. At least, it works for me. You can use the poppy seeds twice and then toss.
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
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Barbara (Swansea, South Wales) on 07/13/2009
I have just recently been suffering from RSL and it is making my life completely miserable. So I have just been reading all the useful remedies provided by fellow sufferers. Thank you very much. Starting to-day! I am going to have a go. Strangely however I have always dedicated my good health to Cider Vinegar, but in recent times have neglected to do so. I wonder if this is the cause of my nightly suffering. I saw my doctor who gave me pain-killers and sleeping tablets but they are causing other problems like I do not have the energy I usually have. I will start to-day from the beginning of these pages and will let you know in about a week how I have got on.
Thank you all so much.
Barbara from Wales
Exercises
Posted by Faye (Odessa, TX) on 06/25/2009
★★★★★
Can say that I was diagnosed with RLS about 2 years ago. One night I was reading online and noticed that I was hurting in my lower back while sitting. I looked to see what would help that problem and found- 3 -simple exercies and when I did those I slept all night long. It seems that the lower back is related to Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). I do also believe that a lack of minerals and folic acid and Vitamin D3 are also needed but the exercises doing them 3 to 6 times a day about a minute and I sleep all night long. This works whether I take the vitamins and mineral or not as sometimes I get lazy about taking pills all the time and can go weeks before I take the supplements again. But the exercises are simple: 1-Rotate the Hips as in trying to use a Hula Hoop. 2-Twist the upper body 3-Do squats with the knees as low as possible and do all of this no more that 1 minute for all 3 exercises. Do this a minumin of 3 times or more as needed.
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Posted by Julia (Brooksville, FL) on 06/07/2009
Glen, Look into Aspartame and artificial sweetners and you'll see why diet drinks, as well as many other things that contain this product are not good for you. I use Stevia. It's a natural sweetner, not a chemical. You can find it online, or in your local health food store.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gail (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) on 04/29/2009
★★★★★
RLS
I believe the recommended dose of vinegar for weight loss is 2 teaspoons in 16oz of water sipped throught the day I don't know if this will be enough for rls if not do it 2 or 3 times throught the day but also rub your legs with the vinegar, I get almost instant relief from this. Hope it works for u too. Gail
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Alice Curt (Seale, Alabama) on 04/28/2009
I am new to the site. I have had restless leg syndrom for MANY years now and take medication for it. I DO NOT like the side effects. I see where many people are talking about acv. I have severe rls and would like to know how much acv and water to mix? Also what time of day should this be taken? I can not take naps either because if I take a pill to sleep I am no good for the rest of the day.
I am a 59 year old female, about 5ft6inches and weigh 180, I would also like to try the acv for weight lose. Any suggestions?
Thank you for your time,
Alice Curt
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by James (Burlington, VT) on 04/27/2009
I've seen support groups on the net that are actually fronts for pharmaceutical and other special interest groups. So if you signed up for one of these groups, you'd see that they are actually promoting a medication for restless leg syndrome and giving negative press to effective and much cheaper home remedies. Why else would someone want to beat the whole Not a Cure drum here?
