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.
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.
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.
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
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
Selenium Deficiency Trigger
Posted by Rich (Boca Raton, Fl) on 03/28/2009
★★★★★
Restless Leg Syndrome: I have a theory on this one, that this disease, RLS, exists in the animal world with a different name. WMD - White Muscle Disease.
Somebody on here with this disease will eventually get a blood test. I propose that someone with RLS tests for Selenium Deficiency.
Magnesium
Posted by Mary (Douglasville, Georgia, USA) on 03/28/2009
I have found magnesium supplements at bedtime work like a charm. However, they also loosen the bowels a bit, but nothing uncontrollable.
A Bar of Soap
Posted by Rita (Plano, TX) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
I had never heard about putting the bar of soap at your feet but I have put soap on a wet paper towel and rubbed it on my legs at work. It works wonderful. I am so glad someone told me about it. It's awful when you are trying to work or sleep and can't because of RLS.
Folic Acid
Posted by Pamela (New Smyrna Beach, FL) on 02/19/2009
★★★★★
Folic Acid cured my inherited Restless Legs. My mother also had restless legs. I am 47 years old and I have had restless legs in the evening for about 10 years. I couldn't sit on the couch and try to relax or take a long car ride at night without my legs going crazy twitching. It's only been in the last year or so that it has actually affected me in bed while I'm trying to sleep. It progressively got worse until it was keeping me awake for most of the night. That's when I realized I was not going to take this lightly anymore. I have done research and tried many things over the years, but when you read so many things some of it just goes over your head. The folic acid connection was one of the things that just kept going over my head. So when I looked deeper into it recently, I started seeing many accounts of how folic acid deficiency can be inherited. Some people just cannot absorb and utilize folate effectively and that can be an inherited problem. I looked deeper and learned that some of the signs of folic acid deficiency, aside from restless legs, are periodontal disease (my mom had it in her mid thirties and had all her teeth removed), poor circulation (my hands & feet are always cold), and even Alzheimer's (my mom contracted Alzheimer's in her mid sixties). I read that if this is the case with you that you need to supplement with high doses of folic acid. I bought the 800 mcg tablets and started with just a couple of them at a time. I have built up to taking 15 of them at night before bed and my restless legs are no more. I can hardly believe it, but it's true. It took about a week or two for it to completely disappear and if my body adjusts to this dosage and it comes back, I will just continue to increase my dosage as necessary. I am a firm believer in healing ourselves with natural products and methods. I have used much information from this wonderful site to improve and cure my problems.
I'd like to add that EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which is a form of self-applied acupressure, has also helped me greatly. Used correctly, it will stop the twitching in your legs. For me it was only temporary because of the folic acid deficiency, but it was a huge help to me in the middle of the night when I couldn't get to sleep because of my restless legs. I hope this can help someone else who struggles with this problem.
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.
Prescription Drug Link to Rls
Posted by Sharin (Seattle, WA) on 10/06/2008
Guess what kids, one of the major causes of RLS, is anti depressants and over the counter cold/sinus meds. muscle relaxers too. You didn't hear much about RLS until everyone and their brother was on ANTI Ds. Also, a lot of sinus medications, cold and flu meds.
I noticed this as a child, I could not take over the counter or prescribed meds because of those side effects. I decided I would rather have the symptoms of the cold or allergies than the RLS they gave me, back in the 1960s, 70s,80s, they didnt have a name for it, you hardly ever heard of it. But once the whole world got in anti depressents you starting hear about it. Even Nyquil or Benedryl does it to me, flexeril, all that stuff.
So if you have RLS, you might start looking back on when it started and what meds you introduced into your life. I'm not saying you should go off your prescribed meds, but every once in awhile the insert of a medication will now list RLS as a side effect, but not often enough. I hope this info can help someone. Just a thought.
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.
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
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!
A Bar of Soap
Posted by SoapOpera (Raleigh, NC) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★
RLS --I vote "Yea" to Soap and Yea to Calcium Magnesium tablets. Don't know why the soap at your feet works, but, it does. Immediately. CM tablets also work--when I remember to take them!
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!!!
Cereal High in Iron
Posted by Mare (Il) on 02/02/2015
Yes, it's metformin and since taking it my legs feel 99% better.
Cereal High in Iron
Posted by Mare (Il, US) on 02/03/2015
Metformin -- dosage for me is once a day, in the morning before I eat anything. I think the mg. is 250. Honestly, if I had known my diabetes was the REAL cause of my RLS I would've taken it years ago, but I didn't have medical insurance and couldn't afford to see a doctor. It wasn't until my sister, a nurse, contacted a (medical) doctor who saw me pro bono took a lot of tests and when apprised of my family medical history diagnosed me as having Type II diabetes and telling me my RLS was related to my diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain.)
FYI, I still have foot pain, especially after walking a lot, this is where the cream of wheat comes in, but the RLS is all but gone, except for about 1%, which is almost negligible!
Also, I've started taking mustard, approx. a couple of teaspoons. I heard about this on Dr. Oz one day, he said pro football players take it for leg pain. Even though I thought it sounded a little strange I took it and it seems to help a lot. Apparently there's something it that alleviates joint pain.
If anybody else wants to chime in on this I'm all ears.
Cereal High in Iron
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc CA) on 02/03/2015
If you research diabetes on EC you will be getting the truth about metformin. GreenMedInfo online will also get you the full picture.
I have no nerve pain since using high amounts of Amala (Indian vit. C) which is for years. I take it with honey, yes, honey about three times a week with or after meal with powdered Turmeric in goats milk. Nothing else needed. This is after a lot of research.
It is in the doctors handbook that allopathic medicine causes death which is then certified to be caused by "diabetes and heart failure".
These meds. cause dehydration till the heart gives out. Inform yourself and you will benefit.
Namaste, Om
Cereal High in Iron
Posted by Mare (Il) on 02/05/2015
Oh... I forgot to mention, I'm now using magnesium oil for my feet when they hurt. I love this stuff, everybody and I mean everybody should get it and try it! It comes in a spray bottle and is applied topically, I use right before bedtime and boy does it help with my throbbing pain. It calms them down and makes it possible for a restful night's sleep. When I awake poof the pain is gone!
So in conclusion, for me it's cream of wheat, table mustard and magnesium oil. And of course, metformin for the RLS.
P.S. Initially I take magnesium taurate to fall asleep... which I've been taking faithfully for approx. 8 years now. Love magnesium for all its applications!
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Donna (Brattleboro, VT) on 04/27/2009
Be very careful what you call a "cure". something may help you with your symptoms, nbt by no means is it a cure. If you stopped taking the BSM your RLS would come back, so that is not a cure, it is a method of treating RLS for SOME people. what works for one person does not work for the next person. people should use the word CURE sparingly and carefully. Insulin does not CURE Diabetes, but it controls it. Way different than a cure.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 04/27/2009 490 posts
Hello Donna,
Hope you didn't have a visit from the FDA that has you so cautious about using the word "cure".
If you can remove symptoms of a problem with vitamins, minerals or supplements, I call that replacing something that you are not getting from your diet, not a cure. Of course if a deficiency is the problem, then you are going to have to continue to take the vitamins, minerals or supplements that help unless you alter your food intake to supply what you are deficient in. When you alter your diet to include what you are missing, I call this improvement in nutrition which in turn gets rid of the problem of a deficiency. However your body is most likely going to require certain vitamins, minerals, etc. so the only cure is to alter the diet to supply the required nutrients. The general consensus today seems to be that our soil is so depleted that it is next to impossible to get all our bodies need from fruits & vegetables grown in it. However it seems that our Supreme Being is doing a better job of rebuilding the soil in the woods than our farmers are (organic farmers are learning to do a better job of it) because the "critters" living in the wild seem to be quite healthy.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Posted by Sandra (Ok, US) on 02/12/2015
Stevia is widely available. I buy mine at Walmart. Among other things (oh, joy), I have Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder) and artificial sweeteners cause flares.
