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.
Potassium
Posted by Cindy (Usa) on 06/05/2014
I have had some blood work done and show low potassium level. how can I improve this and do I have to be concerned about then having some other vit/mineral being affected. I sometimes have leg cramps or Charlie horses mostly at night and also dizziness. thanks in advance
Multiple Remedies
Posted by May10777 (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) on 05/30/2014
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I have suffered severe spasms for many years. The only thing that ever really helped me was Quinine which is not available anymore. My last scrip was in '04. There seems to be no answer to why I have them. My doctors say "some people just have them and some people don't." These are serious spasms where both feet and legs are sometimes affected alway up so cannot get up and walk it out. Or once I was driving and both hands drew up in knots at the same time. Scary, hurting so bad and trying to hold a steering wheel like that.
The Doctor recommended calcium years ago and at first it seemed to help. Next time I complained she said try Magnesium as you may have a shortage. Again it helped and I was able to sleep through the night. But not for long. I have used a teaspoon of yellow mustard, a little pickle juice, a little vinegar & honey and all these things will give some relief after a few minutes. But getting to them can be a problem and the safest & simplest thing I can do is keep water by my bedside! I have learned if I drink a glass of water right away it helps.
The bar of soap in bed did not work for me.
I have noted that when I run out of milk and don't drink milk I sleep through the night and don't have them. I read somewhere that milk actually leaches calcium out of bones and that may be what is happening. I can get more calcium eating collards greens without the cramps.
I have never heard of using Lobellia before but I will have to try it. I'm always on the look out for anything that helps.
Thank you and I wish everyone who has to deal with this find the right answer.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Janet (Coventry, Uk) on 05/30/2014
Can you get Schweppes Bitter Lemon or Tonic where you are? They both contain small amounts of Quinine. I always have some in the cupboard and drink a tumbler of one of them when I get leg cramps.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 05/30/2014
To May 10777,
Re Quinine....
I did a Google search and found "Quinine" from a Canadian source.
Also when I get too much carb overload (especially sugar) in afternoon and evening I'm liable to have leg issues. For quick relief I take one third teaspoon of baking soda in a half glass of water and dissolve. Then I "pat" some of the liquid on my knees...twice on each knee cap. And then drink the rest. The aching I relate to metabolism issues, but somehow the dissolved baking soda gives instant relief.
Also, for a bad case, I'll triple up on my AEP (Calcium AEP).
For aching that involves the entire leg...that's a circulation problem. I use natural (NOT synthetic) vitamin E plus added magnesium. And a good soak every week in two cups of Epsom Salts in a tub of warm water is a great help. The key is the E. I take 1, 000 IUs daily. Start at 200 IUs and over months increase to at least 400.
If the aching is from a vein issue...I use Horse Chestnut in pill form. Three daily.
If the aching is due to onset MS, the AEP will work wonders. My mother kept mobile even though she had full blown MS for the last 15 years of her life. Whenever she had a "flare up" she'd take another 6 AEP tablets, and gone were the aches.
So...aching can be the result of a number of issues. Maybe a combo. But get off the sugar as a dietary help.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 06/01/2014
May10777, can you stay away from milk (and milk products)?
Magnesium
Posted by Linda (California) on 07/30/2016
Hi, will you let us know the brand that works best for you? You say you take a liquid magnesium and it works pretty fast on leg cramps. There are so many kinds it gets confusing. Thanks for a reply!
Magnesium
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 07/30/2016
To Linda,
My choice here in NZ is Magnesium Chloride LIQUID by "Clinicians" (that IS the brand name here in New Zealand). Maybe you can't get it in the USA but good luck with a substitute brand if available. "Clinicians" may send their products to you (I have no vested interest in any company-I just like what I know works for me) I wish you well. That one worked a treat for me. It's not often in life you get such quick results really. Apparently if you overdo the dosage it just "loosens you up" a bit!
Magnesium
Posted by Kenneth Paul (Santa Fe City, Tejas State) on 07/30/2016
Give magnesium ascorbate a try for you muscular cramps. It helped mine, and boosted my immune system also.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Melissa (Oklahoma) on 11/18/2013
★★★★★
I take 2 Tblspns apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp.baking soda in about 6 ozs water and my leg cramps go away almost immediately!
Potassium
Posted by Wenjoy (Winter Springs, Florida) on 04/22/2013
★★★★★
Potassium for leg cramps or other cramps: Two potassium supplement tablets, with water, when muscle feels like it will cramp will eases my symptoms within 15 minutes. It is even faster if I chew them first. They taste a little like salt but not as strong. Each of the usually available tablets are only 3% of the RDA so I used to take eight a day when I worked out in the sun on my construction job, as I sweated a lot. If I started to feel my fingers start to cramp I would take another two to prevent leg cramps. I am now 62 and retired.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ben (Albany, New York, Usa) on 05/26/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I've been having a pretty nasty back spasm for the past 10 hours, so I figured I would try some ACV. I diluted it with a glass of water and drank it, but nothing happened... Does this just not work for a back spasm, or am I doing something wrong?
White Vinegar
Posted by Sammyhome (Mclean, Va) on 11/01/2011
★★★★★
It works....
My search for a remedy to my thigh muscle cramp led me to this thread... I had some Apple Cider Vinegar sitting out here which I used for my Gastric problem. Mixed it up with some honey and water and drank it. 20 minutes later the pain is gone.
This is the second time ACV has saved me. I had big relief from my Gas and heartburn issues with ACV before.
Just try it for yourself.. Make sure to get an organic version of ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Misty (NV) on 05/16/2024
What brand and where to get those Utah minerals?
Energy Medicine Technique
Posted by A (Toronto, Canada) on 06/05/2011
★★★★★
I tried a energy medicine technique called "one hand near one hand far" on leg cramp - it worked. One hand 5 or so inches from the leg cramp (hand palm facing the cramp) the other hand about 15 inches from and just below the belly button area (palm facing toward but just a few inches below the belly button). Imagine energy flowing from the cramp up the arm and down the other arm to go into just below the belly button area. Keep doing it for a minute or 2 until better.
2 chinese medicine doctors I know use this general technique. I cant say its safe or not for other body issues, but it worked for leg cramp for me.
Walk
Posted by Sue (Fairfax, Va) on 02/28/2011
★★★★★
When I am awakened at night with leg cramps, the only thing that work for me is to put on shoes (with support, not just bedroom slippers) and walk around the house. Use normal steps as if you were walking down a sidewalk; it seems to "reset" the muscles. I've tried all the other remedies and this is the only one that works consistently.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Housemouse (Dover, Oh, Usa) on 02/25/2011
★★★★★
I noticed in the uses you list you omitted the fact it will take away leg cramps! Drink a shot of it straight.. Major leg cramps are gone pronto
Tonic Water With Quinine
Posted by Cml (Bellingham, Ma) on 11/13/2010
Tonic water with quinine is an excellent remedy for leg cramps. About 4-6 oz is all that is needed and it usually works within 1-2 minutes.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Coco (Oleron, France) on 03/28/2010
In France you can buy Chlorure de Magnesium in the pharmacie, or Nigari in any health food shop like biocoop. Works great, really cleans up the body and relaxes the muscles. With 20gr you make 1 liter, taking 5cc a day for 20 days, then take a pause of 10 days. It's recommended to take a B-vitamin complex, like brewers yeast (find it in any supermarket in France) at the same time.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Shelagh (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) on 02/12/2009
★☆☆☆☆
This is a bit crazy- I fell on the job last June & tore my anterior deltiod- I am receiving massage therapy and chiropractic treatments which are helping- but the healing is so slow going it's making me nuts! I am 51, I kayak for 'therapy' and have been unable to do this since my fall. And last night I fell again; tripped over a raised bit of something in the concrete... this time I badly injured the opposite elbow- I was actually sitting on the cold ground for a half hour before I could catch my breath & talk myself into biting the bullet through the pain & forcing myself to get up. I had my cell phone and actually considered calling the police for assistance!
I endured interesting muscle spasms all night & even throughout today as I tried to straighten my arm... elbow hurts like hell if I attempt to straighten it- I will seek treatment for this since I am still dealing with shoulder issue.
Ironically, now my 'bad' shoulder is my 'good' one. Sigh.
My question: what to do for acute intense muscle spasms? I rested last night with my arm elevated, iced, rubbed Epsom salts into the area for magnesium... massaged with witch hazel, wrapped in rags with ACV... I took 3 500 mg caps of turmeric. Sleeping was still a miserable ordeal. A slightest movement would send screaming spasms into my elbow and forewrm... causing my hand to clench...
I finally bought otc pain relievers this afternoon because I had to work...
Tonight I can't sleep for the pain... am going to make a cayenne concoction with turmeric... repeat some of my machinations from last evening, see if I can dream up any magic potion... in the mean-time, any other suggestions?
Thanks people. Peace.
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Mary (Gainesville, Fla.) on 02/01/2009
★★★★★
I drink a half glass of tonic water for leg cramps. It containes Quinine. I get up in the middle of the night and it takes about ten mins. to work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sleepless Sac (Sacramento, Ca) on 09/24/2012
I get arch cramps in my feet, wondering if doing the ACV just before bedtime is effective vs. waiting for the nocturnal cramp to occur and THEN doing the ACV.
White Vinegar
Posted by Julia (Butler, Alabama) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
My mother, father, and grandmother use white vinegar for muscle cramps. When one attacks - they get a couple of paper towels and pour the white vinegar on til soaked and apply directly to the cramp. This works everytime. Hope it helps others.
Mustard
Posted by Sam (Bournemouth, England UK) on 11/21/2007
★☆☆☆☆
I am currently in extreme pain. MY foot is badly cramping after a lot of exercise this week . . . i knew i didn't need to loose weight!!!! LOL I've read all comments on here and tried mustard to no avail and a hairdryer which eased my pain but only when the heat was over my foot. I'm now sat with my foot in a bowl of boiling hot water which is dulling the pain and making it slightly more bareable. Should i have been able to lay my hands on string at 1:42am i would give it a try. I am praying this is going to be a one off . . . but take comfort in knowing others sit wde awake in agony not knowing what to try next either!! At least your comments have made me smile in my hour(s) of need!!! so thank u
The String Method
Posted by Sue Jones (Uk) on 10/23/2015
Can you please tell me more about the tied string and where do you place it? Thank you.
DMSO
Posted by Mike (Chicago, IL) on 09/27/2008
what is dmso?
Mustard
Posted by Helen (Long Island, New York) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
A teaspoon of mustard cured my leg cramps the other night. It worked within minutes.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Robin (OH) on 10/24/2020 4 posts
I would like to read the specifics of how you made your own lite candied ginger. Thank you.
Supplements
Posted by Dee (Nc) on 10/17/2017
What is the name of the liquid calcium/magnesium supplement taken by your mother?
