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.
Magnesium
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, US) on 11/25/2014
★★★★★
My son woke up the other morning doubled over with severe abdominal pain. He said it reminded him of the pain he had a few years ago that was a suspected appendicitis. We had treated that successfully with charcoal so I immediately began to fix him a charcoal poultice. The pain was rather high, though, just under his ribcage. It seemed more the location of the gall bladder....
Meanwhile, he mentioned having had a leg cramp in the night. Then we recalled that he had been helping someone install some panels on a ceiling and had worked for several hours with his arms in the air a good bit of the time. It made us suspect that he was actually dealing with a muscle cramp. I put 2 teaspoons of Natural Calm (magnesium supplement) into a mug with water. He drank it and was 85% better in less than 5 minutes! I still went ahead and used a charcoal poultice over his abdomen for a while. An hour later he was 100% and off to work.
Magnesium would not normally be my first thought for abdominal pain (unless perhaps the pain was caused by constipation or menstrual cramps.) And I have never heard of a cramp in the location he was experiencing pain, but when we put together all the information, and the fact that magnesium worked, it seems that this pain was indeed a muscle cramp.
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 02/21/2013
★★★★★
My husband gets leg cramps at night sometimes. Usually he takes Blackstrap molasses and that helps immediately. (1 T. ) Well, he was out of town and dind't have any Blackstrap. He woke up with a cramp. He thought... "Well, my wife would tell me to take Apple Cider Vinegar." So, her drank a glass of water with a T. or so of Apple Cider Vinegar in it. It worked! He wasn't surprised as he has seen how well it works for so many things.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 11/01/2010
Olivia, be aware that when you are tested for something it often doesn't mean much because the levels they find normal are maybe not! These are conventions. The same goes for the amounts of vitamins and minerals you need a day, they are conventions too and often far off what your body really needs. This is the reason I am not so keen on testing my blood anymore unless I would have a doctor who really knows the true levels. Just look at cholesterol, it needs to be lower and lower (they say)although it is known that low cholesterol is more dangerous than high and that in women and older men you should never try to lower cholesterol. Still.... There are already tests which suggest that normal cholesterol can start at 0. If molasses helps you, no matter what the blood test says you must be low on something!
Acupressure
Posted by Judy (Crystal River, Fl) on 09/16/2018
The antibiotics they gave me for H. Pylori made me ill. I took mastic gum for two weeks every morning, when tested and it was gone.
Calcium
Posted by Kathy (Ontario, CA) on 05/24/2009
★★★★★
I used to have leg cramps almost every night. So I would get up and just raid the fridge! I knew that I was missing something in my diet. So ultimately the thing that really helped was taking a calcium pill or 2 before bed and that always lets me sleep thru the night with no cramps! Also on the days that I didn't drink enough water my cramps would flare up. I would just but the chewy calcium....but it seems that any brand works!
Bar of Soap
Posted by Jennifer (Baskin, La) on 06/29/2011
★★★★★
I could not believe the bar of soap actually worked! I woke up last night with severe leg cramps and tried everything to get rid of them. I then saw the advice here and decided that using the soap wouldn't hurt.. I just put the soap in the bed and went back to sleep. No more cramps!
Pickle Juice
Posted by T W (Jackson, USA) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★
My combination may be of help to sore throat sufferers as well as people having leg cramps. I have always liked dill pickle juice and, as chance would have it, I was suffering from leg cramps when I took 5 gulps of juice. Lo and behold, my cramps went away. I now make my own dill pickles that uses cayenne pepper in the recipe. I am currently working on a concoction that includes elderberrys, garlic, honey, cayenne, vinegar, as my base. Any input would be appreciated.
Dill pickle recipe:
3 cups water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup pickling salt
1 clove garlic
1 or 2 cayenne peppers
1 tsp. dry dill
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
Pickle Juice
Posted by Dorthy (Salt Lake) on 11/17/2006
★★★★★
Dill pickle juice cured my severe leg mucle spasms following knee replacement surgury. I found one site that said the pickle juice gives us acitic acid. Whatever it does, it worked almost instantaneously. I would like to find another way to stop the spasms, there is not a lot to do with bottles of pickle without the juice. Eating just the pickle does not give the same relief.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Hugo (E Freetown, MA) on 02/27/2006
★★★★★
I WAS ON A DIET SO I MADE LITE CANDIED GINGER SLICES TO SUPRESS APPETITE. I WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM SEVERE SCIATICA AND BACK SPASMS. AFTER A WEEK BOTH DISAPPEARED. IT WAS BY ACCIDENT THAT I DISCOVERED THE TOTAL RELIEF OF LOWER BACK PROBLEMS. I AM 64 YRS OLD. I HAVE DISCONTINUED GINGER AND MY BACK HAS BEEN PAIN FREE.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by David (Chicago, IL)
★★★★★
I saw somewhere that apple cider vinegar cures Fibromyalgia. I don't definitely have it, but was diagnosed with it based on symptoms years ago. I've had muscle spasms varying in severity for 24 years. I just started to come out a 1 1/2 year bout with it. Drank vinegar and have been completely pain free for a week. It's asinine this isn't common knowledge. It feels kind of like an metabolism enhancer too. I'm down to 1 tablespoon twice a day. And I repeat I'm completely pain free. I don't know what was wrong with me, thought it was just something I had to live with. Somebody tell a doctor!
Pickle Juice
Posted by Bebe (Monticello, FL) on 08/13/2023
★★★★★
My son experienced vicious leg cramps after football practices. The coaches started providing dill pickle juice along with water. They would encourage the athletes to drink a half glass if they had cramps. Recently, I have had leg cramps at night. I now have a glass of pickle juice by my bed. After drinking 1/4-1/2 glass, the leg cramps go away.
Pickle Juice
Posted by Gary (Kitchener On) on 08/13/2023
Hi Bebe
Yes, I heard about pickle juice. I also heard about Vaper Rub, the kind you rub on your chest for a cold.. It works in less than a minute after applying to the cramp. It really works.
Take care Bebe
Gary
Iodoral (Iodine & Potassium Iodide)
Posted by GertJr (Madison) on 07/18/2021
★★★★★
I asked about cures for leg/foot cramps and got many good responses, but nothing worked. I finally learned that thyroid can cause this problem, so I started ioderol. Fantastic, brain fog cleared with the first tablet (12.5 mg) and the cramping gradually got better. I had a dr appointment anyway and mentioned to the dr that this had helped, so he tested for thyroid (the dr who refused to test before! ) and it was low, so he started me on levothyroxine and told me to stop the ioderol.
Did that and, within 3 days, the leg and feet cramps are worse than ever. So, I added back in the ioderol, and, voila! the cramps are better. I go back in 2 weeks for a recheck of the thyroid, to see if the levo is helping.
Any thoughts? I will tell him what happened and what I'm doing for it, but I need to cover all the bases and need input. Thanks.
Magnesium
Posted by Charity (Faithville, Usa) on 09/26/2017
Runners use vitamin E for muscle recovery....
When did they start and what was happening to you, your environment or diet when they started....information helps a lot when trying to find solutions. Does an aspirin or blood thinner like galic capsules help it....might be blood clot...
Magnesium
Posted by Lisa D (South Dakota) on 07/04/2020
★★★★★
You need to try mag. oil spray. You can get it at a health food store. I tried the pills. Got nothing so I tried the oil spray and I'll never try anything else. I have been awakened to some horrific leg cramps and spray it on and within minutes it's gone. I've even sprayed it on like half way down my leg and I got a cramp and it stops where the spray ended it's the weirdest thing but the best ever. My spray is a mandatory item on my night stand.
Hypothyroidism Link to Leg Cramps
Posted by B From Tx (Texas) on 06/11/2017
★★★★★
I was diagnosed as hypothyroidism 20 years ago. I visited my daughter in Montana and went to see a naturopath. He suggested thytrophin pm from Standard Process which I still take every day. Also, I take vitamin d3 because it is low. I would just like to say if anyone has leg cramps (charlie horses) it could be your thyroid and therefore best to check. Its a bummer, but better to be safe. I will never take medication from the main stream doctors. My thyroid issue is under control and so is leg cramping of which is a symptom of low thyroid and low vitamin d3.
Salt
Posted by M in m (Md) on 05/31/2021
★★★★★
To Cindy: your suggestion to use a few grains of pink salt for cramps works like a charm for me...in just seconds! Thank you!
Mustard
Posted by Stuman (Oceanside, Ca) on 12/29/2016
★★★★★
Mustard provided immediate relief for my night time finger cramp. 2 teaspoons of mustard at the time of the cramp has given me relief within 10 seconds of ingestion.
I am still looking for a preventative solution to my overnight, middle, finger cramp.
Loosely Tied String
Posted by Deb Nelson (Aws) on 08/22/2016
★★★★★
For muscle cramps, I don't know why it works, my family ties 100% cotton string loosely around the ankle. We use string used to tie roasts in the meat market. Can be purchased at any kitchen store. This remedy has been used in our family for five generations or more. I keep my strings on at all times. We put them on children with growing pains, pregnant moms, and older friends.
Magnesium
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 07/21/2016
★★★★★
Magnesium is essential for a host of bodily functions. Muscles depend on magnesium a great deal. The modern Western diet mitigates against adequate magnesium balance in the body. The average, modern person lacks enough magnesium and this can often lead to a miriad of problems, the cause of which (inadequate magnesium in some/many cases), is frequently over-looked. Even if our food choices contained adequate magnesium (very doubtful these days because of soil depletion), then we are still left with the problem of the difficulty of the body being able to ABSORB whatever magnesium is available. Magnesium is not easily absorbed internally!! What to do? Well, I have found that Magnesium Chloride is the most easily absorbed and it fixed my severe, leg muscle cramps in a flash! Really ... very quickly. I was so impressed. Other people favour other types such as the Citrate form but for actual severe cramping I would stick with liquid Mag. Chloride as I know it worked for me at least. Having said all of the above, spraying on just a little Mag.Gel to the affected site and giving a QUICK, brief rub will help greatly, as will Epsom Salts 15 minute bathing, as Magnesium is often best absorbed through the skin (trans-dermally).
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kay (Fl) on 05/31/2014
Spasms are both muscle and nerve related often relating to mineral deficiencies (and dehydration or fluid-transmission problems). Worse, yet, it is very common that when you treat one deficiency, you create an imbalance in the other(s), in a constant see-saw action. Mineral deficiencies are very common in people habitually taking meds/foods/drinlk that deplete certain minerals; also in athletes, outdooor laborers in hot climates, and in habitual drug/alcohol users (esp crack/meth).
The minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc MUST be kept in proper balance with each other in order for muscles/nerves to work properly. (Simply put: Calcium controls contraction of muscles, Magnesium controls relaxation of a contracted muscle, Potassium and Zinc controls many necessary adjunct functions, including the uptake of fluids and minerals into muscle tissue, and transmission nerve signals).
One of the easiest/fastest/affordable ways to rebalance your mineral levels (without paying for extensive testing/measuring and dosing) is by purchasing a homeopathic mix of "tissue salts" (aka "cell salts") available at most good health food stores. Since you dont know your mineral levels, and your problem is ongoing for awhile (and could be from several causes and/or multiple imbalances), I would choose the bottle that contains all the basic cell salts; one of several choices is named "Bio-Plasma" made by Hylands ($18 for 1000 tabs; which will last you 6months or years). Take as directed (under tongue; several times a day) until you get relief, then stop. Since they are homeopathic, they will balance themselves out properly over time (as long as you stop taking them each time you get relief). If/when you have a relapse , start taking them again as directed (until you get relief, then stop; then restart them if/when you relapse; stopping & starting over & over again). This will slowly/surely reload both your tissues and body fluids to the proper levels, correcting any deficiencies (which takes more time in deep/damaged tissue).
Hylands has a great laymans website for more details explaining the theory & practices of homeopathy, and cell-salts, and the particular function/workings of each salt (which can all be bought separately, and in different "combos").
Although the Bio-Plasma combo works slower than single salts, it is much more thorough in re-balancing your entire system; adequately replenishing (and eventually helping to repair) muscles, tissues, nerves, transmitters, etc. Otherwise, using a single salt may just be putting a small bandaid on a much more extensive problem.
When you no longer have any relapses at all (over a much longer period then previously), then put your cell-salts away and be sure to take a (high-quality) multi-vitiamin/mineral supplement dialy; and eat a healthy/balanced diet with lots of fresh (or fresh-frozen) colorful veggies and fruits, and plenty of water daily. Do not eat canned foods; do not drink sodas or exceed 2 caffinated drinks per day (if that)! Stay hydrated!
If cell-salts don't solve your spasms, then at least you know your minerals levels are probably not the primary issue. (Good Luck & Best Wishes! )
PS: Bottle/can "Tonic Water" has similar features/functions as Quinine (in minute doses), so it may be handy in-a-pinch (but not to be used as a substitute for re-balancing your minerals! ).
Magnesium
Posted by Julie (Melbourne) on 08/29/2016
★★★★★
Liquid magnesium is actually magnesium oil. It works almost instantly when rubbed on a cramp. If you get leg cramps, they often originate in the buttocks, so rub some on there as well. Magnesium oil is far more effective than oral magnesium as it penetrates the muscle itself, releasing a spasm. It is not exactly an oil but magnesium chloride in saturation (with water) which gives it an oily feeling. If it stings your skin, just wet your hand with a little water and rub over the spot. That usually solves the problem.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stan (Las Vegas, Nv) on 10/18/2013
★★★★★
For muscle cramps, I use 2tbls apple cider vinegar (acv), 1/4 tsp baking soda, 2tbls aloe vera and 8 ounces of fresh pressed apple juice. it works every time for me.
Bar of Soap
Posted by Judy Mc (Springfield, Oregon) on 02/04/2013
★★★★★
I use a bar of soap to help from getting woken up by leg cramps, works great for that. Put it directly under bottom sheet and change every month or so. I am still looking for something for my constant RLS. Will be trying a couple of things from this site.
