Muscle Cramp Remedies

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.

Pickle Juice

Posted by Dee (West Palm Beach, FL) on 10/21/2006
★★★★★

Just drank 4 tblsp of Claussen pickle juice 3 mins. ago...SEVERE ANKLE PAIN (right side), pain is abating as I write this!!!! Thank you, thank you thank you. Happened to have Claussen (dill) pickles on hand as daughter likes them for sandwhiches. I have had this severe cramp for five hours and went on your site for 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.

Eliminate All Fructose

Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 12/27/2023 90 posts
★★★★★

Re: Muscle Cramps -- Solution: Eliminate All Fructose

After eating a ton of fruits, I started having muscle cramps that were so intense that I could not sleep, and could not walk. But all of my muscle cramps disappeared 4 or 5 days after I cut my fructose intake to zero. FYI, there is fructose in all fruits, fruit juices, honey, tomatoes, ketchup and soft drinks.

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 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.

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.

B12

Posted by Tls (Gainesville, Florida) on 01/16/2013
★★★★★

Muscle Cramps:

I have recently started taking b12 shots and suprisingly I have had cramps only a couple times, whereas I was getting them every night.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Kortni (Sonora, Ca) on 05/09/2011
★★★★★

My grandma taught me this trick. Both she, my dad and I get horrible cramps (doubling over) and within minutes of taking a shot (or making a hot lemon, apple cider vinegar, honey tea) the cramps usually go away. Sometimes I have to do it every 30 min but my body is pretty out of whack because I have lyme and cirrhosis so I am just thankful to have relief. It helps my dad, he only needs to take it one time.

Pickle Juice

Posted by T Byrd (Milan, Tennessee) on 10/04/2010

I accidentally found a "cure" several years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night with leg cramps as well as a terrible taste in my mouth. So I hobbled to the fridge to drink some dill pickle juice to chase the taste from my mouth. Lo and behold, my leg cramps went away. I now take 2 to 3 tbls of ACV with warm water and 1 tbls of local grown honey and don't have cramps like I used to. When my stomach acts up, I add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to the mixture and drink it down while it's bubbling. Works every time. If you like dill pickles, I suggest making your pickling recipe without the pickles and keep it in your fridge. I still drink dill pickle juice cause I like it.