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 Ian (Oldham, United Kingdom) on 08/07/2012
★★★★★
i have recently been experimenting with magnesium chloride liquid which I rub in my legs after and during long bicycle rides, it seems to be working well. I put in a spray bottle, its cheap and effective and is absorbed well into the body as a good source of magnesium. Yesterday I did a cycle route with 15miles uphill, in the past ive had to stop due to debiliating cramps, yesterday did it no cramps, took the bottle with me and occasionally stopped and sprayed some on the legs.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stevebb1 (Stilwell, Usa) on 08/06/2012
You won't see common sense cures made known by doctors because they go by what the pharmacies tell them and they will never support a cure that can't be patented so they can make more money.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 07/27/2012 2042 posts
Ky Mama, I use one spoon Blackstrap M in my coffee as a sweetener, and as we all know it is a sweetener and beyond. Any form of Magnesium is best for cramps. In your husband's severe case, try him w/ an Epsom Salt warm footbath when he gets home and plunks down on the couch. Both the Magnesium and the Sulphur of the E-salt will do wonders on the body and also helps one to sleep.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 07/26/2012
★★★★★
My husband does construction work. In the heat of the summer when he works outside, no matter how much water he drinks, he still ends the day somewhat dehydrated and missing minerals. One night he woke up with a cramp in his leg. He took a tablespoon of Blackstrap molasses. (It has to be Blackstrap! ) It helped within minutes and he had no trouble the rest of the night. Now whenever his leg feels twitchy, like it is getting ready to cramp, he takes 1-2 tablespoons of blackstrap. (He is a 230lb man. A smaller person could take less. I take 1 Tablespoon when I need it and I am half his size.) When my children have had fevers they have had leg cramps, probably from dehydration. In the future, I will try Blackstrap. However, many find it unpalatable, in which case a banana might be better. (But my husband has done bananas for cramps and, though they help, he doesn't think they help as much or as fast as the blackstrap.)
Magnesium Phosphate
Posted by Val (Pittsburg, Pa) on 06/02/2012
★★★★★
The mag phos cell salt also helps me with the spasms I have. The muscles can cramp at anytime of the day. I learned about mag phos from a naturalist. I also use the Apple Cider Vinegar and honey for severe cramps using both has helped greatly.
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?
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Norm (Menifee, Ca, Usa) on 04/19/2012
★★★★★
I take one swig of Schwepps if have a leg cramp and it goes away immediately. It's the quinine that does it. It doesn't matter how old the tonic is or even if it has been opened. The drug stores sell quinine tablets for the same purpose but I find Schwepps works just as well. Besides you can always use Schweppes to make vodka tonics.
Mustard
Posted by Art (Mt. Marion, Ny) on 02/22/2012
Many have mentioned the effectiveness of pickle juice to relieve muscle cramps, well dill pickle juice is usually loaded with mustard seeds. Perhaps it's the salt and mustard thing working hand-in-hand.
DMSO
Posted by Fuzzball (Nanuet, Ny, Usa) on 02/01/2012
Dmso is great for many things, including helping to turn cancer cells into good cells, but it stinks to high heaven. If you plan to use this remedy, wait about an hour then wash yourself. You can get this at most pet stores. Make sure it's 70% dmso, 30% distilled water.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Usa) on 01/17/2012 2042 posts
Asg01, please accept my addendum as the phrases "leg cramps" and "sleep deprivation" are flashing light alerts for Magnesium deficiency, as the body very sorely needs this as well as many other minerals. As for the Ginger, it is quite possibly not really a cure but a simply a relief as there are no known Ginger deficiencies in the human body. The Coca Cola fix is another sign of mineral deficiency as Cola is loaded with phosphorous, (but causes calcium deficiency).
A few mo ago I started a good Ionic Trace Minerals (72 known bioavailable mins) from the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and immediately (within hrs) felt profoundly better. There are tons of studies and ongoing on the importance of Minerals alone in human and animal health. In Livestock Agriculture, almost all animals in the developed world are supplemented with Minerals as a rule because intensive productivity depraves the soil and foods.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Asg01 (Ventura, Ca) on 01/16/2012
After some years of severe leg cramps at night and, occasionally other odd times, I discovered that Pickled Ginger was
not a cure for this sleep depriving problem, but actually a
cure.
I acually eat about two or three ounces several time each week (three or four portions) and have virtually eliminated all muscle cramping. I now never awaken at night. In the past three years, when I have failed to remember or traveled without access, the problem returns until I can restart the regimen.
Unbelievably, for urgent relief of an acute cramp, a few ounces of Coca Cola work like magic. However, should I need quick relief in the future, I will certainly try ACV or Pickle Juice.
Ginger would probably work in any form. The pickled variety I discovered while eating lots of Sushi and have not bothered to try other forms of the plant. Good luck to all.
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.
Acupressure
Posted by Gottasmyl (Dundee, Scotland Uk) on 10/09/2011
★★★★★
Acupressure by pressing the bone between your nostrils with your index fingers works to get rid of my leg cramps. I am 27 years old and had never suffered from this problem until about 2 weeks ago when I started a course of antibiotics to get rid of helicobacter pylori. Tried everything I could think of but nothing worked. Someone suggested I press the bone situated between the nostrils with my forefinger and it instantly went away. It's amazing!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bobeena (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/18/2011
the tooth pain is a result of the acv. Vinegar will strip the enamel from your teeth very fast. you should try drinking it with a straw to minimize tooth contact.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ronnie (Oak Island, North Carolina) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★
For leg cramps or back cramps apple cider vinegar will eliminate them within seconds, almost imediately
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!
Salt
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 06/07/2011
Eating bananas and magnesium or magnesium chloride help well with cramps!
Salt
Posted by Wendy (Perth, Western Australia) on 06/07/2011
★★★★★
I've never been much of a salt user. I've always suffered from muscle cramps on and off but I ended up with horrendous leg/foot cramps during the hot weather this last Summer so I started drinking electrolytes and adding a little sea salt to my cooking. The cramps have completely stopped. Isn't salt required in the cells for electrical impulses to be carried?
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.
Magnesium and Dill Pickle Every Day
Posted by Azuresea (Singapore, , Singapore) on 05/30/2011
★★★★★
Magnesium does work. I found that out by accident when I took a cal-mag zinc supplement. Almost immediately, my cramps went away in a matter of hours. In fact, I suggest that one takes magnesium at least once a month as adequate amounts prevents body from absorbing other heavy metals like aluminium, lead, mercury etc.
http://www.mg12.info/articles/cramps.html
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Crampless (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 04/08/2011
★★★★★
The vinegar works. I knew of this remedy from a friend whose son used get leg cramps. I got a Charlie horse last night. My husband massaged it out but everytime he stopped massaging, it would knot back up. He could feel the muscle knot up like a brick. I told him to get the vinegar. I was in so much pain I drank it straight and the muscle relaxed immediately. My husband could even feel it relax. Caution - stick to a tablespoon or 2. I gulped down so much, the vinegar messed up my stomach, but it was worth not having that pain.
Buffered Salt
Posted by Sue (Delray Beach, Fl) on 04/03/2011
★★★★★
My husband was told that when he gets the cramp, to just take a little salt - I put some sea salt in a dish next to the bed - when he gets a cramp, he takes a piece of salt, and is still amazed that the cramp disappears immediately. And he doesn't have to take anything daily because it works!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Viola (Hampton Bays, N.y.) on 03/31/2011
reply to David of Chicago, Ill. -- You tell a Doctor
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide Topically
Posted by Nattakit (Bangkok, Thailand) on 02/26/2011
★★★★★
I woke up one night with a terrible muscle cramp at my calf. The muscle was hard as stone and caused a dreadful pain. I could only think of a small atomiser filled with H2O2 for my inhalation. I then sprayed over my calf within seconds the pain was gone and with some rubbing, the muscle was soft and the next morning I walked without any pain or stiffnes in the muscle. I used 3% H2O2. This works well in my other time.
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
Niacin
Posted by Ss (Santa Barbara, Calafia) on 01/09/2011
★★★★★
Niacin is EXTREMELY effective for leg cramps. Unlike magnesium, it does NOT result in muscles becoming so relaxed your body's energy levels appear to be reduced.
