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.
Dietary and Herbal Suggestions
Posted by Gabby (Dallas, TX) on 07/01/2007
★★★★★
I suffered over 20 years from nighttime toe, foot and leg cramping. It would usually start at around 3am and go on until I got up.
Instead of just treating the symptoms I tried to find an actual cure and I found out the following: Don't drink alcoholic beverages (a glass or two per week is fine), don't eat much sugar or sweetened food, don't drink caffeine especially no sodas with caffeine. Caffeine free sodas work okay but keep in mind that it is not healthy anyway. Stop smoking if you do (that wasn't a hard one, was it?), drink plenty of water, at least 2 quarts (liters) per day and make sure it is good water (not tap water) and finally the most important: Go to bed before midnight! I believe this is especially true because our organs regenerate themselves during the night. I am not sure but I believe that at 3am the liver starts to regenerate which would mean that this is the weak spot of us "crampers". To support the liver, one can also use the herbal supplement "Milkthistle" (in german Mariendistel) which can help tremendously. If I follow this rigorous regimen, I am cramp free!
Dietary and Herbal Suggestions
Posted by Sandra (Entiat, W) on 10/22/2009
I agree with the sugar (sweets, simple carbs) If I eat to much I have learned that I get terrible leg and foot cramps. Just to be sure :) I keep testing it out. Some things are harder to accept as a lesson learned than other lessons.
DMSO
Posted by Janice (Ocean, NJ) on 06/19/2007
★★★★★
I pulled a muscle in the upper middle back and could not turn my head full left or right. I rubbed in DMSO, & soon after, the pain was gone. It lasted the whole day, but I did have to reapply at night & then the next day. After about 4 days , the pain was completely gone! This is an amazing site--my new bible---thank you for everything!
Cold Showers
Posted by Araeshkigal (Hurst, TX) on 02/16/2007
★★★★★
I first started taking cold showers as a suggested remedy for migraines. It more than worked. It also helped alleviate skin breakouts, regular muscle cramping, and some blood pressure issues (I changed nothing else in diet or exercise to be sure this was what was having the effects) I find it's best to start barely warm and slowly get to cold. If you can't stand ice cold at first just go "on the cool side" till you get a tolerance. You don't have to *freeze* to get the benefits. Also I find cold baths do *not* have the same theraputic effect as' cold showers (anyone else?)
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Vince (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★
I make up a plaster with cayenne and salt to cure muscle strains and pains. I wet a paper towel and sprinkle just a little of both on it, and apply. The salt is rough being crystals, and irritates the skin a bit, so I make a saline solution and wet the paper towel with that. The cayenne may irritate some peoples skin, but it is used for irritated skin, so isn't a big problem. I even heard of using it on sunburn.) It usually takes 20min to cure pains or strains. I once had a Really strained back and leg. The back came from working under a car, laying on concrete, and the leg was sciatica from siting on a wooden bench after it. My back hurt from my neck to my foot, and my thigh would hurt SO bad I could only walk about 75' before I had to sit down. I decided to do the cayenne plaster, and I was SO Bad I felt I had to Really heat it up. I used a piece of paper/plastic drop cloth, since I was going to add a heating pad, and didn't want it to dry out or wet the pad. I cut a piece to reach from my neck to my butt, applied it and heated it up. The regular plaster usually only needs to stay in place till the heat of the cayenne dissipates. I kept this on a while longer, and after I removed it the pain was gone.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by ALEKSANDRA (Pennsylvania) on 05/27/2025
★★★★★
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS IT STILL HELPS! My husband's sciatica disappeared LIKE A MIRACLE after he ate candied ginger!
Ivory Soap
Posted by Francis (Honolulu, USA)
★★★★★
I have some friends who suffer from leg cramps at night. I subscribe to Health & Healing and and found an article about the cramps and a cure that works. It said to keep a bar of "Ivory" soap on your nightstand and when the cramps come, just rub the soap bar on the leg and the cramps will go away very quickly. I told my friends about it and they tried it and said it works. In the article Dr. Whitaker said he doesn't know why it works but it does.
Buffered Salt
Posted by Jo Anne (Clearwater, FL)
★★★★★
Living in Florida, the heat can be harsh on one who works outside in it. My husband had been having severe muscle cramps and low energy. Our pharmacist recommended a salt supplement called Thermotabs (a buffered salt supplement). After taking this daily, he has no muscle cramps and also has a higher energy level. Hope this works for you too. Take as directed on the bottle.
Buffered Salt
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 11/28/2009
JAN, cramps are usually caused due to the lack of electrolytes. Athletes are given Gator or Power ade to prevent this. It works for me and I'm not a jock.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ottelie (Ontario, Canada)
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar cures muscle cramps almost instantly. Because Mom, age 88, is using this cure she needs to know, "What are the adverse affects of all the vinegar?" // Mom uses rather a strong potent. This makes it easy to sock it back, to hold a spasm at bay. // Lately, more doses of vinegar are needed for stronger, 'lurking' spasms in her weakened leg. // On another note, her need to gain weight is being stifled, not knowing why.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Magnesium
Posted by neco (Austria) on 08/20/2025
Corva Hallo bitte Vollblut analyse machen lassen.Mineralien und Spurenelemente auch bestimmen. Analysieren mit Dr. und entsprechend zuführen.Schlechte gewohnheiten weglassen und Bewegung und gutes essen und wasser ist wichtig..Letzte mahlzeit maximal 19.00 einnehmen.. Gute besserung.
Corva Hello, please have a full blood analysis done. Also, determine minerals and trace elements. Analyze with a doctor and administer accordingly. Eliminating bad habits, exercise, and good food and water are important. Have your last meal no later than 7 p.m. Get well soon.
Magnesium
Posted by Jeff G (Daytona, FL, USA) on 03/22/2025
★★★★☆
For me, rubbing Magnesium Chloride solution directly on the cramp area worked pretty well. Next time I will mix with ACV after reading user posts... Probably a pretty good combo. After reading through the posts, I noticed one person mentioned they got relief after stopping taking proanthocyanidins like grapeseed extract. I've been taking that recently and I got cramps. That binds divalent cations including:
- Magnesium (Mg2+),
- Calcium (Ca2+),
- Zinc (Zn2+),
- Copper (Cu2+),
- Manganese (Mn2+),
- Cobalt (Co2+),
- Nickel (Ni2+),
-- perhaps after taking one of these supplements, one should re-up on some electrolytes, especially ones in this set, or eat some pumpkin seeds + shilajit. I would imagine BSM would be very helpful.
Argan Oil
Posted by Irina (New York, NY) on 07/19/2023
★★★★★
Culinary Argan Oil for frozen shoulder and muscle spasms
A few years ago, I suffered from terrible muscle spasms for several months. I started taking 1 teaspoon of culinary argan oil coincidentally during this time and about 2 weeks after taking it, the spasms completely went away. I suggested it to 2 other people I know who also had muscle spasms and after they took argan oil, their symptoms disappeared as well - they both took the recommended 1 tablespoon a day. A few years later, I woke up randomly with a frozen shoulder, and after suffering from it for several months, I thought to take argan oil for it, and again, within 2-3 weeks, my frozen shoulder stiffness and pain dramatically decreased - I'm about 90-95% healed now and I continue to take 1 teaspoon of argan oil a day - make sure it's the culinary form, not the topical form. I've taken both argan oil from Israel and from Morocco and they've both worked, but you have to be careful to use a reputable brand that's organic.
Nattokinase
Posted by Deborah (MI) on 02/27/2022
★★★★★
I wanted to add my wonderful experience using Nattokinase I ordered off Amazon. I had a horrid knot in my left calf for three straight months. I thought it was a spasm but it never went away no matter what I tried. I think it was a clot. Took the Nattokinase and after 3 days the pain was totally gone. Took two 800mg capsules per directions on the label. So happy I tried this.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by John (CA) on 02/06/2022
★★★★☆
I am not reporting on the use of Acupressure but to state that after reading through all the remedies that produce results seem to have one common denominator. This is to divert the mind from acknowledging the cramp if only for a very short time. From pinching the upper lip, pressing between the toes to the point of being uncomfortable to eating a good dose of yellow mustard the result is the same. The mind's attention is diverted just enough to break the horrible feedback loop that keeps the cramp going. I get cramps very often and what works for as a male is to get up and urinate. That sensation is usually enough to knock the cramping muscle out of the cycle. This is also true of drinking pickle juice; a strong enough taste to distract your mind. The one solution I have a hard time fitting into this hypotheses is the use of a bar of soap under your fitted sheet. Placed down near the calves it is supposed to relieve nightly cramps. This did produce about a month and a half of blissful, cramp free sleep. But it seems to have lost its effectiveness. Too bad really. I thought I had finally found a solution to this issue.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Suzanne (IN) on 02/10/2022
Have you tried magnesium? Magnesium is usually what a body needs if it is cramping and has always worked for me and fast.
Turmeric and Olive Oil
Posted by Constance (Columbia, SC) on 03/19/2021
★★★★★
Tumeric and Olive Oil mixed and applied to muscle spasms works.
I have found great relief for various body ailments on earth clinic and they really did help me. Thanks so much!
B6
Posted by GertJr (Madison) on 02/24/2021
Thanks for the recommendation to take B6 for leg/feet cramping. Mine cramp so bad a night and I have to get up and walk around. It's like a metal bar along my calf sometimes, hard as a rock and so very painful. I am not dehydrated and get plenty of magnesium/potassium.
Those 3 things have been recommended, and mag oil, too, but don't solve the problem. I've recently started a new brand of multivitamin, so we'll see if that helps, too. But I have B6 on hand and will give it a try.
Magnesium, Tonic Water
Posted by Gertjr (Madison) on 10/02/2020
Is he taking anything? When I took statins, the leg cramps were horrific. Nothing would make them stop and then I'd be sore for days. I took statins for 3 days and I think this triggered my ongoing cramping. Not so bad anymore, years later, but still the same spot. I think it's damage. Just a thought. Good luck. I, too, tried magnesium and all sorts of things to no avail. What did help me was a heating pad wrapped around the cramping site.
Vitamin B-6
Posted by Heidi H. (United States) on 10/12/2019
★★★★★
Muscle cramps stop immediately with vitamin B6. I suffered for years, horrible pain. I am so glad that someone told me to try vitamin B6. I buy it at a big box store because it's cheap there and I have it always with me..
Simple Exercises
Posted by Mary Beth (Pittsburgh) on 09/20/2019
★★★★☆
Leg Cramp Reliever I have been impressed that this works for leg and feet cramps. I saw this guide in Peggy Brill's book, "The Core Program". She suggests you do these exercises -- all of them -- ten times, before you go to bed. Lie on your back with legs flat, keeping your hands at your sides, palms up. Retract your neck: elongate the back of your neck by tucking your chin down towards your chest. Hold this, holding for six seconds, and then release it. Next, press your shoulders together and down into the mat or bed. Hold and count for six seconds -- and then release. Next, cough to pull your rib cage down. This will contract your abdominal muscles. Hold for six and then release it. Next, tilt your pubic bone, as if toward your navel. Thus, you will flatten your abdominals into the mat or bed. Hold for six and release it. Final exercise (in this set -- because you will do these ten times) -- extend your legs as long as possible while also pressing the backs of the knees into the bed or mat. Flex your feet at the same time. Hold for six and release it. People (like my mom) have serious problems with this pain in the middle of the night. This JUST might HELP!
Acupressure
Posted by Natalia (Mexico) on 12/18/2022
★★★★★
It works for me, too! 4 days in a row. I'm such a skeptic, still wondering if it's my imagination that a cramp is coming on…, but I'll keep doing this, what a simple solution.
Magnesium
Posted by Grace (Camp) on 09/26/2017
★☆☆☆☆
I soak in epsom salts, apply mag oil, take a mag tablet daily, add potassium with my supplements, etc and still have leg cramps. No prescription meds to cause it. What else can I try?
