Effective Natural Remedies for Restless Legs Syndrome Relief

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! A small piece of soap in each sock ended the restless leg almost immediately. Did not help me get back to sleep, but what a wonderful cure for the restless legs!

I'm a very active person and would get restless legs regularly or, when doing yoga intensely, restless arms. Rubbing apple cider vinegar worked like magic for me, so I would keep it by the bed. It would immediately stop the restlessness. After changing jobs and being on my feet all day I started getting the restless legs coming down from my lower back. This time a hot water bottle on my lower back did the trick for a while, also rubbing Amol (a rubbing solution made in Poland), but I had days when these remedies didn't work.

So I desperately searched Earth Clinic (which I always do when in need for remedies) and found baking soda. AND THAT DID THE TRICK THIS TIME!

Thank you guys and thank you so much Earth Clinic for bringing so much relief, clarity, and sanity into our stressful and demanding lives.

Restless leg syndrome was the bane of my existence until one day I was talking to a friend who is a PhD in pharmacy and she offhandedly said, "Restless legs? Take fish oil." Just like that my problem was solved. I take 2400 mg. of fish oil before bed and haven't had a problem in months. Truly a miracle as I had tried literally everything else I heard of to solve this problem. I hope this helps others have a good night's sleep.

Mustard for Restless Legs

Eat a spoonful of mustard before bed! It's working for me so far! It's like a miracle cure!

OMG thank you! I seriously never thought to put it in my sock while I'm relaxing. It worked in seconds!

I suffered with RLS for 12 years, for many of them I googled remedies and found that soap did work - well recently I googled and I found that not enough magnesium was the culprit! Well I have been eating foods and making shakes with all fresh veggies and fruit, nuts, seeds with high magnesium levels and this has CURED the problem. Good luck

The best thing I have found for my RLS (have had it for over 30 years) is a glass of water with baking soda at night. Works 9/10 times and has saved my sanity. I also find that any kind of antihistamine or nyquil or tylenolPM type meds make my legs crazy.

I have suffered with RLS for years. I have tried magnesium supplement which does not help. I have also tried tonic water and soaking my feet in warm water with Epsom salts. This helped short term. I was then prescribed ropinerole which was suboptimal. Was then switched to Mirapex which did the trick in the beginning but came with a significant weight gain. I am at the point where Mirapex actually perpetuates the symptoms. In addition, I have fibromyalgia. Some nights I become so frustrated I am in tears. I found this forum this evening as I was once again hoping to find an answer to the torment of RLS.

One hour ago I mixed the baking soda with water and although the taste was unpleasant I have to say my left leg which was driving me crazy has completely calmed down within approximately 15 minutes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. I am hoping this provides the help I need. God knows we need an answer.

I've had restless legs for years and I've tried all the remedies mentioned here in EC. Many of them worked for a while and then stopped so I'd switch to another only to experience the same disappointment. Quite by accident I learned that eliminating sugar from my diet completely eliminated those darned restless legs. And by sugar I mean “blatant” sugar! I'm talking about stuff like cake, pie, cookies, syrups, candy, and anything that is loaded with it. I don't obsess over it or scrutinize every label, but so far this approach is working like magic. I hope this helps someone.

I have tried the bar of soap and got some relief. After reading several of these posts, I am going to use the sock idea. I used to take Klonopin for years and it completely took care of the RLS. Then it went generic and the generic did not work. However, I would like to report that I tried aspercreme pain reducing Creme. I rubbed it on my calves and got total relief. You can get this at any drug store. I am puzzled that it does work. It suggests that there is some inflammation. I have always read it was a nerve problem. Unless the nerves that are involved with the muscles are so irritable that they cause the muscles in the leg to be inflamed. However, the aspercream should not work on nerves.

I guess it is just treating a symptom of RLS and not the underlying cause. I have had RLS for 30 years so hopeful that some of these new tricks will manage the problem.

I have had RLS for 30+ years. The following have worked for me, and my RLS will recur without one of these very convenient and inexpensive "cures":

1. Bar of soap in the bed by my legs...sometimes 2 bars. Brand doesn't seem to matter.

2. Massage calves with aloe vera or any type of body lotion(I prefer coconut oil). For some reason, icy hot doesn't work. Also massage small amount of lotion into lower back.

3. Carbonyl iron.

I just read your message about the soap n saw how it bothers him & me massaging n cooling his feet. So I put a new bar of Irish spring n now it's been about 10 mins he is not moving anymore! Thank you on soap idea

I have suffered from RLS for about 15 years.Nearly every day whether trying to sleep, reading, watching tv, whatever.In all this time I have hardly had ONE decent nights sleep.

I tried the soap remedy and it worked for only a short while, so I needed something else.

I wondered why the soap worked at all.Was it because it's alkaline? If so then wouldn't baking soda also work?

I wrapped some baking soda in a tea towel and set it by my legs and immediately felt a surge in circulation.About two weeks and it's still working.

I would be interested to know if this works for anyone else.

New to Restless Leg Syndrome, but this morning I was so in need of relief. I came across this site. Grabbed a bar of ivory soap still in wrapper, placed between knees and on seconds the pain, tingling went from my thighs to my knees. It stayed there but it wasn't as bad as my full leg pain. I was asleep in minutes of doing this. I'm amazed! A bar of soap stood between me and some sleep, usually my husband needs the soap. lol, blessed it be.

Hello Pam, Try a half teaspoon of baking soda in a quarter glass of water... Dissolved of course. Now put a teaspoon in your hand and rub on knees and legs. Apply twice.

If restlessness still persists, get all sugar out of your system. Especially no sugar after five pm. Sugar in anything if you are borderline could present as restless leg or other extremities pain.

First and foremost, I truly "appreciate and thank all of you that are responsible for having and providing this web site, which I have to confess that I became of aware of, within the past couple of days, and as a result of me having felt so overwhelmed, plagued by/with, and was unable to understand what had been happening to me, in terms of all of the discomfort, loss of sleep, irritation and other factors associated with the Lazy Leg Syndrome (rls) in my own case.

As a result, being unable to sleep/rest, feeling very irritated and more, I found myself in dire need of getting some sleep, although I had been/was, once again at this time, unable to sleep, which for me had been the case for numerous days and/or nights now.

Thus, for days, weeks and finally a couple of months now (...and yes, I'd gone to my doctor, including a couple others, explained my rls symptoms, even had some x-rays done, but to no avail), I found myself very sleep deprived, which for me, had really begun to take its toll in some ugly ways, as I became more short tempered with family members, other people, felt tired all the time and a host of other things that I knew had begun to make me a very unlikeable person to be around: I didn't even want to be around me at the time!!!

So, it was out of deep frustration, and feeling as if I would, any day or time now, come to a breaking point/brink of having losing it, because of my lack of being able to get some real rest and sleep during the night, which had begun to, I believe, bother me from an emotional, mental and physical stand point. I needed sleep!!!

Anyway, once again I'd given up my efforts to try and rest/sleep on a particular night, despite the fact that I had gone to bed early, around 8:30 p.m., and according to the clock in my bedroom, the time was already 3:30 a.m.

By the way, on that night, like many others, all I had done while in my bed, for the most part, was toss and turn along with experiencing lots of discomfort, pain, groaning and moaning that was directly associated with the rls that felt as if it was going to never stop, but would, instead continue to get worse.

So, I was up again, sitting at the computer and surfing the web trying my best to not disturb others of my family members, all of whom appeared to, during this time, be into a deep, restful and peaceful sleep, unlike myself.

But, at last I found myself actually smiling while reading your web page, and having come upon a portion related to the ailment of, as well as some of the remedies for rls. Before long I became very interested in all of the information I had read about, as well as absorbed, concerning rls and the use of baking soda to help cure and/or remedy some of the discomfort associated with rls. True, I was extremely non-trusting and found myself unable to believe that most, if any of the remedies/things mentioned on the page I found myself reading would help my rls in any way at all.

Still, there was information dated 08/07/07 from Pat who said he/she resides in Frederiksburg, Virginia, and that he/she suffered with rls and had, as a result, used 1/4 tsp of baking soda in a cup of water, and within 20 minutes her/his legs became calm and he/she was able to sleep!

I do not know if I will ever really know just what made me believe that this same thing, once I got me some baking soda and took it, as described by Pat, that I too would feel some relief, and might actually experience the joy of getting some rest and sleep, but I did believe what Pat had been kind enough to share with me and other readers of that information on your web page, and a result, that very night I found a brand new box of baking soda (I often buy baking soda to use for its many uses, and had recently purchased at least three boxes of it), took some of it, although reluctantly; but actually fell into a deep and restful sleep for the first time in a very long while.
"Thank you so much Pat." I really am grateful to you for helping me out in the matter of the use of baking soda to help ease and/or cure symptoms of rls. You have certainly won my approval, and I am so grateful to you, I might even vote for you as the new President for the USA in the up and coming Presidential election.
Sincerely, Thank you, again, and ever so much for helping me get some relief and sleep in dealing with my episodes of rls by using the 1/4 tsp of baking soda remedy, as described by you in your letter to this web site.

Greateful

I rub some peppermint oil on my legs and massage it in for a few minutes when I'm experiencing restless leg syndrome (urge to move feet and legs, uncomfortable sensations, pain and soreness) which can interfere with sleep as well.

I make the oil myself with any matter of carrier oil (olive, etc) some drops of peppermint, wintergreen and birch as they contain natural salicate acid similar to aspirin to neutralize pain. I also add some drops of frankencense to bring on relaxation and alleviate anxiety.

*Important note*;

RLS should not be confused with "Period Limb Movement Disorder"…

'RLS' vs. 'Period Limb Movement Disorder'…

• In RLS, there are NO involuntary movements/spasms. RLS involves uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an urge to move the limbs… all movement with RLS is voluntary.
  
• In PLMD, there are involuntary spasms, twitching and involuntary movements.

They are two completely different conditions…

• RLS is a nerve condition.
• PLMD is a muscle condition.
• Opiates, like morphine, help RLS but does not help PLMD.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, like Diclofenac, help PLMD but do not help RLS.

The bar of soap most definitely works and is not a myth! Just be sure the soap is NOT a product of Dial.

I've gotten great relief from RLS by taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement just before climbing into bed at night (or if the RLS bothers me earlier in the evening, I'll take the supplement then). Within 15 minutes of taking the supplement, my RLS symptoms go away. This has been working consistently for several years and I'm posting this in hopes that it may help others. When I first tackled the RLS problem, I tried just taking individual supplements since I had read that a potassium, magnesium or iron deficiency could be causing the RLS, but the individual supplement method didn't help my problem. Apparently, in my case there must be a deficiency of several minerals. As long as I take the multiple vitamin and mineral supplement, I don't suffer from RLS. That's why I think that RLS sufferers get relief by taking black strap molasses since it contains many minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, etc.

So true about blackstrap molasses and RLS.

Posted by Jennifer (Greenfield, WI) on 02/28/2007

I went to the health food store to ask about what I could give my 15 month-old son for constipation. They suggested 1-2 tsp. of blackstrap molasses in his bottle. I bought the bottle, came home, came to this website and discovered all different things this stuff is good for. I am 8 months pregnant. I was having a lot of trouble sleeping and developing symptoms of restless leg syndrome (common in pregnancy). I decided to give it a shot. Long story short, my son is pooping like a champ and I started sleeping through the night without any jerking limbs ON THE FIRST DAY! I ran out for one day, and I had a horrible night sleep. I am amazed and delighted.

I don't remember where I found the remedy but as long as I have a tbls a day my legs don't twitch at night. People roll their eyes when I tell them. I put 1 tbls of BSM in a cup of hot water with 1 tbls of dry milk. It tastes good that way so I don't mind drinking it.

Julie,

Some with diabetes can use Blackstrap, others cannot. Perhaps you could try a small amount (1/2 teaspoon) and see how it affects your sugar.

You might be better off using a magnesium supplement and increase your foods containing potassium (like spinach.)

Magnesium oil can be sprayed onto the legs at bedtime. It absorbs right into the muscles.

~Mama to Many~

I tried Dove and it didn't work as it is a cream. So I tried something else and yes, it works. I too have suffered for many years and actually had a lie in this morning. Try it.