Home Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

While that's great to hear, I wonder if the B12 or folate is doing much considering you're taking such a massive dose of niacin (which would deplete the B12 and folic acid). Might be worth a try to see if it works on it's own...or...even better, increase the B12 and folate (both methyl donors).

Antihistamines are known to exacerbate rls.

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

Baking soda cured my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome).

Up to now, I have used a 500mg magnesium tablet and it worked for several years...take a tablet and 20 minutes later no more RLS.

Lately, it isn't working as well, so I came back to EarthClinic.

I tried the baking soda... one quarter teaspoon in a half cup of water...it worked fine...30 minutes and no more RLS.

What a blessing to have this site to reference!

Do you rub the baking soda and water on your legs or do you drink it?

Drink the Baking Soda/water. IT REALLY DOES WORK! Allow 10 to 20 minutes and you're good. THANK YOU so much to the original poster.

Try an OTC pain relieving cream, usually with menthol like you would use if your muscles were sore and keep it by the bed. Apply to the base of your spinal cord and around low back area. This method works for me 99% of the time, but last night was so bad that didn't work well enough. So I looked up RLS on EC: I had my husband massage my lower body briefly (he used sides of hands in chopping motion) and then I drank a small amount of baking soda in water and that did the trick! Thanks to EC and contributors!

I was on the hunt to see what I had on hand and what worked... Good news, the baking soda mix worked little before the 20 mins (17mins), as of right now 26 mins I still feel the ease of the pains going away. Thank you all for sharing.

This helps alot for the RLS (ressless legs syndrome)
1. glass of water (warm) 8oz.
2. 1/4 tsb baking soda (sodium bicarbonate 100%)
3. Stir it for 30 seconds
4. Drink it all down
5. write the start time down and wait for ease of pains to go away (feeling easement at 17mins)

Thank you everyone.

First I love this site! I have several ailments and have found several useful things that help.

I have had Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) for about 26 yrs. And it just gets increasingly worse. As much as I hate to admit it I misread about the baking soda and thought it was baking powder. Which works great for me. I did try the baking soda after I dicovered my mistake and it did nothing for my RLS.

Does anyone know if baking powder is any worse for me than baking soda? Which I have not seen anything bad about the soda.

Also my RLS is not painful, my legs just will not stop moving. Which is what I thought RLS is! The Dr.s do not agree but I believe mine is because of the nerve damage in my spine. It started right after I herniated my first disc. Some times when my body hurts real bad, not being able to lay or sit still is almost worse than the pain!

Thanks for listening, Judy

I know most baking powder has aluminum in it but there are some that don't. Read the label if you use a lot... you might not want so much aluminum in your system.

Baking soda does work on restless leg syndrome. I actually apply the liquid to the knees where my problem most manifests. Take a half teaspoon of Baking soda and disolve in a half glass of water. I just take my fingers and wet them with the liquid and topically apply to knees. Do this application twice to each knee or the whole leg if the entire leg is bothering you.

Next: NO sugar after 3pm. There is a direct corrolation between this syndrom and sugar consumption. No cokes, sweets of any kind after mid afternoon. No 10pm ice cream cheating!

Finally, you'll find Calcium AEP will help the condition. Google Calcium AEP Nutrition Review and you will find a great article on the wonders of AEP.

Dr Hans Niepier did amazing work on AEP 40 years ago. And AEP is very inexpensive. Don't say, Oh I get calcium in pills I already take. No we're talking about a different nutrient. AEP is a special product.

Calcium AEP is a must for MS patients. In the book "Vita Nutrients" on the section on MS treatment Calcium AEP is the key to Dr Adkins treatment protocol. When the MS patient has a flair up with acking legs, the AEP taken (3 to 5) can bring blessed relief.

Between these three, restless leg can be a thing of the past. At least it has been for me.

RLS - I'v suffered with in my legs and recently started in arms so I tried this bicarbonate of soda. It worked a treat. I usually wake up in the night. First time I've tried this. Best night sleep. I thank you for this. xx

Can I use this as I am a diabetic?

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~

Hi Jay, I had really bad RLS for a few years. Eventually, the pain that would surge through my legs during the night would not go away and I dealt with continual pain that would radiate down my legs constantly.

I know this sounds drastic, and it is, but I went raw and did green juicing everyday. Hoping to detox and find my body's health again. It only took about a week for the pain to completely disappear after changing my diet this way! After I began to slowly add in soups, then meat again. That Christmas holiday a family member made her spinach cheese pie and I couldn't resist though I'd completely eliminated dairy when I went raw. Within about 30 minutes the excruciating pain was back! Of course, I saw the correlation immediately.

Well, I stayed off dairy for about a year and then began making kefir from raw milk since I'd read that could help with people who reacted to dairy. It is now about 2 years later and I can eat dairy again without my body reacting. Anyway, I tell you all this because I think it has to do with toxicity in our body. I believe if you clean up your diet and detox it will disappear. I know how awful it is to live with this so, it may be something to consider. The BSM may not be enough. Wishing you the best, Lisa

Yes, I have found that Molasses does remedy restless leg symdrome, numbness/tingling etc because molasses is a very good source of IRON.

Low iron seems to be a common cause of nerve issues, RLS, numbness/tingling in hands, arms or legs, etc.

Note: Abilify medication has iron deficiency on it's list of possible side effects - which is why it can cause RLS (restless leg syndedrome.

Yes, I also agree that it's a good idea to Stop eating DAIRY.

Many people get relief from restless leg syndrome by stopping dairy. This is because dairy products and eggs decrease iron absorption. Caseins from milk and certain forms of calcium inhibit iron absorption.

Be very careful what you call a "cure". something may help you with your symptoms, nbt by no means is it a cure. If you stopped taking the BSM your RLS would come back, so that is not a cure, it is a method of treating RLS for SOME people. what works for one person does not work for the next person. people should use the word CURE sparingly and carefully. Insulin does not CURE Diabetes, but it controls it. Way different than a cure.

Hello Donna,

Hope you didn't have a visit from the FDA that has you so cautious about using the word "cure".

If you can remove symptoms of a problem with vitamins, minerals or supplements, I call that replacing something that you are not getting from your diet, not a cure. Of course if a deficiency is the problem, then you are going to have to continue to take the vitamins, minerals or supplements that help unless you alter your food intake to supply what you are deficient in. When you alter your diet to include what you are missing, I call this improvement in nutrition which in turn gets rid of the problem of a deficiency. However your body is most likely going to require certain vitamins, minerals, etc. so the only cure is to alter the diet to supply the required nutrients. The general consensus today seems to be that our soil is so depleted that it is next to impossible to get all our bodies need from fruits & vegetables grown in it. However it seems that our Supreme Being is doing a better job of rebuilding the soil in the woods than our farmers are (organic farmers are learning to do a better job of it) because the "critters" living in the wild seem to be quite healthy.

I've seen support groups on the net that are actually fronts for pharmaceutical and other special interest groups. So if you signed up for one of these groups, you'd see that they are actually promoting a medication for restless leg syndrome and giving negative press to effective and much cheaper home remedies. Why else would someone want to beat the whole Not a Cure drum here?

I have no problem calling something a cure if it does the trick! I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis / Hypothyroidism and my last bloodtest showed low Ferritin which can be a precursor to Anemia. Molasses is one of the high iron suggestions to help increase iron levels. It provides the body with something it needs....that's a cure! Obviously if you are not taking in enough of the vitamins and minerals it needs it will again become deficient.

I will give the BSM a try, thanks for the info, if it works for me your a life saver, if not thanks anyway. Larry

Ok I have been using the BSM for a few weeks now. My RLS is mostly gone but stil some tension in my legs, but I have had the RLS for 25 years now so it may take some time to get rid of it completly. I am also using goji berry juice, its working wonders, my eyes are starting to get better. Between the BSM and the goji berry Im getting a lot healthyer.

Black strap molasses! Thanks for reminding me! I had taken BSM for many years and had only some RLS. I've actually forgotten to take it for over a year and my RLS has worsened since then to a point that it's unbearable. I will immediately go to the store and buy some! Of course it helps since it's very high in minerals, something very important to have to keep rls to a dull roar!

The problem of all the sugar in BSM was a concern to me. I found that by putting BSM into Kombucha tea then let it sit for about a week, the kombucha would eat all the sugar and leave me the minerals and every thing good about BSM, plus the goodness of the kombucha. I put in kombucha tea that has already been fermented, a scoby and the amount of BSM as I would normally use sugar. Next I will try kombucha coffee made with BSM, will probably make a strong tasting coffee kombucha.

Hi, I have had Restless Leg Syndrome for a lot of years as has my Sister and Mother - who said that it is a family thing on her Father's side. I am trying the Black Strap Molasses which I happen to have, but I am not to keen on the taste! I will see how it goes, I can always try ACV or Baking Soda and Water.

I already take a few different tablets and don't want to add any more if I can get away with it.

Thanks all it was interesting reading!

While I understand the frustration over syntax here, and the corresponding paranoia about big pharma, I do believe that we should endeavor to use precise language, especially here, and especially where our health is concerned. Calling something a cure if it only treats the symptom (not the underlying cause) is a fallacy. I'm not sure what BSM is in this regard. But if someone here is trying to make clear for others about how to best understand this collection of great remedies, then I rather think this is a good thing. If you are mean or vindictive, that's another.

BTW, I struggle with RLS and haven't found a proper treatment or cure yet, but I'm working on it!

Precisely, What kind of Borax dosage did you take before bed time ? I am afraid drinking too much water before bed time. What brand borax did you use?

Thank you so much for submitting your borax remedy! I have tried borax, but don't like drinking a liter a day so your method of just 1 teaspoon at night sounds fantastic! I immediately went and prepared a bottle last night after reading your post and took my first teaspoon before bed. It relaxed me, but didn't zonk me out. I am looking forward to providing more feedback as time goes by. Thank you again!

Hi Susan from Chicago, I started with a teaspoon from the litre bottle of water and borax. I'm up to 1 tablespoon at bedtime now. To me, it tastes like very dilute apple juice, but most folks seem to think it tastes "soapy".

After the first 10 days, my response switched from bright and wide-awake to extremely sleepy. My guess is that I was having a healing crisis response, but one afternoon, I literally fell asleep standing up. Had a split-second to grab the armchair and fall down into it, instead of somewhere else. Scared the heck out of my cats, who were in the chair until I fell there, and also scared me, too. Fainting is different -- used to faint as a teen into my 20s. This was definitely falling asleep. Over the next week I asked a friend to be my 'contact buddy' and we spoke 2-3x daily, to make sure no other sudden surprises went unnoticed.

At some point we figured out that I should only take the borax at bedtime. Maybe it would be different if I sipped a pint or so that had a teaspoon in it... But for now, all's good. I do feel more energized during the daytime, as well. Interesting nutrient.

Debating whether to boost my intake, and not sure if I feel like experimenting with another daytime dose. My body feels like it wants more.

To Carmela from Cambridge, happy my idea helped!

To Leelannee from Sussex, NJ... I love your town! Those stone sidewalks, and all the old colonial buildings, plus so close to great parks and forests. I've had the same experience as you have if I miss even one dose (= bad night).

Where do you get your Borax? Is it 20 Mule?

To Susan from Chicago: Yes, 20-Mule Team Borax.

Are you referring to Borax the soap? Or is there another form you are referring to. I have had RLS for many years with minimal relief from prescription medications and would love to find something effective that is not pharmaceutical. Thanks.