Effective Natural Remedies for Restless Legs Syndrome Relief

Interesting site. Ran across it because someone had inquired at a UK site about using molasses to relieve RLS, so I did a search and this forum came up in the results. Because this is a site centered on finding natural relief, I am assuming most people here probably don't use much in the way of prescription meds, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents' worth - cholesterol lowering meds are so widely prescribed now, people need to know that they trigger RLS as do a lot of other meds.

Now for what has helped me immeasurably - when I realized that lower back trouble triggers RLS in me, I invested in an inversion table that I try to use every night. It has done wonders for me. As my back goes, so goes RLS. And I have found that lower back exercises also will calm it down, specifically the "bridge", and the "bird dog". You can do an internet search for those with the word "exercise" and find them pretty easily if you want to give them a try.

Jean, why baking soda if you need magnesium?

Did the acupuncture help with the RLS?

Would it help with restless arms. I have rls but at times the arms are 10x worse.

I realize these are old posts, but I want to respond. I've had restless legs on and off for years. Lately I've discovered what's causing my current severe RLS: venous insufficiency. A couple of years ago I had some deep leg veins cauterized through a procedure that was once called "vein stripping" that was done during surgery. Today it's outpatient. The dr told me I would be back, as there were other veins that needed attention. It has been excruciating yet it doesn't strike every night. Last nite I finally got to sleep at 4 am. I tried everything. One thing that helps that I read about here, I believe, years ago, is quinine. We used to be able to buy quinine pills over the counter years ago but no longer. Thus I drink tonic water, at least a half cup. This helps me. I also discovered that my new magnesium pills were 1/3 the strength of the former pills, so I have upped that. Magnesium is important for muscle/nerve transmission. In any case, I can't wait until the summer is over so that I can get the vein procedure taken care of. I'd do it earlier but you have to wear thick black, tight support stockings 24/7. In the summer it's torture: no going to the beach in those! Good luck, everyone. Please report if you have any success with treatments.

I'm only 18 and I've recently been experiencing RLS, I'm a student in high school trying to get into college and get some scholarships, so you can see why I need every minute of sleep I can get. One Saturday night I couldn't get to sleep till 1am and I had to work the next day. I tried everything, but nothing worked until I put a bar of Irish Spring soap under my leg. It beats me how it works but it's amazing! Plus I enjoy the minty smell :)

A few nights ago I discovered I couldn't sleep due to restless leg syndrome. Looked it up on the net. Some said take iron. I realized I had not been taking the iron I use to supplement since I eat very little meat. It had gotten lost in the shuffle with my other supplements - didn't replace it when it ran out. Well, I kinda megadosed on the iron. The next night, no more problems. Once before I had problems with low iron, dizziness, and supplementing made the dizziness go away, though my blood tests said I was fine. I prefer to be my own diagnostician when possible and go by symptoms. You can't always count on those blood tests when they say you are fine. I've discovered that in several ways. Plus a doctor I used to have, decades in practice, told me that today's blood tests call "average" normal. But he said 30 years ago people were healthier and "average" really was normal. So, be sure you are at optimal, not just normal/average levels in iron and other things.

I too believe we can overcome with the mind. It is important to line the mind up to receive the healings.

@Dave from Fountain Inn: I'm relieved to read about the impact of sugar. My restless legs and arms drive me insane during full moon (and the lead up to it).... I tried magnesium and soap but both made this worse. I try to keep sugar intake down, but have recently been a bit lax. So am now going to be very strict about this, and see what happens. Thanks for the reminder!

Yes, PLEASE, PLEASE have your Ferritin tested. You would be surprised at how people and doctors are uneducated as to the effects of iron overload. It is a hereditary disorder with simple treatment! Restless legs syndrome is a warning...be diligent in finding solution.

After decades, I finally found the solution to no longer have these sensations in my legs and to be able to sleep: eliminating sugar.

Wow! A big yea for the bar of soap! I have had restless leg for years, and just suffered through, banging my foot on the floor incessantly (which helps not at all :) Since beginning medication for hypertension it has gotten worse, and keeps me from sleeping at times. Last night I came to this site, not really thinking I'd find anything but hoping...

The bar soap idea seemed pretty strange, but the whole alkaline thing suggested by a contributor appealed to me, so I gave it a try. I use coconut soap and didn't think that would work, but my daughter had a little scrap of a bar of Dove which she prefers. Since it was pretty small, I gently rubbed it over my legs for a few minutes - not making much contact at all. Then I just let it sit atop my legs. Seriously, that was the last time I felt the effect of RLS! I slept the night with that little scrap on the sheet under my legs, and that was all it took. I slept soundly through the night, not waking once (which is notable in that I'm taking a diuretic in my drug coctail!

Fantastic! I love this website and all the wonderful people who contribute. Thank you!!!

I'm a 31 year old female, and have been suffering from restless legs since I was about 14 or so. I finally think I've figured out what's been causing it, though I'm not entirely sure why - polyester bedding.

I've tried just about everything, including magnesium, potassium, massage and the good old bar of soap trick, but nothing worked. I always though it had been something that I was, or wasn't, eating.

After buying a new bedspread, I noticed that it had been a few days since I'd had my jumpy legs. Took a little while to figure it out, but for the first time in probably my life, I was sleeping with 100% cotton sheets and a 100% cotton woven bedspread. And my restless legs were GONE.

I don't know why this is... Maybe the polyester I usually use doesn't let my legs breathe, or maybe there's even something going on with static electricity. I've tested this a few times since I've noticed, and my old comforter gives me restless legs every time.

This may not work for everybody, but if it maybe helps one person, I'll be happy! I know how frustrating this condition can be.

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

Hi all, firstly... Terrific site! .... I have been suffering from painful feet for over 6 years, also from painful legs, especially painful after about 15 mins after getting into bed.. I originally thought that this was all the same ailment.... I must say that when I go on my low carb protein diet, the pains seem to subside within a few days... After many years, I have deducted that the joint pains in my feet, hands and knees are arthritic and are brought on by wheat.. I have yo-yo'd and proved this to myself... Within hours or days of eating wheat, my ankles and wrists swell with water retention and then my feet /joints start to ache... Negative for coeliac! ... The pain in my legs is quite separate I think and fits RLS exactly... I am glad I have found the cause... I thought I was going mad as it's very hard to describe to anyone... I have to take a co-codamol every night just to be able to sleep.

Anyway, I have read all the threads on this and as I cant get hold of the ivory soap in uk, I read the ingredients and the thread above and wondered if it was the magnesium.... And whether it had anything to do with the power being emitted or being absorbed by the body... Tonight I had a very bad case of rls and was generally tired.... I dreaded the night ahead.... I took a hot bath with epsom salts and went to bed with work to do on laptop.... My legs started to tingle after awhile but only mildly... I then put some epsom salts in a little mesh bag I had and put it under my feet and my co codamols at the ready..... That was over 2 hours ago... haven't had any pain, my legs haven't had to be moved, and I am surprised I haven't had to take my meds!!! ...

I will continue every night to see what worked... The hot bath or epsom salt bag... But definitely seems to be the magnesium... The rls seems to have eased and the throbbing pain is gone.. But joints are still a bit stiff in the hands but that's the wheat and grains at work!!

I have also found that aspirin cures RLS. My dad is a doctor and he said this really works. Obviously some doctors know what is going on! I also get used to the aspirin and have to take as little as possible for it to work all the time. Try it, it works! Ibprofen does not work as well for me.

I have restless legs at night sometimes. Since reading about the many cures here I have tried 1/4 tsp of baking soda in a cup of water: within 20 minutes my legs are calm and I am able to sleep. I haven't found anything else that helps; won't try pharmaceutical drugs to help, don't want any side effects. The baking soda really helps me!

I've used & recommended bar soap under the fitted sheet for many years with Xcellent results! I've also rubbed dry or slightly damp bar soap on legs & left on b4 bed along with the soap bar under the sheet for particularly bothersome cases. It Absolutely Works & people are consistently Stunned that such a simple remedy is so effective & quick-acting. Thank U EC for steering me in that direction long ago👊

As promised in my previous post on 02/10/2024, I wanted to provide an update. While I continue to use Vitamin B-1, there are still days when Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) bothers me. Around ten days ago, I began taking additional supplements in the morning: a Magnesium Chelate 100mg capsule, a combination capsule containing Vitamin D-3 (1000IU), Vitamin K-2 (10mcg), and Selenium (27.5mcg), and twice a day two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in a glass of water.

It is clear there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but this combination appears to alleviate my RLS symptoms. The challenge now lies in pinpointing which specific supplement or combination thereof is responsible for the improvement, especially since I'm still using prescription medication alongside these supplements.

While I could experiment by eliminating supplements one by one to determine their individual effects, I'm currently just grateful to experience relief and hesitant to disrupt what seems to be working.

I am updating on my post from last evening. After I went to bed within an hour the terrible symptoms of RLS came on with a vengeance. I was hoping the baking soda would work. I must admit I had a significant sugar intake early last evening; no, not from a dessert, but had pork barbecue that I purchased at a farmer's market which tasted sweet. I looked at the label this morning it was made with corn syrup AND sugar. This is a huge issue with me. Our society is obsessed with sugar. I do not want sugar in real food. I make most of what I eat in my kitchen. Long story short, I put ice packs on my calves and took 3 different meds. After suffering for 5 hours I finally slept for a few hours. Good luck to everyone.

But among arthritis patients, restless leg syndrome is much more common: Research published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology found that restless leg syndrome occurred in about 28 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and about 24 percent of patient with osteoarthritis — more than double the prevalence of RLS in the general population.

I had RLS for over 40 years and this is what I have concluded:

I have concluded most RLS is related to arthritis.

Arthritis is a systemic infection.

The first remedy that worked to mitigate it was MAGNESIUM.

After that stopped working, ANTIOXIDANTS worked a little.

This meant the infection was getting worse.

I developed RA over 10 years ago. I cured it in one month with BORAX.

I developed osteoarthritis. I had to resort to MINOCYCLINE.

I use bromelain to address any biofilm and resistance issues.

It was only after using the minocycline antibiotic that I noticed the connection.

If you don't have arthritis now, you will likely develop it as you age.

I would try an ionic boron solution to see if that helps you.

or minocycline (you need a quality one).

Hope this helps someone.

Thank you for all the advice on RLS. I ate a banana earlier b/c I was hungry. I didn't know about it helping for rls. I have a magnesium spray that I am going to try in a few mins.

The bar of soap is a total myth and ACV is not that great for you as many people seem to think. Very acidic. I think it can burn away tissues in your throat and stomach. Anyway, my rls comes and goes and lately it has been so bad that I feel it in my arms down to my fingers and my legs down to my toes. Walking helps, but it just comes back. I'm going to try the tonic water too.

Hi, what's working for my RLS is a cold room. I've had RLS since I was a kid till now, 50+ years.

Found a/c need to cool room 20 deg and take two potassium pills. This is it. all the best.

I have had chronic RLS for 5 years. 5 years without sleep! I have tried everything, I thought, without success. Then, 3 weeks ago, I read a posting on a ME site, (I have ME as well) by someone that had been on a low oxalate diet for a year. He had not had RLS since starting the diet. I had just finished a whole 30 diet which made me feel terrible. I couldn't understand this as I was eating lots of spinach, carrots, nuts and beetroot.

I read the post about the Low oxalate diet, and he had listed the food that I had been eating, and ate a lot of before the diet. I straight away went to the low oxalate info page and read everything. Straight away stopped eating high oxalate food, but so not to start my body 'dumping', ate medium to low oxalate food. I have experienced only slight twitching, more annoying than anything, with three nights of just an awareness feeling in my legs. With pretty much three full nights of sleep. For me this is miraculous! I have by the side of my bed oils, magnesium, homeopathic remedies and creams. The only thing I have used since starting the diet is an essential oil for nerves, and I have only used it a few times.

I highly recommend this diet. Read all that you can, start slowly and persevere! There are many conditions that a low oxalate diet helps.

Butcher's Broom helps with restless leg syndrome. Used to work in a vitamin store and customers loved it. Take the tincture or capsules twice a day.

Well Kim, I have consistently recommended Magnesium Chloride LIQUID for leg muscle issues on this Site and I hope this will help you. Follow the maker's directions. If it does indeed prove beneficial for you, it ought to show results VERY quickly indeed! That is the good news. Please let us know if it does help you.

Cheers, Michael

For me, magnesium gives only some temporary relief and doesn't address the cause of RLS.

I get long lasting relief with iron.

Low iron can result in low oxygen carried by the blood and nerve damage.

Magnesium and iron both effect/benefit the blood.

The reason magnesium can give some temporary relief is that when magnesium is taken, the blood vessels dilate. This results in a very relaxing effect in people who have enough blood to fill the now larger blood vessels (for people with adrenal fatigue magnesium can often make them dizzy or faint, due to low blood levels.)

This dilating of the blood vessels allow for more blood flow with increasing oxygen delivery - this is how magnesium can give temporary benefit to people who actually need more iron.

Iron and B12 are very important for blood and nerves health, they have really helped my family's health.

I have used magnets to help me, they do work, I have also had my pharmacist make me up a cream, consisting of sorbelene and menthol (stops it drying out your skin.)

I have recently used Acupuncture, and a course of 7 weeks was advised then a maintanace of 1 month . This has given me a great relief, I do take 1/2 of 0.125 every night, but haven't had to increase, but have been told I have to stop taaking sifrol as my sodium level is too low.