Restless leg syndrome is a neurological condition that causes you to have strong, sudden urges to move your legs. It affects between 10 – 15% of people worldwide and is sometimes known as RLS or Willis-Ekbom Disease. In this article, we're going to take a deeper look at natural remedies for restless leg syndrome.
What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?
As I mentioned above, restless leg syndrome causes you to have an irresistible urge to move your legs.
The most common RLS symptoms include crawling, discomfort, itching, pulling, and tingling in the legs. This urge presents itself differently from person to person. Some people find it slightly uncomfortable, and others find it extremely painful.
Who suffers from Restless Leg Syndrome?
Natural Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome
13 Natural Cures For Restless Legs
1. Healthy Diet
Diet affects restless leg syndrome. Eat a healthy whole foods diet of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. If it comes from a plant, eat it. If it's made in a plant, don't. Avoid alcohol and caffeine mainly after 3 pm and any foods you know that may be difficult to digest and keep you awake at night. Drink plenty of room temperature water throughout the day. I recommend following a Vata Diet and Lifestyle.
Be aware that consuming alcohol and caffeine often makes the symptoms of restless leg syndrome worse. Also, failing to get enough iron, magnesium, or vitamin B9 in your diet can aggravate restless leg syndrome.
Foods That Help Restless Leg Syndrome
Almonds
Almonds are a high source of magnesium, (99 mg per 34.5g serving). They also provide manganese and vitamin E. They're a brilliant, healthy alternative to cookies, chips, and chocolate.
Soybeans
Spinach
Foods That Aggravate Restless Leg Syndrome
Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Even if you're not a heavy drinker, you may enjoy a couple of glasses of wine or beer at night. If so, start to track how much you consume each week and make a plan to reduce it. If you drink every night, try every other night instead. If you drink more than one drink at a time, try stopping at just one. Doing this will not only minimize the severity of your RLS but will also improve your overall health.
Try herbal teas and decaffeinated drinks
If you love tea and coffee, make sure to choose herbal or decaffeinated. Many taste just as good as the caffeinated version, and you won't aggravate your RLS.
2. Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat a wide range of ailments since ancient times. It involves inserting needles into specific points of the body to relieve pain and reduce the negative symptoms. The good news is that it can reduce the severity of restless leg syndrome. Here is a study published in Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion in 2008 suggesting it has a therapeutic effect on the disorder.
Acupressure
Like Acupuncture, Acupressure uses acupoints from Acupuncture but is less invasive. Both healing modalities stimulate the movement of vital energy along channels in the body connected to our vital organs.
Want to learn more about Acupressure therapy? Here's how you can “turn on” your own self-healing power.
3. Hot Baths
Many people who suffer from restless leg syndrome find that soaking their legs in a hot bath with magnesium minerals helps minimize the symptoms. Then after your bath, rub Magnesium Cocoa Butter into your legs.
Hot baths are particularly useful just before bed. So if your restless leg syndrome tends to flare up during the night, a soak in a warm tub followed by a Magnesium Cocoa Butter leg massage will likely give you the relief you need.
4. Hot & Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy has a similar effect to hot baths and is a great way to quickly relieve the symptoms. It involves applying a hot or cold compress to the affected part of your legs until the symptoms subside.
5. Meditation & Relaxation Techniques
Stress often triggers restless leg syndrome and makes the symptoms worse. The good news is that you can lower stress through deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques like Yoga Nidra. Also, give yourself an abhyanga, an ancient self-massage practice to keep aches and pains away and circulation strong.
6. Exercise
As I pointed out above, lying down or sitting for any length of time triggers RLS. Here are 10 Exercises for Restless Leg Syndrome.
7. Reading
Reading may sound like an odd solution for restless leg syndrome. Many people have found that the mental stimulation takes their mind off the negative symptoms and reduces the severity of restless leg syndrome.
8. Quality Sleep
Fatigue is another factor that can aggravate restless leg syndrome and make the symptoms flare up. So, if you’re currently not getting as much sleep as you should be, start making an effort to get more. Many people who suffer from restless leg syndrome find that sticking to a sleep cycle and sleeping at the same time each night, significantly improves the amount and quality of the sleep that they get which in turn has a positive impact on their restless leg syndrome. Knowing how to get a good night of sleep can help you live a better life.
9. Probiotics
Adding probiotics like kefir and yogurt to your diet may increase beneficial gut bacteria. If you want to supplement, I recommend these organic probiotics with 34 strains of probiotics to fight bad bacteria.
Good gut bacteria help with the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat and ward off unwanted microbes. If you have a gluten intolerance, there's an increased risk of Restless Leg Syndrome, so avoid gluten foods.
10. Vitamins
11. Herbal Restless Leg Calming Cream
There are a few herbal creams on the market formulated to calm the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome… But I have a personal testimony for Miracle Plus. Both my husband and I use this cream with excellent results. It's formulated with Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang-ylang, and sage. It also has circulation-enhancing Arginine to help stop itching, crawling, and shaking.
12. Compression Socks
Compression socks encourage proper blood flow and circulation in the legs, which is why these are often also prescribed for dealing with restless legs. Proper circulation and keeping the nerves snug and held down can help lessen the sensation of RLS. Note, though, that this can take some getting used to, as we usually don’t sleep with our legs in tight-fitting sleeves.
13. Far Infrared Amethyst Mat
I'm well-acquainted with Far Infrared Healing Mats because I have used them for years for their relaxation and health benefits.
If you don't know about Far Infrared Healing Mats… The FIR light waves from an Amethyst mat can easily penetrate your skin going 6-8 inches into your body. You receive an incredible penetrating natural warmth that has profound healing and pain relief.
The far infrared radiation emitted by the BioMat is believed by some to help dilate blood vessels, leading to improved blood flow. This enhanced circulation might alleviate some of the discomfort associated with RLS and promote relaxation in the affected limbs.
My personal experience is a Far Infrared mat can give you almost immediate relief from neuropathy and restless leg syndrome. It's the amethyst crystal infrared technology that allows the healing process to occur.
Primary benefits include:
- Eases muscle and joint pain
- Relaxes muscles
- Improves blood circulation
- Reduces inflammation
- Strengthens the heart
- Improves sleep
- Supports the immune system
- Boosts energy and vitality
- Soothes and relaxes
I hope these natural remedies for restless legs syndrome help you to deal with the symptoms of this neurological condition. When combined with exercise, restless leg syndrome natural treatment can be highly efficient. By following these recommendations, you can minimize the symptoms and seriously improve the quality of your life. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them for me in the comment area below.
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This is super informative! I always thought I had bouts of restless leg but wasnt sure if it really was that. But after reading the likely causes it sounds like maybe that is what ive been dealing with (usually at night) and how to fix it. thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for commenting and glad the information was useful to you!