What is most frustrating about the Restless Legs situation is that it is completely preventable. The terrible side effects that many of you are experiencing from the pharmaceutical(s) you're taking, is inhumane. I'm not the only person who has come up with something NATURAL that works. There are thousands of people who have found a way calm their legs. There are many remedies listed below. Some are just temporary fixes to help you through a bad stretch, while other remedies seem to be more permanent. There is also a lot of information on what types of foods and beverages to avoid in order to keep your legs as still as possible. At the very least, by following the advice of the people listed below that have found some degree of relief, your RLS should lessen. Please keep in mind that what is required to truly heal your RLS will NEVER change. You can drink tonic water until your eyes float, put soap under your sheets, wear special stretchy socks, take handfuls of magnesium, do a dozen yoga postures before bedtime ... but until you address the inflammation in your legs head-on, you will be living in a house of cards. You will never become totally FREE of your RLS. It will be dormant ... at best. I have combed the various RLS websites, articles and discussion boards and have compiled the positive information people have posted - something that has helped them, and could help you. This does not include any "brand name" treatments, and of course, NO PHARMACEUTICALS! All the information below is a natural remedy that the person has tried and found has worked to some degree, or a study that demonstrates that a particular mineral or vitamin could lessen your intensity. http://www.wemove.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/11/735.html painfullegs posted December 28, 2006 11:49 PM Ok just a couple of vitamin tips here, just gotta pass on the stuff I know I know. lol As it was my family's passion now and while I was growing up. Vitmain B should always be taken in a B complex form, they work off each other. Might add a complex formula to your B-12 to make sure. If it's all natural and organic then what your body does not use or cannot store you'll tinkle out later. Too much B and your palms will look orange. Vitamin E, should be used carefully. It goes to work so fast on muscles, Like your heart! Yes, and your overall circulation. So, if you do not take vitamin E already, and start at 400 IU a day and find your dizzy your trying too much, too fast. Try starting out at a 100 IU and adding a 100 IU ever two weeks. Slow is ok for Vitamin E. If you have heart problems, check with your heart doc for sure before taking vitamin E. This is the newest info on cal/mag......do not take them at the same time. Calcium cancels out magnesium. one a lunch one at night. I don't take a bunch of costly brands, but I get good products. Yes, you'll still find a ton of cal/mag products....but the new research seems to say that it's not a useful idea to mix them. And Raven is so right, vitamins can be a slow process, but certainly a good thing to add to our treatment plans...... Ya'll have a great night. Lynne http://www.wemove.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/11/735.html Ravenlock posted December 28, 2006 01:32 AM Hey Guys, I had blood tests done to help determine what might be causing my RLS. Everything showed up normal on the test except for the fact I was very low in B12. The doctor told me to take 1,000 mcg of B12, 400 IU's of Vitamin E and 1,000 mg of Calcium. I have been taking those three vitamins religiosly for 3 weeks now and I swear I haven't had any bad flare-ups. So for me, the B12 plus those other 2 vitamins seems to be working great. I am not saying this will help everyone, but just letting you guys know it's one possibility to look into for yourself if you haven't already. http://www.sleepnet.com/rls3/messages/549.html Posted by Athena on April 24, 2001 at 17:22:40: In Reply to: restless legs posted by Potassium Legs on April 16, 2001 at 04:48:52: Many years ago I was living with a pre-med student. She saw me writhing on her sofa, and she got up and got one of her medical texts, opened it to a particular page, and pointed at a listing for Restless Legs Syndrome (which was the first I'd heard about it). It said that RLS is caused by a folic acid deficiency. I tried taking folic acid, and for me, at least, it worked like magic. At the time, I could take one 400 mcg tablet of folic acid, and within 45 minutes to an hour, I got complete relief. I discovered that just taking a folic acid tablet each day didn't help. I had to wait until the RLS started, THEN take the folic acid. But it cut my suffering time from 6 to 8 hours down to less than an hour. I have always eaten foods that are high in folic acid....I have a fondness for dark green veggies, especially broccoli which I can eat by the pound...what's more I can eat a complete package of frozen broccoli, and still have a RLS attack later that same night. I have reason to believe that I might also be B6 dificient, and that my mother might have been as well, and B6 deficiencies are often associated with folic acid deficiencies, so I take both. My symptoms were a creepy, crawling sensation, as if ants were running up and down my legs under the skin. Originally, they occured only after 1am in the morning...if I were asleep before then, I never got them...and about once or twice a year. (alcohol could precipitate an attack, however) As the years went on, they occured more and more often and earlier and earlier in the day, until they were taking place every single day at about 3pm (at work, in other words). At that point I gave up and just started taking folic acid every day at lunch, and it has pretty much kept them at bay ever since....although I do still occasionally have an evening attack, usually about 8 to 10pm, and I have to take a second folic acid tablet. (which still works, thank goodness) I am currently taking 800 mcg at lunch, with the occasional extra 800 mcg at night. I have been told that since folic acid is a water-soluable vitamin, it is difficult to overdose on it...your body just tends to flush out any extra naturally and quickly, so my doctor's haven't (yet) protested me taking so much. Hope this helps someone else looking for a non-drug alternative. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/10/100.cfm Folic Acid May Aid Some While you're having your blood checked for iron deficiency, it might be worthwhile to have your doctor check your blood level of another nutrient: folate, a B vitamin that is essential for normal nerve function. Deficiency of this nutrient appears to be associated with restless legs problems in a small percentage of people. Your doctor can determine if you're coming up short in this essential nutrient by measuring folate levels in your red blood cells, which is a more accurate way to determine your real status than simply measuring blood levels, Dr. O'Keeffe says. There is no established dosage of folic acid to treat restless legs, so your doctor is likely to prescribe an amount that corrects your deficiency. Some doctors have given up to 20,000 micrograms a day, but most stick to 5,000 to 7,000 micrograms a day. If folic acid is going to help your problem, it should do so within a few weeks, Dr. O'Keeffe adds. Since the Daily Value for folic acid is only 400 micrograms, you should talk to your doctor before taking a higher amount. High doses of folic acid can mask the symptoms of pernicious anemia, a condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12. For this reason, your doctor should also check your blood for B12 deficiency and provide a supplement if necessary, notes Dr. O'Keeffe. "Especially in the elderly people I see, folate deficiency often means that people are deficient in other B vitamins as well," Dr. O'Keeffe adds. So your doctor may add a supplement for more than one B vitamin. Vitamin E: Popular but Unproven Vitamin E is a popular supplement among many people with restless legs syndrome, reports Guthrie. "Lots of people say that they take it," she says. Whether or not it actually helps is another question. "Some think it does; others don't know," she says. Although there are a few reports from doctors that vitamin E in doses of 100 to 400 international units daily has helped this condition, no studies have been done to confirm its effectiveness. Doctors who treat this condition don't tend to recommend vitamin E. Vitamin E may help maintain blood circulation if you have peripheral vascular disease, or poor circulation in your legs, Dr. Fry says. "I am not convinced that circulation problems cause restless legs symptoms, however," she adds. If you decide to take vitamin E supplements, don't neglect other, possibly more helpful treatments for this condition. http://www.wemove.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000473;p=0&r=actu Zizi2003 posted November 13, 2005 05:52 PM Subject: Niacin For years I have had RLS. After the withdrawall of the "Limb-Ease" I nearly smashed my knees because of constant hitting them together. Used to spend most of the night walking around the room shaking the legs and have cold and hot shawers on my legs. However I did have a leaflet of the "Limb-Ease" tablets and was researching and visiting every chemist I found, showing the leaflet and the contents of the tablets. Until after two years of my crusade I finally found a pharmacist who recognised the ingredience and pointed me in the direction of "Solgar NON FLUSH NIACIN (Inositol hexanicotinate)500mg vegi caps. Which acctually is Vitamin B-3 . However if you buy Vit. B-3 on its own it may cause "Hot flush" reaction. That's why it is better to take the Solgar's Non flush Niacin. At first I had to take 1- capsule twice a day for couple of weeks and occassionally third capsule at night. Gradually the legs became calmer and restfull. I still have to take the "Non Flush Niacin" from time to time. But most of the nights I am OK. By the way, if in doubt ask any good Naturopaths and they will confirm this to you. I know that everybody is different but why not try a safe remedy to unknown medications with awful side affects etc? There are no side affects and Vit B-3 also helps other organs in the body. It has helped me. It may help you too. Regards to all, Zizi [Smile] http://www.sleepnet.com/rls3/messages/324.html Posted by kim on December 13, 2000 at 11:35:02: My husband has suffered from RLS for several years and has tried numerous treatments but to no avail. About 2 weeks ago I was reading a magazine which had an article about RLS. It stated that doctors in New York had found that 400IU's of Vitamin E in the AM and in the PM stopped the symptoms of RLS in almost 100% of the patients they tried it on. My husband has been taking the Vitamin E for less than one week and has already seen a dramatic difference. For the first time ever my husband was able to sleep in my bed without kicking me or waking me up. He is like a new person and this has been a miracle for us. I know how difficult this problem is and hope that someone else can benefit from this information. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=260034 03-07-2005, 04:21 AM Kyt777 Complete RLS relief, finally!! I am new to the boards and want to tell you my wonderful news. I am in my late 50's and I have suffered from severe RLS for years. My father was on medication for a long time for the same problem. This last year my symptoms seemed to become much worse. Six weeks ago I had blood testsblood tests for another problem and was found to have super low Vitamin B12. The doctor sent me to the pharmacy for supplements and told me to take them (Vit B12 tablets plus a Folic Acid tablet) immediately. I was on 4 mg (2 mg. twice a day of the Vit B12 to begin with) and, after only two hours after taking the first dose, the symptoms went away. After 1 month on the higer dosage, I was switched to 1 milligram of B12 a day. However, I need 2 to be symptom free and that is no problem to take healthwise. Now I sleep like a baby and have no restlessnessrestlessness at all. It had gotten so bad that I even had the symptoms in my arms and shoulders and hands. Since Vit B12 can be purchased over-the-counter, you might want to try taking 1-2 milligrams extra a day, along with a folic acid supplement. Low Vitamin B12 can cause a lot of permanent nerve damagenerve damage so it might be a good idea to be checked out. And, you can try the B12 on your own since it is not a problem of overdosing on it. It's very safe and what a miracle for me! http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1047038 Re: restless legs and insomnia Username: pb3046 Date: 11/20/2007 11:00:55 PM My restless legs were helped considerably by high doses of Vitamin E - 2,000 per day. I can always tell when I go a few days without it. ... ... Vitamin E is specific for getting blood flow to the extremities. Walking also helps. In that vein, I would think foot or leg massage would help too, and be relaxing if she has someone that can do it for her at bedtime ... ... Take the Vitamin E in the mornings; it is slightly stimulating. http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/archives/rls_pmd_vitamine.htm Washington, DC - September 6, 2003 Vitamin E Can Relieve Restless Legs, A Sleep Disorder That Affects Millions Vitamin E can help prevent a sleep disorder that affects up to five percent of the population, Lawrence Lindner, executive editor of the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, says. With lack of sleep causing a $l00 billion annual loss of productivity, sick leave, medical expenses and property damage, Lindner writes in the column "Eating Right" in the Washington Post, one contributing illness is "restless leg syndrome." "If you have restless leg syndrome, talk to your doctor about taking supplements of iron or Vitamin E. Up to five percent of the population has restless leg syndrome," Lindner says Kenneth Sassower, staff neurologist of the Sleep Disorders Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, said people often describe the sleep problem as a "creepy, crawly sensation" that worsens when the body is inactive, causing a strong urge to move the legs and interrupt sleep. Sassower adds: "I find that in my clinical practice about one in five individuals are helped by Vitamin E therapy either for restless legs or periodic limb movements," the latter described as a related condition that also keeps people up at night. Typical dosage of Vitamin E supplements to relieve the problems is "400 units two times a day," the neurologist said. Another medical writer, Dr. Robert M. Giller of New York, cites a much higher level of relief for patients suffering from nocturnal leg cramps. "In one study of l25 patients," he says, "all but two had complete or nearly complete relief from their symptoms when they took Vitamin E supplements. In most cases, the symptoms returned when the supplements were discontinued." In his book, "Natural Prescriptions," Dr. Giller, a specialist in preventive medicine, also recommended that Vitamin E be taken in supplements of 400 international units (IU) twice a day after meals for two weeks. If symptoms recur, he said, "increase the dosage until symptoms are relieved but never take more than l,200 IU daily." http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1008167 Subject: O/T Restless Legs Username: pb3046 Date: 9/27/2007 12:07:13 AM I too had restless legs before I started iodine. Iodine really helped. However, another thing I am sure of that helped was Vitamin E. I began taking 2000 IU daily for a few months. I have now cut back, but it really helped as well because I began noticing some relief right before I began the iodine and after I had upped the Vitamin E. http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx? token=af362d97-4f80-4453-a175-02cc6220a387&chunkiid=21806 Principal Proposed Natural Treatments Vitamin E has also been proposed for this condition. In one report, seven out of nine people with RLS given 400 to 800 IU daily of vitamin E experienced virtually complete control of symptoms, while the other two had partial relief.12 Other anecdotal reports suggest that vitamin C may be useful, and that vitamin B12 may benefit people with RLS who are deficient in this nutrient.13,14 However, while these reports may sound good, again they mean next to nothing because they were not double-blind studies. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=2966 Ronelle Location: New Zealand PostPosted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:48 am Post subject: Vitamins I never knew this was such a wide spread problem. I suffered silently from RLS for many years before I found anything that helped. I mostly suffer from RLS at night when trying to get to sleep and suring long haul flights. I would lose hours of sleep at least 5 nights a week and I never, ever slept on a plane. I used to use herbal pills with strong dosages of Valerian root and that would usually let me sleep a few extra hours and just calm me down a little on the airoplanes. Recently I went to see a Kinesiologist and I asked him about it. He tested me and the answer was to take 3 of my vitamin B pills and 3 of my Calcium/magnesium pills every night before going to sleep. I have not had a problem since and it has been 3 months. The pills are of a very high quality, so I am not sure what store bought pills would do for me, but I don't mind spending the extra money so that I can sleep at night. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=2792 Rumpleteaser PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:54 am Post subject: I just found something that works like a miracle! Hello! I am new here...had a bad bout of RLS after I thought I had 'cured' it (thought it was iron deficiency, but now my iron levels are fine)...to make a very long story short..... I wanted to share my find with all of you because it helped me like a gift from the heavens! I mentioned my condition to my uncle, who is into holistic medicine. He says 'take folic acid!' I said that I do...it is in my multi (400mcg) and I take a suppliment (800mcg). He says 'not good enough, take more'. Well! I took 2 800mcg last night. In 1/2 hour, my legs calmed DOWN TO NORMAL!!!! Now, I don't know if this just works for me or not, but it's sure worth a try, and you probably have it in your cabinet! I am on day 2 of this miracle. I am waiting a week before I go to my doc with this news to make sure my reaction is true and not because I want something to work. Then, if it continues to work, I will ask my doc to do test my folic acid level to see if it is low, high, whatever. Everybody, let me know if you try it..does this work for you? I am loving life....I can sleep again! 'Rumpleteaser' http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/12/2/101.pdf Alternative Medicine Review Volume 12, Number 2 June 2007 Folate and RLS A small cohort of patients with restless legs and paraesthesias has reported improvement with folic acid therapy. The first two groups of seven total patients acquired folate deficiencies due to jejunal atrophy or a nutritionally deficient diet. In addition to RLS symptoms, these patients experienced depression, fatigue, depressed Achilles tendon reflex, and lower limb numbness and tingling. A third group of nine patients with idiopathic folate deficiency experienced neurological signs and symptoms identical to the first two groups. Lab indices in these patients did not universally reflect folate deficiency. For example, there was no evidence of megaloblastosis (increased RBC size) in five patients, RBC folate levels were normal in all patients, and only 12 patients had low serum folate concentrations. However, five patients had low CSF folate concentrations and 11 patients had abnormal CT scans reflecting cerebral atrophy. Folate supplementation improved all symptoms in all patients, even in the patients with normal RBC folate levels. Initially, symptoms improved with vitamin B12 administration used for a Schillings test, but did not resolve until patients received daily doses of 1-10 mg folic acid. In addition, I.Q. levels significantly improved after 6-12 months of folate supplementation. Additional research involved five families of 45 individuals with familial (primary) folate-responsive RLS. Daily folic acid requirements for these individuals varied between 5 and 30 mg and were determined by the dosage necessary to restore serum folic acid to normal levels (10-12 ng/mL). With any reduction of dosage the symptoms reappeared within 2-7 weeks. The author commented that the absence of megaloblastosis or low RBC folate does not rule out a folic acid insufficiency in patients with neurological disorders, including RLS. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=88509 10-02-2003, 11:11 PM Kre Post Vitamin E & legs.... For those with restless leg syndromerestless leg syndrome may wish to review the vitamins you are taking. In 1986 my surgeon put me on a variety of vitamins and one was Vitamin E 800 IU. Never had a problem until recently, however, a problem had been developing and I did not realize it. For a long time I have had restless leg syndrome, unable to keep legs still, no comfortable place for them and could not get away from that awful feeling in them. Recently my whole body took on a speeded up sensation from head to toe along with bad case of restless legs. My husband remembered his experience in trying to take a small dose of vitamin E and asked me if I was still taking it. I stopped taking vitamin E and in about 3 days I was much better and by end of week the restless legs were gone as well as the strange feeling in body. Also had ringing/pounding in ears too. Did not take BP during that time but feel sure my BP must have been elevated. I am in hopes this may be of help to others in finding the cause for restless legs. http://www.doctoryourself.com/leg.html Niacin To stop nighttime twitching, shaking and kicking of the legs, try taking some niacin. Doses vary from person to person, ranging anywhere from a low 50-100 mg to a high 500 mg. By trial and experience, you learn just how much to take. While doing so, you may experience a warm flushing sensation, described elsewhere on this website (a site search for "niacin flush" will bring up the material for you). I take just enough to gently flush. (Personally, I like that warm feeling, and at bedtime, it settles me right out.) One of several user reports: "Just thought I'd let you know another great use for Niacin - restless leg syndrome. My husband has never been officially diagnosed, but has a lot of trouble sleeping. This year when the work season started again, he began kicking me all night. It got so bad that I wasn't going to be able to sleep in the same room. Every few seconds, his legs would move and it was driving me up the wall. I persuaded my husband to try Niacin with Vitamin C right before bedtime. Works like a charm, in fact when he missed his vitamins the other night, I could tell within minutes. What a great solution to a problem that so many suffer with!" My own family members with the problem have tried this, and they no longer have restless legs. http://www.inspire.com/groups/womenheart/discussion/remedies-for-restless-legs Dgrant Posted November 12, 2011 at 10:56 am vitamin E I suffered from severe RLS for 4 months after a traumatic experience a few years ago. I mean 4 months EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I did not get any sleep for nearly 4 months. UNTIL one night when I was particularly bothered by the creepy-crawly feeling in my legs -- I have never had pain with my RLS, and actually most people don't have pain, but just the horrible feeling that worms are crawling in your legs, basically -- I decided to research RLS on line. I found a message board for people with RLS and was reading the different remedies. There are as many remedies as there are PEOPLE actually, because what works for one may not work for another. However, one particular post caught my eye for some reason. One woman said that she gets relief by taking 400 IU of vitamin E. SOO, since I had vitamin E in my cupboard, I decided to try it. I took 400 IU of vitamin E and within 20 minutes my RLS symptoms had abated, and I was able to get a good night's sleep for the first time in 4 months. Now, I'm not saying that vitamin E will help anyone else, but it helped me. That was the beginning of CONTROL for me. After that night, my RLS became manageable. Every time I started having symptoms in the middle of the night, I took 400 IU of vitamin E. Pretty soon I started taking a regular dose of 200 IU every day, and pretty soon the symptoms completely discontinued. These days I don't take vitamin E anymore at all, and the symptoms have not returned. Once in a great while I'll have a night with RLS symptoms, but I just take my vitamin E, and they are quieted for the night. I have no clue why this works for me. All I know is that I was MISERABLE. And then I read a woman's post on a message board about vitamin E....tried it....and it worked for me. It makes no sense, really, but it works!! So, it can't hurt to try it. It may not work for someone else, but there's no harm in trying it. Just wanted to throw that out just in case someone is up in the middle of the night as miserable as I was that night----and may just find some relief with it like I did!!! Dana http://mangans.blogspot.com/2011/05/niacin-for-restless-legs.html Niacin for Restless Legs An older woman whom I know quite well - that would be my mother - has suffered from restless legs syndrome for decades now. It's a miserable affliction which keeps its sufferers from having a sound nights sleep, ever, waking up every 40 minutes thrashing around. Strangely enough, restless legs denialists exist; for example, this fact sheet says: Some people with RLS will not seek medical attention, believing that they will not be taken seriously, that their symptoms are too mild, or that their condition is not treatable. Some physicians wrongly attribute the symptoms to nervousness, insomnia, stress, arthritis, muscle cramps, or aging. Well, knock me over with a feather, some physicians don't take their patients seriously. There are meds for RLS, stuff that keeps you doped up enough to sleep and causes major morning hangovers. Recently I read about niacin for restless legs (at Doctor Yourself) and suggested to my mother that she try it. After taking about 400 mg a day in divided doses, after a few days her restless legs syndrome was gone, and it has stayed gone. My mother has never felt so relieved since I moved out. There are several types of niacin: niacin, niacinamide, and inositol hexanicotinate. The latter is not recommended, while the first can cause a flushing reaction at higher doses. However, the first two have different effects, for reasons which aren't clear to me, and it's also not clear which one is the best, so some experimentation might be in order. Otherwise known as vitamin B3, it's over-the-counter, non-toxic, causes no hangover, and dirt cheap. http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=319 Submitted by Elaine at 2007-12-28 20:54:30 from 206.172.225.113 I enquired of my Naturopath and he recommended a high potency iodine/potassium Iodide supplement. I started with two tablets a day and after one week I had no restless leg syndrome. I am now reducing the dosage to one a day or every other day before bed and I am still fine. I am so thankful to find this cure after a few years with this problem. I hope this will help other people to sleep peacefully and also their significant other. http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=319&page=2 Submitted by Haley at 2006-04-04 23:23:03 from 71.57.100.111 I found that a glass of orange juice gets rid of my restless legs. There is a large amount of potassium in orange juice. Potassium assists in muscle contraction and in maintaining fluid (water) and electrolyte balance in body cells. Potassium is also important in sending nerve impulses as well as releasing energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism. Basically your body is starving for potassium so your muscles can work properly. When you run low on potassium you get restless legs. http://curezone.com/forums/f2.asp?f=949&p=1&m= 6/15/2011 2:01:34 PM One cure!!!!! by HarmonicCharge A few potassium pills before bedtime helped me! ... ... They do give me weird dreams somethimes, tho http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=685459 04-08-2011, 10:24 PM Wantok Dehydration and Calcium Besides starting by having your iron checked, if you aren't drinking at least 3-4 glasses of water a day, try that. (Drink water during the night if it helps, when you wake up.) Anecdote: I was traveling for over 18 hours and it is difficult to keep hydrated sufficiently. Legs started shaking and kept shaking; I drank two glasses of water and they stopped. (This is also why caffeine and alcohol are bad--they both dehydrate you.) Also, before bed, take 500 mg. of calcium. W http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=408137 07-08-2006, 10:11 PM conniejo Iron Helped My Legs Anyone else getting good results from iron replacement-i take 200mg elemental iron for low ferritin and i have been released from the crawly leg symptoms-yeaaaa. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=299905 07-01-2005, 12:07 PM beachrosie Iron for Restless Legs I have been dealing with RLS for years. I have recently been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemiairon-deficiency anemia. As soon as I started taking an iron supplement, I noticed an improvement in my RLS. I've been taking the iron for a little over three weeks now, and my legs very seldom bother me. It might be worth it to have your dr. check your iron levels. Please don't start taking iron supplements on your own. This does need to be monitored by a Dr. http://www.city-data.com/forum/health-wellness/ 228254-restless-leg-syndrome-help.html 01-12-2011, 08:47 PM joycechamplin Iron I have RLS and my Dr gave me reguip but it made me sick I told my Dr and He said that RLS is caused by low iron so now when I feel it coming on I take a iron pill and it stops it. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=158661 03-20-2004, 01:26 PM BatesMillr Smile Update: Still sleeping Hi everyone, Just like to share the things that work for me even though I know they won't work for everyone. My RLS has continued to quiet down and this week I even had two nights where I never woke during the night - at all! At this point, I have to believe it's the slo-fe iron supplement that I'm taking. As I said in my earlier post, I'm also taking cal/mag, and other vitamins. But the iron is the only "new" addition to my routine. I've taken all the others at various times. In my case, I do know that I have always been low in iron and recent research has mentioned a connection. Boy, does the world look brighter when you've had enough rest...zzzzzz. I'll update every so often.....good luck, all. Janet http://asleepeasy.com/ sleep-easy-use-magnesium-for-restless-leg-syndrome-rls Magnesium for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) A study done by the Romanian Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry, conducting biochemical and neurological tests on 10 cases of restless leg syndrome suggest that RLS sufferers wake frequently, have decreased REM sleep and are magnesium deficient. The U.S. Department of Agriculture???s Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota reported that magnesium plays an important role in the body???s chemistry for sleep. Low magnesium in the blood could be why people have abnormal brain waves during sleep and that magnesium treatment improved not only their brain waves but also decreased the time it took them to fall asleep. http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1161357#i Subject: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): my cure Username: tuqqer Date: 4/27/2011 10:14:46 AM I've had Restless Leg Syndrome since I was a small kid, as far back as I can remember. Used to drive my parents and siblings crazy on long car trips. I had it bad all these years; the kind where I'd have to shake my legs quite violently throughout the first 30 minutes when I'd lay down in bed, and oftentimes during the day while sitting at a desk. I'm now 52, and about 18 months ago, I finally found my particular cure for my body, and I wanted to share it. It's free, it's simple, and for me at least, it's the first thing that ever completely eliminated the leg thrashing. It's dehydration. Severe and chronic dehydration, and the cure for me was reading Dr. Batmanghelidj's book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water. As a very tall male, I found that for my body, rehydration meant that I needed to drink just over a gallon of pure water every day (not including other forms such as herbal teas, etc). It had to be an entirely conscious process, because I normally wouldn't ever drink that much water. So I created a rehydration jug that I'd fill up in the morning and just carry with me each day. If I didn't do it that way, I found that I was only guessing at the amount of water I'd actually drink. In any case, after a couple of weeks, my wife noticed that I no longer was shaking my legs during the day or when first going to bed. I was quite surprised, but obviously pleased. It's been just about 18 months since I started this "gallon of water per day" routine. On the few days where I slipped up, especially if it was 2 days in a row, my restless legs (and the accompanying severe electrical discharge through the legs) would come back. It would only be then that I'd realized that I hardly drank any water that day. I'm very familiar with the many other suggestions for RLS, including the magnesium/potassium/B vitamins, etc, as well as the removal (or in my case, the never starting) of aspartame, MSG and other excitotoxins. I have no doubt that all of those are powerful adjuncts and cures. I'm not writing this to suggest otherwise. I'm simply writing what has finally, after over 4 decades of suffering, worked for me, in hopes that it helps others. Water. Huh! Who would've thought it. Scott http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=88314 08-05-2002, 01:47 PM UH-60 Magnesium worked Two weeks into taking Magnesium supplements my RLS is completely gone. It may not be the ansswer for everyone but it's worth a try. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19816198 Snyder AM, Wang X, Patton SM, Arosio P, Levi S, Earley CJ, Allen RP, Connor JR. Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 Mitochondrial ferritin in the substantia nigra in restless legs Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that is thought to involve decreased iron availability in the brain. Iron is required for oxidative metabolism and plays a critical role in redox reactions in mitochondria. The recent discovery of mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) provided the opportunity to identify a potential correlation between iron and mitochondrial function in RLS. Human substantia nigra (SN) and putamen autopsy samples from 8 RLS cases and 8 controls were analyzed. Mitochondrial ferritin levels in RLS SN tissue homogenate samples assessed by immunoblots had more FtMt than control samples (p < 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences in FtMt in the putamen samples. By immunohistochemistry, neuromelanin-containing neurons in the SN were the predominant cell type expressing FtMt. Staining in neurons in RLS samples was consistently greater than that in controls. Cytochrome c oxidase staining, which reflects numbers of mitochondria, showed a similar staining pattern to that of FtMt, whereas there was less immunostaining in the RLS cases for cytosolic H-ferritin. These results suggest that increased numbers of mitochondria in neurons in RLS and increased FtMt might contribute to insufficient cytosolic iron levels in RLS SN neurons; they are consistent with the hypothesis that energy insufficiency in these neurons may be involved in the pathogenesis of RLS. http://www.embarrassingproblems.com/problem/restless-legs Posted by Nerina van Rensburg on 23/03/2011 at 03:33:18 am Tissue Salts I suffered with Restless legs for years. I am using Tissue Salts - MAG PHOS and KHALI PHOS, and it really helps me a lot. http://www.rls.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=158 janettewarwick PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2011 11:51 am Post subject: Have found a solution to RLS for me I have been taking an iron tablet three times a day AND having a minimum of 1.5 litres of water a day and am sleeping properly for the first time in 17 years. If my legs start to play up, I have an additional 250ml of water and they settle 100%. It took approximately 4-6 weeks for the RLS to completely resolve and I haven't looked back in the past 6 months. I have taken this approach based on a review of research regarding RLS and relationships to low iron levels and oedema or fluid retention. In my case, my blood tests indicated my iron levels were okay but my GP suggested it was worth a try taking an iron supplement. I also took a punt that making sure my water intake was adequate (I hadn't realised I was typically only getting around 500ml of water a day) would resolve the fluid retention and it has worked. My mum also has trouble with RLS and she has been finding iron + increased water is resolving her RLS as well. I particularly find if my legs aren't quite right when I go to bed that an extra 250ml taken slowly (don't want the kidneys to work too hard) settles the legs for the night. It would be great if others were helped by his info... it has been a nightmare for me for 17 years and I can't believe I now get a full undisturbed nights sleep. http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=747860 Subject: Re: RLS? some useful self care Username: NRG Date: 10/4/2006 1:10:48 AM Eat a banana or 2 before bed and you won't kick at night at all. Unprocessed Sea Salt works too if you take enough. So will prune juice. It's the potassium. Works for my wife who used to keep me up every night! http://www.rls.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131 Penny PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2011 9:08 am Post subject: Magnesium I find that Magnesium is very successfull in treating my restless legs. I just wanted to let people know that it's worth trying this as it works really well for me and may work for you too. Very Happy! http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/ related-conditions/restless-leg-syndrome-and-periodic-leg-movement Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Leg Movement by Jacob Teitelbaum M.D. An estimated 25 percent of RLS patients have low serum iron levels. As noted above, if your serum ferritin score is under 50, I would take an iron supplement. I recommend the prescription iron supplement Chromagen FA because it also contains folic acid and combines iron and vitamin C, which helps the iron to be absorbed. Take iron supplements on an empty stomach. Vitamin E can also be very helpful, although it takes six to ten weeks of treatment to help. Take 400 international units a day. If you have RLS in which pain, numbness, and lightning stabs of pain are relieved by movement or local massage, taking 5 milligrams of folic acid three times a day (available by prescription) is helpful. However, folic acid does not help cases of RLS where there is no discomfort. Finally, a few case reports have suggested that taking the amino acid L-tryptophan can be effective. I recommend using the related compound 5-HTP http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx? token=af362d97-4f80-4453-a175-02cc6220a387&chunkiid=21806 Principal Proposed Natural Treatments Preliminary studies suggest that supplemental magnesium may be helpful for RLS, even when magnesium levels are normal.2,3 An open study of 10 people with insomnia related to RLS or periodic leg movements in sleep found that their sleep improved significantly when they took magnesium nightly for 4 to 6 weeks.4 However, open studies are extremely unreliable because they do not factor out the placebo effect. Also, no double-blind studies on magnesium for RLS have been reported. A number of studies have linked RLS to low levels of iron in the blood.7 In one analysis of the medical records of 27 people with RLS, those with the most severe symptoms had lower-than-average levels of serum ferritin, one measure of iron deficiency.8 In another study in which 18 elderly people with RLS were compared with 18 elderly people without the condition, those with RLS also had reduced levels of serum ferritin.9 When 15 of these people were given iron, all but one experienced a reduction in symptoms. Those with the lowest initial ferritin levels improved the most. However, once more, these were not double-blind studies, so the results cannot be trusted. In contrast to these results, a double-blind study of 28 people found that iron didn't relieve RLS any better than placebo.10 However, in this particular study, participants had normal levels of iron on average. The study didn't effectively measure whether iron might help RLS among people with iron deficiency. http://www.accupunture.info/ear-acupuncture/ rls-any-effective-alrenative-treatment JustMe says: June 21, 2011 at 9:39 pm This may seem really simplistic but it has worked for many including myself. 4-6 Calcium Magnesium throughout the day and 4 at bedtime. 4 Vita-E, 2-3 B Complex and 4 Lecithin with each meal and at bedtime and 3-4 Gentle Sleep Complex at bedtime. Now, I don't think I had as severe a condition as yourself, but the supplement that I feel really made the difference with me was the Calcium Magnesium. The supplements I'm referring to is a particular brand not just any OTC supplements. If you are interested in the website, feel free to contact me. Hope this is helpful. http://www.accupunture.info/ear-acupuncture/ rls-any-effective-alrenative-treatment psioni says: June 21, 2011 at 9:39 pm Research studies showed that iron deficiency in the blood can contribute to restless legs syndrome, especially in the elderly. A blood test that measures levels of a protein called ferritin reveals this iron shortage. The level of ferritin indicates the level of stored iron. Treatment with iron supplements can produce good results. In a study conducted at the Department of Geriatric Medicine of the Royal Lierpool University in Liverpool, U.K., levels of ferritin in the blood were found to be lower in the eighteen patients who had restless-legs syndrome than in the eighteen control subjects. Ferritin levels were inversely correlated with the severity of restless-legs syndrome symptoms. In other words, the lower the ferritin level, the more severe the restless legs. Blood levels of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and hemoglobin did not differ between the two groups. Fifteen of the patients who had restless-legs syndrome were treated with iron (ferrous sulfate) at a dosage of 200 mg three times daily for two months, with excellent results. The researchers concluded that "Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, is an important contributor to the development of restless legs syndrome in elderly patients, and iron supplements can produce a significant reduction in symptoms." http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20191742_3,00.html Charlene Gamaldo's Advice on RLS Diagnosis and Treatment Last Updated: April 15, 2011 Of primary RLS patients, about 20% to 30% of them suffer because of an iron-related problem such as anemia. About 10% of those get relief simply by taking iron supplements. The amount of time it takes to see effects varies on an individual basis. For patients who don't respond fast enough, though, we can suggest as much as three doses of iron supplements a day as well as vitamin C pills, which will help with the iron absorption. http://www.yourhealthguide.co.uk/restless-legs/natural-remedies-1593.html Natural remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome Zinc is used for many things, especially for boosting the immune system. Zinc, in the case of RLS, can aid in the absorption of minerals such as iron to help prevent deficiencies, in addition to having a calming ingredient. http://naturalhealthremedies.org/restless-legs-syndrome Brecki 21 April, 2011 at 9:47 pm Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium My RLS is taken care of each night with potassium, magnesium and calcium supplementation. Magnesium also works for falling asleep quickly and easily. It's a wonderful mineral! Also a pain killer (for me). http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_r-s/ Rls-and_periodic_leg_movements.html Natural Treatments Natural remedies for RLS focus on diet and nutritional supplementation. Avoiding caffeine is important. Because RLS may be associated with hypoglycemia, eating a sugar-free, high-protein diet with a protein snack at night may decrease episodes of cramping and RLS at night. An estimated 25 percent of RLS patients have low serum iron levels.36 As noted above, if your serum ferritin score is under 60, your doctor should prescribe an iron supplement. I recommend either the prescription iron supplement Chromagen Forte, because it also contains folic acid, and vitamin C, which helps the iron to be absorbed. An excellent over-the-counter alternative is Chelated Iron, which has 29 mg of iron and 100 mg of vitamin C per capsule. Take iron supplements on an empty stomach or else they won't be assimilated. In addition, do not take iron within six hours of your thyroid dose or thyroid will not be absorbed. Iron can be toxic if too much builds up in the bloodstream, so be sure that your doctor continues to monitor your serum ferritin score while you are taking this supplement to make sure they do not go over 150. Giving your stomach a vacation from the iron several days a week actually increases its assimilation, so feel free to miss a couple of doses every so often. Vitamin E can also be very helpful, although it takes six to ten weeks of treatment to help. Take 400 international units a day, and be sure that it is a natural "mixed tocopherols" form. If you have RLS in which pain, numbness, and lightning stabs of pain are relieved by movement or local massage, taking 5 milligrams of folic acid three times a day (available by prescription) is helpful. However, folic acid does not help cases of RLS where there is no discomfort. Finally, a few case reports have suggested that taking the amino acid L-tryptophan can be effective. Because it is hard to get this without a prescription, I recommend using the related compound 5-HTP. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-29-2006-87660.asp Restless Leg Syndrome and Supplements By GiGi Konwin Treatment begins by dealing with any underlying medical condition that may be cause the symptoms. Many times the cause is unknown, but it can be associated with neurological disorders, diabetes, stress and pregnancy. The serious sleep loss can not only lead to drowsiness, but could lead to depression and accidental injuries as well. In recent years, researchers have discovered that iron, folate or vitamin E levels are often low in RLS sufferers and supplementation can frequently help. For example, when iron deficiency is the cause, taking iron supplements can significantly reduce the symptoms of RLS. "We know that iron deficiency is involved because every condition that produces iron deficiency, such as anemia or pregnancy, increases the risk of RLS dramatically," says Richard Allen, PhD, a diplomat on the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a founder of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. In fact, based on studies of hospital patients, about 40 percent of people with anemia had RLS and about 20 percent to 40 percent of pregnant women have RLS. Cramps in the lower limbs, restless leg syndrome and sleeplessness can be eased by the addition of calcium and magnesium to the diet. Magnesium is more easily absorbed by the body in the form of dolomite, or with the addition of calcium. Magnesium helps to support a strong immune system and maintains normal muscle and nerve function. It is also known to be involved in every metabolism and protein synthesis and is needed for over three hundred biochemical reactions in the body, so it is very important. One of the benefits of magnesium is its muscle relaxing properties. The heart is a muscle and high blood pressure is often caused by the heart not relaxing sufficiently on its outward (diastolic) beat. There is increasing interest in the role magnesium can play in managing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. http://www.healthandlifestyle.co.nz/2007/02/ i-get-restless-legs-and-cant-sleep.html Cal/Mag At 3:26 PM, Anonymous said... Hi - I had a similar problem last year and followed Gary's advise taking magnesium and calcium supplements - I still take them now, but with a lower dose and only up the magnesium if I feel my legs getting that weary feeling. Good luck! http://www.inspire.com/groups/womenheart/discussion/remedies-for-restless-legs ktbmom Posted November 10, 2011 at 7:45 am Calcium/Magnesium I had it for awhile. A friend of mine in homeopathic medicine told me to make sure I was getting enough calcium and probably add a calcium that has magnesium in it supplement to my daily regimen. I did that and it helped tremendously. I took Shaklee brand and took four to six tablets daily. Helped me tremendously. My symptoms were similar to your mother. That is what helped me, but everyone is different. http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=130920 Subject: Re: Is there a forum for restless leg syndrome? Username: cfrench180 Date: 3/2/2006 12:34:57 AM A lot of people with restless leg syndrome are deficient in magnesium....and magnesium is necessary for proper absorption of calcium. Maybe even more important...as too much calcium can deplete magnesium. 68% are deficient in magnesium. You might want to consider bringing up your magnesium levels. I use magnesium oil, a natural substance of magnesium chloride. Safe and effective, used many ways and more effective than oral magnesium which can cause diarrhea. Used in baths or sprayed on. Its also worth a try. I use it and love it. My husband has restless legs...and it has decreased markedly with this use. It used to keep me awake at night. Not so anymore. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6708 EELaB Location: Columbus, Ohio PostPosted: Wed Apr 08, 2011 9:04 am Post subject: Something(s) That Worked For Me I am new to this board; this is my first post although I have been reading this forum for over a year. I have had RLS most of my life, arms and legs, and in recent years it had rapidly progressed to a place where I could not travel, sit through a movie, and sleep...well, forget sleep. One VicodinES before bed helped but occasionally I'd waken due to symptoms when it wore off in the middle of the night and have to get up for a second one. About a year ago I was forced by circumstances to find treatment through alternative medicine's offerings. Through weeks of costly trial-and-error experimentation finally discovered something(s) that brought symptomatic relief; it has been about a year now so I can safely say it has truly helped me: 1.) A product called "Easy Iron" (iron GLYCINATE) from a chain store called "Vitamin World", www.vitaminworld.com I tried regular forms of iron and it did nothing; only the iron glycinate worked. 2.) A product called "Triple Magnesium" from a mail-order outfit called "Swanson Health Products", www.swansonvitamins.com This has three different forms of magnesium. I am not promoting either of these companies; I have included the source information only because these particular item forms are not easy to find. Also, I have recently added "coca tea" as it has a pleasant mellowing effect that helps sleep. There are several brands of this available. Yes, it is legal in the US but has to be mail-ordered from Peru or Bolivia. Amazon.com has pages for it but it is listed as not yet available. I am supposing this to mean it will be available in the near future. I hope this helps someone; it is my best wish that all of you can find relief somehow as I know by long experience how awful RLS can be. I realize what works for one might not work for all. Elizabeth LaBozetta Columbus, Ohio http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17557494 J Clin Sleep Med. 2006 Apr 15;2(2):187-8. Intravenous magnesium sulfate may relieve restless legs syndrome in pregnancy. Bartell S, Zallek S. OSF Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center, Illinois Neurological Institute, Peoria, IL We report a case of restless legs syndrome that improved after intravenous magnesium sulfate administration. A 34-year-old gravida 1 para 0 woman, with a 13-year history of restless legs syndrome, was prescribed bed rest due to pre-term labor at 26 weeks. While at rest, the subject experienced severe restless legs syndrome. The subject was later admitted to the hospital for pre-term labor. Treatment for pre-term labor included intravenous magnesium sulfate. RLS symptoms completely resolved during treatment, beginning the first day of administration. Studies involving intravenous magnesium treatment for restless legs syndrome have not included pregnant women. The authors propose that intravenous magnesium sulfate may alleviate restless legs syndrome in some pregnant women. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6609 sarahjj PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2011 3:11 am Post subject: Vitamins and Minerals Deficiency Hi! I'm Sarah and new to this forum. I must say how happy I was to find others in the same situation as myself. No one around me understands RLS. They all say, Oh yes, my legs get twitchy sometimes too! They have no clue! And I have yet to find a doctor who gets it either. So I'm on my own over here, it feels like. Anyway, for years, I've had my blood checked for iron deficiencies that could effect RLS. The dr has always said my iron levels were fine. Being someone who has never taken vitamins before, I never took it upon myself to start my own iron regimen. For the past year, I have been on Requip (1.5 now) and absolutely cannot sleep without it. But I can only take it at night because of how drowsy it makes me. Which leaves me with nothing during the day. I do a tremendous amount of driving, so daytime is horrible with my RLS. It was becoming so bad that I was feeling unsafe driving. Well, one day I just got a wild hair to get on a vitamin and mineral program to see if it makes any difference at all. I went and bought Iron, Magnesium, Folate, Vitamin D and some others. THAT DAY I noticed a huge difference. So I doubled my dose and took half in the morning and half around 4pm. The difference is amazing. I still have daytime RLS but not anywhere near as bad. I can drive without much issue at all. Of course, I still must take Requip at night to sleep. So my thought is: Could my body just require more iron than other people? I'm not anemic nor do I have any problems along those lines. I don't understand why this works for me and I certainly hope it continues to work. And hopefully it will work for others like me. I'm sure this has been kicked around these boards alot. But I just wanted to put in my two cents. Thanks for reading. Sarah Very Happy SquirmingSusan Location: Minnesota PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2011 8:16 am Post subject: re: Vitamins and Minerals Deficiency Hi Sarah. Welcome to the forum. Iron, specifically ferritin which is the iron stored in the body, is a huge deal to those of us with RLS. Many people with RLS are helped greatly by bringing the ferritin levels up above 50. But you need to ask specifically for that blood test. If it's low, iron supplements are usually the first choice for bringing up the blood levels. But for a lot of us gals, the iron doesn't always stay put. Also, if you're taking proton pump inhibitors (ppi's - reflux meds) it's difficult to absorb it. It's great that you notice a difference when taking oral iron supplements. I'm one that doesn't absorb it well, so I have to beg my doctors for iron infusions. Rolling Eyes My efforts have paid off, though, and I'm getting one on Monday. It's great that you took matters into your own hands, and it sounds like you did a bit of research into supplements that can help with RLS. 05-30-2011, 02:25 PM jinx2418 Re: Has anyone found help for severe RLS with magnesium? I have been taking magnesium and it really does help. My doc won't let me take any of the "drugs" because I'm trying to get pregnant. So he recommended magnesium. I take two 150mg pills each night after dinner, to give it some time to work before I sleep. It has been working wonders... however, I think I need to start taking more as lately... it still works, but not as good it seems. Maybe your body gets used to it. I haven't had my iron checked though... that might be something I want to do. But try magnesium. It DOES work! 06-03-2011, 08:26 PM bootscoot re: Has anyone found help for severe RLS with magnesium? I have just started taking magnesium for my RLS and it is amazing...I have very little problems with it now. I would suggest anyone try it. I first started taking it for constipation. Then learn't about the RLS ... It is doing wonders for both. http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/coping_with_restless_legs_syndrome Coping with Restless Leg Syndrome Sep 30, 2007 Elaine Walker The homeopathic remedy Rhus tox (30c) treats muscle disorders. Tissue Salt Mag. phos. (6C) treats spasms and involuntary muscle contractions associated with RLS. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/23/126.cfm A Mineral Trio to Calm Cranky Muscles A combined deficiency of three minerals could be responsible for the annoying jumpiness of restless legs syndrome, according to Ross Hauser, M.D., director of Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services at Beulahland Natural Medicine Clinic in Thebes Park, Illinois. "A lack of calcium, potassium, and magnesium can make the large muscles in the legs hyperirritable," he says. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium all have an effect on muscle contraction and relaxation. In addition, they help nerve transmission. Experts say that you can help calm your legs and get some rest by making sure that you're getting enough of all three minerals. Dr. Hauser recommends taking a daily dose of between 800 and 1,000 milligrams of calcium, 300 milligrams of potassium, and 500 milligrams of magnesium at bedtime. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173193.php Restless Leg Syndrome Linked To Magnesium Deficiency Article Date: 07 Dec 2011 - 16:00 PST Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a form of insomnia characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs when they are at rest, especially during sleep. RLS affects about 10% of the people in the U.S. It runs in families and may have a genetic component. Recent research has found that people with restless leg syndrome are deficient in the mineral magnesium. According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Other types of insomnia include sleep apnea, which involves interrupted breathing and snoring during the night; narcolepsy - which causes people to fall asleep throughout the daytime; insomnia from hormone fluctuations such as with menstruation or menopause; and insomnia from the use of medications, caffeine or alcohol. Those who have restless leg syndrome experience unpleasant sensations in the legs described as creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, or painful. These sensations usually occur in the calf area but may be felt anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. People with RLS often experience chronic insomnia and sleeplessness due to the strong urge to walk or do other activities to relieve the sensations in their legs. In one study from the Romanian Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry, researchers conducted biochemical and neurological tests in 10 cases of restless leg syndrome. The investigators reported important disorders of sleep organization. They found agitated sleep with frequent periods of nocturnal awakenings, and a decrease of the duration and percentage of the deeper rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - also found in other forms of insomnia caused by magnesium deficiency. (1) According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota, "Magnesium plays a key role in the body's chemistry that regulates sleep. This may be why persons with long-term lack of sleep, or abnormal brain waves during deep sleep, often have low magnesium in their blood???.Magnesium treatment increased deep sleep and improved brain waves during sleep in 12 elderly subjects. Magnesium treatment also decreased time to fall asleep and improved sleep quality of 11 alcoholic patients who often have a low magnesium status." Regarding the use of nutritional sleep aids containing magnesium for relief of restless leg syndrome and other sleep problems, certain formulas are more effective than others. The combination of minerals included and the presence of cofactors in the product are key. Formulas should contain a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. The original research on this recommended ratio appeared in 1935 in the Journal of Physiological Reviews (2) and is made on the basis of long-term metabolic studies in men and women. One natural sleep aid showing good results is Sleep Minerals II, made by Nutrition Breakthroughs in Glendale, CA. This sleep aid contains six types of calcium, three forms of magnesium, boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and horsetail herb - all combined in a softgel with carrier oils. Oils such as evening primrose have been shown to increase mineral absorption, reduce calcium excretion, and increase bone density. Sleep Minerals II has had good results with relieving restless leg syndrome. Ali M. of Istanbul Turkey says: "I have been a pharmacist in Istanbul Turkey for almost 40 years and I also work as a consultant in food supplements. I suffer from restless leg syndrome at night. I recently tried your Sleep Minerals II and it had an astonishing beneficial result. My youngest brother, who is also a pharmacist, also suffers from restless leg syndrome. He tried the Sleep Minerals II with the same result. My mother aged 92 was complaining of sleep problems and insomnia. She also tried it and the result was again successful. If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would have found it hard to believe." Many people suffer from restless leg syndrome and some sources have called it an incurable disease. Use of the right kind of mineral supplement just might provide the needed relief. References: 1: Clinical, EEG, electromyographic and polysomnographic studies in restless legs syndrome caused by magnesium deficiency. Rom J Neurol Psychiatry.1993 Jan-Mar; 31(1):55-61. PubMed PMID: 8363978. 2. Schmidt C.L.A., Greenberg D.M., Physiol Rev, 15: 297. http://www.sleepnet.com/rls3/messages/523.html Posted by Potassium Legs on April 16, 2001 at 04:48:52: I've had restless legs most of my life - not continuously but often enough that it affected my life. I've asked doctors about it and got various unhelpful answers: walk more, etc. That doesn't always provide relief. One day while I was browsing through an old cookbook I found a passage on potassium and lo and behold, there was the remedy for restless legs written in 1899. It said low potassium levels caused restless legs. I bought some over the counter potassium and tried it and it works -- every time! You can tell when you're going to have restless legs. Just take one potassium tablet and the restless legs syndrome stops within ten-twenty minutes. I consider it a miracle. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/958049/ magnesium_calms_restless_leg_syndrome.html How I Discovered that Magnesium Really Does Offer Relief from Restless Leg Syndrome Published August 26, 2011 by: Laura Sands My attacks of Restless Leg Syndrome have taken on many different forms over the years. Finally, however, I've found that a magnesium supplement will give me relief from Restless Leg Syndrome most of the time. I don't take magnesium daily, but I do take it whenever I feel the familiar sensations of Restless Leg Syndrome gearing up to keep me from another night's rest. Never before have I ever tried anything that works as well as magnesium does. I've tried another remedy called Muscle Mist that came pretty close to being my fix, but magnesium has now become my preferred source of relief for Restless Leg Syndrome for about the past year. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6467 dlmrgnk PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2011 11:46 am Post subject: water After the onset of what seems to be very mild, occasional RLS some years ago, I discovered that drinking a sufficient amount of water eliminated the symptoms. When the symptoms occur, I get up, drink what I think will be enough water. Some nights it may take three drinks to eliminate the need to move one leg or the other. (There are, of course, trips required to eliminate the water later.) I'm currently trying to determine if there is a triggering food and sugar seems to be a possibility. http://www.livestrong.com/article/93747-natural-cures-restless-leg Natural Cures for a Restless Leg: Other Supplements Citing a 1998 German study, the journal "Sleep" mentions that magnesium supplements before bedtime can be helpful for RLS. Chris Meletis, N.D., a naturopathic physician at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, also recommends taking a 12C potency formulation of the homeopathic remedies tarentula hispanica, causticum or zinc metallcium three times a day. 03-19-2011, 12:17 PM cvoor Calcium supplement is Working !! I just started taking a Calcium/Mag/Vit D/Zinc supplement, Caltrate 600D, and my restless leg is so much better. I actually had no problems last night, I could not believe it. I usually have to stretch my legs out, flex my muscles, or toes/feet, and move around, to get relief. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5492 estelle Location: Montreal PostPosted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: Naturopath & Homoeopathic remedies For anyone desperate out there: I have been seeing a naturopath for 3 months now, and it's probably the smartest thing I have ever done so far. I've had RLS for 3 years (yet only discovered it was RLS last July), and I've been freaking out about it ever since I've found out what it was. I refused to see any kind of medical doctor and take whatever prescribed medication. I read a lot about them, and I was afraid of the side affects. So, my last resort was a naturopath. I got my ferritin level tested, and everything is perfect. I got tested for god knows how many tests, and everything is fine... so, right now, here is what I am taking: - Homeopathic remedies: ZINCUM METALLICUM. What's great about this is that there are no side effects.. it's all natural. and my RLS goes down by about 50% when I take 1 dose. I just started taking this.. and I'm glad I found it! Plus, it's pretty cheap!! So far it's only a temporary relief.. but trust me, a temporary relief is better than nothing!! I take walks every day, and go running on a regular basis, yet nonetheless, my RLS has always been there. The other product I take is valerian combo. It's a bunch of extract from flowers that helps fight insomnia. It does help me sleep much better, yet it doesn't take the RLS away. But, I still recommend it. After a long walk at night, it also helps to fall asleep, and you WON'T feel like you're in a coma the next morning! It's the great thing about it-- there are no side effects like any of those sleeping pills available on the market. Give it a try, or see a naturopath. They are amazing, and they will do everything and anything to help you. I strongly recommend it. Email me if you have any other questions. Cheers- EsteLLe http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=2918 suebob22 PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:51 am Post subject: 1yr RLS Free w/ Iron supplements I've had RLS for over 16 years. I talked to my Dr's for years and they thought I was nuts when I described the crawling feelings. I've always been told I was slightly anemic (low iron levels). I started on 65mg of iron once a day and I am crawl free. It's a great feeling after 16+yrs of thinking I was going to go crazy. I hope others find the same relief. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=415 tdavis1001 PostPosted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:42 am Post subject: RELIEF....Lifelong RLS patient has found Non-Pharm Cure I felt guilty not sharing this with RLS patients, but I have not thought much about my RLS in over 2 months, but I felt the least I could do is log on and share the information... I am a 35 year old male who has suffered with RLS since childhood; obviously no one knew what it was at the time. I have tried many if not all the medications that "numb" the symptoms, but I finally found a holistic MD that has given me relief through vitamins. I have had 2 infusions of Magnesium with some B12. The amount of the infusion looks like about 6 oz. Then I take vitamin supplements Magnesium and Multivitamins that keep my mag levels very high. I have only had 1 night that I was bothered by restless legs when I ate alot of chocolate chip cookie dough before bed. Todd http://www.city-data.com/forum/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=494440 11-21-2011 02:46 PM coffeeaholic Potassium I have suffered for years with RLS and my doctor gave me Potassium supplements to take. It has stopped them all together. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=88471 08-26-2003, 05:09 PM Michele12 Take magnesium That's what a naturopath told me. I take 1000 mg a day and now, no more rls. So I thought I better save some of you who want to get better too. Also the naturopath said that if the whole calf is in mmuscle spasm than you need iron, if it's small flickers (meaning small muscles spasms within the muscles) then you need magnesium. were you taking magnesium ONLY and not calcuim because calcium makes your muscles contract and mag makes then relax. Michele Submitted at 2011-01-04 21:22:14 from 64.12.116.80 http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=319 I take three times daily 5 tablets of Brewers Yeast for Restless Leg Syndrome. In addition I also take Vitamin B and Magnesium. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=252579 02-13-2005, 08:02 AM kiehn Natural Supplement for RLS DL-Phenylalanine (Natural food supplement one of the Amino Acids) which has been helpful for Parkinsons Disease, can also help RLS. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=193077 07-26-2004, 07:29 AM NYJanice What is helping me I have been taking Noni juice, two ounces twice a day. I don't know what is in it that seems to help, but it is loaded with nutrients. Also, if I feel that restlessnessrestlessness coming on in the evening, I rub Therapeutic Mineral Ice (or the generic drugstore version) on my legs. And as a last resort execute a fiew ballet pli??s before going to bed. The Noni juice tastes awful but is worth it. You can get it at health food stores or online. http://www.squidoo.com/tarentulahispanica Tarentula, An effective homeopathic remedy for restless legs (RLS) If you suffer from RLS, Tarentula hispanica can bring speedy relief and allow you to rest. Restless legs can disrupt your sleep, cause pain and emotional distress, and generally be a real pain in the....legs. The new prescription medications available to treat RLS are incompatable with many other medicines and they do have some unpleasant or dangerous side effects. Tarentula hispanica is the top remedy in the Homeopathic Pharmacopia for treating restless legs syndrome. It is safe, fast acting, and has no side effects when taken appropriately. During 2 of my pregnancies, I developed restless legs in my final trimesters. Taking a dose of Tarentula before going to bed at night brought me STUNNING relief. The only nights I had to suffer through the jimmy legs in bed, getting up and stretching, walking around, and climbing up and down stairs was when I ran out of the pills! http://www.restlesslegtips.com/blog/amino-acids-and-iron-level-power Amino Acids and Iron Level Power In an article I read in Aternative Medicine by Kristin Bjornsen, she mentions that evidence has been found pointing to the importance of balanced amino acids , the building blocks for dopamine and other neurotransmitters and iron levels. The article goes on to say that: "One amino acid in particular seemed to play a starring role: L-theanine. Taking 100 mg three times a day has improved (RLS) symptoms tremendously. L-theanine is found in green tea and is available as a supplement at health stores. RLS sufferers should opt for the supplement form, rather than the caffeine-laden tea. According to Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, director of The Annapolis Center for Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia Therapies and author of Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw Hill, 2006), "L-theanine is one of the single best nutrients for inducing deep sleep, [which is vital for RLS sufferers], although it doesn't necessarily target Restless Legs Syndrome specifically." He suggests trying 1,000 mg of tyrosine (a precursor of dopamine) in the morning as another source of relief. Sufferers can also opt to have a doctor analyze their blood and urine to detect possible amino acid deficiencies and tailor a specific treatment to restore proper levels. Although L-theanine has worked well-a primary frontline defense for RLS is iron and iron levels should be the first thing checked if someone exhibits RLS symptoms. "Low iron is a potent trigger because the part of the brain that makes dopamine is iron dependent" Jacob Teitelbaum, says, about 25 percent of RLS sufferers have low iron levels, so supplementing with iron is "one of the most effective treatments for eliminating the underlying condition." According to Teitelbaum, a blood ferritin level below 40 or an iron percent saturation below 22 percent warrants supplementing with 70 mg of iron plus 150 to 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for three to six months. Take them on an empty stomach for maximum absorption." I believe strongly that what we take into our bodies effects our health, and that when we are not eating a healthy diet, we are inviting disease and life long problems. As we age it is also harder to maintain a healthly chemical balance in our bodies and therefore it is important that we get blood tests that can indicate which essential chemicals, minerals, etc. are low. So if you haven't had your blood tested in a long time may I suggest that you consider getting it done as soon as possible? More things to think about. http://fitnessforoneandall.com/difficulties/article/misc/rls.htm Dealing with Restless Leg Syndrome: NADH by Gary F. Zeolla The idea of taking individual amino acids has never made a lot so sense to me. Unless there is a specific absorption problem, adequate amounts of all of the amino acids can attained from one's diet. But the NADH was something I hadn't heard of before. The acronym stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide with Hydrogen. It is a co-enzyme, not a hormone like DHEA. It is involved in the Krebs cycle, which the means body use to produce ATP, the energy source for cells. NADH is a coenzyme found naturally in all living cells, and plays a key role in the energy production of cells, particularly in the brain and central nervous system. The more NADH a cell has, the more energy it can produce to perform its process efficiently. A growing body of scientific research shows that NADH stimulates the brain cells' production of the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin. within a few days I began to notice a difference with my RLS. Gradually, my RLS seemed to be getting less severe, and I began to actually get some sleep. Now that I've almost finished both boxes I bought, my RLS is much improved. On most nights I don't have a problem, but there are still times when my limbs will jerk. But at least it's not every night. Enada's Web site recommends that if one wants to take 10 mg you can either take two tablets in the morning as prescribed above, or you can take one 5 mg tablet in the morning and one in the late afternoon, at least two hours and preferably four hours after eating but still at least 30 minutes before dinner. So at one point I did try taking a second dose in the late afternoon to see if it would help with the RLS and the fatigue any further, but after a few days I didn't noticed any further improvement, and with it doubling the cost, I didn't continue with the second dose. So 5 mg a day seems to be providing some benefit while 10 mg didn't seem to provide any additional benefit, but it might have if I had the money to keep trying the second dose longer. But I will definitely keep taking the 5 mg dose every day. If I really wanted to make sure it is the NADH that is lessening my RLS and that it didn't somehow clear up itself, I could do an experiment and try not taking it for a while. But frankly, I really don't want to risk it. It is simply too nice to actually be sleeping on most nights again! Updates I took the NADH for six months, but then I tried stopping it, and the restless leg did not get any worse. So what I believe happened was that I had been deficient in NADH, so at one time there was a need. But taking it for six months was sufficient to correct the deficiency; so further supplementation was not needed. It never did seem to help with my fatigue. But by the spring of 2005, my RLS began to really flare-up. So I decided it was time to go back on the NADH. And once again, after just a week or so, my RLS was mostly under control. But after a full month, I hadn't noticed any improvement in my fatigue. I kept taking it for a few weeks and then stopped it again. As of this last update (5/3/08), my RLS is still mostly under control without taking the NADH, but there was no doubt it helped get the problem under control initially. So yes, it is worth a try, but I would also suggest that once your RLS has been under control for a while, try stopping to take it and see what happens. It might not be necessary to take it indefinitely. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3900 pawddog Location: Massachusetts PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject: caprylic acid (octanoic acid) For the last few years I have noticed weird pains in my legs in the evening and at night when I have my legs up off the floor. It varies in intensity and location, and sometimes even occurs in my hips. I was taking caprylic acid for a digestive problem, and it finally hit me one day that when I had stopped taking the acid for awhile, the leg pain became much worse. When I took one tablet (365 mg), the pain was 90% gone that day, and completely gone by the 2nd time I took it. This supplement is readily available in health food stores, and is sometimes combined with some calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. It is sometimes marketed as a "feminine needs" item. Now I only have to take it once every 3-4 days and do not even notice the problem at all. If I stop for a week or two though, I am sure that it will come back. Anyone who has not found relief elsewhere should try this. However, if you have had rls for many years, it is possible that it may take longer to work for you when you first try it. Also, this supplement is best taken with food, and may have some mild side effects when you first take it like fatigue. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=88306 09-09-2002, 06:45 PM buck58 Try Ginkgo Biloba I took sinemet for years for my RLS. Just so happened I took some ginkgo for my circulation, and BAM I haven't had one episode of RLS since! Honestly, It's worth a try! buck. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/23/126.cfm Stabilize Membranes with Horse Chestnut Preparations of horse chestnut leaves, bark, and seeds are used in Europe for their good effect on vein health. There's reason to consider standardized extracts of this herb for the treatment of restless legs as well, according to Dr. Hauser. "Horse chestnut is unique in its ability to stabilize vascular membranes," he says. This may give restless legs extra blood flow that can prevent sensations of itchiness or burning. Give this herbal remedy a try by taking 400 milligrams of standardized extract twice a day, says Dr. Hauser. Generally, people respond within a month, he adds. If your symptoms don't improve in that amount of time, stop taking it and see your doctor for an evaluation. Horse chestnut is not for everyone. It may interfere with the action of other drugs, especially blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin). It may also irritate the gastrointestinal tract. As with other herbs, you should not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. "You must obtain a standardized extract and follow package directions if you're going to use horse chestnut as a healing herb," says James A. Duke, Ph.D., botanical consultant, former ethnobotanist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture who specializes in medicinal plants, and author of The Green Pharmacy. "It's simply not safe to use otherwise." http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=449299 11-24-2006, 11:04 PM builder Valerian Root I have tried Valerian root for my restless legsrestless legs syndrom and it has helped quite a bit. I was ready to go to the doctors and get on of the meds for this, but someone suggested I try this first and it has worked pretty well. http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1064013#i Re: Restless Leg Syndrome Username: SGDora Date: 12/16/2007 11:44:03 AM I suffered with this for years off and on. In the past couple of months I have been cleansing with MH's herbs, 8 day oj fast, eating live foods. Restless leg syndrome has disappeared. I can now relax at night because that is when it bothered me the most. I laugh when I see the commercial on tv for some drug to help with restless legs. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=408732 07-10-2006, 11:34 PM builder Doctor Told Me To Try Valerian I use to get the restless leg, feelin like my skin is crawling sensation when I went to bed. I started taking Valerian in the evening about a week ago and I haven't had it since. Not sure if it works or it is just a coincidence. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=157298 03-15-2004, 01:37 PM ronnie Valerian works for my RLS I bought some Valerian tincture at the health food store. It is a root, natural and harmless and is used as a relaxant. Take about 15 drops an hour before you want to sleep. Also while I was at the healthfood store, I also picked up a cream with glucosamine it helps relieve aches and arthritis pain. I rubbed a small amount on my lower back and it relieved my twitching. I actually have been able to sleep the last 3 days. I am going to see a neurologist... in May.. and will report back on what he says. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6660 jojojojo Location: UK PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2011 8:19 pm Post subject: tea helps ... Hiya After a bad night of twitching etc, I looked on the internet for herbs that might help. I made a tea from cinnamon, camomile, and ginger (two different tea bags and two cinnamon capsules) and it really helped me!!! I have not slept better!!! http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3743 fancyelliott PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: herbal help with rls I have been using Valerian Root for over a year now and it has made a huge difference in my rls. I take one or two capsules about and hour before bedtime, it not only helps with my rls, but it also helps me to sleep. It is inexpensive and I have not had any side effects from taking it. Give it a try. http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_5505827_herbal-cure-rls.html Herbal Cure for RLS by Tracey Allison Planin Ginkgo is known as the memory herb. It increases blood flow to the brain and strengthens cell membranes. It is also an antioxidant, combating free radical damage in the body. Ginkgo is useful in treating RLS as it promotes nerve transmissions and tones the blood vessels throughout the body. It is considered a natural antidepressant and helps alleviate tension and anxiety. It is widely used in conventional medicine throughout Europe and has no known side effects. Ginkgo is most commonly taken in capsule form, although it is also available in a tincture. http://www.squidoo.com/natural-remedy-for-restless-leg-syndrome Help for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) For centuries, natural and holistic approaches have provided long-term relief for restless leg syndrome sufferers. Herbal and homeopathic remedies contain a combination of ingredients that promotes calm, rested limbs during sleep. A well known herb, Astragalus membranaceous, has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, and balances and improves the functioning of all the body's organ systems through its adaptogenic and tonic properties. It also boosts circulation and assists absorption of iron from food. Ruscus acluteatus, also known as Butcher's Broom improves poor circulation and relieves the pain and discomfort associated with restless leg syndrome. It is also useful in treatment of constipation and water retention, circulatory disorders including hemorrhoids and varicose veins and as a bladder and kidney tonic. In addition, Aesculus hippocastum (Horse Chestnut) helps promote healthy blood circulation throughout the body, including the legs and can relieve Periodic Limb Movement and RLS by keeping the blood flowing smoothly even during and sleep and rest. http://www.wemove.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/11/742/2.html AdamPR posted June 29, 2007 03:35 PM On the subject of opiates: I have been successfully treating my RLS for more than 30 years with the traditional herbal remedy, opium poppy. Its sedative and antispasmodic properties have been well known since ancient times. I have found it far more effective than the modern drugs I have been prescribed. My untreated symptoms are quite severe, but a fraction of a dried poppy head, ground up and taken in the evening, prevents them entirely. Tolerance does not develop. I have a self-seeding poppy patch in my garden. This a natural cure that costs nothing. I strongly recommended it. Adam http://www.yourhealthguide.co.uk/restless-legs/natural-remedies-1593.html Natural remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome Another treatment, widely used in Europe is known as Butcher's Broom, or Ruscus Acluteatus. Butcher's broom is said to improve circulation, relieve pain and discomfort of RLS and helps in other circulatory disorders of the body. Horse Chestnut, or Aesculus hippocastum, is used for healthy blood circulation in the body, and has been used in Europe for years for their help with vein health. By keeping circulation flowing there is relief for PLM and RLS symptoms. As with all natural herbs used for treatment, be sure to use if carefully as they effect each person differently. http://www.bachrescuesleep.com/CureRLS.htm re: Bach Rescue Remedy I believe that there is a natural cure for the Restless Leg Syndrome and I would like to let as many people know about it as possible, because it made such a difference in my life. During my first pregnancy I had it really bad, it took me a long time to figure out what it was and that it actually had a name. For me it was the arms and it drived me crazy. The when I got pregnant the 2nd time it came right back and I just couldn't imagine to deal with it again for 9 months, so I tried Bach Rescue Remedy and to my amazement I fell asleep. The next night there were nothing so I wasn't really sure what to think, then the 3 rd night it started again, so I took the Rescue Remedy and the same thing happened. So if I took Rescue Remedy every 2nd night there would be nothing. But then I decided to take the Rescue Remedy 4 times a day for 2 weeks, guess what? I went through the pregnancy without any problems, the RLS was gone. Around the same time I had got on all newsgroups asking for help, and I got an e-mail from a gentleman in Singapore telling me that he had found a product that should be helping and he was expecting it in the mail and he would let me know if it worked. I told him about the Rescue Remedy and that my RLS was gone, he got very excited and said that he would try too. After a few weeks I got an e-mail from him telling me that his had gone away too, he didn't even try the other product. Sincerely, Bettina Rasmussen bettina@platypaws.com http://www.bachrescuesleep.com/CureRLS.htm re: Bach Rescue Remedy By December last year, I forget about RLS and Bach Rescue Remedy. Then one night during Chinese New Year (third week of Jan 05), I started to get this horrible attack again. I remembered that I had not taken Rescue Remedy for awhile and quickly reached out for it. However, I realised for my case, Rescue Remedy is not an instant remedy. RLS continued to torture me and I had to pop a sleeping pill to knock myself out. I have not taken sleeping pills for more than 6 month then (a good sign for me). Next morning, I realised what triggers the attack. It is MSG. During the Chinese New Year celebration, I consumed a lot of food prepared by my relatives that contain heavy doses of MSG. My wife always excludes MSG in her cooking. In the past, the attack was worst when I consumed anti-histamine, muscle relaxant or cough mixture. So, now I avoid all these medications completely. Recently, going on a boat trip, I took a tablet to combat sea sickness without realizing that the medicine contain an anti-histamine compound and I got hell from RLS. The same thing happened when I injured my left knee and my doctor prescribed pain killers. Most painkillers contain muscle relaxant or anti-histamine (if you have cold). In my country, the name of most of these medicines often ends with the word "Plus" e.g. Panadol Plus. So I alway keep a look out. As long as I stay away from these medications, I am fine. It is hard to stay away from MSG as Asian food is loaded with MSG. So I avoid eating out. One more item to avoid is alcohol especially taken with yummy food laced with MSG as alcohol can double the efficiency of MSG. Rescue Remedy can really help to keep RLS under control if I do not make silly mistakes by consuming the prohibited food/medications. Once under an attack, Rescue offers no immediate relief. I have to continue taking the essence for at least a week. Sam tabbykat@singnet.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4865568_herbal-remedies-restless-leg-syndrome.html Herbal Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome By Eric Dontigney Astragalus Astragalus is an herb that is believed to help support circulation (one of the contributing factors for RLS) as well as iron absorption. Both of these properties can help alleviate RLS. Astragalus is available in capsule form. http://www.sleeping-with-a-sleeping-disorder.com/ treatment-and-medication-for-restless-legs-syndrome.html Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome Some individuals may benefit from the use of the highly sedative herb Valerian, and there are several studies to support this. Other natural sedative herbs include Hops, Skullcap and Passionflower. These have been used for centuries without negative side effects. Sufferers can add a teaspoonful of a blend of equal parts of these herbs to one cup of warm water and steep for 15 minutes. Then the tea must be strained and drunk before bed. However, most herbs these days are available as a tincture, or in tablet or capsule form and vegetarian capsules without gelatine are available. Another beneficial herb that may help RLS is St. John's Wort traditionally used for naturally treating nervousness and depression. Date: Monday, October 12, 1998 11:58 PM Subject: Relief from RLS My RLS became truly debilitating when I became pregnant again (seven years after my first). I would go days, literally, without sleep. My doctor was at a loss. Codeine no longer helped. I finally ended up in the hospital where they tried numerous drugs but nothing helped. The lack of sleep was crippling and the helplessness was terrible. After the birth of my second son the RLS symptoms lessened but occasionally I would stay up all night and then have to watch my baby during the day. Some months ago my husband heard that a gentleman took a herbal remedy called Butcher's Broom to relieve what he called "racing legs". I find that the Butcher's Broom does help my RLS considerably. I hope this may help someone else who has mild symptoms. Lisa B., Peace River, Alta. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1637 jimmylegsnomore PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: Finally Gone Hi all, I am now 50 and have had RLS since my twenties. I also have Menieres disease in my right ear. After a bout of heavy pressure in my inner ear and subsequent hearing loss I went on the net looking for something to reduce the pressure during these periods (usually Spring along with allergies). I was led to Gingko Biloba as it helps with the "ringing" (which is a constant problem with this disease). I started using it in 2002 and found that it failed to reduce the ringing but did help with the pressure. Anyway, one completely unexpected side effect was that my RLS went away! I take a large dose of GB (120 mg.) twice a day to keep the inner ear pressure down which is more that most people would take for other reasons (mental clarity etc.). I can still get some RLS when I take antihistamines within eight hours of bedtime. I have always noticed an association of RLS and antihistimines/cold meds. Obviously this is anecdotal and may not apply to anyone else because of the complexity of our respective body chemistries. But I am curious to see if anyone else has experienced something similar. Very Happy http://www.forumromanum.de Matthias Hubner 24.Jul.2004 9:34 Amazing Success & relief against RLS A friend of mine sells aloe vera products with a particularly high concentration and has persuaded me to try a spray bottle of it. After awhile I realized that if I sprayed 1-2 x daily, it was very restful at night! Happy! There are apparently active ingredients in the Aloe Vera plant that bring on a broad line against a range of diseases and alleviate grievances. http://www.wemove.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/11/890.html nightbeat posted January 26, 2011 10:37 PM I can now sleep the entire night undisturbed. I have had RLS for at least 50 years. My mother had it, some of my siblings have it and some of my adult children have it. Over the years I've used several of the prescription meds - Synamet, Parlodel, Neurontin, and Requip. They all had side effects that I couldn't tolerate. So I decided to look for my own solutions. I have been retired for several years, so I have the time to do my own research. Here's what I learned. There is a category of food additives called neurotoxins or excitotoxins. They are glutamates that affect the nervous system. The most well known excitotoxin is MSG (monosodium glutamate), Other additives are converted by processing into glutamates. All excitotoxins should be eliminated from the diet. We need to eat unprocessed foods only. Even tiny amounts of excitotoxins will aggravate RLS. In addition to RLS, excitotoxins are involved in some of today's maladies that we never heard of years ago, such as fibromyalgia. Also some conditions were around but not as prevalent, i.e. migraine headaches, joint pains, etc Read all food labels. Do not buy anything with the following additives. It's not as difficult as it sounds Give it a try for a month. When I first eliminated all these additives, I slept soundly for seven straight hours on the second night. Other Names for MSG Monosodium glutamate Hydrolyzed "anything" Autolyzed "anything" Natural flavor/flavorings Caseinate (sodium or calcium) Carrageenan Yeast extract or nutrient Seasonings, Spice Gelatin Bouillon/Broth/Stock Commercial soup or sauce base Soy, wheat, whey protein Soy, fish, or bean sauces Malted barley flour Malt extract Corn byproducts: corn syrup, dextrose, cornstarch, citric acid Commercial processes used today to manufacture MSG weren't in use until the 1960s. There's nothing "natural" about the MSG in wide use today. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is another widely used excitotoxin. Keep in mind, though. It's almost impossible to avoid additives 100 percent. Sometimes we eat out, and don't know what's in the food. Some items, like deli foods, are wrapped on the spot, so you don't know what's in them. In those cases, if I've been good the rest of the day, I might experience some minor twitches toward morning. On occasions when I'm tempted by something really yummy, and I ignore the additive content, I can count on a really bad night. So, in summary, don't eat anything with excitotoxin additives, watch out for acidic fruits/foods, and don't ignore nature's call. It's not the easiest thing in the world, but it's a whole lot easier than lying awake night after night with your legs tormenting you. You do have to get creative, though. Most commercial salad dressing have excitotoxins in them, but it's very quick and easy to make your own dressing. You can find plenty of salad dressing recipes online or you can do what I do. In a little bowl I put some extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, a little sugar and maybe some anchovy past. Whisk it a little and it's ready to go. http://www.sleepnet.com/rls3/messages/189.html Posted by Bill Schreiner on September 22, 2000 at 07:04:00: I Cured Myself of RLS A few months ago my sister gave me a book she had finished reading which some guy claimed that the dietary needs of people depended on their blood type. I thought that was rubbish but I looked the book over mainly because I discovered that, according to the author, people with blood type A have insufficient stomach acid and therefore do not absorb vitamin B12 or folic acid very well. That convinced me that I should give the diet a try. Folic acid was helping the twitches and I came down with a mild peripheral neuropathy about three years ago and this can be due to a B12 deficiency. I decided to keep a log containing the foods I ate at each meal and whether each food was good, neutral, or bad for my blood type. Don't ask me why I did this but I'm glad I did for I suddenly noticed that the twitches disappeared when I ate the good foods and reappeared, sometime with a vengeance, when I ate the bad foods! Here's the bottom line: I haven't been on the diet long enough to know if ALL of the forbidden foods cause the twitches but I do know that if I eat foods of the nightshade family I get the twitches and BAD. The nightshade foods family includes tobacco (clue number one) , tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and rhubarb. Now I know why Dad and I got the twitches on the same nights, clue number two. It was because we were eating the SAME FOODS! And possibly because we were the same blood type, clue number three. I wish someone else would try this and let me know the results. And wouldn't it be interesting to learn the blood types of people with the twitches? Wouldn't it be interesting to learn that they are all type A? Or that they were eating foods contrary to their blood type? I now can be free of the twitches if I watch my diet and that's a minor hindrance considering the alternative. I am free and happy and I love it! Incidentally, I'm not connected with this book in any way but the name of it is EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR TYPE by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. Get one from you library and try it out. Regards, Bill Schreiner http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1064013#i Re: Restless Leg Syndrome Username: SGDora Date: 12/16/2007 11:44:03 AM If nothing else get rid of the wheat in your diet. I had so many problems when I was eating wheat. http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Treatment-for-Restless-Leg-Syndrome&id=334092 Natural Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome by Andrew Bicknell Platinum Quality Author One aspect of changing your lifestyle when it comes to the natural treatment of restless leg syndrome is elimination of things that seem to cause and worsen the effects of RLS. Caffeine intake needs to be cut or eliminated as well as all tobacco use. Reduction or elimination of any type of stimulant as well as alcoholic beverages will normally lead to a decrease or total cessation of RLS symptoms. http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/ related-conditions/restless-leg-syndrome-and-periodic-leg-movement Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Leg Movement by Jacob Teitelbaum M.D. Natural remedies for RLS focus on diet and nutritional supplementation. Avoiding caffeine is important. Because RLS may be associated with hypoglycemia, eating a sugar-free, high-protein diet with a protein snack at night may decrease episodes of cramping and RLS at night. http://www.accupunture.info/ear-acupuncture/ rls-any-effective-alrenative-treatment ganerd says: June 21, 2011 at 9:39 pm Yes. I have been diagnosed with RLS and PLM (over 600 per night). The RLS bothered me primarily getting to sleep. The neurologist put me on Neurontin and Clonazepam that almost killed me. I could not think clearly or work. I laid around in a fog. Since nerves are effected by the alignment of neck and back, a chiropractor can help. They helped me some. But by changing my diet, I am now free from all the poisonous prescription medications. My diet has little or no cane sugar, low in bad fats (saturated, hydrogenated, no fried foods!) high in good fats (omega 3 and 6). I also take a multivitamin and add B-Complex, zinc and Magnesium which are known to help soothe nerves. I have a herbal combination for sleep that I mix and fill my own capsules of Passionflower, Celery seed, 5-HTTP, lemon balm, catnip and Valerian. Hope this helps, http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/natural-health/ alternative-clinic/conditions-treatments/restless-legs-syndrome Alternative Treatments for Restless Legs Syndrome Date updated: August 15, 2007 James Keough Anyone with RLS should also limit alcohol intake, quit smoking and eliminate sugar, caffeine and refined foods from her diet. A small Dutch study, published in December 2006 in the Dutch journal Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, even found a connection between saccharine and RLS. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=732709 01-25-2011, 11:36 AM Kemahsabe Cool RLS and Diet Soda I've had a relatively mild case of RLS for many years. It would typically reach full strength about an hour after going to bed, although I could often feel it coming on long before. At that point I would get up, stretch and exercise my legs then go back to bed and it would be gone. It did no good to exercise before the attack was fully developed. What mystified me was that it would strike every night for months, then it would be gone for months! Why?? I couldn't explain it. Then something happened that made me suspect diet soda. I drink it in the summer but not in the winter, which would explain the on and off pattern. In the middle of an 'off' period I went to a Pirate Party and drank several rum and diet cokes. I had RL for the next two nights. I wondered about a possible connection so a few days later I drank a Coke Zero and had RL that night. I repeated the experiment several times and every time I drank Coke Zero I got RL. This is just me, but maybe it will help someone else the same way. I plan to continue experimenting with other diet sodas and will post my results. David http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=8184 Stanley PostPosted: September 28 2002 Post subject: SUGAR & RLS Throughout my life there has seemed a large corelation between night, or evening, consumption of sugar and a RLS event. Even a cookie or a soda could set it off. Has anyone else noticed this? http://www.embarrassingproblems.com/problem/restless-legs Posted by Optional on 22/03/2011 at 03:07:15 am Salt I find (but don't know if it is related) if I have a lot of salt, I get it more often, so I try to reduce my salt intake. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=667054 01-30-2011, 12:44 PM Ennis My RLS is 100% cured after 10 years of suffering! I want to spread the word! I suffered from RLS for 10 years! I was lucky to sleep 1/2 hour at a time before I would have to get up and walk around. I never slept a complete night in bed. I usually ended up in a chair. I also took requip at night to help with the pain which did help but did not relieve the RLS entirely. I recently had a friend who also suffered from RLS email me to tell me that she tried a gluten-free diet and it cured her. I was skeptical but figured I might as well try. After trying the gluten-free diet, I was pain free the first night! I now no longer take requip and have been pain free for almost a month! I am absolutely amazed! If I slip and have glutens, my legs will hurt that night. I have to say though that I have a friend who has celiac disease and RLS. The gluten-free diet helped the celiac disease but not the RLS. I don't know if the gluten-free diet will work for everyone but it sure is worth a try! http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=395933 05-29-2006, 11:58 AM mariezee2000 Atkins Diet and RLS Restless leg syndromeRestless leg syndrome has been in my life for quite a while. About two months ago I went on the Atkins, low carb diet. To my amazement my restless leg syndrome disappeared. A week ago I went off the Atkin diet and low and behold last night the restless leg syndrome was back again as bad as it had ever been. Has anyone else experienced this? http://www.medicinenet.com/restless_leg_syndrome/page2.htm What is the treatment for restless leg syndrome? Reduction or elimination of caffeine and alcohol can be very helpful. Stopping smoking can also diminish symptoms. Getting better sleep and exercise can help some persons affected by restless legs. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=395933 05-30-2006, 12:41 PM ggd Re: Atkins Diet and RLS The same thing happened to my husband. After a lot of research, he stopped taking anything with gluten. I don't think it is the carbs so much, but definitley the gluten. Try eleiminating gluten and see what happens. Sure worked for us. Glenda http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=203353 08-30-2004, 12:58 AM BatesMillr Thumbs up still going well... It's been over a month now since I took the neurologist's advice and gave up my daily cappuccino. Now, I only get RLS WHEN I cheat and have a Starbucks. If some of you are holding out and still drinking coffee, I'd give it a try. Just stop for a week. It's unbelievable to be able to sleep again : ) I'm fine with a cup of tea in the morning - no problems. Good luck, all..... http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=190991 07-18-2004, 01:00 AM BatesMillr Is this really the end of RLS? Saw a neurologistneurologist 11 days ago. Before starting any medication, he asked me to give up caffeine (except for my morning tea) for a month. I often stopped at Starbucks for a cappucino around 3pm daily. He said that Starbucks has double the caffeine of most other coffees. On my own, I also decided to add 800 mg of magnesium to my daily vitamins. I've had NO RLS since. I feel it's too early to say I'm cured. But this is really blowing my mind. Mostly because I had stopped coffee before but the longest I went without it was 4 days and I continued to have problems during that time so I ruled it out as the cause. Now, I feel like an idiot. I've suffered for 2 1/2 years and maybe I didn't have to. I'll keep you folks posted if things continue in this direction. Any coffee drinkers out there? Or am I the only fool ; ) Oh......I still go to Starbucks. I just make it decaf! http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=24347 Sleepingsam Location: Northern New Jersey PostPosted: August 21 2011 Post subject: Diet soda and RLS One of my Dr.s heard from a patient that not drinking diet soda 6 hours before bedtime helps relieve RLS symptoms. Has anyone heard this. Has anyone heard of any research? Anyone have similar experiences? Any thoughts? Crandall Location: USA PostPosted: August 29 2011 Although I don't have RLS, I have had similar experiences when it comes to getting quality sleep. I've found there's something about diet soda, most especially the ones darker in colour, that make me more jittery than other sources of caffeine. Crandall http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=88346 12-15-2002, 05:36 PM imtwitchin My All-time Number-One suggestion for RLS A few weeks ago, I swore off caffeine. I have been a pretty big coffee drinker all my life, and I knew it would not be easy. I did not go cold turkey. Instead of 2 or 3 morning mugs and 1 or 2 in early afternoon, I went to 2 mugs of half-caff in the morning, period. I am now ready to go totally caffeine free. But the effect is remarkable. My RLS is the least troublesome it has ever been. I almost feel as if it has gone away. If you drink coffee, tea or cola and don't try anything else for RLS, try this. Give it a couple of weeks--it takes some time for the system to clear. Good luck! http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=7028 bart Location: Colorado PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2011 2:07 am Post subject: Could The Culprit Be Chocolate? There is a stimulant that can kill dogs and horses by causing epileptic seizures. Kinda sounds like RLS doesn't it? Unfortunately, we all consume that stimulant, because the main source for it is chocolate. The stimulant is called theobromine. Google it and you will find all you need to know. I love chocolate, but have learned to consume it in moderation, and never late in the day. Wouldn't it be a great way to start the new year if tomorrow you do not have chocolate in any form, and tomorrow night you sleep like a baby? It isn't hard to find out, theobromine only stays in your system about twelve hours. Bart http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6861 Cara Location: Michigan PostPosted: Mon Aug 17, 2011 6:16 am Post subject: Diet change I've been suffering from RLS for over twenty years. I've tried several medications and they would work for a few weeks or even a few months and then they would just stop working. One thing I noticed was that when I had my worst attacks, I could think back on that day and remember eating something that was high in sodium, like potato chips. So I started experimenting with my diet. I cut out all caffeine, including chocolate, and cut off any food with sodium eight hours before I went to bed. I also cut out dairy products. I am very strict with this diet. Zero tolerance so to speak. I also have my largest meal by 3pm, because that would be the meal that would be the highest in sodium. Before I go to bed I take: 450mg Cayenne 27mg Iron 1 Multi Vitamin 2000mg Omega 3 1000mg Garlic with Parsley 1000mg Calcium Magnesium with D I've noticed that if I follow the diet but neglect to take the supplements, or visa verse, I will have a mild attack of RLS that night. But if I stick to the diet and take the supplements, I don't have an attack. I've been following the regime now for four months and, so far, it has worked for me. But I can't stress enough how strict you have to be with the diet. It was hard to give up chocolate completely, but I had to make up my mind that if I wanted to sleep that night, I just can't have it. If you try this, I truly hope it works for you. And I'm also hoping it continues to work for me since I've thought I've beaten this before only to have the RLS start up again. But this is the longest I've gone with a solution. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6329 jojojojo Location: UK PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2011 7:23 am Post subject: sugar is not always sweet ... hey I did an experiment earlier, and i noticed that if i cut as much sugar out of my diet as possible, the restless legs eases considerably. I had a bit of a sugar fest yesterday, and worried that i would be 'dancing' all night, I had some cinnamon tea. (cherry and cinnamon). Cinnamon regulates the blood sugar, and I did NOT have restless legs AT ALL!!!! I also have been having valerian tea as well before i go to sleep which helps. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6136 warnoldt Location: Plano, TX PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2011 7:20 pm Post subject: MSG I am a new member and joined because I wanted to share the information about my experience with MSG. I have been a lifetime sufferer of RLS and a worldwide traveler in my occupation so it has been miserable on planes for up to 18 hours at a time with no where to get relief aside from walking the aisles. My wife wanted to try to find something to give me relief before there was anyone really recognizing that RLS was a real medical problem and she began eliminating things in my diet until she stopped everything with MSG and that stopped my RLS. I won't say it will work for anyone else, but if helps someone this posting is worth it. W. Arnold Taylor http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5016 lambchop PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:05 am Post subject: Aspartame- The culprit (for me, so far) I've suffered from RLS since childhood. I'm in my mid-40's now and was suffering from symptoms every night, staying awake till 2 or 3 am. Mentally and physically exhausted, but the legs just want to keep on moving... I've been delaying trying Requip simply because I have really horrible health insurance. I came across an Internet blurb that associated RLS with Aspartame. I'm a big fan of diet sodas, but the thought of being able to sit through an entire movie at the theater was enough to convince me to try and go with out aspartame for a few weeks to see if it helped. The results were dramatic. After 48 hours without ingesting aspartame, I was sleeping through the night NO RLS!!! I couldn't believe it!! I'm still amazed that I suffered all those years and the answer was so simple... Splenda and stevia seem to not trigger RLS. Unfortunatly, the majority of diet sodas use aspartame. I've found a few that don't. Pepsi One uses Splenda and another smaller label "Waist Watchers" has a Fresca type soda, an orange soda and a cola with no caffeine or aspartame. Propel Fitness drink also has no aspartame. It's only been two weeks since my "no aspartame" experiment started, but so far so good. Fingers crossed.Instead of looking through the entire list of beverage ingredients, I just look for the warning under the ingredient list "contains phenylaline (sp?) the warning means aspartame. I realize this is probably not the answer for everyone, but give it a try -it can't hurt. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5443 mesolo Location: Chicago, IL PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject: Cream of Wheat or Farina I just have to share this with everybody, it worked for me and possibly you too! For quite some time my legs have been hurting and it seems like the last few years they have gotten worse. I didn't know what the problem was until I started seeing commercials for RLS. However, I didn't want to go to a doctor, I wanted my legs cured, not treated. Plus, I don't have insurance and not that much money. So I first Googled what the cause was attributed to, Diabetes, Anemia, Iron Deficiency, etc. I narrowed it down to Iron Idea because I didn't think I was getting enough Iron in my food. Googled Foods Rich in Iron, http://www.bloodbook.com/ iron-foods.html Came up with this: Some Good Sources Foods Rich in Iron* (Dietary Iron) are: List of Grains Rich in Iron: Iron (mg.) Brown rice, 1 cup cooked 0.8 Whole wheat bread, 1 slice 0.9 Wheat germ, 2 tablespoons 1.1 English Muffin, 1 plain 1.4 Oatmeal, 1 cup cooked 1.6 Total cereal, 1 ounce 18.0 Cream of Wheat, 1 cup 10.0 Pita, whole wheat, 1 slice/piece, 6 1/2 inch 1.9 Spaghetti, enriched, 1 cup, cooked 2.0 Raisin bran cereal, 1 cup 6.3 Took Cream of Wheat (because I liked it better than Total) and almost instantaneously my legs felt better! However, I don't want any of you to think I just took it once and that was it. I've been taking it now for almost two weeks, once in the morning and once at night and my legs feel great. I still can't believe such a simple thing as adding more Iron to my diet would help, but it did. Now I want to tell everyone about my amazing discovery. Hope this works for you the way it did for me!!! http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5319 VinnyButch Location: New Jersey PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: Has anyone else noticed...? What I have noticed is that when I stick to a healthy diet, my RLS symptoms seem to flare up much less frequently than when I eat junk foods, especially sugary snacks shortly before bedtime. If I have a sweet donut or two at night, I'm done. It will be hours before I can get to sleep. I assume that's the amount of time it takes for my body to process the sugar. Any sort of sweet food will do it to me. Last night I finally fell asleep as the sun started to rise. I didn't know whether to give sleep one more chance or just hop in the shower and start the day. Has anyone else noticed a correlation between sugar and RLS? http://www.forumromanum.de Anni Bergman 24 Jan. 2011 17:13 RE: Our diet and the Restless Legs Syndrome I noticed that I react very strongly to sugar. If I eat fruit or sweets in the evening my legs become restless. Sometimes it is so bad that I can no longer remain seated. My sister also has RLS and has the same problem. Maybe this info will help someone. Anni http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=4994 KBear Location: Wisconsin USA PostPosted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject: What's working for me Just a little over a month ago I was in RLS hell. After 6 straight nights of almost no sleep I called my doctor for an Ambien prescription which she grudgingly filled. She wanted to give me Requip and I practically screamed "no way!" After my previous experience with the dopamine agonist class of drugs I will never take them again. Once I got a couple nights of sleep on Ambien I started the more difficult process of trying to fix the imbalances that lead to this recent spiral. I eliminated caffiene and started taking vitamin/mineral/aminao acid supplements. I also revamped my diet to include only "whole foods" fruits, veggies, raw nuts, some dairy, whole grain bread, lean meats, eggs, and lots of filtered water. No processed foods, white flour, sugar, etc. As a moderate drinker I have also cut back to being a "light" drinker. I also take epsom salt baths a couple nights per week and lotion my feet every night before bed. I am pleased to say that my RLS symptoms have subsided and I am sleeping well on most nights. I have suffered with RLS for most of my life I remember having it as a child and I have family members with RLS too. I have also experienced RLS on long car rides, airline flights, and at the movie theater. I never paid too much attention to what made it come and go but I am now convinced that a healthy lifestyle, diet, and supplements, can make a real difference. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3855 mdguy Location: MARYLAND PostPosted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject: Worth Checking I had restless leg sydrome since I was a child and I am now 48. It would occur at night, on a plane, in the movie theater, anywhere. Last year I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease which is an allergy to wheat or gluten. Within a month of not eating gluten my restless leg sydrome stopped. It can happen again if I inadvertantly eat some gluten. A gluten allergy effects the nervous system which I believe was causing the restless leg syndrome in me. Before not eating gluten I tried everything but nothing worked. I was only getting about 4 hours of sleep a night. Celiac disease occurs in one out of 135 people and the vast majority don't know they have it. It also causes eczema, tiredness, poor memory, and a many other symtoms. Please see if you have celiac disease as is a simple blood test. I encourage everyone to be checked for this allergy it may solve your restless leg too. MDGUY http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3834 Critter Location: Montana PostPosted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:14 am Post subject: Sugar Connection Hi Folks, like many of you I have been living with this for many years and am always looking for an answer!!! Someday!! I was wondering if anyone else notices increased rls symptoms after eating sugar? Seems to me it causes episodes to happen. Maybe just in me. Thanks, Chris http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3834 Location: Illinois PostPosted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:27 am Post subject: re: Sugar Connection I do, Chris. When I gorge on sweets, my legs go nuts. As a result, I don't eat nearly as much, which is good all the way around. Jan http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3238 ELIZABETHCRAY PostPosted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject: Finally Got Relief from Severe Symptoms - No Meds The augmentation that I experienced from levadopa/carbidopa made me desperate to get rid of meds and find another solution. I was getting absolutely no sleep for 3-days running and was even having symptoms at midday if I tried to nap. I did several things and will list them all, since I cannot pinpoint what actually "cured" the problem for good. First, I cut out aspartame. That did not help, but I read about the related excitotoxin, glutamate (glutamic acid), commonly known as MSG, which is found in many foods under many (at least 24) different names. In other words, the food industry hides it by deceptive food labeling, but we have doubled our consumption of it ever decade for the last 60+ years. It is a food-additive that is only used for taste-enhancement because it sells product. It is usually made from grain and can come under "natural flavors." It is difficult, but I cut this out of my diet. See www.msgmyth.com if you want to try this. It took about 2 months of a very restricted diet, and using anti-inflammatory supplements and anti-oxidants to rid my body of it enough to make a difference. Other things that I used or did: since I am a vegetarian, I added fish to my diet, and stopped using soy products. Took: melatonin, L-tyrosine, magnesium, multiple vitamins B1, B6 etc The main thing seems to be eliminating the neurotransmitter/excito-toxins found in foods, because every time I let one sneak into my diet, the symptoms come back. I recommend that you read anything by Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon. You will get a lot of information about the brain and toxins. There are many websites and some books -- one is Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills. He writes a monthly wellness letter that I have found to be very, very valuable. Fibro-myalgia and other "new" and unexplained disorders are problems that also probably have come about because we are all eating more processed foods and getting more taste-enhanced products. MSG. Glutamic Acid. Free glutamate. Under any name, it makes everything taste better -- tantalizes the taste buds. Last night I got it from the ingredients in a caesar salad dressing packet that came with romaine lettuce and/or from the seasoned croutons. We all eat foods that have glutamate, but it is bound up in larger molecules in whole grains. When the grains are processed with heat, acid, water, etc the molecules are broken down into glutamic acid, a neuro-transmitter. This neuro-transmitter goes into the bloodstream in much higher concentrations from processed foods than it does from the whole grains which your body must first digest before it can convert to glutamic acid. The neuro-transmitter (glutamic acid) gets into the brain where it is normally used to stimulate the neurons, but if the neurons get too much of this, they overstimulate and destruct, and we start twitching with nerve spasms. Every time I get lax and do not read labels, I do not sleep. It has been 100 percent predictable. I no longer say that I cannot pinpoint exactly what caused the remission. It is definitely because I eliminated all of the free glutamates from my diet. Another one is L-cysteine. The worst is aspartame (nutrasweet). These neurotransmitters work synergistically together. I cannnot stress enough that you need to read the book by Russell Blaylock. Then, go to the website www.msgmyth.com. You can order a book there about how to make salad dressings, etc. from scratch. You can read the 24+ ingredients on food labels that indicate that glutamic acid is present or likely to be present. Almost any packaged food -- in a box, jar, bottle, or such has got it and it will be listed as malto-dextrin, autolyzed yeast, or about 24 other names. Anyone who has ever had their blood-brain barrier compromised from high fever, meningitis, trauma to the head, oxygen deprivation during surgery, and various other causes may be vulnerable -- and the genetic predisposition and age are also a factor. We already know that iron deficiency is another cause that seems to be related to dopamine production, etc. It definitely has to do with the brain's ability to maintain a precise balance of minerals, neuro-transmitters, etc. I have finally found out what causes my RLS problem, and I hope that the rest of you find out that yours is the same cause. It is entirely possible to get rid of this by diet alone. You just have to cook like you were living in 1940 instead of 2006 and stay out of restaurants. Elizabeth R. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=3106 frank Location: Dallas, Texas PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: Salt intake Hi folks. Has anyone found that taking in to many salts cause a restless night ? I've had this RLS for years now and have been able to pin point that eating to much salt causes a very restless night. When I have a bad night I have to get out of bed and do 50 deep knee bends at the side of my bed. This seems to work for me. But all I have to do is eat a small bag of potatoe chips during the day and I can promise that I'll be having problems that night. I've tried meds and they just give me weird dreams.(Requip, Mirapex etc.) http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1295 caviator PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:14 am Post subject: aspartame again Hi all, Thank you for this discussion board. I know that aspartame has come up in several posts, but I wanted to tell you about my experience. I've had RLS symptoms as long as I can remember, but they started getting worse a few years ago. (I'm now 32). About one year ago, they got way out of control and crept into the middle of the day. A twitch started in my left arm that got out of control, too. I went to the doc and he had me try Sinemet first. No good. Had the augmentation that so many have described. So, he had me try Requip next. I didn't like the side effects of that either, and they started right away. I was having very shallow sleep and getting up several times a night. The legs weren't bothering me, but what does it matter if I can't sleep? The doc asked me to recount everything that had changed in the last year. I started exercising more regularly, and eating better. I lost weight because of that. And I started drinking diet soda. There it was. Shocked I don't think there is any solid connection that has been clinically proven, but several people have said that taking aspartame coincides with worse RLS symptoms. Add me to that list! I stopped taking anything with Aspartame (that I know of) about two weeks ago. I've already had a drastic improvement. I still twitch a little while trying to get to sleep, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was even two weeks ago. Everything feels less tense, less twitchy, and so on. Anecdotal evidence? You bet. Will I ever drink diet soda again? Never. While I'm here, I'd also like to share two things that always help me. Swimming and sitting in a sauna. Even better: both in the same day. My legs are never as still and calm as they are after 15 minutes in a hot sauna, especially in the evening. Thanks again for this resource, and get some sleep everyone! Smile RF http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1295 Heronak Location: Juneau, Alaska PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject: Aspertame I've had the same experience with aspertame worsening my daytime RLS. I never have used it much, but some days I'll have a diet coke in the afternoon to stay awake. Bad news, symptoms will start almost immediately. Sometimes even gum with aspertame will trigger symptoms. Ahh, but if only that were the only trigger, life would be so much better! Best, Heron http://www.wemove.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/11/880.html posted December 05, 2011 06:46 AM CHRIS74 Hello everyone. After suffering with RLS I found that reflexology has been a great help. On your thumbs the fleshy bit opposite side to your nail is to do with pituitary gland ,this regulates your hormones and what I do is get a pen and press it against my thumb moving it up and down the fleshy bit and after a couple of moments I can feel the sensation stopping in my legs. Also I have found red wine and chocolate seems to make it worse. Hope it helps. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=440459 10-25-2006, 04:59 AM shenil one year without rls(touch wood) I had been a patient of rls for the last five years. The three years before the relief were horrible as nothing worked .Doctors put me to sinemet (sindopa) a horrible addictive and a dangerous medicine to otherwise healthy persons. After trying everything else from homeopathy to herbs and all kinds of quackery I tried yoga as a last resort. And what a miracle. Before anybody jumps to conclusion I want to make it clear that after exhaustive study of this problem I know as much as you know that rls is a very complex problem and the causes are varying and equally complex. So what worked for me may not work for others. I started doing yoga from July 2005.Basically the exercises are VERY simple deep breathing postures. Any body can do them .I started with a 45 minute regime and within a week the pains subsided. The quality of sleep took a long time to improve but it has definitely worked .Please consult a yoga teacher or gets a simple yoga book. I have analyzed these results for one full year before reaching a conclusion. Even now when due to some reasons I can't do yoga for more than a week I can very clearly feel tingling in the legs crawling back. I know it is old Mr.rls knocking back. http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=781566 Subject: Restless Legs - gone! Username: #70007 Date: 11/28/2006 10:13:09 AM Hello All of you wonderful people! I am missing everyone and want to get on and spend some time with you - but the schedule won't let me right now. I just had to post though that last night I realized that I have not needed to take any magnesium for probably a month now for my restless legs! I am praising God because the uncomfortable tingling that I was accustomed to having every night for years now - has gone! I am sure that it is a direct effect of the oil pulling! Thank you all for sharing your oil pulling experiences and making me believe enough to try for myself. Oil is good!...take care....c http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/restless-leg-syndrome-natural-treatment Restless Leg Syndrome Natural Treatment: Home and Herbal RLS Remedies Mar 15, 2011 Cindy Ausbrooks Herbs are widely used to treat restless leg syndrome and the most effective are those that promote relaxation and restful sleep. Some of the best herbs for RLS include: * Kava - Relaxes skeletal muscles and sedates the nervous system. Take 60 to 120 milligrams per day for the best results. * Passionflower - Relaxes the muscles and induces sleep. Take 1 cup of passionflower tea two hours before bedtime. * Valerian - Sedates, relaxes and induces restful sleep. Take 50 to 100 milligrams one hour before bedtime on an empty stomach. Many herbs, home remedies and natural treatments for restless leg syndrome may be used in conjunction with prescription medications, but patients should always consult a qualified medical practitioner before taking any new herb, particularly if the individual is currently taking prescription drugs. http://www.accupunture.info/ear-acupuncture/ rls-any-effective-alrenative-treatment Ohio Healer says: June 21, 2011 at 9:39 pm Aromatherapy can also help; and the blend below won't interfere with any of the meds you take, acupuncture, or homeopathy. Put 3 drops lavender and 4 drops roman chamomile in one ounce of unscented massage oil or natural cooking oil. Use on the bottom of each foot one hour before bedtime. http://www.ehow.co.uk/way_5286530_natural-cure-restless-legs.html Natural Cure for Restless Legs By Christa Miller Chiropractic Care Chiropractor Donald Free wrote an article in "The American Chiropractor" (Volume 30, Issue 8) connecting RLS to spinal misalignment and sciatic nerve compression. He mentioned a study that performed specific spinal manipulation, electrical micro-current therapy and combined them with proper corrective exercises. This treatment helped to reduce sciatic nerve pressure and relieve RLS symptoms for many patients. If you are interested in using this method, interview chiropractors in your area to see if you can find one that specializes in treating RLS symptoms. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586937 Pneumatic Compression Devices Are an Effective Therapy for Restless Legs Syndrome Christopher J. Lettieri, MD, FCCP; Arn H. Eliasson, MD, FCCP Posted: 02/13/2011; CHEST. 2011;135(1):74-80. 2011 American College of Chest Physicians Background: Pharmacotherapy for restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be ineffective or complicated by side effects. Uncontrolled series using pneumatic compression devices (PCDs) have been shown to reduce symptoms of RLS. We sought to assess the efficacy of PCDs as a nonpharmacologic treatment for RLS. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial of individuals with RLS. Subjects wore a therapeutic or sham device prior to the usual onset of symptoms for a minimum of 1 h daily. Measures of severity of illness, quality of life, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue were compared at baseline and after 1 month of therapy. Results: Thirty-five subjects were enrolled. Groups were similar at baseline. Therapeutic PCDs significantly improved all measured variables more than shams. Restless Legs Severity Score improved from 14.1 +/- 3.9 to 8.4 +/- 3.4 (p = 0.006) and Johns Hopkins Restless Legs Scale improved from 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 1.2 +/- 0.7 (p = 0.01). All quality of life domains improved more with therapeutic than sham devices (social function 14% vs 1%, respectively; p = 0.03; daytime function 21% vs 6%, respectively, p = 0.02; sleep quality 16% vs 8%, respectively, p = 0.05; emotional well-being 17% vs 10%, respectively, p = 0.15). Both Epworth sleepiness scale (6.5 +/- 4.0 vs 11.3 +/- 3.9, respectively, p = 0.04) and fatigue (4.1 +/- 2.1 vs 6.9 +/- 2.0, respectively, p = 0.01) improved more with therapeutic devices than sham devices. Complete relief occurred in one third of subjects using therapeutic and in no subjects using sham devices. Conclusion: PCDs resulted in clinically significant improvements in symptoms of RLS in comparison to the use of sham devices and may be an effective adjunctive or alternative therapy for RLS. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00479531 http://www.forumromanum.de 08 Feb. 2011 17:03 With Reiki RLS outwitted and then slept! Heinun Dear fellow-sufferers, I have the Reiki II level and the ability to treat myself with Reiki. Most nights there is no twitching in the legs. Yesterday, however, I sinned again and it promptly went off again. I tried Reiki again and it worked, the twitching was gone. I was relieved and would like to pass on the experience. tiggerlover http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=8142 PostPosted: July 29 2001 Post subject: Magnet Therapy for RLS After taking three xanax per night for three years, I finally yielded to my husband's urging to try magnet therapy for my RLS leg pain. I tried it and it seems to help. Has anyone else used magnets for pain? I would like to know. Please let me know. Thanks. lightbr PostPosted: July 29 2001 Post subject: re: Magnet Therapy for RLS I have used magnets for pain in many areas and I have found them very helpful. Glad they are helping you http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6956 Mary McFadden Location: Mississauga, Canada PostPosted: Sun Oct 11, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: Relief, at last! I have had rls for over 10 years! The last year it began to reach the point where I could not stand it. I had it night and day, and little or no sleep, being in the arms as well as the legs with very strong seizures My doctors told me there was nothing they could do and after trying many drugs over the years and ending up not being able to get out of bed nor climb stairs, with the help of my daughter I started calling Naturopathic clinics. The first call I asked if they were familiar with rls. The answer was "Yes, first handed" and I don't have it anymore. I went for a free consultation and right the next day I started on a cleansing, and many vitiamins pills. In two weeks I noticed a difference and my next blood cell analysis showed a great difference. I am still finishing off the treatment which I hope will be done on the 27th of October. At this point I have no rls, I am sleeping and feel like a new person so will not be back to this site, and I wish everyone good luck, and that you can find a way! Mary McFadden http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=54 Thiasearching PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject: Anyone else us Epsom Salts in their bath? I find there is a BIG difference when I use Epsom Salt in a hot bath as when I don't. Being that it is a Magnesium salt (isn't it?), I wonder if somehow my legs are absorbing it, which balances things out. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1576 PostPosted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:46 am Post subject: reiki treatments have worked for me! I have had several reiki treatments and my restless legs are restless no more! Very Happy It's amazing. I have level two reiki now myself and use it for any number of ailments. As the energy passes through my body it leaves through my feet. All I have to do is place one foot against the calf of my other leg and just wait for the heat to be generated. Reike actually finds the places on your body that need the energy but direct heat (from hands or feet) feels really good on any sore spot. Reiki workshops are widely available and I would encourage anyone to look into this type of therapeutic touch therapy. My medical doctor is a tad sceptical, but there are many docs who wholeheartedly embrace it in their practices. And afterall, it's my legs that were jumping around, not hers!! http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1576 re: Reiki Dear Ruby, It is frustrating that alternative methods are few and far between in the midwest! My weekly massage is helpful, yet I know with someone more experienced it could be much better! Reiki is the transference of the universal life energy (Ki or light energy) through an attuned Reiki practitioner to a person needing to regain health or well being. Reiki brings balance to the human system, clears un-healthful emotions, and restores the natural flow of energy that is essential to health and healing. In a session the practicioner never touches your body. My experience 10 years ago was just a couple *friend* sessions she was a level 2 practioner at the time and were truly relaxing and refreshing. The massage therapist I went to who has since moved, returned from a conference in which Reiki was discussed and asked if I would mind a session with her. It was nothing special. Yet she was not a trained practitioner either! In my search for balance and relief, I am open to considering merging western and eastern therapies. Excited, this weekend I will spend some time with the student of accupuncture! Hoping he has had some input from his teachers and to have some good discussions! I'll keep you posted! Hazel http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=1630 Lashc PostPosted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject: Accupuncture worked for me I have had some form of RLS for at least 30 years. My only remedy was Hot baths and showers. 12 months ago the frequency and severity increased so Nine months ago I started Mirapex and four months later I switched to Requip. Both medications while giving evening relief, intensified the RLS and required me to take the medication earlier in the PM. In addition RLS was occuring during the day time so napping was not possible. Plus riding in a car for any lenght of time generally brought on my RLS. I tried three weekly treatments of accupuncture for RLS. I then went cold turkey off all medications after the third treatment and now go only once a month. I also abstain from any alcholic beverages. So far I have been RLS free for three months. I would recommend it. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=6748 bryan3 PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2011 8:12 pm Post subject: Essential Oil use I have noticed my RLS for the last 5 years or so. About 2 years ago it was getting horrific and I wasnt getting to sleep until the early hours of the morning. I was desperate to sleep. I went to the doctor and in a matter of minutes I was given Mirapex or some other similar drug - all I had to do was read the leaflet and realize that I didn't want to take it - as bad as not sleeping was -- I didnt want some of those side effects. I was given the opportunity to use essential oils as a treatment for them. The big highlights for me was their effectiveness. I took two oils, rubbed them on my legs, and that night I slept without any problem! I applied them once right before I went to bed and my legs caused me no more problems for sleeping. The symptoms would return sometimes as I would relax in the evenings (watching a movie, etc.) but I was able to sleep! I was so gratefull that I had not given the perscription handout and actually looked at what they could do to me. There is a lot of debate about essential oils and their place in health and wellness. There are extremes on both sides with their scientific evidence about them being either good or bad. But both of them all do say one thing in common -- more research is needed to be able to definitivley make statements about their efficacy in health care. As for me -- I have done quite a bit of research on the topic and it is important to know what you are getting into. If you get the wrong oil and use it in the wrong way it could potentially (in very few instances) cause harm (just like any other drug). For those who are interested in learning more about essential oils and their use just google it or find a trusted source for information. I am not promoting any specific brand or type of oil -- all I know is that you need to be careful. I would not necessarily go cheap - many people say that their product is %100 oil but is actually diluted (which can harm effectiveness of the oil). I took a few drops of basil and heylacrism oil and added them to a base oil, then stroked them up my legs (bottom to top). I used this every night for 2 or 3 months and in that time my symptoms were gone! Now I am sure this is not a miracle cure. If it was I am sure it would have already been out before I did it. All I know is that it worked for me. Like I said it has been a few years now and the symptoms are starting to come back a little bit -- I just bust the oils out and they are gone. Take it for what it is worth. Dont be a passive consumer in your health. Study it out for yourself and I hope you can find the success I have. http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=319 Submitted by Bernie West at 2011-02-04 15:07:51 from 69.150.167.100 I drink tonic water, with quinine when my legs start to bother me. It works for me. http://www.sleepnet.com/rls2/messages/669.html Posted by Joel on June 09, 2000 at 01:09:42: For those who wanted to know, tonic water contains approcimately 27 milligrams of quinine per eight ounces. I am a chemist and actually verified this by experiment back in college. Hope that helps! http://www.sleepnet.com/rls2/messages/191.html Posted by Natasha on October 25, 1999 at 08:06:46: I have taken Quinine off and on for about ten years for my RLS. It seems to help some, but after a few months, your body becomes used to it, and the benefits of it end. At that time, I quit taking it for awhile, then start back up again. Give it a try, and hang in there. From a fellow RLS and PLMS sufferer. http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=412513 07-24-2006, 02:13 AM You might try this for RLS While shopping in the grocery store an elderly woman asked if I could reach the Tonic water for her (in the soda section). She then told me that she drinks 8oz every night before bed for her RLS...well...my husband, mother in law and friend all suffer from this....they then all started drinking the Tonic water before bed (there is diet also)...and neither has suffered ever since...it was a miracle, and has been going on almost a year...my husband is grateful...no more jumping up in the middle of the night...he mixes his with OJ. What could it hurt to give it a try....good luck. Cactus http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=461999 04-02-2007, 05:09 PM 1850Goth Re: RLS Help Needed SOS !! I swear by tonic water! I've been suffering with RLS since I was a teen. Am 48 now and, about 10 or so years ago my mother-in-law suggested quinine. And, every time that awful sensation comes over my legs, I drink a small bottle of tonic water and within minutes I am fine. A real life-saverlife-saver. And marriage-saver, too, since my spasms used to keep my husband awake as well. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5187 musiclover PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject: Tonic Water My doctor suggested two 8 oz. glasses of tonic water - one right after dinner and one before going to bed. He said the amount of quinine in a glass is about 75% of the amount in quinine tablets. Since quinine tablets are quite expensive (I believe he said $100 a month or more) this is a good cheap way to go. It does help me a lot - and in the afternoon if I'm having a problem I drink a glass and it stops the symptoms. I usually have a glass with a piece of fresh lime, or lately I've been mixing it with cranberry juice. Quite tastey! Also, doc said diet tonic works just as well as regular and it has for me. It is worth a try if you haven't yet. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5187 hammie PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject: tonic water I've found that using tonic water right before going to bed or if I have forgotten to take some - that during an episode of rls; that i just head to the fridge and take a big mouthful of tonic water with quinine in it, helps me a ton and within several minutes of taking some that my legs start to settle down and then I start to fall asleep. Don't know if this will help anyone else but since I have been using tonic water for more then 4 years now i know for a fact that in my life it has made a big difference and works for myself. At the very least you can buy a bottle and keep it in the fridge and give it a shot and you will spend less then $2.00 and tonic water lasts along time after opening. Hope this helps some people out and goodluck ps. please excuse grammer and spelling http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=5096 joetwild PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:22 pm Post subject: My wife swears by this Whenever she has symptoms she drinks 2-4 oz. of tonic water, (contains quinine). That's it. Within 10 minutes, symptoms vanish. Hope this is helpful to others. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=7032 NatWest PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2011 10:22 pm Post subject: Aluminum connection to RLS I recently found relief from my RLS symptoms when I eliminated aluminum. I discovered when I had a recent stomach ailment, and was taking Mylanta, that my rls symptoms became very severe. I read the ingredient label and saw that Mylanta was made from aluminum. I immediately stopped taking it, I also switched to a natural deodorant from an anti-perspirant that contained aluminum, and stopped lining my baking sheets with aluminum foil. Within about 3-4 days my symptoms became 99% better (in my mind I still think I have it, that's the 1%). I read that apple pectin can help to detox aluminum from your body, so I ate apples, and also drank lots of water during those 3-4 days. I'd been taking Requip for about 18 months, with little success. It seemed to worsen my symptoms, yet when I'd try to cut back, they would get even worse. Since I've cut out the aluminum I'm virtually symptom free. This is a recent occurence, I'm in my 5th week of no symptoms, so I'm holding off saying I'm over it, but if it continues like this for a few more weeks, I will consider myself cured. I'd like to know if anyone else has had this experience, or, if you decide to try it, I'd like to know if it works for you. http://bb.rls.org/viewtopic.php?t=7094> PostPosted: Sat Mar 06, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject: update regarding a specific cause of RLS symptoms This is an update to a post I made in early January. I want to share my experience because I truly believe it may help some of you who are suffering. I've suffered from RLS for at least 20 years. My symptoms over the last couple of years had been quite severe. I would even describe them as violent at times, making me feel helpless, desperate, and frustrated, and feeling sick in the mornings, both from fatigue and from side-effects from taking too much Requip. During most of 2011, the Requip was actually causing symptoms: as soon as I took them, the RLS would start, and last at least 2 hours. I tried taking iron supplements, folic acid, magnesium, but they made no difference. In December, I discovered quite by accident, that aluminum was causing my symptoms to worsen significantly. I found that the Mylanta I was taking for a stomach ailment was made out of aluminum. Since then I've eliminated virtually all aluminum from my life. I found that my multi-vitamin contained aluminum, as did my anti-perspirant. I stopped using aluminum foil in cooking and baking, and got rid of all aluminum utensils. I don't eat food out of cans anymore, and don't purchase bakery items that are packaged in aluminum pans. I stopped using toothpaste that comes in an aluminum tube. I've also stopped eating foods that contain preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. I also think it's possible that things like mercury and Teflon could be culprits. It seems logical to me that toxins would have a negative impact on a person's nervous system. It took a few days to detox my body. I ate lots of apples and drank lots of water. I also started taking apple cider vinegar tablets, which also help to rid the body of toxins. Within a week, my symptoms were gone. I've found that I still occasionally, though quite rarely, have an episode of extremely MILD symptoms, so mild that I can roll over and go right back to sleep, or get up and walk to the bathroom and back, and they are gone, or I can take 1 Requip and the symptoms immediately go away. For me, it is like I no longer have RLS. This leaves me much more time to focus on the pain of my arthritis! =) It's always something ... I feel certain that I am not the only person whose symptoms are/were caused by aluminum or other toxins. I hope some of you will try this, and if it helps I'd love to hear about it. It's very disappointing that there is so little research on what causes RLS. I think it would be very helpful.

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