Suffering From Restless Leg Syndrome? Here Are Some Home Remedies You Should Try

If you are having sleepless nights and feeling the urge to move your legs, you probably have restless legs syndrome. Several solutions related to this syndrome have come to the forefront, for instance, having a soap bar fit underneath your sheet while sleeping. Yes, it might seem a bit unusual to you, but this solution can be more effective than you can think of.

There are a few experts who have vouched for it. Soap is said to contain magnesium, which possesses properties that are helpful for muscle relaxation. It helps in alleviating symptoms related to leg restlessness. Of course, like several home remedies, this tactic does not have the backing of medical evidence. However, anything seems to be good while treating this syndrome. Below are some more effective ideas.

Warm or Cold Compresses

You might know that cooled or heated pads are indispensable in giving you relief from injury-caused swelling. This treatment is a popular home remedy and has a long history behind it. According to experts, such a remedy works as it brings around a new sensation for your brain. As it starts processing the sensation, the uncomfortable sensation goes down gradually.

It’s more or less the same thing when you are talking about using heated or cooled pads for restless legs syndrome. You will get an affordable warm, or cold compress in the market. However, soaking the fabric in warm or cold water and applying it on the skin would probably work the best for you.

Magnesium

Magnesium, just like calcium, is essential for your muscle and bone health. Since magnesium naturally boosts muscle relaxation, the mineral can be of great help if someone has restless legs syndrome. Some experts have advised patients to take magnesium separately, and not just having it as a constituent of a multivitamin.

Studies suggest that magnesium has quite a few side effects, and that includes diarrhea. Therefore, starting with smaller doses, like 200 to 400 mg every day, is favorable.  Only if you don’t face any issue with this dosage, you can increase it to around 1000 mg per day. Research suggests that magnesium glycinate has fewer side effects, and one can try this out as a treatment. However, make sure you get a healthcare professional’s go-ahead before you do it!

Try to Forget the Urge

When you have a hurting and tingling sensation in your legs, the brain finds it difficult to shift its focus on something else. You can substitute the urge to move your legs with some other sensation. This would possibly break the cycle. Counter-stimulation can play a key role here.

Replace your leg movement with either a bath or a shower, for example. Aside from that, massaging the legs can relieve you from the discomfort. Also, light stretching can be really helpful. But, refrain from performing any rigorous exercise before you hitting the bed. That’s a strict no-no.

Avoiding Certain Foods

There are certain foods that you need to avoid before going to sleep at night. Though there is not much substantial evidence to back the claims, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine trigger restless legs syndrome. Besides this, the general advice for people suffering from this syndrome is to avoid dairy products and food items that are rich in sugar.

Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets can bring around a counter-stimulation to combat the restless legs syndrome. They can alleviate the prickly feeling and help you get rid of anxiety. A few researchers have suggested that anxiety might have a direct connection with the feeling of having restless legs. Therefore, if weighted blankets help discard your anxiety, they might also have a key role in providing you with all the comfort you need in this case.

Treating restless legs is primarily about controlling the symptom. Remember that home remedies have limited benefits. In the long run, they might not be as effective as you expect. They don’t work for everyone. If you are one of them, don’t hesitate to consult a sleep expert. Of course, everyone with this restless legs syndrome doesn’t need to seek a doctor’s advice. But, you would need professional help if a lack of proper sleep leaves you tired and if this happens routinely. The doctor would guide you with the right treatment for your restless leg syndrome.