Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually due to leg discomfort. It typically happens in the evenings or nights while you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily. Restless legs syndrome, now known as restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED), can begin at any age and generally worsens as you age. It can disrupt sleep — leading to daytime drowsiness — and make traveling difficult. Simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes may help you. Medications also help many people with restless legs syndrome.

Causes and Symptoms

• Stress
• Iron Deficiency anemia : Low levels of hemoglobin in the blood.
• Kidney Disease and Kidney failure : Decrease of Iron levels in the Blood
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Pregnancy
• Certain medications : Anti-Depressants, Anti-Convulsants, Beta-Blockers, H2-Blockers
• Alcohol, Caffeïne, Smoking,...
• Restless legs syndrome has been attributed to Vitamin D deficiency (Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Treatment, online May 21, 2014) or lack of iron (Sleep Medicine, Dec., 2014). Also Folic Acid deficiency is considered to be linked to RLS

Home remedies

• Adopt Healthy Habits : Since caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco can trigger symptoms, avoiding all three substances could bring restless leg syndrome relief. Fatigue can also aggravate restless leg syndrome, so keep up a healthy sleep regimen (by sticking with a regular bedtime and wake time, for instance). Exercise may benefit restless leg syndrome patients as well, but remember that working out within a few hours of your bedtime may get in the way of a good night's sleep.
• Stretching and walking exercise leg muscles
• Add black strap molasses to your diet. High in iron, it helps relieve RLS.
• Warm soaks in the tub before bedtime with Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, or baking soda
• Add foods rich in magnesium to your diet or take magnesium supplements to help reduce cramping
• Use Hot and Cold Therapy : Applying a warm or cold compress to the affected area, or alternating hot and cold therapy, may soothe restless leg syndrome symptoms. For further relief, try taking a warm bath and gently massaging your leg muscles.
• Hot (as hot as you can tolerate) shower right before bed. Scrub legs vigorously with shower brush. Towel dry and jump into bed.
• Leg lunges at bedtime. I would do about 30 lunges on each leg, alternating from one to the other.
• Try Relaxation Techniques : Managing your stress may help stave off restless leg syndrome symptoms, so make sure to include a stress-reducing practice (such as deep breathing or meditation) in your everyday routine.
• Add vitamins to your diet, especially iron -- but only after speaking to your doctor and having a blood test for iron levels
• Have frequent massages to low back and legs
• Ease inflammation by eating anti-inflammatory foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water. And most importantly, take advantage of Nature’s potent anti-inflammatory—Omega-3 essential fatty acids!
• Visit an acupuncturist, who may be able to help relieve symptoms of restless leg syndrome
• Use herbal relaxants -- try chamomile tea, valerian, kava, mucuna pruriens
• any menthol cream or ointment (Tiger Balm, Vics Vapor Rub and IcyHot Pain Relieving Cream)
• Take B vitamins
• Wear socks to bed to keep feet warm and protected
• Check your medication to be sure RLS is not a side-effect
• Take Vitamins for Restless Legs : Since maintaining sufficient levels of calcium and magnesium helps keep your muscles and nerves functioning properly, taking a daily multivitamin/multimineral may tame restless leg syndrome symptoms.In some cases, low levels of iron can result in restless leg syndrome. However, since too much iron can be toxic to your system, you should never use iron supplements without first consulting with your doctor. To boost your iron intake through foods, look to sources like beans, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
• Turn to Alternative Therapies : Research indicates that the needle-based traditional Chinese therapy known as acupuncture may help relieve restless leg syndrome. And in a 2007 study, scientists found that receiving massage therapy that targets the lower body could help ward off restless leg syndrome symptoms for several weeks.
• Sleeping With A Bar of Soap : OK, this sound really bizarre but I have read testimones from people that have tried this Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment and swear it works. Yet, there are others that have tried it and got no relief at all. But I do think if you haven't tried it yet it's well worth a try.Take a bar of plain soap, nothing with deodorant or antibacterial in it. Put the bar of soap between your mattress pad and bottom sheet. Then sleep with the soap there for a couple of nights.
• Rhus-tox: People needing Rhus tox often experience joint and muscle pain with stiffness. The person may be extremely restless, anxious, suspicious and depressed -- symptoms being worse at night and when lying still, forcing the individual to move to obtain relief. Continued motion, heat and rubbing bring relief, making this one of the first remedies to think of for RLS.
• Tarentula Hispanica: People needing this remedy are often excessively restless, over-stimulated, rageful and impatient. RLS symptoms often include twitching, numbness and jerking; and are made better by exaggerated movement, dancing, music, pressure and rubbing.
• Zincum Metallicum: The person needing Zincum often has involuntary movement of the legs accompanied by mental and physical fatigue. There may be twitching of the feet with trembling and a need to move the legs and feet constantly. The symptoms worsen from exhaustion, noise, touch and drinking alcohol; and are better with warmth and pressure.
• Phosphorus (homeopathy): The individual needing this remedy may have cramping, numbness, stiffness and jerking of the toes and feet. Symptoms improve when the individual lays on the right side. The person is often mild-mannered, insecure, prefers company and is thirsty for large quantities of icy cold water.
• Magnesia carbonica: Legs and feet often feel tired, achy and restless -- especially noticeable after sitting in one position for many hours. There may be cramps and pains in the lower legs with weakness of the calves and jerking motions. The restless leg symptoms are made worse by changes in the weather and getting warm in bed.
• Causticum : Restless legs at night are often accompanied by paralytic numbness and arthritic or rheumatic pains. There may also be tearing pains in the knees and ankles with cracking noises.
• Arsenicum Album : The person needing this remedy is generally afraid of being alone, chilly, anxious and restless in general. There is a feeling of uneasiness in the legs and they can't lay still at night, feeling the need to continually move the legs. There may be leg cramps in the calves. The person is often thirsty for cold water and craves company.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.