Restless legs syndrome is an incredibly common condition that is thought to affect one in 10 people. It is twice as common in women as men and is more common as people get older. Some women develop the condition in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Restless legs syndrome basically means twitching, throbbing, cramping, jerking type sensations in the legs at night, waking the sufferer or preventing them from being able to get to sleep in the first place. There may also be cramping and a general sensation of restlessness or tightness in the legs. These unpleasant feelings may be reduced by shaking or stretching the legs or getting up and walking.

Restless legs syndrome is a major cause of insomnia and daytime fatigue, which is understandable – it’s impossible to sleep if your legs are jumping around of their own accord! There is a high rate of depression in people who suffer with restless legs long term, and this is very understandable.

The conventional medical treatment for restless legs is often very heavy handed and can consist of drugs such as diazepam or rivotril. They can be effective but can have some obvious side effects, such as sedation.

I have found a number of natural remedies to be extremely effective for this frustrating condition and I will share them with you below:

  • Magnesium deficiency is the most common cause of the condition and the easiest way to treat it. It is very easy to be magnesium deficient and really quite hard to get enough magnesium through diet alone. Stress, caffeine, sugar and alcohol all deplete your body of magnesium. Green vegetables are a good source of magnesium provided they were grown in mineral rich soil, but may be difficult to absorb, and anyone with poor digestion doesn’t stand much chance.The most effective dose of magnesium for eliminating restless legs is between 400mg and 600mg per day. This is easily achieved with one to one and a half teaspoons daily of magnesium ultrapotent powder. This ultrapotent powder has several different types of magnesium for enhanced absorption. Magnesium should help improve your sleep all round by calming and relaxing your nervous system and muscles. It will give your body the rest it desperately needs.
  • Sometimes iron deficiency can be responsible for restless legs syndrome. You need to have a blood test for your ferritin level. This measures the amount of iron you have stored inside your liver. The amount of haemoglobin in your bloodstream could be fine, but if your ferritin is low, you need more iron. Synthetic iron can give you constipation and abdominal discomfort; natural iron does not have these side effects. The best type of iron is iron amino acid chelate.
  • Dopamine deficiency can trigger restless legs syndrome. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the brain that helps you to feel happy and satisfied. Low dopamine is common and can be caused by nutrient deficiencies, long term stress or as a result of high alcohol consumption. One easy way to check if you are dopamine deficient is to measure your blood level of the hormone prolactin; if it is elevated, you can be sure your dopamine level is too low. High prolactin is common in women who are chronically stressed.Your body makes dopamine out of the amino acid tyrosine, therefore taking a tyrosine supplement can help boost your level of this important neurotransmitter. The production of dopamine also requires vitamin B6, so it’s good to take this with tyrosine. They are best taken in the morning and with lunch.
  • Have a blood test for your glucose level, as restless legs syndrome and leg cramps at night can sometimes be a symptom of diabetes. There is a frighteningly large group of people who are hovering dangerously close to diabetes but don’t know it. Get your blood sugar tested; you could be surprised.
  • If you have muscle pain and stiffness (known as fibromyalgia), as well as restless legs syndrome, you may be low in vitamin D and this deficiency could be making all your symptoms worse. If your vitamin D level is not at the upper limit of the normal range, you will need to take vitamin D 3 supplements as well as the magnesium supplement.
  • Some people taking cholesterol lowering drugs called statins experience restless legs symptoms. They can usually be ameliorated by taking co enzyme Q10, as statins deplete the body of this vital nutrient.
  • Exercise is vitally important and should be done several times a week. Pilates, yoga, exercise bike, treadmill are all suitable. This will improve flow of blood to the muscles.
  • Go more alkaline to reduce build up of acid waste products in the muscles – try raw juicing with celery, mint, parsley, cucumber, lime, carrot and ginger.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.