Do you have a hard time keeping your legs still when you’re sitting or lying down?
If so, you might be dealing with what’s called Willis-Ekbom Disease, which is better known as restless legs syndrome or RLS. Approximately 10 percent of the American population suffers from RLS. It can be a painful disease for many people.
Fortunately, there are known medical treatments for RLS. Doctors will often prescribe opioids, sedatives, or benzodiazepines to help people get a handle on their RLS. But they can also cause serious side effects.
It’s why restless leg syndrome home remedies might be a better option for you if you’ve been diagnosed with RLS. Here are 8 home remedies that can help with RLS.
1. Take a Hot Bath
Restless legs syndrome can make it almost impossible to get your legs to relax. But that’s what you’re going to have to try to do to make RLS symptoms go away.
Run a hot bath whenever your RLS gets bad and spend 15 or 20 minutes sitting in it. The hot water should help you to get the muscles in your legs to calm down a little bit.
You may want to make it a point to take hot baths every night after a long day at work if you find that it helps with RLS. It could be an easy way to treat your RLS while also getting the rest of your body to relax.
2. Use Hot or Cold Packs
Don’t have time for a hot bath? There are other ways to apply heat to your legs to encourage the muscles in them to relax.
For example, you can place hot packs on your legs to give them the heat they need. This is by far one of the easiest restless leg syndrome home remedies.
Consider switching things up every now and then and trying cold packs, too. They can make the strange sensations that you feel in your legs when RLS kicks in go away.
3. Try Massage
If you live with a partner, ask them if they would mind massaging your legs for you when your RLS starts to become unbearable. Massaging your legs is yet another way that you can reduce your RLS symptoms.
If you don’t have anyone who can provide you with a massage, you can also try rubbing your legs yourself or buying a massager that will do the trick. Regardless of which approach you take, you’ll find that massage will at least temporarily slow your achy legs down.
4. Sign Up for Yoga
More than 35 million Americans take part in yoga every year. If you’ve never tried it, you might find that it’ll come in handy when trying to treat RLS.
Yoga has been shown to help people:
- Sleep better
- Lower stress levels
- Eliminate anxiety
- Decrease blood pressure
By doing all these things, you can reduce your RLS symptoms over time. You can also make your entire body more flexible and learn how to quiet your mind when RLS is the only thing you can think about.
5. Start Exercising More
If you don’t feel comfortable doing yoga for whatever reason, find some other type of physical activity to take part in. Researchers have discovered that exercising more might be one of the keys to warding off RLS.
In fact, one study suggested that regular exercise might be as effective at treating RLS symptoms as prescription drugs. That should bring a smile to your face if you hate the idea of using medications to manage your RLS.
6. Lay Off Alcohol, Caffeine, and Nicotine
Do you enjoy drinking a few beers after work? Do you run through three or four cups of coffee every day? Do you smoke cigarettes on a daily basis?
Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine can all make RLS symptoms worse than they already are. Caffeine, in particular, can really do a number on those with RLS.
Try not to drink these types of beverages too often if you’ve been told you have RLS:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Energy drinks
Avoid eating chocolate at all costs, too. You could very well see your RLS symptoms start to dissipate when you remove caffeine from your diet altogether.
7. Put CBD to the Test
There is still a lot of research being done on cannabidiol, which is better known as CBD. But some early studies on CBD have shown that it might be effective at naturally treating people who suffer from chronic pain.
Additionally, researchers have found that CBD could bring much-needed relief to people with RLS. There are topical creams and gels containing CBD that can be applied directly to the muscles in the legs to stop RLS in its tracks.
Learn more about how CBD might be able to benefit you if you are an RLS sufferer.
8. Check Iron Levels
Do you take in enough iron?
Reports have revealed that many Americans do not. More specifically, about 20 percent of all women have an iron deficiency. And a lack of iron could be to blame for your RLS if you have it.
According to one study, about 75 percent of the people with RLS have low iron levels. It’s why you should consider getting your iron levels checked if you have RLS. By bringing your iron levels back up, you can escape your RLS symptoms.
Give These Restless Leg Syndrome Home Remedies a Shot
Restless legs syndrome can take a toll on more than just your legs.
It can also make it difficult for you to sit and relax or even sleep. This can make you feel tired, sluggish, and worn-down all the time. It can also wreak havoc on your mind if you aren’t able to get a grip on your RLS symptoms.
If you suffer from RLS, try out all the restless leg syndrome home remedies listed here to see which of them works for you. You might be surprised at how effective some of them can be for people with RLS.
Want to learn more about how to take better care of yourself overall? Read our blog to get more wellness tips that you can use right at home.
