We Got Any Herbalists In The AH?

[Tom Collins]

Hey y'all. I'm wondering if someone here can help me out. I have a problem that my doctor ain't helping me with and I wondered if there might be some readily available herbs or something outside the mainstream of medicine that could help.

I get the most amazing charlie horses when I try to sleep. They're always in the right calf, though sometimes they will spread up into the back of the right thigh. I've tried everything that my doc has suggested and it's not helped. 'Course, all he's recomended is Potasium+Zinc and some kind of Calcium. The Potasium makes my heart thump if I take it more often than once every couple weeks, and it only helps for a day or two. The Calcium doesn't seem to help at all.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I would really like to find something that would stop the charlie horses. I get them nearly every night and it makes sleeping quite difficult.

I also have Restless Leg Syndrome and really don't want to take that stuff they've recently come out with for it because of the side effects and the cost. Anything you could suggest on this problem would be awesome.

 

[Guest]

ah honey... i wish i could because i suffer from that very same affliction. i have no qualms about taking narcotics but they wont give me any...
if you come across anything that works, lemme know?

 

[kiten69]

i used to have the same thing and the DR. told me to up the potassium in my diet he said the best source was bananas...it helped me anyway

 

[Guest]

one sure cure...
belladonna

 

[Tom Collins]

ah honey... i wish i could because i suffer from that very same affliction. i have no qualms about taking narcotics but they wont give me any...
if you come across anything that works, lemme know?

You bet I will. For the RLS or the charlie horses?

 

[Guest]

You bet I will. For the RLS or the charlie horses?

i only have the rls. but its a problem atleast several times a week. sometimes its painful...other times its enough of a problem to make me cry from frustration.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Calcium and potassium will help, but the problem is absorption. If you are taking calcium supplements, you ALSO need to be taking magnesium. (About half magnesium to calcium, so if it's 1000mg calcium it should be 500 magnesium) I would also recommend LIQUID as opposed to pill form. You can buy it in most health food stores. Also potassium and lots and lots of water (try getting in a gallon a day, esp if it's hot where you are.)

 

[TheEarl]

I've always had great success with tonic water. I'm not sure of the theory, but it sorted it right out when I had bad night cramps when I was younger.

The Earl

 

[Tom Collins]

Calcium and potassium will help, but the problem is absorption. If you are taking calcium supplements, you ALSO need to be taking magnesium. (About half magnesium to calcium, so if it's 1000mg calcium it should be 500 magnesium) I would also recommend LIQUID as opposed to pill form. You can buy it in most health food stores. Also potassium and lots and lots of water (try getting in a gallon a day, esp if it's hot where you are.)

The calcium I'm taking is with magnesium...I'd have said, but I couldn't recall what the second thing was until I saw it in your post, SK. Like I said, I can only take the potasium every couple weeks. And neither of them helps with the RLS.

 

[R. Richard]

I've always had great success with tonic water. I'm not sure of the theory, but it sorted it right out when I had bad night cramps when I was younger.

The Earl

Tonic water contains VERY small amount of Quinine which is supposed to help nighttime leg cramping.

 

[R. Richard]

The calcium I'm taking is with magnesium...I'd have said, but I couldn't recall what the second thing was until I saw it in your post, SK. Like I said, I can only take the potasium every couple weeks. And neither of them helps with the RLS.

One thing that I would suggest is to try using Metabolol II on a daily basis. Metabolol II is a workout food that contains every nutrient known to man in usable, digestible form. You can get it at GNC or search the web.

Another thing I would suggest is to make sure that you drink plenty of water. Dehydration will definitely cause leg cramps in some people.

JMHO.

 

[3113]

Dudette...

Water.

Leg cramps are often an indication that you're not getting enough water. Especially if you've also been exercising a lot. Try leg stretches (yoga?) and drink more water.

 

[Tom Collins]

I've always had great success with tonic water. I'm not sure of the theory, but it sorted it right out when I had bad night cramps when I was younger.

The Earl

Tonic water?...What would one do with it?

 

[blackhaus7]

Tonic water?...What would one do with it?

Put your gin in it and drink it. Or don't put your gin in it and drink it.

Bananas for potassium. I have a friend who has a prescription for Quinine and says it's great. Force liquids. Make yourself full from drinking water.

Good luck.

 

[Tom Collins]

Tonic water contains VERY small amount of Quinine which is supposed to help nighttime leg cramping.

Put your gin in it and drink it. Or don't put your gin in it and drink it.

Bananas for potassium. I have a friend who has a prescription for Quinine and says it's great. Force liquids. Make yourself full from drinking water.

Good luck.

Ahhh...how silly of me...I was thinking one might be needing to soak one;s legs in it...couldn't understand how that would help.

 

[Tom Collins]

i only have the rls. but its a problem atleast several times a week. sometimes its painful...other times its enough of a problem to make me cry from frustration.

http://www.natureswellnessoils.com/nilegcafrele.html

I have found this but I don't know if it works or not. *shrug*

 

[Stella_Omega]

For quick relief; TONIC WATER The quinine is an anti-spasmodic so effective it can stop the shakes from malaria.
I get cramps in my feet driving, and soetimes I have to stop at a 7-11 and grab a bottle- instant relief.

I think it's better to dring Quinine in Tonic water, than it is to take the pills, which are strong enough to change your heartbeat. You don't need so much, and the hydration is a good thing. But you know- Schwepps, not a cheaper brand.

For RLS, you can try St John's Wort or Kava Kava.

Vella, if you're having sleep problems, Valerian Root is easy enough to get, and it is the base for Valium.


It's kind of scary that I know all of these!

 

[Tom Collins]

For quick relief; TONIC WATER The quinine is an anti-spasmodic so effective it can stop the shakes from malaria.
I get cramps in my feet driving, and soetimes I have to stop at a 7-11 and grab a bottle- instant relief.

I think it's better to dring Quinine in Tonic water, than it is to take the pills, which are strong enough to change your heartbeat. You don't need so much, and the hydration is a good thing. But you know- Schwepps, not a cheaper brand.

For RLS, you can try St John's Wort or Kava Kava.

Vella, if you're having sleep problems, Valerian Root is easy enough to get, and it is the base for Valium.


It's kind of scary that I know all of these!

That's extremely awesome, Stella. I was planning on trying the tonic water cuz a couple people, Da Oil and R.R., had recomended it already. I can definitely use the info on the RLS though. Which do you think would work better? St. John's Wort or Kava Kava?

Might try that Valarian Root too. I sometimes have difficulty getting to sleep cuz my brain won't shut off.

ETA: How much of the tonic water? 8oz.? 16oz? And how long does it last? Would I be able to drink it a little before I go to bed and have it work all night? ( 6-7 hours)

 

[SensualCealy]

My husband lives on tonic water in the summer and a couple cases will last him through the winter months.

He does alot of stair climbing at his job, which is great, except at his size it kills him.

He gets the no name tonic water and drinks it solo. I gag it down when I get the charley horses but that doesnt happen very often.

Its usually only 3.99 a case of 24 cans, a couple cans a day should help them ease off.
I would really make sure you get bananas into your diet though.

C

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

http://www.natureswellnessoils.com/nilegcafrele.html

I have found this but I don't know if it works or not. *shrug*

It doesn't list the ingredients, and isn't applied to ANY area that would have an effect on your legs. Probably not.

 

[Tom Collins]

It doesn't list the ingredients, and isn't applied to ANY area that would have an effect on your legs. Probably not.

Actually, it does list the ingredients way down at the bottom of the page.

"Ingredients: grapeseed oil and an essential oil blend of lavender, rosemary, ginger"

But I have no idea what any of that stuff would do for the problem they're suposed to be helping.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Actually, it does list the ingredients way down at the bottom of the page.

"Ingredients: grapeseed oil and an essential oil blend of lavender, rosemary, ginger"

But I have no idea what any of that stuff would do for the problem they're suposed to be helping.

Ah... i didn't see it. Most likely wouldn't do a whole heck of a lot. The only ingredient listed that might be of help if applied to the skin would be the ginger, which helps to increase circulation slightly.

 

[Tom Collins]

Ah... i didn't see it. Most likely wouldn't do a whole heck of a lot. The only ingredient listed that might be of help if applied to the skin would be the ginger, which helps to increase circulation slightly.

It didn't really seem like it to me either, but what I know about what herbs can do you could cover with a pastie.

 

[Stella_Omega]

That's extremely awesome, Stella. I was planning on trying the tonic water cuz a couple people, Da Oil and R.R., had recomended it already. I can definitely use the info on the RLS though. Which do you think would work better? St. John's Wort or Kava Kava?

Might try that Valarian Root too. I sometimes have difficulty getting to sleep cuz my brain won't shut off.

ETA: How much of the tonic water? 8oz.? 16oz? And how long does it last? Would I be able to drink it a little before I go to bed and have it work all night? ( 6-7 hours)

As to the St.Johns versus kavaKava, I know that Kava is a muscle relaxant. Like, you can just go limp on the floor if you take enough of it, and have to wait for the effects to wear off.

A woman I used to know was on Prozac, and it gave her jumpy legs. She added St. Johns wort to her regimen, and claimed to me that it took care of that problem and let her sleep nights, and that her doctor decreased her medications due to the synergistic effect. BUT- that's all I really know about it. There have been studies that say St John's wort does nothing at all, it's all placebo.

Do talk to a doc before you go mixing meds, and herbs are meds!

 

[TheEarl]

That's extremely awesome, Stella. I was planning on trying the tonic water cuz a couple people, Da Oil and R.R., had recomended it already. I can definitely use the info on the RLS though. Which do you think would work better? St. John's Wort or Kava Kava?

Might try that Valarian Root too. I sometimes have difficulty getting to sleep cuz my brain won't shut off.

ETA: How much of the tonic water? 8oz.? 16oz? And how long does it last? Would I be able to drink it a little before I go to bed and have it work all night? ( 6-7 hours)

I used to drink a cup's worth before bedtime and it did the job. However, I was only lickle at the time, so you might have to scale up the dose.

The Earl