About Natural Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): a neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs which are heightened when the person is at rest.
Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
Symptoms of RLS
Natural ways to relieve symptoms of RLS
Treating RLS homeopathically
Restless Leg Syndrome is a sensory-motor disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs, especially during periods of inactivity. Some people also report sensations in the arms, but this occurs much more rarely. The sensations occur deep in the legs and are usually described with terms that imply movement such as prickly, creepy-crawly, boring, itching, achy, pulling, tugging and painful. The symptoms result in an irrepressible urge to move the leg and are relieved when the person suffering from RLS voluntarily moves. Symptoms tend to be worse in the evening or at night.
Restless legs syndrome is associated with another disorder called Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS). It is estimated that four out of five patients with RLS also suffer from PLMS. PLMS is characterized by jerking leg movements while sleeping that may occur as frequently as every 20 seconds. These jerks disrupt sleep by causing continual arousals throughout the night.
People with both RLS and PLMS are prone to abnormal levels of exhaustion during the day because they are unable to sleep properly at night. They may have trouble concentrating at work, at school or during social activities. They may also have mood swings and difficulty with interpersonal relationships. Depression and anxiety may also result from the lack of sleep. RLS affects people who want to travel or attend events that require sitting for long periods of time.
As much as 10% of the population of the United States and Europe may suffer from some degree of restless legs syndrome. Fewer cases are indicated in India, Japan and Singapore, suggesting racial or ethnic factors play a role in the disorder. Although the demographics can vary greatly, the majority of people suffering from RLS are female. The age of onset also varies greatly, but the number of people suffering from RLS increases with age. However, many people with RLS report that they had symptoms of the disorder in their childhood. These symptoms were often disregarded as growing pains or hyperactivity.
Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
The cause of RLS is unknown in most patients. However, restless leg syndrome has been associated with pregnancy, obesity, smoking, iron deficiency and anemia, nerve disease, heavy metal toxicity, diabetes, and kidney failure (which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency). Some drugs and medications have been associated with restless leg syndrome including caffeine, alcohol, H2-histamine blockers, and certain antidepressants.
Symptoms of RLS
The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study group offers the following description of RLS symptoms:
- A compelling urge to move the arms and legs
- Restlessness that manifests itself in pacing, tossing and turning and/or rubbing the legs
- Symptoms that worsen when the patient is resting and are relieved when the patient is active
- Symptoms that worsen at the end of the day
Natural ways to relieve symptoms of RLS
- Enjoy regular exercise.
- Massage Homeopathic Restless Leg Oral Spray into affected areas twice daily.
- Engage in moderate activity before bed: A gentle walk or stretching routine before bed can help you sleep better. But take care not to do any rigorous activity for at least six hours before you retire for the night.
- Take a hot bath or apply warm compresses to affected limbs before bed.
- Practice meditation and yoga.
- If you are hypoglycemic: Keep blood sugar in check by eating a sugar-free, high-protein diet.
- Observe good sleep hygiene: Make sure that your bedroom provides a restful, cool sleeping environment and sleep during consistent hours every night.
- If you're a cigarette smoker, quit smoking: Studies show cessation of smoking can drastically reduce symptoms of RLS.
Treating RLS homeopathically
Homeopathy can be very effective in treating Restless Leg Syndrome, as well as safe and easy-to-use, with minimal risk of side effects. There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence which confirms the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, and a growing number of RLS sufferers are finding relief using this natural form of treatment.
From the homeopathic point of view, using sleeping pills or seizure medications to treat RLS simply masks the symptoms and can lead to more serious health problems. Homeopathic Restless Leg Oral Spray from Simple Medicinals includes key remedies to help relieve symptoms of RLS. But for deeper treatment, a constitutional remedy should be chosen by an experienced homeopathic doctor which will help bring all bodily systems into better balance.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a professional health practitioner.
Bibliography
"restless legs syndrome." Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders. The Gale Group, Inc, 2005. Answers.com 17 Apr. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/restless-legs-syndrome
"restless legs syndrome." MedicineNet. MedicineNet Inc., 2001. Answers.com 17 Apr. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/restless-legs-syndrome
