Homeopathy for Restless Legs Syndrome

Legs that are constantly moving may be a wonderful thing... provided you are running a marathon. But what if you are lying in bed at night and your legs simply will not settle? You can't find a comfortable position?

That can be sheer torment.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome can strike at any age, but unfortunately it seems to get worse the older we get.

If you haven't experienced it yourself, here is how sufferers describe it: "as if electricity is running through my legs", "as if spiders are crawling under my skin", "subtle, aching cramps", "as if my skin is crawling", "throbbing" or "itching".

Putting the legs into a different position may help interrupt the discomfort of restless legs, but it usually only brings temporary relief. A few seconds later the sufferer has to move them again. And again. And again.

The endless loop begins.

It is a vicious circle that keeps sufferers awake all night and makes the partner feel as if they are sharing a bed with a jogger!

Just two words: no fun. For anyone.

Restless legs due to mineral deficiency?

Some naturopaths and doctors believe that Restless Legs Syndrome is linked to a deficiency of magnesium, zinc or calcium. That may well be true. But as a homeopath I do not look at whether a deficiency causes a particular ailment; I start from the diagnosis and the symptoms. Still, it is interesting to note that the three main homeopathic remedies considered for Restless Legs Syndrome — Mag phos 3 or 6, Zincum metallicum 6 or Calc phos 3 (or Calc phos 6) — relate to these minerals.

When choosing the appropriate remedy I would always try to identify at least one other symptom that corresponds to one of these remedy pictures in addition to the restless legs. I often do this when selecting a homeopathic remedy. I am reluctant to base my choice on a single complaint alone and only do so in exceptional cases; instead I look for relevant symptoms in other areas as well.

Individualised treatment

That may seem complicated, but it isn't. Let me make it clear with examples. Suppose someone suffers from Restless Legs Syndrome and also from calf cramps, abdominal cramps before a period, or other muscle cramps. In that case Mag phos should be considered.

Someone who also has involuntary muscle twitching fits Zincum metallicum best. (By the way, if you know you have a zinc deficiency, you might consider eating more oysters!)

Or suppose the person with Restless Legs Syndrome also has trouble falling asleep, worries a lot, or knows that their calcium balance is disturbed (the corresponding diagnosis has been made). In that case we should think of Calc phos.

See?

Cuprum metallicum for hyperactive legs

I would like to add one more remedy to the list: Cuprum metallicum 6. Cuprum is indicated when the involuntary muscle movements are very strong, especially in the extremities (e.g. the legs). The sufferer simply cannot find relief. They cannot even lie in bed; they have to get up and walk and walk and walk. In such a severe case I would first think of Cuprum metallicum 6. Read more here (https://www.narayana-verlag.de/spektrum-homoeopathie/d-oder-c-potenz-das-ist-hier-die-frage) about dosage and potency of the remedy.

Please understand that there are hundreds of homeopathic remedies that can be used for restless legs and involuntary movements. The remedies I mention in this blog post are four that I use most often and to which many people respond well. But whatever remedy you choose, it should be taken twice daily.

If none of these remedies can successfully treat your Restless Legs Syndrome, please don't blame me for homeopathy not working!

It's not that simple! We just haven't delved deep enough! A different, more suitable remedy must be chosen, and it can often take some time to find it.

Every case is different, and there may be other circumstances that need to be considered. This could be poor nutrition, the menopause, or medications someone is taking. (You should always think about that, simply because there are many side effects.) There are so many factors that make each individual case unique.

In my blog posts I always try to convey the most obvious remedy that can be considered even without a detailed case history. There are so many variables in a person's life that can contribute to Restless Legs: medications, a low-fat diet, too much coffee, too much chocolate, too much or too little exercise.

Restless legs and statins

But the same principle applies to any condition! I cannot tell you how often clients have reported severe leg pain and later it turned out they had to take statins to lower their cholesterol.

Now guess what is one of the most common side effects of statins. Yes, exactly: muscle pain and weakness. So the pain in your legs is not something I would call a side effect. Instead I would call it an iatrogenic disease — a disease caused by medical treatment.

But if you have listened to yourself, changed your habits and still found no improvement in your restless legs, then it is time to consider one of my four homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy helps – spread the word!

Warmly,

Yours,

Sources: https://joettecalabrese.com/blog/get-a-leg-up-over-restless-legs/