If you’ve ever struggled with Restless Leg Syndrome, you know how impossible it can be to get relief.  My own personal experience suffering with Restless Leg Syndrome for many years drove me to search out natural supplements for restless leg syndrome. Like many suffers, I was desperate to find relief for those uncomfortable, creepy crawly feelings in my legs and feet late at night that often made me feel like I was going to  jump out of my skin. After much research and my own trial and error, I did discover that there are some very effective herbal supplements for restless leg syndrome.

Restless Leg Syndrome is a nervous system disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs along with the uncontrollable urge to continually move them.  Because Restless Legs usually occur at night, Restless Leg Syndrome is also classified as a Sleep Disorder, according to Web MD.  The condition affects an estimated 10% of the population, both men and women (though more common in women), most of whom are middle age or older. However the syndrome can set in at any age, even in young people, and some children struggle with the condition as well.

People with restless legs syndrome regularly experience uncomfortable sensations in their legs and an irresistible urge to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The condition causes an uncomfortable, “itchy,” “pins and needles,” or “creepy crawly” feeling in the legs that some people, like myself, describe as making them feel like they are going to “jump out of their skin”.  The sensations are usually worse at night, when lying or sitting. And though the syndrome usually affects only the legs or feet for most sufferers, some unfortunate people can also experience it in the arms or other parts of the body.

Different Restless Leg Syndrome suffers experience different levels of severity of the symptoms, ranging from mild to intolerable. Symptoms often come and go, and their severity can also vary within the individual. Because symptoms are generally active in the late evening and at night (typically near or at bed time), for many sufferers, restless leg symptoms results in regular nightly sleep disruption that, which as a result, significantly impacts their quality of life.

Many people with Restless Leg Syndrome have never heard of the condition and are unaware that they have a diagnosable medical condition. The condition often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.  Doctors are able to prescribe medication to treat the condition, but patients report varying levels of effectiveness with the meds.

In most cases, the cause of restless legs syndrome is unknown, but it appears to be associated with other conditions or medical issues which include pregnancy (particularly in the final trimester) chronic diseases, iron deficiency, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy often include symptoms of RLS. Treating these conditions often gives some relief from RLS symptoms. Some types of medications, including antinausea drugs, antipsychotic drugs, some antidepressants, and cold and allergy medications containing sedating antihistamines, may worsen symptoms, as may alchohol consumption or lack of sleep.

There is no medical test to diagnose Restless Leg Sydrome; diagnosis is usually made based on symptoms.

Most of the drugs prescribed to treat Restless Leg Syndrome are pretty harsh (they include anti-seizure meds, Dopaminergic drugs which act on the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, and Benzodiazepines, a class of sedative medications which often cause daytime drowsiness.  Even at that, they have varying levels of effectiveness, and a drug that works for a short while will often stop working after a but of time.

That’s why many sufferers of the disorder look to natural supplements for restless leg syndrome.  Apart from the fact that drugs put harsh toxins into the body which natural supplements do not, often natural supplements turn out to be more effective at relieving symptoms. A Restless Leg Sufferer also has more flexibilty in experimenting with different natural treatments without constantly needing to go back to the doctor requesting new prescirptions.

As with prescription medications, when it comes to using natural supplements for restless leg syndrome, there are a variety of options, but its not a one size fits all propositions. Different supplements will work with differing degrees of effectiveness for different people, so it very much comes down to trial and error. This is most likely because, as we’ve discussed, there are various possible root causes of restless leg syndrome. So while the symptoms are in the same, the cause varies from individual to individual. So what is effective for a particular individual is likely very much tied to the actual cause of the disorder in that individual, and as mentioned, that is often difficult for doctors to pinpoint. So this explains why different supplements for restless leg syndrome have different levels of effectiveness in different people, and you really do have to take a trial and error approach until you find what works for you.

With that said, below is a list of supplements for restless leg syndrome that are widely reported to be effective.

Try These Supplements for Restless Leg Syndrome

  • Valerian –  although some people have mentioned that it did not help at all or made their symptoms worse.
  • Passion Flower
  • Magnesium – this mineral is highly beneficial for the nervous system and may be of some benefit to some individuals.
  • Melatonin
  • 5HTP – small doses of 5-HTP
  • L-Theanine
  • Mucuna pruriens – taken in the morning may be helpful.
  • D Ribose
  • Kava – helpful in some people
  • Iron pills – may be a helpful treatment for RLS IF you already know you have low iron levels

 

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