Mom told her Kaiser doctor that she was getting up at night with painful leg cramps. He said he drinks tonic water and takes a teaspoon of mustard every night.
Art and I were skeptical, but we got tonic water and mustard for her to try.
Well... voila.
Her leg cramps did go away though she says her legs still ache a bit.
I decided to research this online and found an article from Harvard Medical School about leg cramps. I've attached a link. They say quinine which is what is in tonic water might help, but could have side effects like bleeding and kidney damage.
She only takes about 1/4 cup each night and the quinine in tonic water is pretty minimal.
The teaspoon of mustard has a lot of advocates, but I don't know how conclusive the research is. Whatever the case, it seems to be working so far so we're all happy.
Art and I were skeptical, but we got tonic water and mustard for her to try.
Well... voila.
Her leg cramps did go away though she says her legs still ache a bit.
I decided to research this online and found an article from Harvard Medical School about leg cramps. I've attached a link. They say quinine which is what is in tonic water might help, but could have side effects like bleeding and kidney damage.
She only takes about 1/4 cup each night and the quinine in tonic water is pretty minimal.
The teaspoon of mustard has a lot of advocates, but I don't know how conclusive the research is. Whatever the case, it seems to be working so far so we're all happy.
I had heard that about mustard, and a friend uses it for leg cramps. I wonder what's in it that helps. The quinine in tonic water has been around a long time. I'm glad she's better! :-)
ReplyDeleteI swear by a tablespoon of pickle juice. Gets rid of my leg cramps in about 60 seconds.
ReplyDeleteWhatever seems to work!
ReplyDeleteMy mother tried the mustard and said it helped. Now my physical therapist is using soap! She puts a bar undertone bottom sheet at then bottom of the bed. She swears it works!
ReplyDeleteArgh .. automatic word fill in! Above should read She puts a bar under the bottom sheet and the bottom of the bed.
ReplyDeleteI have just been reading about this too because my husband has had bad leg cramps too. Tonic water and mustard, and also pickle juice were some of the things recommended. Hey! Whatever works!
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I've been taking potassium and that works too. Maybe I need to try your mom's solution. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo glad it is working for her. I found making sure I was hydrated and getting in some walking each day banished mine.
ReplyDeleteI don't have leg cramps but I can't keep my legs still. Maybe I'll try some of these ideas.
ReplyDeletewell I'll be!
ReplyDeleteI used to have cramps in my shins every night and would rub the heck out of them to bring back circulation. My theory is that it is poor blood circulation that caused them.
ReplyDeleteI got a BEMER (pulsed electro-magnetic field machine) and would use it for 8 minutes in the morning and afternoon. It un-coagulates blood cells and improves blood flow. Quite expensive, but it also has other health benefits for healing.
My cramps stopped. I was sold. And even though I forget to use the machine more times than not nowadays, my night cramps are gone. I really should get back to using it daily.
Kay, when my Dad was alive he had bad leg cramps too and his Dr. told him to drink tonic water before bed. I never heard the mustard added to it. He used to eat a banana everyday for the potassium. Low potassium can cause leg cramps too. I hope she gets rid of the cramps soon!
ReplyDeleteI always wonder about these remedies. I guess some work for some people. I'm glad it's working for her. I would have to find a substitute for a teaspoon of mustard though. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteA strange remedy
ReplyDeleteWell go figure, but whatever works.
ReplyDeleteI just recommended your cure to a Facebook friend of mine who is having nighttime cramps. Thanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI take magnesium for leg cramps and it is effective. I get it in a calcium, magnesium and Vit. D combo. If it's just placebo effect, I don't care.
ReplyDeleteI think there's some sugar in tonic water, but the quinine was even on a Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman episode. Might need honey-mustard to get it down on a regular basis. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeletelots of crazy remedies, I think if you believe in any of them enough-they work...
ReplyDeleteSonja: sbjdncmls:
ReplyDeleteI too suffered from horrible night time leg cramps. I took potassium with minimal relief. Then I read about soap under sheets on The People’s Pharmacy as a help for the same problem. Suffering from severe cramps and the crying that accompanied them made me think that I had nothing to lose. I tried it, using Ivory bar soap broken into chunks placed in a pillowcase under the bottom fitted sheet and it is only when I forget to bring the soap when traveling that I ever have any leg cramps. Some people think it’s the perfume in the soap or the fact legs move over uneven surfaces of the soap give relief. I tried just having objects to move legs over in the bed to see, and I had cramps. It was only using the soap that prevented those painful debilitating leg and/ or toe cramps. Soooo what have you got to lose, is my mantra.
Interesting to consider and inexpensive to try any of these plus they dont sound dangerous, so what's to lose?
ReplyDelete