Restless and Painful legs at night? 6 Homeopathic Medicines That Work

Do you have this irritating tendency to keep twitching your legs all the time while sitting at your computer desk? Or do you suffer from this annoying habit to keep rocking your legs constantly while sitting in front of the TV at home with your spouse? This seemingly trivial annoyance may, in fact, be a medical disorder. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) refers to a condition whereby a person has an irresistible desire to move the legs to relieve discomforting sensations felt in the lower limbs. Not really a life-threatening disorder, this condition, however, could create inter-personal or social problems for the affected persons due to the annoyance or disturbance caused to people around them at home, work or public place. Homeopathic medicines for Restless Leg Syndrome provide a simple, safe and successful line of treatment to such patients as these remedies are drawn from natural, non-toxic substances and have no side-effects. Their selection is based upon the individual constitution of the patient and customized to suit his/her unique requirements.

Homeopathic Treatment For Restless Leg Syndrome

The medicines used in the conventional system for treating Restless Leg Syndrome are temporary and, beyond a point of time, they stop working and become ineffective. They also carry a risk of side- effects, including day drowsiness, fatigue, and nausea. Homeopathic mode of treatment, on the other hand, offers complete riddance of Restless Leg Syndrome. There is no chance of any side-effects in this mode as the medicines used are of natural origin with zero toxic effects. Homeopathic medicines help in relaxing the nervous system. The various discomforting sensations in the legs that lead to Restless Leg Syndrome are wonderfully controlled with homeopathic medicines and the patient can also enjoy a sound sleep.

Top Homeopathic Remedies for Restless Leg Syndrome

The highly recommended medicines for Restless Leg Syndrome are Zincum Met, Tarentula Hispanica, Rhus Tox and Arsenic Album.

1. Zincum Met

Zincum Met is one of the best homeopathic medicines for treating RLS which disturbs the person at night. It is used when there is marked uneasiness in the legs. The person finds it impossible to relax and find a comforting place for the legs when at rest. The constant motion of the legs is needed to find little relief. The complaint is worse during sleep. The person keeps moving his feet in bed for many hours on going to sleep. A formication or insects crawling sensation can be felt in the legs. Sometimes, a tension or pressure is felt in legs. At times drawing pain in legs may be felt in the evening.

 2. Tarentula Hispanica

This medicine is highly valuable when there is marked restlessness of legs as well as hands. These are in constant motion. Persons needing this medicine feel uneasiness in the legs that compels them to move their legs constantly. The uneasiness also makes the person wake up and move constantly to ease the symptoms. The complaint gets worse in the evening and at night when lying in bed.

3. Rhus Tox

Rhus Tox is a wonderful remedy for RLS when the legs get restless from an aching pain in leg muscles. It is useful when a person finds it difficult to keep the legs in a relaxed position while sitting or at night after heavy exertion during day time. There is a desire to stretch the legs, rest worsens the symptoms. Constant motion of legs provides relief. Along with aching, a crawling, tingling sensation may also be felt in the legs at night. There is a desire to constantly move the legs back and forth which leads to sleeplessness. Rhus Tox is also considered when legs get restless at night after over-exerting in the daytime.

4. Arsenic Album             

Arsenic Album is useful when restlessness of legs is worse at night. There is desire to move from one place to another to get relief which leads to sleeplessness. Other than legs, restlessness may also be felt in the head with an urge to move head constantly.

5. Medorrhinum

Medorrhinum is the appropriate choice when there is pain in legs with difficulty in keeping them still even for a moment. The complaint gets worse when relaxing and in bed, when trying to sleep. Burning in the feet may be an accompanying symptom.

6. Causticum

Causticum is considered when the person has a twitching sensation in the legs along with heaviness. There is a need to move the feet constantly or walk about to get relief. A drawing pain or a pulling sensation in legs also occurs. The sufferer keeps moving his legs constantly during sleep. Along with this, there may be a complaint of an electric shock-like sensation in the legs.

7. Natrum Mur

Natrum Mur is helpful when restlessness of legs worsens before going to sleep. This compels one to constantly move legs. It leads to sleeplessness due to which the sufferer wakes up lazy and irritable.

8. For Restless Leg Syndrome With Iron Deficiency

Among the best medicines for iron deficiency are Ferrum Met and Ferrum Phos. These medicines can prove beneficial to relieve symptoms of restless leg syndrome resulting from depleted iron reserves of the body. They ensure complete recovery in the most natural way. These medicines help a person to relax, keep their legs still and have a sound sleep.

Symptoms Of Restless Leg Syndrome

The symptoms of RLS occur in legs on both sides in most cases, however in some people, these occurs only on one side. It affects mostly legs, but arms and head may be affected as well.

The Restless Leg Syndrome manifests itself in a couple of ways as follows:

1. Urge to move legs: A compulsive or uncontrollable urge to move legs to get rid of various unpleasant sensations felt in the legs.

2. Sensations in legs: The various sensations vary from creeping, tingling, crawling, pin-pricking to aching and throbbing, burning, electric sensations. Some people find it difficult to explain the sensations they have in their legs.

3. Worsening time: The symptoms get worse at rest mainly at evening/night; in lying or sitting position, when you are relaxing.

4. Relieving factors: Movements, stretching, walking relieves the symptoms.

5. As the symptoms get worse at night, it makes sleeping difficult at night which causes day-time drowsiness, fatigue, irritability, difficulty in concentration the following morning.

6. Above symptoms may come and go and vary in intensity. These may be only present at night or in some people entire day and night. For some, it is a minor problem while for others it can be quite troublesome, impairing quality of life. The symptoms seem to worsen with age.

Causes Of Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome cannot be attributed to any specific causes. However, certain pointers may indicate RLS, which are as follows:

1. A familial tendency towards developing RLS has been noted. In about 90% of the people suffering from RLS, a family history of this complaint is often present.

2. It is also suggested that imbalance of dopamine levels (a brain chemical which sends signals for muscle movement) may cause RLS. Parkinson’s disease is also linked with reduced dopamine levels. This is the reason that some people having Parkinson’s disease are also seen to be suffering from RLS.

3. Low iron levels in brain may contribute to Restless Leg Syndrome.

4. Besides these there are other many medical conditions linked with RLS like:

varicose veins (swollen, enlarged, twisted veins), depression, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy (weakness, numbness or pain in hands or feet from nerve damage), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune joint disorder that cause joint inflammation), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)

5. Use of certain medicines is also associated with development of RLS, like antidepressants, medicines to treat allergies, nausea, etc.

6. RLS can occur during pregnancy. In some women, RLS develops during pregnancy and the symptoms mostly go away after delivery. While if a woman is already suffering from RLS, symptoms may get worse during pregnancy.

7. Women are more at risk of RLS as compared to males.

8. Alcohol and caffeine can trigger symptoms of RLS.

 

Types of RLS

RLS is of two types, primary and secondary:

1. Primary(Idiopathic) RLS:It includes RLS that occurs without any known cause and is more common among the two types. It starts before the age of around 40 and appears gradually. Its symptoms may go away after several months or years but it is a lifelong condition that tend to get worse with age.

2. Secondary RLS:  RLS that occurs along with a medical condition or use of some drugs is referred as secondary RLS. It starts suddenly after the age of 40.

Diagnosis

There are no lab investigations to diagnose RLS. It is diagnosed based on the symptom picture given by the patient. The five major hallmark symptoms that confirm its diagnosis are as follows:

1. A strong irresistible urge to move legs attended with uncomfortable sensations in legs

2. Beginning or worsening of symptoms during rest, like lying down or sitting

3. Improvement in symptoms with activity

4. Worsening of symptoms in evening or at night

5. No explainable medical or behavioral cause for the symptoms is present