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  1. #1
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    Default Relieving leg cramps

    I was listening to People's Pharmacy this morning and they were talking about how pickle juice, yellow mustard, and capsaicin work to relieve leg cramps. The hypothesis is that, rather than working through digestion, certain acids and oils react with nerve receptors in the mouth and throat.

    Anybody carry yellow mustard packets in their med kit? I had never heard of that one.
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    Nope, electrolyte capsules. Has consistently worked for me for years.
    enemy of unnecessary but innovative trail invention gadgetry

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    Hydration and electrolytes. When I get pretty dehydrated hiking, I wake up in the middle of the night with calf cramps. When I stay well hydrated...then no cramps.
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    Alka Seltzer is what I carry.Works quickly to relieve leg cramps and hand /finger cramps.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rhjanes View Post
    Hydration and electrolytes. When I get pretty dehydrated hiking, I wake up in the middle of the night with calf cramps. When I stay well hydrated...then no cramps.
    Staying hydrated is always good advice, but then I still wake up with cramps and for other reasons.
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    Quote Originally Posted by RangerZ View Post
    Staying hydrated is always good advice, but then I still wake up with cramps and for other reasons.
    Try stretching your legs before bed? I’ve made an effort to have a couple cups of Nido before bed. Stopped having cramps after I added milk to my before bed ritual.

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    Quote Originally Posted by egilbe View Post
    Try stretching your legs before bed? I’ve made an effort to have a couple cups of Nido before bed. Stopped having cramps after I added milk to my before bed ritual.
    A couple of cups of Nido before bed may cure cramps but will create the other reasons to wake up in the middle of the night.
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  8. #8
    Registered User egilbe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RangerZ View Post
    A couple of cups of Nido before bed may cure cramps but will create the other reasons to wake up in the middle of the night.
    I would much rather get up to pee than wake up with blood-curdling screams because my calf's are all knotted. Icango back to sleep easily after peeing, not so much after my leg muscles are sore and knotted.

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    I heard that People's Pharmacy episode and was surprised that they didn't mention metal cofactors. I think that learning about copper and magnesium and even rarer metals and how they are catalysts (though biochemistry calls the same thing cofactors) for metabolic processes was the most useful thing I learned in college biochemistry. Mustard and pickles/pickle juice are both resplendent in these cofactors.

    Taste? Mouth? Nah. It is that your metabolism is missing some key factors and oh, here they are. Alca-Seltzer (spelling?) also has some of them.

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  10. #10

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    Nuum electrolyte tabs are easy but not cheap. Poor mans method is Mortons light salt which is blend of sodium and potassium chloride added to water with something to flavor it. Both work

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    Default Relieving leg cramps

    I hope some of this works. I've tried pickle juice and mustard. Didn't work for me. Think I'll try alka seltzer next. I always have leg/toe cramps at night and hand/finger cramps during the day.....

  12. #12

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    magnesium tabs work for me
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  13. #13

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    +1 for magnesium. Look for 'Calm', a powdered drink mix that's loaded with it. Be careful, it loosens up EVERY muscle, so if you overdo it you might end up with butt problems.

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    Magnesium causes hemorrhoids?

    Quote Originally Posted by AllDownhillFromHere View Post
    +1 for magnesium. Look for 'Calm', a powdered drink mix that's loaded with it. Be careful, it loosens up EVERY muscle, so if you overdo it you might end up with butt problems.




  15. #15

    Default Treat Leg Cramps at Night

    After a long day at the office, you’d likely want nothing more than to go home, relax, and get a good night’s sleep. But for some people, sleep is nearly impossible due to painful spasms in their legs. Nighttime leg cramps—also called nocturnal leg cramps—can jolt a person awake in the middle of the night. Leg cramps can strike during the day as well, especially during physical activities. Many people turn to more natural ways of dealing with leg cramps at night by applying a hot compress to the area, taking magnesium supplements, and staying hydrated.

  16. #16

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    Not trying to be contrary but I added a daily magnesium pill and did not get any relief from my calf/foot cramps. I take calcium too.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alligator View Post
    Not trying to be contrary but I added a daily magnesium pill and did not get any relief from my calf/foot cramps. I take calcium too.
    I'm not an expert on any of this so...

    I have read that there is a fine balance between potasium, magnesium and calcium, and I believe calcium is the one you don't want too much of as it can interfere with the other two.

    Magnesium can be taken in a number of different forms, some work and some are useless. Sorry, I don't recall them all. Not all forms are actually absorbed by the body and pass right through. Further, some folks respond well to certain forms while others respond to a different form. Some people do better with magnesium oil on the skin.

    I take it via Natural Calm. Too much too soon and you can suddenly experience intestinal distress. Easy does it. Also, I found it takes a considerable amount of time for my body to become acclimated to it, to where it actually "works". I think it just takes time for the body's overall magnesium level to rise where it needs to be. Think months, not days or a week.

    I take a heaping teaspoon with water first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I no longer get leg cramps. On the very rare occasion I feel one starting, it dissappears before developing.

    About a year and half ago I decided to try taking a different form via capsule. I recall it was the form that is generally considered to have the best bioavailability. After a few months the night cramps returned with a vengence. I went back to natural calm.

    Some months ago I had slacked off for a while (maybe we ran out?) and I wound up one time with one of those "slammed in the calf with a sledgehammer" kind of cramps. My wife quickly grabbed a jar of mustard and I took a big mouthful. It didn't kill it instantly but it sure did seem to alleviate it much quicker than without. That was the only time I've tried it, so it's not much to go on.

  18. #18
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    Default Relieving leg cramps

    yep. I was taking calcium, magnesium and potassium too, and didn't help. But this thread got me looking into electrolytes again. Found several brands , and they recommend about 1 per hour while you're hiking. This might be my problem. I never took more than 1 a day!

  19. #19
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    Electrolyte mix at the end of the day, and a tennis ball to massage my leg muscles.
    Ken B
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  20. #20
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    Potato chips and chia seeds, Gatorade and lots of water during the day and after finishing hiking for the day.

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