Night time leg cramps – two quick hacks and some further thoughts

I’m a remedial massage therapist as well as a naturopath – in part because my approach to well-being is about treating the whole person.

So when I came across this short video on managing night cramps, it had me clicking PLAY.

The presenter’s two simple “hacks” for self massage and stretching to relieve and avoid cramps are excellent options.

Common medications have side effects that can contribute to cramping

I found the video’s point about the way that some common mainstream medications can actually be behind night cramps worth reinforcing. In my experience, there can be problematic side effects with:

• Diuretics like lasix or frusemide (which can result in dehydration and mineral imbalances).
• Statins (cholesterol lowering) like rosuvastatin, simvastatin.
• Beta-blockers (for heart issues) like propanolol, atenolol.
• Opioids (pain killers) like codeine, tramadol, oxycodone.
• NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for pain) like ibuprofen, aspirin.

So if you’re on any of these mainstream medications and having onoing cramp symptoms, it could be time for a review.

Nutritional supplements can be useful

Cramps can result from low-nutrient foodstuffs common in our industrialised food system, compromised gut health, chronic stress, medication use or metabolic disease states. As a naturopath, I also often recommend helpful supplements and herbal combinations:

• Magnesium…. both for it’s impact on cramping and as a general relaxant. Topical gels may be a good option. Be careful of over-the-counter products – which often have other not-so-helpful additives.
• Potassium, Calcium, Sodium – it’s often the balance of all these minerals that makes a difference – so it could pay to get that investigated. (Coconut water contains many of these minerals, BTW.)
• Herbal medicines to help with circulation, kidney, liver function and your nervous system.

An example of success for a recent patient (I’ll call her Alison): After determining (through her GP) that her night time calf cramps were NOT related to a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), Alison’s pain resolved after a few months on a well tolerated and absorbed Magnesium blend with B vitamins plus a herbal mixture containing lemon balm, gotu cola, ginkgo, ginger and passionflower.

Get expert advice

The human body is a complex system – and persistent, unexplained night time leg cramps can also be early warning signs of deeper issues. So make sure that you seek professional assistance if the problem is an ongoing one. Any herbal or nutritional supplements must be tailored to you as a unique individual.

Sleep is a critical contributor to our overall well-being – so minimising sleep interruptions such as cramps can make a big difference to your health and happiness. Having a couple of quick “hacks” that you can try without having to get up is really valuable.

If ongoing cramps are limiting your quality of life – and especially impacting your sleep – then contact your friendly naturopath to explore your options.