Relief from Night-Time Leg Cramps? (update added 6/30/16)

Those who know me are aware that I love research.   This propensity is often very useful such as finding the best prices on the latest gadget or determining which blog has the best sugar scrub recipe, etc.   Now to be very honest, this can also lead to an issue that I call "Paralysis by Analysis".  In other words, I become so obsessed with gathering ALL the info before making a decision that I often have difficulty making a decision at all.   This time, I made a decision quickly.

My husband has suffered from severe night-time leg cramps since 2005.  He takes potassium and magnesium supplements nightly, which has helped to some extent, but even with these nightly supplements, his legs would still ache all night long; he was unable to sleep with his legs stretched out fully because the muscle cramps would set in.  A full night's sleep is a luxury that he rarely enjoys.

Last Saturday night, while doing some more oil research (on an unrelated topic), I ran across a testimonial that seemed too good to be true.  This person shared a simple thing he had done before retiring each night that had eliminated his nightly muscle cramps. I had the oils on hand, but it seemed just a little too easy.  I was about to go off on another quest to find more information, but it was getting late, and my hubby was about to head to bed.  So, instead of typing "muscle cramps" in my Google search box, I grabbed my oils and followed him into the bedroom.

He was sleeping so well the next morning that I went off to church without waking him. When I got home, he was smiling and couldn't wait to tell me that he'd had the best night's sleep that he'd had in years.  He was able to relax his legs and sleep comfortably.  Not only was he not awakened with gripping muscle spasms, he said his legs did not ache. He was able to stretch out and sleep in comfort all night and well into the morning!

Regularly interrupted sleep leads to so many problems such as muscle aches, chronic fatigue, decreased cognitive function, lower immune threshold, and so much more.  I have extensively researched the effects of sleep deprivation and have first-hand knowledge from my own health issues as to the importance of proper rest. 

I'm excited to be able to share with you what appears to be a 30 second solution to a painful problem that has plagued my hard-working husband for more than a decade.  Please feel free to comment and share your own thoughts and experiences on this topic.

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(This is a testimonial about how these oils worked for us. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your physician with any medical questions or issues.)

3 drops Cypress Oil*
2 drops Peppermint Oil*
Drip oils (no carrier oil used) into the palm of your hand and rub into the area where recurring muscle cramps are a problem.           That's it! 
 
*I only use therapeutic grade essential oils.  These particular oils were from Young Living.  I  signed up as distributor some time ago because I have confidence in the quality of their oils.  Even though I am a Young Living distributor (and would gladly help anyone who wanted sign up)  I also use oils from another company that I trust to provide high quality and 100% pure oils.  I am slow in my research but am currently exploring information and oils from  other essential oil companies for a future blog post on my top picks - because that's just what I do.   :)

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This is the procedure we used:

I was a bit skeptical about not using a carrier oil, but decided to try it exactly as described in the online testimonial that I read.  I mixed the 5 drops in my hand by rubbing my palms together and then quickly rubbing my hands over the area that was prone to muscle cramps.  There wasn't much to rub in,  so I massaged the area a few minutes with my palms to make sure as much oil as possible would absorb into his leg. I repeated this on the other leg.

After seeing the dramatic results, I decided to put the blend in a roller bottle that he could take with him when he left back out for work.  I chose Grape Seed oil as a carrier oil  because it is quickly absorbed into the skin and is reported to have properties that are beneficial to circulation.

I bought my roller bottle HERE

It is important to make sure that when putting Essential Oils into a roller bottle that you only use bottles that have a steel roller ball.  A roller bottle makes it easy for him to use when he is on the road.  He can quickly apply it when he hits the sleeper at the end of his shift without having to mix anything.
I am curious to see if the addition of the carrier oil will dilute the effectiveness of the treatment.

Be watching for an update to this post when he comes back in.  You know I'll be asking him for specific information about his usage and results!  You can subscribe to this blog on the "About" page.

Update 6/30/16

I am happy to report that this formulation continues to be effective in preventing hubby's night-time leg cramps.  I was also pleasantly surprised to find that when I rolled it on the bottom of my foot one evening while experiencing a foot cramp that didn't seem to want to go away, it not only stopped the cramp while it was happening, I had no further incident of foot cramping for the rest of the night.

Even more helpful to me was discovering how quickly this recipe eases vicious tension headaches. I apply it (with roller bottle) to my temples and the back of my neck.  Headache relief started almost immediately and the warm sensation on the back of my neck was soothing an calming.  This receipe is definitely a keeper!

If you have a favorite roller ball recipe, I would love for you to share it along with information on what you use it for.