At least 12 million Americans suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS), which causes abnormal sensations in the legs, including painful throbbing and tingling, irresistible urge to move the legs, creeping sensations and insomnia. Although RLS can occur during the day, the symptoms are usually more frequent shortly after going to bed. Symptoms may be triggered by stress or emotional upset. The sleep disturbances caused by the syndrome may lead to chronic daytime fatigue, depression and difficulty concentrating. Although RLS usually affects the legs, the feet and arms may also be affected.

 

Besides the array of "annoying" symptoms of RLS, research increasingly indicates that RLS-related problems can be quite severe. The results of a recent Harvard Medical School study were reported in the January 1,2008, issue of Neurology and showed that people with RLS were more than twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (disease of the arteries of the heart) or cardiovascular disease {diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including those in the brain) as the general population. One possible reason is that hundreds of periodic leg movements per night result in simultaneous jumps in blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, this may be responsible for the higher likelihood of heart attacks and strokes -- and the more severe the symptoms, the higher the risk. RLS may occur more often in patients with peripheral neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, Parkinson's disease, pregnancy or iron deficiency. SSRIs, Tofranil (imipramine), anti-nausea drugs, cold and allergy medicines, certain anti-psychotic and anti-seizure drugs can also aggravate symptoms.

 

Getting up and moving the legs usually provides temporary relief. Avoiding alcohol, stimulants and nicotine can also help. Stress reduction techniques such as exercise, warm baths and massaging the legs can be very helpful. As RLS has been associated with low iron levels, testing and iron supplementation may be indicated.

 

This a question I often hear. Sometimes it is more of a statement that "those natural things don't work".

My first thought is that all those drug ads are paying off. Then my answer is yes they work. In many cases they work as well or better than drugs and without side effects.

 

Everything works for the same reason - the chemicals contained in the food, herb or drug causes a reaction in the body. I ask does marihuana, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco work. They are natural. In fact most of our drugs were derived from a natural substance. 

 

To be effective it requires the right diagnosis, the right herb/supplement in the right strength and right combinations to be effective. Many times when an herb/supplement doesn't work it is for one of these reasons. We see examples of this on a regular basis in our clinic. Some one comes in telling us they have tried various natural treatments without success. By providing a correct diagnosis and the correct substance we almost always get positive results.

 

You can bet the pharmaceutical business wants you to think that herbs don't work. However, each major pharmaceutical company has a research team at every school of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China studying the various herbs.
Many of the drugs you take probably came from a plant. All narcotic pain medicine came from cocaine or morphine or coca and poppy plants.

New Drugs Awaiting Discovery In Chinese Herbs? The first large-scale computer screenings of Chinese herbs -- commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine -- has revealed a wide variety of compounds with potential for use in treating HIV/AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, arthritis and other diseases, according to scientists in London.

In an article scheduled for the March 26 issue of the ACS' Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, a bi-monthly publication, David J. Barlow and colleagues note that such in silico research is becoming increasingly effective in identifying promising compounds that could be candidates for drug development. In silico ("in silicon") means research done on computers or via computer simulation and has joined the in vivo and in vitro experiments traditionally used in the life sciences.

The researchers screened a database of chemical structures of Chinese herbal constituents from 240 species of plants for possible activity against various diseases. About 62 percent of the species were found to contain chemicals with characteristics required for activity against at least one disease and 53 percent against two or more diseases. The study also describes corroborative evidence from the scientific literature that supported many of the computer predictions.

 

Give us a call and see if there are herbs that could help you stay well or get well. Prescribed correctly they are safe and effective. We have 14 years of experience and more than 25,000 safe treatments.

                                                                                                            
 

 

Story 1: I have had stress incontinence myself since turning 40 (23 yrs). Figured why not try it - even though don't wet the bed. It works wonders. recommended magnesium aspartate or magnesium citrate for incontinence, but citrate is the best for constipation. It doesn't stop incontinence 100%, but going from several episodes weekly to 2-3 a month is wonderful! Find I just adjust the dose. Too much will cause diarrhea.
Good luck, Susie

Story 2: 20yrs ago read that childhood bedwetting can be prevented by magnesium. Thank God I didn't have that problem. Magnesium taken before bedtime not only greatly reduced both stress & urge incontinence, both frequency and actual accidents, but also helps my RLS (restless leg syndrome). Now I only have 1-2 RLS episodes per year instead of several nights weekly. Sure beats getting hysterical for sleep because my legs won't quit cramping or jumping and no more adult diapers. Heaven!!! It also cured my lifelong battle with constipation. Too much causes diarrhea. Cutting back from 1200mg nightly to 800 works perfectly for me for all the above!

 

Make sure you have a bio-available form of magnesium.  We offer high quality products through our office and website www.saylormedical.com/id68.html
 

If you have health issues that you would like help with from a more natural or integrative perspective, give us a call at 727-938-9966.