Restless leg syndrome, RLS, causes jumpy, painful legs that tend to flare up at night, sometimes disturbing sleep. Its cause is not well understood but has been associated with iron deficiency and such conditions as diabetes, pregnancy and obesity. Traditional medications used to treat RLS may include analgesics and central nervous system depressants but you may want to try herbal remedies such as horse chestnut, astragalus, butcher's broom and skullcap. Herbs for RLS may not work right away so you need to take over several weeks for effectiveness. As with all herbal supplements, talk to a healthcare professional before beginning treatment.
Butcher's Broom
Butcher's Broom is an evergreen bush in the lily family. Its dried branches were used as a broom throughout Europe which gave it its name. It has become popular for the treatment of restless legs and other conditions, mainly affecting circulation. It helps improve circulation and blood viscosity. It contains a phytochemical known as ruscogenin which may inhibit the enzyme elastin and help stabilize blood vessels. It has also been used to treat hemorrhoids, varicose veins and swollen legs.
Horse Chestnut
Horse Chestnut is a tree native to America that grows up to 80 feet. The most common herbal use is extract from the seed, which may improve vein tone and improve the blood flow, making it helpful for restless legs. Like some other herbs used for RLS, it has also been used to treat other vein-related conditions such as hemorrhoids. Though the tree is common, you should take only commercially-prepared extract because raw, unprocessed seeds, leaves and fruit may be toxic. Children, pregnant women and anyone with kidney disorder should not take horse chestnut.
American Skullcap
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that American skullcap has been used for over 200 years as a relaxant; however, more research is needed to determine its effectiveness for conditions such as RLS. American skullcap may promote menstruation so children, pregnant women or sufferers of hormonal disorders should not use it. Also, do not confuse American skullcap with Chinese skullcap. Though the latter is related, it is used for different conditions and may affect the cardiac system.
Astragalus
Astragalus, also known as milk vetch, has been used in Chinese medicine to boost circulation and assist in iron absorption from food. It is also considered to be an overall body tonic which balances the immune system. It has been used for a variety of medical conditions, including cardiac disorder, infections, cancer, diabetes and inflammatory conditions. It may work to treat RLS due to its effects on iron, as restless legs are thought to be related to iron deficiency in some. People on blood thinners such as warfarin should not take astragalus. Talk to your doctor about medications you are taking before beginning treatment.
References
- Prescription for Herbal Healing; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2002
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Astragalus
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skullcap
