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Leg cramps
Overview
Leg cramps are an involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a group of muscles in the leg. These are usually painful and extremely discomforting. Leg cramps often occur in elderly patients, though age is no criteria as it is often seen in young people too. Leg cramps generally occur in the calf muscle, the hamstring and the quadriceps. The duration of a leg cramp ranges from less than a minute to several minutes at times.
Featured Remedy
Leg cramps Take 1 raw clove of garlic every day. This clove can be fried in ghee (clarified butter) or castor oil. Take for 2 months.
Ingredients
Leg cramps
Garlic
Precautions
Leg cramps
Gentle massages: Rub the tightened knots in your cramped muscles slowly and gently in the natural direction of the muscles. This relieves the contracted muscles by improving blood circulation in the affected area.
Hot showers: Take a hot shower or a warm bath. Let the hot water flow longer over the cramped areas.
Stretching: For muscle cramps in your calf, stretch your leg with toes pointing upwards and towards the head. Hold this position for 30 seconds. This also eases cramps in the back of the thighs. For muscle cramps in your front thigh, pull your foot on the affected side towards your buttocks and hold for 30 seconds.
Cold or heat treatment: Rub an ice pack over the cramped area for ten minutes or until it turns red, an indication that the blood cells are heating the muscles. Alternatively, you can use a heating pad to relax and stimulate blood circulation to the muscles.
Healthy diet: Consume high-calcium foods like skim milk and yoghurt. Additionally, include potatoes and bananas in your diet to increase your potassium levels.
Other Remedies
Leg cramps
A glass of lukewarm milk before going to bed is a simple, yet effective way to treat the leg cramps.
Prepare chamomile tea and have it at least 5 times a day, for about 2 weeks. For every cup of water, take two or three teaspoons of chamomile flower. Bring the water to a boil and let the flower steep in it for a few minutes. Strain, add sugar or honey, and drink warm.
A hot shower before going to bed is effective in curing leg cramps. Pour some hot water on the painful area as well.
While you are on bed, stretch the legs as far as you can and keep them in the same position for half an hour. While standing, push your heels onto the floor and bend your toes upwards. This is a good way to treat leg cramps.
For people who often face the problem of leg cramps, press your toes against the wall and stretch the calf muscles. Repeat this 15-20 times.
All advice is intended to be for informational purposes only, and not a substitute for professional or medical advice and/or diagnosis/treatment. DesiDieter does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice from a qualified healthcare provider.
