How much tonic water should I drink for leg cramps?
If vitamins don’t work over time, taking antihistamines or calcium channel blockers have been shown to help those suffering from muscle cramps. If all else fails and the cramps are interfering with your day-to-day life, try drinking about 6 ounces of tonic water before going to bed.
What does tonic water do for leg cramps?
But we think the bitter taste of quinine could be triggering special receptors in the mouth, throat and stomach. Stimulation of these TRP channels can help nerves overcome muscle cramps. Even a small dose of quinine might be helpful.
What is good for leg cramps at night?
What can I do to make leg cramps go away if they happen?
- Stretch. Straighten your leg and then flex it, pulling your toes towards your shin to stretch the muscles.
- Massage. Use your hands or a roller to massage the muscles.
- Stand. Get up.
- Walk.
- Apply heat.
- Apply cold.
- Pain killers.
- Elevate.
When should I drink tonic water for restless legs?
Ask the doctor It’s been suggested that drinking 2 to 3 ounces of tonic water before bedtime can prevent leg cramps at night.
Can you drink tonic water everyday?
Even three glasses daily should be OK as long as you are not sensitive to quinine. Some susceptible people develop a dangerous blood disorder after even small doses of quinine. Symptoms of quinine toxicity include digestive upset, headache, ringing in the ears, visual disturbances, skin rash and arrhythmias.
What are the benefits of tonic water?
The quinine present in tonic water provides a distinctive bitter flavor. While not dangerous, tonic water does not have any benefits and could lead to an unnecessary increase in calorie consumption.
What is your body lacking when you have leg cramps?
Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet can contribute to leg cramps. Diuretics — medications often prescribed for high blood pressure — also can deplete these minerals.
How do you get rid of cramps in the middle of the night?
Sleep in the fetal position: If you’re normally a back or stomach sleeper, try rolling to your side and tucking in your arms and legs. This position takes pressure off your abdominal muscles and is the best sleeping position to relieve tension that can make cramping worse.
What is your body lacking when you have restless legs?
Iron deficiency is thought to be one of the main causes of RLS. Several studies have shown that iron supplements can help ease RLS symptoms ( 1 , 3 ).
Is tonic water good for restless legs?
Many people believe that drinking tonic water helps with nighttime leg cramps and restless legs syndrome. However, there is no scientific evidence verifying this belief. In fact, the FDA have warned doctors against prescribing quinine to treat leg cramps or restless legs syndrome.
Does quinine help arthritis?
Quinine is also used to treat lupus and arthritis. Quinine was frequently prescribed as an off-label treatment for leg cramps at night, but this has become less common due to a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that such practice is associated with life-threatening side effects.
Is tonic water an anti inflammatory?
Quinine — which is responsible for the bitter taste in tonic water — is a chemical found in cinchona bark. It has been used as an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug since the 18th century.
How much tonic water must you drink to ease leg cramps?
Image: Karl Rosencrants/ Thinkstock. Q. It’s been suggested that drinking 2 to 3 ounces of tonic water before bedtime can prevent leg cramps at night.
What is the best remedy for leg cramps at night?
Valerian and skullcap herbs: Skullcap is a treatment for anxiety and insomnia.
What are the best drinks for leg cramps?
Power through your next walk with foods that ease soreness and fuel a speedy recovery for muscle cramps. A daily serving of a high-potassium food—a handful of dried fruits; a glass of tomato juice, citrus juice, or milk; a slice of melon, an orange, or a banana—can help banish leg cramps and prevent their recurrence. Drink a lot of water too: It maintains circulation and helps flush cramp-causing waste products from your muscles.
What is the best OTC for leg cramps?
Although no specific medical treatment is indicated for leg cramps, several drugs have been used with varied success. Calcium-channel blockers, such as diltiazem, have been used to treat nocturnal leg cramps. Vitamin B complex (including 30-mg vitamin B6) has also shown effectiveness.