Source: Freepik
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition that affects 1 out of every 10 people. Anyone who suffers from RLS can experience uncomfortable symptoms in their leg ranging from uncontrollable spasms to painful cramping to tingling sensations. Besides causing discomfort, it can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
If you are suffering from RLS and are looking for ways to treat and control the symptoms, here's one treatment that is gaining a lot of popularity - CBD. But is CBD for restless leg syndrome effective? That’s what we’ll be exploring today.
So let’s take it from the top, shall we?
What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome is a medical condition that leaves a person with an uncontrollable urge to keep moving their legs (and sometimes their arms too). This can happen at any time of the day, but most people claim it occurs more often during the evening or at night.
The good news is that RLS can be treated at home.
Common Home Remedies for RLS
If you suffer from RLS often, then you’ll be happy to learn that there are several ways to alleviate the symptoms at home, such as:
- Stay hydrated.
- Reduce the consumption of caffeine.
- Soak in a warm bath to help your muscles relax.
- Alternating ice packs with warm compresses can lessen the intensity of the symptoms.
- Reduce stress by implementing stress management and relaxation techniques.
- Exercise the muscles in your leg. But make sure to exercise moderately. Too much can aggravate the symptoms.
- Implement lifestyle changes such as sleeping on time. Fatigue can worsen your condition.
If these tips don’t help, then you should try taking CBD.
Does CBD Help Restless Leg Syndrome?
CBD has already proven to be effective in treating numerous medical conditions. But what role does CBD play in helping people manage restless leg syndrome?
For starters, CBD helps relieve muscle tension, discomfort, and pain, among other things. Massaging the legs with CBD pain relief cream has been shown to block the pain and reduce RLS symptoms.
Researchers at the Clinical Neurosciences Centre in Bordeaux, France, found that 83% of the people participating in their study claimed that CBD helped alleviate RLS symptoms. And this is only the beginning. More research is required to understand the connection between CBD and restless leg syndrome and to confirm the long-term effects of the drug on managing the condition.
But besides providing brief relief from the RLS symptoms, CBD can help patients unwind and get a peaceful night’s sleep.
So can CBD help restless leg syndrome?
While CBD cannot cure RLS, it has helped many people manage the condition. What’s more, since it’s a natural remedy, CBD is worth considering.
How to Use CBD for RLS
There are multiple ways you can use CBD for RLS, but taking it orally or applying it topically has produced the best results. Here are a few common ones:
- Take CBD Orally
You can take a few drops of CBD oil before bedtime at least 1 hour before bed. This gives the drug enough time to enter your bloodstream and enables you to relax after a long hectic day, and allows you to sleep better.
You can put some drops of the oil directly under the tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing for quick results. Or you can mix it into your food, however, this may increase the time for the drug to take effect.
- Apply CBD Topically
You can apply topical CBD to get relief from symptoms instantly. Massage CBD cream for restless leg syndrome, giving special attention to sore or tense areas.
But no matter how you plan to use CBD, remember that everyone responds to the drug differently, especially when you use CBD for restless leg syndrome.
For instance, body weight, metabolic rate, and body chemistry are just a few factors that can alter the way the body reacts to CBD. Plus, the quality, dosage, and type of CBD product a person uses can also create different results. Furthermore, if you have other medical conditions, you have to take into consideration how CBD will react with your medication. So you need to find what works best for you. And this might take a while for you to figure out.
The best technique is to start slow. Follow the recommended dosage your doctor prescribes or the quantity written on the product’s label. If you do not achieve the desired results, you can increase the dose or frequency after consulting your healthcare provider.
How to Find the Best CBD for Restless Leg Syndrome
Now that you know that CBD can help with RLS, let’s learn how to find the right products. Keep in mind that not all CBD-infused products are the same. You need to find ones that have been tested by third-party labs and are of the best quality.
So your search should include ample research. Begin by asking friends and family members who use CBD to treat RLS about recommendations. Continue looking online for reputable companies with adequate customer reviews.
Make sure to check that the product has an up-to-date COA (Certificate of Authenticity) from a renowned third-party laboratory. It helps determine the purity of CBD in the product and its quality. The COA also confirms whether it actually contains the same amount of CBD and THC mentioned on the label. More importantly, it declares whether the product contains contaminants such as pesticides, mold, heavy metals, etc. Lastly, check the ingredients to make sure the product doesn’t have a substance you are allergic to.
Over to You
Not much is known about what triggers RLS. So a lot of research is being done to help relieve the symptoms. Researchers continue to study the effectiveness of CBD for restless leg syndrome since initial results appear to be very promising.
However, to acquire the benefits of CBD for this condition, you need to use high-quality CBD from a reputable brand such as Oasis Cosmetics. Their offerings have been tested by third-party laboratories.
But before you try CBD to treat RLS, consult your healthcare provider. They can guide you towards a treatment plan that suits your medical condition while taking into consideration other medicines you are currently using.