Leg cramps are common occurrences.
Whether they are a result of muscle strain, athletic training, or sleeping in a position for too long, leg cramps can be excruciating.
They usually occur due to inactivity or tired muscles.
Also known as “charley horses”, leg cramps are uncontrolled spasms that can ruin a good night’s sleep.
If you’ve been waking up to terrible pain in the legs, you’re probably experiencing nocturnal leg cramps.
The pain usually begins in the calf muscles and gradually moves to the thighs and feet.
Although leg cramps aren’t particularly serious and can be subdued with a pain killer, they can strike back with throbbing and unbearable pain.
However, if you get leg cramps frequently, you might not want to pop a pill every time.
While leg cramps are common – occurring in more than 60% of adults – they can be avoided by identifying the exact cause.
Frequent use of pain killers can have a wide range of side-effects in the long term.
Therefore, it’s better to seek natural remedies like a leg cramp essential oil blend to treat leg cramps.
But before we move on to some effective natural remedies, here’s a list of why you may be facing frequent leg cramps in the first place.
1. Muscle Fatigue
Muscle spasms usually occur when the calf muscles have been overused during vigorous activity or just daily errands.
It’s possible that your body could be lacking nutrients that are causing you to tire out your leg muscles quicker than normal.
Research about leg cramps tells us that fatigue is the root cause of this condition, which is why athletes have higher chances of developing it.
Even if you’re overexerting yourself during exercise or jogging after a long time, you’re likely to experience leg cramps.
If your job demands standing for long hours during the day, your calf muscles will eventually give in to exhaustion.
This can lead to severe cramps at night. Look at your daily routine and identify what possible activities could be causing your legs to writhe in pain at night.
It might be time to give your body the rest it needs. Take a day off or try to sit and do light leg stretches in between your job.
2. Inactive Lifestyle
While athletic activity is one cause, the other extreme is not moving your body at all. This is common for people who perform a desk job.
Their lifestyle becomes entirely sedentary and that causes their bodies to become slow, lazy, and lethargic quickly.
Staying immobile for a long period of time during the day can take a serious toll on your health. It can also lead to chronic diseases later in your life.
If you move your legs after a long day of just sitting, you’re very likely to get nocturnal leg cramps.
3. Old Age
According to BMC Family Practice, people who are 50 or older have greater chances of developing leg cramps.
Over time, the muscles become weak and tear easily, which makes leg cramps a frequent occurrence.
4. Restricted Body Position
As aforementioned, lying in one position for a long time causes the calf muscles to become stiff. When the blood flow is restricted to the legs, cramps are more frequent.
While these are the most common causes of leg cramps, other special cases include pregnancy, side effects of some medications, and certain medical conditions.
Now that you know exactly why you’re experiencing leg cramps, here’s a surefire way to get rid of them.
Why And How To Use A Leg Cramp Essential Oil Blend
This essential oil recipe for leg cramps will instantly relieve pain, relax the muscles, and improve blood circulation around your thighs. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 6 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 10-15 drops of Rosemary essential oil
- 8 drops of Marjoram essential oil
- 7-8 drops of olive oil
This leg cramp essential oil blend can work miraculously to heal away the painful spasms and improve your muscle flexibility. Here are the benefits of each one:
1. Benefits Of Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is a go-to remedy for muscle soreness. It helps ease swelling and inflammation in the muscles and effectively improve blood circulation.
Massaging this oil on your legs will allow lavender oil’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds to seep in and quickly eliminate the pain.
2. Benefits Of Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil offers powerful anti-inflammatory benefits that can work together with lavender essential oil to get rid of leg cramps.
The oil can reduce muscle tension and soothe spasms very quickly.
3. Benefits Of Marjoram Essential Oil
Marjoram is famously known as a “water pill”, which is a wonderful remedy for nerve and muscular pain.
Of all these oils, Marjoram is the quickest to eliminate muscle spasms and improve blood circulation in the legs.
Massaging this oil can ease pain, inflammation, and encourage your calf muscles to stay flexible and healthy.
Mix all the essential oils and the carrier oil nicely. Olive oil will facilitate the absorption of all the essential oils in the skin and allow faster recovery.
Massage the blend every night before bed and right after waking up to stimulate leg muscles and improve blood circulation.
Lifestyle Changes To Prevent Leg Cramps
While using a leg cramp essential oil blend will certainly help your condition, making lifestyle changes will prevent cramps from occurring in the first place.
- Improving blood flow with regular stretching
- Performing post-workout exercises to relax and soothe tired muscles
- Ensuring good hydration through the day
- Eating a well-balanced diet that’s rich in both macro and micronutrients
- Avoiding unnecessary use of medications
Conclusion
Use the essential oil blend to treat and prevent leg cramps in the future.
Using lavender, rosemary, and marjoram oil blend is far more beneficial and nourishing in treating your leg cramps than any over-the-counter medicine!
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