Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
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Robert Campbell
Copyright 2008
Required Disclaimer:
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Table of Contents
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Chapter One: Introduction
First, I would like to say that I created this ebook to help other people who have
suffered from the terrible, debilitating effects of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) -
just like I have. It is my belief that the solutions that I am presenting to you will
offer you quick, permanent relief from your symptoms. Not only do the following
I want to remind you that I am not a doctor, and what I am saying is not to be
father who lives on a budget. I’m only a person who researched RLS because I
was desperate to find a solution, and I know that what I have found will help other
people.
I suffered from RLS for many years and nothing that I tried seemed to offer me
any relief. Doctors were not able to help me. Dietary changes didn’t work for me
Any time I was under a lot of stress or anxiety, I would end up suffering from an
RLS attack, only sleeping a couple hours, doubled over in pain, kicking my legs.
If you suffer from RLS you know how stressful this is. I was jittery all the time
not just at night. Even if your symptoms are not as severe as mine were, this
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When I would suffer from an attack, I had to move. Right then. And I was going to
be doing the same restless movements over and over, suffering from agonizing leg
RLS really starts to dominate your whole life. You have to plan out everything
that you do around your condition. I cannot begin to tell you how much my life
When I finally found a solution I was just amazed that the result was cheap, easy,
and available in non prescription form. I was amazed and kind of angry really,
because the answer to all of my suffering was as close as my local health food
store.
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Chapter Two: What Is RLS? What Causes It?
RLS, as you may know, is also closely related to Periodic Limb Movement
crawling sensations, involuntary leg jerking, insomnia, severe fatigue, leg aches
and pains.
People suffering from this condition have a very unpleasant, nagging urge to move
and stretch. Problems are often present in the day, but are usually worse at
night—beginning shortly after the person goes to bed. Distress often interferes
with sleep, putting further stress on the person’s nervous system. Homeopathic
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remedies often help and I feel they are the key to this disconcerting problem. If
There are many theories as to why some people are affected by RLS, but no single
cause has been identified yet. Basically, the most popular theory says that RLS is
deficiency, which suggests that disturbed iron in the body may also play a role in
synthesis, it is unclear whether the relationship between the two plays a role in
RLS. There also appears to be a genetic component, mainly when the condition
When someone begins suffering from RLS symptoms, it can often easily be
mistaken for a number of other ailments. If you are unsure that the symptoms you
are experiencing are that of RLS, I would suggest first doing a sleep study called a
Polysomnography. The study may be done to help your doctor diagnose restless
legs syndrome or rule out any other sleep disorders. This test records the electrical
activity of your brain, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, air flow through
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Although this test is not essential, it provides details of limb movement symptoms.
These details may help evaluate the severity of your symptoms. The severity
ranges from people who have restless legs syndrome occasionally, with only mild
difficulty falling asleep, to those like me who have it frequently, with repeated
interruptions of sleep. As I learned first hand, serious sleep problems can greatly
After you are asleep, most people with RLS also have involuntary or jerking leg
movements called periodic limb movements. These movements can interrupt you
sleep and add to problems with fatigue. Periodic limb movements may also occur
during the day, although most people move around after their legs begin to bother
them. As a result, the periodic limb movements that people have when they are
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Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements also often disturb the sleep
of a bed partner. This can cause fatigue for both people and can strain the
relationship.
Symptoms may start during infancy or any time during someone’s life. At first
symptoms may be mild and occur only once in awhile. Typically, symptoms get
worse with age. After age 50, many people with this condition have daily
symptoms and suffer from significant sleep loss. Severe insomnia, fatigue,
anxiety, depression, and lack of social activity can become a problem and cause a
especially after week 20. Symptoms usually disappear soon after the baby is
born, unless the mother had this condition before she became pregnant.
produce symptoms that are similar to those of restless legs syndrome. However,
most of those other conditions do not occur primarily at night and when a person
is at rest. Leg cramps that are not caused by restless legs syndrome often do occur
at night, but they usually involve intense pain in certain muscles, unlike leg
The kind of "nervous leg" seen in some people during the day bouncing up and
down is most likely not restless legs syndrome. People who have "nervous legs"
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are not moving their legs because they feel the need to, as in RLS. In fact, they
are often unaware that they are moving their legs at all.
RLS sufferers have an urge to move their legs usually because of uncomfortable
some cases, they may not feel any unpleasant sensations but still feel the urge to
• The sensations and the urge to move begin or get worse during periods of
• The sensations and the urge to move are partially or totally relieved by
movement.
• Relief may be temporary and only last while you are walking, stretching, or
• The urge to move your legs and the sensations are worse in the evening or
at night. (Some people may have severe sensations and urges to move their
So, once you know that you have RLS... what can you do next?
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Chapter Three: Finally, Something That Works!
So, there I was, completely desperate for a solution. My wife and I were on the
brink of divorce and I was a mess. Frankly, I had missed far too many events in
And I was really afraid that things would get to the point where my health would
start to severely deteriorate from the insomnia and fatigue, which scared me and
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I also did not want to be taking tons of prescription drugs for the rest of my life. I
was previously on Requip and it did help significantly at first but it also came with
a host of horrible side effects, like many prescription medications, all its own.
In my opinion, if you decide to start taking Requip, Mirapex, or any other related
drug for your RLS symptoms, it just means that you are trading one set of
experienced the blessing and the curse these medications can be. All I can say is
So after this bout of depression set in and my life began a downward spiral I hit
the library and started doing research. I was really hoping to find a solution that
did not involve harmful drugs, and that one made sense to me.
Here is what I found, and it has worked wonders for me. The first two steps are
the main method and the last two are extra steps that I took to make sure I attacked
1. 250mg supplement of Magnesium daily. I know you may have heard this
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healthy functioning of our body. It is vital for many biochemical processes
- It is essential for a healthy heart. It not only helps the body to stabilize the
rhythm of the heart but also plays a vital role in preventing abnormal blood
highly beneficial for relieving stiff muscles and hence recommended for
fibromyalgia patients;
- By maintaining blood sugar levels it helps the body prevent and manage
diabetes;
- It has also been found useful in treating prostate related health problems in men.
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A word of caution: both magnesium deficiency and too much excess can cause
harm. Some diuretics can cause negative interactions with magnesium and are
consumption. Stick to a 250mg per day supplement plus eat foods rich in
magnesium and you will get just the right amount your body needs.
2. Empty your bladder completely before going to bed. This might sound
simple but it is essential for RLS sufferers. It's best if you don't strain your
finished, stand up or shift your position, wait a minute or two, and then sit
down again. You will find that you can empty your bladder a little more
than you initially felt you could. This method, called double voiding, helps
ensure that you don't have any residual urine in your bladder after a trip to
the bathroom. Studies have shown that the little bit of urine left in your
urine in the bladder will tickle nerves in the lower extremities sending
signals throughout your central nervous system, causing the need to move.
I know this might seem a little far-fetched but I will tell you this, I tried it
and it worked wonders! I highly suggest you give this a try and as I think
you will see that it will greatly reduce your urge to move during the night.
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3. (30c) of Rhus Toxicodendron (“Rhus Tox”) daily. This will stop the
position, or get up and pace the room at night. Rhus Tox is an herb for
people who feel extremely apprehensive when trying to fall asleep and who
are unable to stay in bed so it works great for RLS sufferers such as us. If
you have a tendency toward stiffness and soreness in many joints and
muscles that seem to feel better from both warmth and motion, then Rhus
Here are the medical definitions on what Rhus Tox is and how it works. Rhus Tox
is a natural supplement for nervous irritation and nervous tension. Its range of
application is wide but distinct. Acting primarily and most pronouncedly upon the
system. It is a remedy best adapted for infants, young children, adolescents, and
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Possible Reactions:
The only side effects are individual aggravations that may occur with any other
homeopathic remedies. What types of aggravations are these? Usually none at all!
I have yet to meet anyone who has suffered any terrible side effects from using
any type of homeopathic remedy and that same goes for this one as well.
4. Rooibos Tea – 1 cup (steep for 10 minutes) before bedtime will reduce
spasms and induce sleep. It will also stop generalized pain and
inflammation. Rooibos tea is a caffeine free African red tea that is packed
with antioxidants. It is low in tannins which will not hinder the absorption
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Now, for those of you who find it extremely difficult to sleep at night I want to
suggest the California poppy with Corydalis. Together these two natural
ingredients will stop muscle spasms, relive pain and induce sleep. Often, this is
Continuous use of corydalis may result in tolerance and may also lead to a cross-
tolerance to morphine. Anyone who already uses any type of a sleeping aid,
and corydalis.
Other Recommendations:
In order to increase your chances of success in curing your RLS I suggest you
avoid white bread/white flour, caffeine and alcohol products, especially wine. If
possible, it may also help to stay away from antidepressants, antihistamines, cold
ingredients may make your symptoms worse. Your doctor needs to know what
medicines you are taking in order to rule them out as a cause of your symptoms.
Final Notes:
If symptoms do not improve after the recommended time period, consult your
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Do not exceed the recommended dose of any natural products before consulting
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Chapter Four: Relief for Everyone
As a little bonus I added the following section which I compiled while doing my
research for my cure. The already mentioned steps above worked wonders for me
and I am sure they will work wonders for you as well but I wanted to throw in
The following are suggested natural products for people with specific RLS
symptoms. For the proper dosing directions please refer to the beginning of
Aconitum Napellus: If you are very anxious and tend to panic, this remedy may
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shooting pains in the legs, and your nervous system is very agitated. Aconitum
Napellus is for the type of person who is unable to relax and fall asleep — or the
Arsenicum Album: A person who needs this remedy feels simultaneously restless
and exhausted, with feelings of weakness, heaviness, and trembling in the legs.
Cramping and burning sensations may also be experienced. Anxiety and a feeling
of insecurity may be pronounced. People who need Arsenicum are often deeply
Causticum: This natural substance can be helpful if a person has restless legs
with sensations of burning and aching, and cramps in the calves and feet.
Symptoms are worse in bed at night and often improve with warmth. People who
should use Causticum often have a tendency toward chronic problems with
muscles and tendons, contractures, and muscle weakness. They are often very
tendency toward twitching and spasms in the muscles. Please try this if your legs
and arms often jerk as you fall asleep, and your sleep is extremely light. If you
frequently sigh and yawn, burst into tears or laugh unexpectedly this might be for
you. People with problems brought on by grief or emotional stress often respond
to this remedy.
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Sulphur: A good remedy if you experience a drawing feeling in the legs, with
burning sensations and restlessness. It works well if your legs and feet heat up
during sleep, and you are the type of person who throws the covers off, or
constantly moves your legs to find a cooler spot. Jerking, twitching, and talking
during sleep with frequent waking, are other indications for Sulphur.
Zincum metallicum: When restlessness in the legs is distressing and extreme, this
remedy may be indicated. If you feel a constant need to move your legs, both at
night and in the daytime (although night is usually worse), and your arms may be
involved. Use this when your sleep is very agitated, with frequent starts and
jerking. People who need this remedy are usually excitable and talkative, with
Do you know why doctors don’t prescribe any of these substances mentioned
above? Because they are natural herbs that are easy to obtain in any health food
store which means there is no prescription needed for it. Why wouldn’t doctors
recommend it? They get a lot of their money from pharmaceutical companies for
Now I am not saying that all these prescription drugs do not work.
encourage studies on herbs that grow abundantly and can be plucked out of the
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ground or off a tree, and that are not regulated by the Food and Drug
drugs and medicines which have huge potential often never get discovered
because pharmaceutical companies - the ones who have the money to pay for
It’s actually surprising that there has been as much research as there has been on
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Chapter Five: Your Diet and How It Effects RLS
While I was recovering from my RLS flare-ups and taking the Rhus Tox and the
supplements that I talked about, I ate a special diet. I wanted to make sure that I
did not irritate and inflame my muscles and I wanted to give my body a chance to
heal.
potatoes.
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• More magnesium, which is found in many fruit and vegetables, whole
grains, lentils and brown rice. Some food sources of magnesium are wheat
* The cold and flu supplement Airborne is also a great way to get a lot of
magnesium and boost your immune system at the same time. I cannot tell you
why it worked so well but I have had many friends with RLS that have claimed
that when other magnesium supplements did not work, Airborne worked wonders
for them. Why? Who knows, but hey if it works I’m sure not going to complain
about it!
Go to the doctor and get a food allergy test. This will help you to find out if you
are allergic to any foods which might trigger your RLS. Many, many people are
lactose intolerant and have no idea. If you are allergic to any foods than you can
eliminate them from your diet and further reduce your chances of having
symptoms flare up in the future. Not only for RLS but many other health issues
could be caused by an unknown food allergy and it’s amazing how many people
have no idea what foods they are allergic to. Even if you have been tested in the
past you should always stay current because your body has a way of developing
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Another (and free!) way to check for food allergies is to use the pulse test:
First, take your pulse for a full minute before you get of bed in the morning
(normal resting pulse is between 60 an 80 beats per minute). Write your pulse rate
Then take your pulse again right before eating any food which you might be
Eat that food, and don’t eat anything else for one hour.
Also, do not exercise or do anything else that might cause your pulse rate to shoot
Take your pulse after 30 minutes. Write it down. Then, take it again after 60
If your pulse rate increases more than 10 to 15 beats or goes over 85 after eating
that specific type of food there is a very good chance that you are allergic to that
food.
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Chapter Six: More Helpful Tips
*To use these dosage directions, you will need to refer to the directions on the
Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms that you are
directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should
be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.
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Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one
dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the
dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the
individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times
a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per
remedy.
Eat a healthy high fiber diet and drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
fatigue. And finally, make sure that you exercise at least 3 times a week. Walk
your dog one block further or get on the treadmill and walk for a half hour while
Hydrotherapy:
Before sleeping, take a ten minute hot footbath to draw blood out toward your
limbs and away from your head. If you need to relax, take a hot bath – but make
sure it is at least 2 hours before bedtime. Otherwise, your body temperature will
Aromatherapy:
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Essential oils can have a dramatic relaxing effect. Many can help you get to sleep,
but lavender, neroli, chamomile, and ylang ylang are some of the best. Add some
to a bath or a massage, or sprinkle a few drops on your pillow. You might also
Marjoram is another sleep inducing oil that has the added benefits of warming and
relaxing the muscles. You can use it in any of the previous preparations, but it is
sleep aid. Tuck one under your pillow for all night insomnia relief.
Passionflower is a great tea that you can substitute for the African red tea, Rooibos
that I mentioned previously and swear by. If you cannot find it in your grocery
store look for passionflower in tea or capsule form. 500mg or 1-2ml a half hour
before bedtime should do just fine. Passionflower is a great sleep aid that relaxes
the nervous system and does not cause drowsiness in the morning.
I hope that all of the information in this ebook is as helpful for you as it was for me. I
feel confident that the things that I have discovered and shared with you here are
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Thank you all so much and good luck!
Robert Campbell
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