NUTRITION-SUPPLEMENTS-MEDICATIONS

I've cut way back on caffeine, at the insistence of another RLS email support group member. In January, when the pain started, we'd unintentionally started drinking fully caffinated coffee (for a couple weeks prior). Until then, we'd only had 50/50 blends. Since I cut back, it's been MUCH better. I still get the RLS sensations, but not the pain with it. It might VERY well have been aggravated by the caffeine.

I used to pooh-pooh the suggestions of caffeine being a culprit for RLS, because I never saw the RLS escalate WHILE I was on the caffeine highs. But, I'm beginning to think it DOES escalate a few days later, and therefore, I never saw the correlation. Maybe, after excessive caffeine (like when I'm travelling and really overdoing the cokes and coffee in an effort to stay awake while I drive), maybe it slowly depletes your system of something important...like B vitamins????

So far, I haven't been willing to try the experiment...but one of these days I will. The experiment will be to overdose on caffeine, and then see if the RLS is more intense a few days later.




I've been on a vitamin/mineral/extra magnesium supplement. But honestly, I couldn't say it's making a difference. Twice, I've stopped the magnesium for a day, by mistake, and the RLS appeared. At this time, however, I'm not convinced this wasn't coincidental.

I'm keeping with the therapy, until I feel pretty in control of things, then, I might experiment by stopping it and seeing if it gets out of control, again. I think my health and energy level is better, while taking the supplements, but the RLS is still occurring to some degree.




I keep on hand a supply of herbal teas. The warm tea, itself, is soothing and relaxing (especially if you sip it while sitting by your aroma therapy candle .
There are several herbal teas which contain herbs that are known to relax the body, relieve tension, and/or relieve muscle cramping. Look around and experiment. I DO, however, recommend you stick to light commercial products. MY RULE OF HERBAL THUMB is: If it works, then it's medicinal. . .and if it's medicinal, then you MUST BE CAREFUL of the dosages and treat it like any other medicine.


Click on this picture for information on my favorite relaxation tea and supplements.






I hope I will never have to resort to medications as treatment for my RLS. I fear the side effects and the augmentation effect (the tendency for the RLS to be worse, when the medication wears off or no longer is effective).

Nevertheless, I am aware that if I DO take medications of ANY kind, whether for RLS or allergies or even antacids, I must consider their interactions with each other and their possible effects on my RLS. In other words, PAY ATTENTION to any medications. They can cause more complications than they solve, if you are not careful.




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