Smart Health - Nature's Way - Tracy Bhalla
Restless Legs Are you one of approximately 30 million Americans who suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome? If so, then clearly you are not alone, but have probably never discussed it with anyone outside of your inner circle, and maybe your Doctor. When doing the Case Studies for my Aromatherapy Certification, it amazed me that something that affects so many people is so infrequently discussed. In fact, prior to my first client having this concern, I myself had never heard of it! Since then of course I have met numerous people with the condition and have had the pleasure of helping many of them with their symptoms, including my own mother! Maybe it’s because there is no known cure, nor, in fact, any one known cause, that it is such a silent enigma, but if you are one of the ones under its hold, then please read on. If you can take one nugget away from this which helps you then I have succeeded with my intention, but please let me know – I’ll be thrilled to hear from you. I always try to look at a problem from as many different angles as I can, so this was no different. If we were having a sit-down consultation, I would ask you first to take a look at your lifestyle and ask yourself if you can identify trigger points that you know will cause restless legs either right then or later. It may be something you do, or don’t do, something you eat or drink (or don’t), a supplement you forget to take, etc.…Keep a diary if that helps. Make notes of anything that reduces the severity of the symptoms; this will help you come up with your own personalized plan. We are all different, have different lives, different habits, what works for you may not work for your friend or neighbor. Particularly when working with an unknown like this, we must identify what works for us. No one else can tell you how you feel. If you know there are certain key triggers for you, then the obvious first step is to try and avoid those, but there are certainly other things that can help too. Certain mineral deficiencies, exercise and essential oils are the three I will focus on here.
Magnesium deficiency has been discovered to be highly prevalent in pretty much everybody in the “Western” world, mainly due to our diets. There have been some small scale studies done in Romania and the US which seem to support the theory that adding magnesium to your daily routine can indeed help with RLS symptoms, but there has also been a LOT of anecdotal evidence to suggest that it helps. (As I said, if it works for you, then just do it!) The best way for our bodies to absorb magnesium is through the skin, so an Epsom Salts bath twice a week should do it. If you really can’t stand a soak in the tub for 20 minutes, then a high quality supplement should work too. Our bodies need magnesium for many of our bodies’ processes, including those that control how your muscles and nerves work (see the correlation there?!) It also helps to keep your bones strong, your heart healthy and your blood sugar at a normal level. Why would you not take an Epsom salts bath after knowing that? Another common deficiency also related to a lot of bodily processes is iron. Iron plays a critical role in transporting oxygen, via red blood cells, through the body and in producing the energy used during muscle contractions. It is also an important player in the production of immune cells that help your body fight off foreign invaders. Again, I think you can see here the implied relationship with an iron deficiency and RLS. And again, with all its other positives, why would you not take an iron supplement? Unless you’re like Popeye and eat a can of spinach a day.
times over to inflammation and there are many essential oils that have been scientifically proven to help with that. Here are my three favorite picks, which are custom blended in my Restless Legs roll-on blend, in a ready to use 10ml bottle: 1. Sweet Marjoram, Origanum majorana – known to have a good anti-inflammatory action, due to its components such as terinen-4-ol and linalyl acetate (Guimaraes et al. 2013), (RLS has been associated with inflammation in many studies). It also has comforting and sedating actions (Perry and Perry 2006) 2. Ylang Ylang, Cananga odorata var. Genuina – extremely calming and acts as a tonic to the nervous system (RLS is often considered as being nerve based) 3. Sweet Orange, Cirtus sinensis – high percentage of limonene which is an excellent anti-inflammatory (Hitora et al, 2012), also relaxing and induces a happy uplifted feeling. Also, the d-limonene content is a skin penetration enhancer which helps all oils in the blend enter the skin, and therefore the bloodstream, faster. Whether you use this blend from www.LogHouseAromatics.com or come up with your own support technique, I would love to hear your success stories. Let’s share them all and help the millions suffering with this!
Many people find that if they do not exercise as much as usual – even if it is only walking to work/supermarket/etc., then their RLS will be worse that day/night. In which case, take a walk before bedtime, even if it’s round and round the living room. There are so many apps with free workouts that you can do in your own home now. Do what you need to do. Follow your own plan. Last, but certainly not least, there are essential oils. RLS has been linked many
Tracy Bhalla, independent consultant with NYR Organics and founder of LogHouseAromatics.com; after 25 years of using homeopathic remedies, it was time to take
charge and complete my Aromatherapy Certification, which I achieved April 2020 and since founded LogHouseAromatics.com a source for useful essentialMagazine oil and October 2020 RiverRegionBoom.com BOOM! The as River Region’s 50+ Lifestage 54 general natural health information and a place to purchase certain products. email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I am here to answer any questions you may have.
