9 Essential Oils for Leg Cramps

Essential Oils for Leg Cramps to Help Fight Muscle Contractions and Spasms!

Today, we are going to look at the best essential oils for leg cramps and how you can use them to relieve muscle cramps in the leg!

Leg cramps can be very painful and discomforting. There was a time I used to experience leg cramp virtually every other night.

At a stage I started dreading going to bed at night! It would all start when I turned or changed sleeping position or moved my leg. And the pain would last till morning… it certainly disrupted my sleep patterns to say the least.

It doesn’t mean that I didn’t experience any leg cramp during the day, but it was always worse at night.

Anyway, that was a long time ago thankfully! However, I still have cramps once in a while. But I am happy to have discovered essential oils.

Using essential oils for leg cramps can help you get rid of or at least reduce the frequency of this unpleasant condition.

What Causes Leg Cramp?

Leg cramp occurs when there is spasmodic contraction of a muscle in the leg. The pain can continue for hours after the spasm has stopped. And not only is leg cramp so painful, but it can also disrupt your sleep patterns if it happens at night!

Cramps can occur in the calf, foot muscles and thigh.

Although its cause is often unknown, cramps can occur due to the following:

• Poor circulation
• Dehydration
• Too much exercise
• Deficiencies in vital minerals/vitamins such as potassium, magnesium or vitamin B

Best Essential Oils for Leg Cramps

1. Sweet Marjoram 
2. Geranium
3. Helichrysum Italicum
4. Ginger
5. Cypress
6. Peppermint
7. Black Pepper
8. Lavender
9. Rosemary

Safety First When Using Essential Oils

If you have never used a certain essential oil it is important to do a skin patch test prior to topically using! See my sections on topical use and other essential oil safety concerns:

• 8 Essential Oil Dangers and Risks
• How to Dilute Essential Oils for Topical Use
• Essential Oils that are Safe for Kids
• Essential Oils to Use During Pregnancy

Leg Cramp Massage Oil Blend Recipe

• 10 drops helichrysum italicum
• 4 drops black pepper
• 8 drops geranium
• 4 drops sweet marjoram
• 4 drops ginger
• 30 ml carrier oil

Direction

Pour the carrier oil into a glass bottle. Then add the essential oils and shake well! Use a small amount of the blend to massage your leg.

One great thing about this blend it, you can use it during the day or at night!

If your cramps often happen during or after exercise, use this blend to massage your legs and feet using upward strokes before exercise.

You can also use this blend to prevent recurrent cramps. Before you go to bed, massage your legs and feet in upward direction using this warm oil blend (massage your legs before the feet).

Put on warm socks. Do this every night for 2 weeks to treat reoccurring leg cramps. This works as a deprogramming process that tells your muscles to NOT cramp anymore!

Other Natural Remedies for leg Cramps

Stretching – Stretching your leg or foot may help stop the contraction and relieve pain

Massage – Massaging the affected area is always helpful

Horse Chestnut – This can be very helpful especially for cramps caused by poor circulation (Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking any supplement)

Hydration – Keep your system properly hydrated by drinking enough water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Eat Healthy – Eat balanced diet to ensure that your body gets all the vital nutrients that it needs to fight off diseases and maladies including cramps.

Supplementation – If you are deficient in any of the minerals/vitamins mentioned above, you can also try taking supplements to reverse the deficiency.

Go Easy with Exercise – If cramps occur during or after exercise, that means that your body is not yet handling the lactic acid in your muscles efficiently. So you have to go easy in the beginning to give your body time to adjust appropriately.

Related Reading: Essential Oils for Circulation and Improved Blood Flow

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not intend to diagnose or treat any disease. It is always recommended that you seek the advise of your private medical doctor.

Reference:

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood