Best essential oils for restless legs syndrome and how to use them

Essential oils for restless leg syndrome can be a great solution for some people looking to relieve their symptoms of this troubling condition. Nearly one in 10 Americans have the strong urge to move their legs, with nearly five million U.S. adults having moderate to severe restless leg syndrome (RLS), a disorder that causes a person’s legs to move uncontrollably, often leading to discomfort and irritation from the sufferer.

Restless leg syndrome can begin at any age and generally worsens with time. In the majority of cases, it is believed that this condition is caused by an iron deficiency, however, associations between ADHD and certain medications have been found. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for RLS, however, the use of essential oils for restless legs may help.

How do essential oils help treat restless leg syndrome?

Essential oils have more than simply aromatic qualities. These compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants, and they have potent therapeutic properties apart from a powerful fragrance. Essential oils can be used to promote mental and physical health, including helping restless leg syndrome patients relax, relieve pain due to irritated nerves, and even ease muscle spasms.

However, it is important to keep in mind that essential oils are very potent and may cause unwanted reactions if put directly on the skin. It is recommended to perform a skin patch test before using any kind of essential oil, making sure you do not have an allergic reaction to them.

To perform a skin patch test, first dilute your essential oil of choice with a carrier oil. These are supplementary oils that make essential oils less irritating and include olive oil, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil, just to name a few. Apply the mixture onto your skin and wait for 30 minutes to 24 hours to see if any adverse reactions occur.

How to use essential oils for restless leg syndrome

Peppermint Essential Oil

This pleasantly scented oil can help with most forms of pain. This effect makes peppermint oil great for relieving aching joints and muscular pain thanks to its analgesic, antispasmodic, and cooling properties. Peppermint essential oil is also refreshing and uplifting. Add it to your bath or simply massage onto the skin to reap its benefits.

Massage rub:

• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 4 drops black spruce essential oil
• 4 tsp carrier oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Known for having many therapeutic properties of which its anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions can be used to relieve aching muscles and joints. Lavender oil can help calm and soothe the mind and body. This can help dilate blood vessels by eliminating stress, anxiety, fear, and tension, all of which may contribute to muscle tension.

Pain relieving bath blend:

• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops vetiver essential oil

Marjoram Essential Oil

This essential oil has excellent warming and soothing properties helping to ease joint pain and muscle spasms. It is known for having a bunch of other beneficial qualities as well, like helping with blood pressure, arthritis pain, and indigestion.

Hot bath blend:

• 4 drops marjoram essential oil
• 2 drops vetiver essential oil

Also read: 20 essential oils for muscle pain and how to use them

Vetiver Essential Oil

Ideal for the relief of muscle aches and pains thanks to its antispasmodic, calming, and sedative properties. Vetiver essential oils can also help stimulate blood circulation, which can make it good for helping restless leg syndrome sufferers.

Massage blend:

• 2 drops vetiver essential oil
• 4 drops neroli essential oil
• 4 drops linaloe wood essential oil

Also read: Essential oils for circulation: 10 best oils to improve blood circulation

Lemongrass Essential Oil

Helping to promote blood circulation, this essential oil is great for lowering cholesterol levels as well as having potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemongrass oil is also known for keeping blood vessels dilated, providing smooth transportation of blood flow.

Diffuser blend:

• 2 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil

Also read: Natural vasodilators: How to dilate blood vessels naturally and increase blood flow

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

This plant is known for helping us relax to get much-needed sleep, but it can also be used to help relieve pain as well, thanks to its sedative properties. Chamomile oil works by reducing inflammation. Simply massage your chamomile oil solution onto your area of pain to get relief.

Compress:

• Drop 4 drops Roman chamomile essential oil into 2 cups hot or cold water
• Stir to mix the oils in the water
• Dip a cotton towel into the blend to absorb the blend
• Wrap the towel around your legs where the symptoms are the worse
• Double the blend to use two washcloths

Frankincense Essential Oil

A great healing essential oil, Frankincense helps promote pain relief throughout the body. It is thought to work by blocking leukotrienes – substances that initiate inflammatory responses in the body. This essential oil can also act as a mild sedative, making it great for stress relief.

Bath blend:

• 2 drops frankincense essential oil
• 4 drops rose geranium essential oil

Ginger Essential Oil

This root spice has been long known for harboring many beneficial health effects when consumed, but its oil can also be used externally on your skin as well. Thanks to ginger’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is great for aching muscles and easing muscle spasms. Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis will benefit from ginger oil as it is helpful at soothing the symptoms of arthritis.

Massage blend:

• 2 drops ginger essential oil
• 4 drops black pepper essential oil
• 4 drops cardamom essential oil
• 4 tsp carrier oil

Jasmine Essential Oil

A great oil for reducing stress while also uplifting mood as well as having natural analgesic and antispasmodic properties. It has been used for hundreds of years in parts of Asia as a natural remedy for anxiety, depression, emotional stress, low libido, and insomnia. Many studies have found that jasmine oil can improve mood and sleep when used with aromatherapy or topically on the skin.

Hot bath blend:

• 2 drops jasmine essential oil
• 2 drops sweet orange essential oil

Rosemary Essential Oil

Derived from the widely used herb, this essential oil contains high levels of analgesic properties helping to relieve aches, pains, and arthritis. It can even be used for increasing energy levels and relieving nervous exhaustion and mental fatigue. It is best used through aromatherapy but should be avoided when pregnant.

Massage blend:

• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 4 drops black pepper essential oil
• 2 drops vetiver essential oil

Black Pepper Essential Oil

A well-known spice on the dinner table, black pepper essential oil is also great for aches and pains. It has a warming effect when used on the skin, making it ideal for promoting blood circulation. It also contains analgesic properties to help with arthritis pain and sore muscles. Black pepper essential oil can also be applied before exercising to help prevent pain in the first place.

Diffuser blend:

• 3 drops black pepper essential oil
• 3 drops mandarin essential oil

Basil Essential Oil

Often used for its health effects as well as in cooking. Basil oil is an antispasmodic, helping to ease muscle tension. It also works as a decongestant, antiseptic, muscle relaxant, and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for reducing pain caused by inflammation.

Massage blend:

• 4 drops basil essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops black pepper essential oil
• 4 tsp carrier oil

Bergamot Essential Oil

Known for having excellent muscle relaxant and calming properties, making this essential oil great for restless leg syndrome relief. Much of these traits are thanks to it’s natural analgesic, antispasmodic, and calming properties, which help relieve muscle aches and pains.

Hot bath blend:

• 2 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops neroli essential oil

Clove Essential Oil

Well known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect, clove oil can be a great choice for helping regulate immune processes in the body. The active ingredient found in cloves called eugenol has the added effect of preventing blood clots and stimulating blood flow, a beneficial quality for restless leg pain sufferers.

Massage blend:

• 2 drops clove essential oil
• 2 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
• 6 drops bergamot essential oil

Yarrow Essential Oil

This relaxing oil can help stimulate the circulatory system, ensuring blood doesn’t pool in the veins. It is also a natural analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and is good for nerve pain (neuralgia).

Cold or hot compress:

• Blend 4 drops yarrow essential oil with two cups hot or cold water
• Stir the oils through the water
• Dip a cotton towel into the water to absorb the blend
• Wrap towel around the leg where the symptoms are the worst
• Double the recipe for two towels

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Contains calming properties and has even proven to be beneficial for children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is thought that cedarwood oil stimulates the brain’s limbic region as well as the pineal gland, helping to release melatonin, a substance that helps improve your quality of sleep.

Massage blend:

• 2 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 4 drops black pepper essential oil
• 4 drops cardamom essential oil
• 4 tsp carrier oil

Essential oils blends

Sleepy Legs Night Cream

• 12 drops Lavender
• 10 drops Marjoram
• 5 drops Roman Chamomile
• Cream or Lotion
• 2 oz jar

Happy Legs Travel Spray

• 9 drops Petitgrain
• 8 drops Sweet Orange
• 8 drops Siberian Fir
• Lavender Hydrosol
• 2 oz Spray Bottle

Grateful Gams Bath Salt

• 10 drops Frankincense
• 5 drops Marjoram
• 5 drops Clary Sage
• 3 drops Ylang Ylang
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• 2 oz jar

Related:

Essential oils for sleep: 9 ways to get the best sleep ever

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