Mustard a help with leg cramps?

[Jenise]

Bob's uncle, who takes the diurrhetic (sp?) Lasix because of his heart trouble, is awakened at night with a lot of leg cramps. Each morning of the three nights we stayed there, we heard the count from the night before: 5, 11 and 3. He takes potassium but obviously it doesn't help enough. Someone suggested to him that eating a tablespoon of mustard before he goes to bed would help. (Which caused me to opine that a banana might be better, or hey, why not take the potassium late in the day instead of in the morning?) But anyway, mustard. He thinks it helps, but I wouldn't rule out the placebo effect. Anyone know anything of this?

My stepmother and her grandaughter, age 9. swear by mustard. Both suffer with muscle cramps and will head to the refrigerator during one for a spoon full of mustard. They say it stops the cramp almost immediately.

It could be the vinegar. Both my Mom and my Uncle said eating a dill pickle would help with leg cramps. I actually had pulled together some information on that topic for a friend, but that is on my main PC, not my laptop.

[Jenise]

Thanks Linda and Susan. A little googling just turned up this list of folk remedies:

Apple cider vinegar Drink a mixture of two teaspoons of vinegar and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium.

Calcium A calcium deficiency causes muscle cramps or involuntary movement of muscles. If you are prone to leg cramps at night, take a calcium supplement (calcium lactate is preferred), a warm cup of milk, or chew on some Tums an hour before going to bed. However, we do not recommend taking Tums on a regular basis due to its interference with your normal digestive process. We suggest that if you get frequent leg cramps you take a calcium supplement daily. Taking magnesium with the calcium will aid in the absorption of the calcium and prevent calcification of various organs and soft tissues. 200-300 mg of calcium before bedtime is recommended.

CoQ10 may aid in relieving muscle cramps.

Magnesium will help the smooth muscles that surround your arteries to relax, and your body uses it to process calcium. Try taking 400 mg of magnesium before bed. A calcium/magnesium supplement, taken one hour before bedtime, is recommended.

Mustard For years coaches have given mustard to their athletes with leg cramps. Cramps are sometimes caused by a deficiency in acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates your muscles to work. Mustard has acetic acid, which helps the body make more acetylcholine. Take a spoonful or two of mustard.

Pickle juice As with mustard coaches have given pickle juice to their athletes with leg cramps. Cramps are sometimes caused by a deficiency in acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates your muscles to work. Pickle juice has acetic acid, which helps the body make more acetylcholine. Take a few ounces of pickle juice.

Quinine/tonic water Drinking four to eight ounces of tonic water (make sure it has quinine in it!) an hour before going to bed is a very effective remedy for most people. If it is too tart for you, add some lemon for flavoring. You should notice a difference within a few days, otherwise discontinue. OTC quinine was banned by the FDA because of health risks, but there is enough quinine in tonic water to help most people.

I think those remedies pretty much cover what I found in my research. For the record, I have drank vinegar and honey water for another ailment, and it is disgusting!

Jenise,
I have suffered from leg cramps and once asked a trio of doctors for a "cure" and they all responded immediately
"calcium" and they were right. It certainly works for me. FWIW I find personally that calcium taken in food form (cheese, yoghurt etc) is more effective than taking calcium supplements, and more fun.

If I am out doing yard work or other outdoor exertion and sweating profusely (a given with even moderate exertion in this climate), I drink Gatorade and take potassium before settling in for the evening or I will have cramps.