Restless leg syndrome is a neurological conditions characterized by uncomfortable, uncontrollable sensations in the legs. People with restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS, describe it in a number of ways. Sometimes, it can feel like insects crawling inside the leg and other times, it can be burning, tugging, or like someone is trying to rip apart the leg muscles. Severity can range from mild discomfort to being severely painful. Although there are medications, they are not effective for everyone.
With RLS, the person usually has an uncomfortable urge to move the legs as their subconscious believes movement will provide relief. This commonly sets in at night. One tries to rest and remain still enough to sleep, and is unable to because of the restlessness. At times, this can lead to an inability to walk during a flare up of restless leg syndrome and as mentioned, an inability to sleep usually resulting in a diagnosis of insomnia. Higher rates of RLS are detected in women, seniors, and individuals who are overweight, although there is a genetic component to this as well.
As many will attest, an infrared sauna can help RLS. Doctors believe a primary cause of RLS is a dopamine imbalance in the brain. There also appears to be a relationship between the consumption of salt and increased RLS symptoms. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals don’t really address fully these causes. Instead patients are provided dopaminergic meds to regular the muscles, benzodiazepines to suppress muscle action, and opiates which cause relaxation. In some, these are effective. If it works, excellent! If it doesn’t, try a sauna. Here’s why.
Although it’s anecdotal, in some people, going to a sauna can help reduce symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Why this is believed to be the case is for several reasons although many are quick to point to sauna detoxification. It is known in a lot of people that diet can affect RLS episodes. Through proper dieting, one can slowly eliminate certain toxins from the body which results in symptoms minimizing. In a sauna, all that sweating cleanses the body and detoxifies it. In your sweat, toxins and salt is pulled out. Remember how we said high sodium levels worse the restlessness? You sweat out your salt in a sauna.
There are two other ways that a sauna can help, which includes the high temperatures leading to more heat stress in the body. As we are put under heat stress, more dopamine is released. Alleviating the hormonal imbalances in the brain, this can resolve RLS symptoms. A sauna is a dopamine helper. More help a sauna gives is in its ability to relax the mind and body. Have a sauna session an hour or two before bed and you’ll have a much more restful sleep. Muscles will relax, you’ll be less sore, and you’re be more likely to sleep through whatever your body’s thinking.
In a lot of people, restless leg syndrome is no match for an infrared sauna! If you want relief from RLS symptoms, try a sauna for a month and see if it makes a difference. The before and after should be clear. Speaking on natural treatments for restless leg syndrome, an infrared sauna should be at the top of the list of safe, effective, and non-pharmaceutical medicines to try.