If you have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), you may want to know that lavender oil can be helpful for restless legs. There are many suggested natural remedies that can relieve RLS. Luckily, there is scientific research to back up the effectiveness of lavender oil which you can use to massage restless legs.
RLS can decrease your quality of life and affects your sleep. Restless Leg Syndrome is categorised as a neurological disorder that causes one to have an uncontrollable urge to move their legs. In addition, it can also create severe daytime fatigue. 1 in 10 people will be affected by RLS, so it is important to find natural and effective remedies to this disorder. If the uncomfortable sensation of tingling or pain affects your sleep quality, you would love to relieve these symptoms using lavender oil. Let’s have a look at how lavender oil can help you if you have restless legs.
Causes of RLS
- Genetics
Several studies have suggested that RLS may have a genetic component. In a study of 553 RLS patients, researchers found that 77% had at least one first-degree relative with RLS. Another study of 671 RLS patients and their family members found that RLS was significantly more common in first-degree relatives of RLS patients than in the general population.
- Iron Deficiency
Iron is important for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in RLS. Studies have found that RLS is more common in people with iron deficiency. In a study of 262 RLS patients, 20% had iron deficiency anaemia and 51% had low iron stores.
- Pregnancy
RLS is more common in pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester. Also, hormonal changes during pregnancy may contribute to the development of RLS.
- Chronic diseases
RLS has been associated with several chronic diseases, including kidney failure, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.
We recommend that you visit a specialist first to do some blood tests. RLS can improve if iron deficiency is treated. Also, magnesium was shown to help with RLS symptoms.
Lavender Oil for Restless Legs
Essential oils are extracted from plants and have many benefits including relief of muscle pain, calming effects and reducing stress. Their benefits depend on the type of essential oil.
Lavender oil is effective when it comes to sleep disturbances and stress. Also, the calming properties of lavender oil can improve your sleep quality and help you relax after a long day. You can achieve this by adding some lavender oil to a diffuser or rubbing it on your pulse points.
When it comes to relieving RLS, you should get yourself a lavender massage oil, or lavender essential oil that you can mix with a carrier oil to massage your legs. Massage is a great way to provide necessary self-care. You can also try effleurage massage, which helps your body relax, improves blood circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system. In this technique, you can use long strokes with light pressure. Bear in mind to always do a patch test first before using any essential oil. Just apply at your hand a small drop of the oil and observe your skin reaction.
Studies that Support the Use of Lavender Oil for RLS
In a study published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 58 participants —31 study patients and 27 in the control group- the study group that used lavender oil to massage their legs reported improvements in the RLS symptoms in the first, second, and third-week follow-ups. They massaged the patients during their hemodialysis sessions. The massage was done for 10 minutes on each leg for 4 weeks.
According to another study, 90 RLS-afflicted hemodialysis patients were divided into two intervention groups and one control group, each comprising 35 patients. Each intervention group underwent effleurage massage with either lavender or glycerine oil for one month, whereas the control group had standard care. The study’s initial findings revealed no noticeable difference in the scores of the three groups. At the conclusion of the trial, the intervention groups’ average RLS scores were considerably lower than those of the control group. The results demonstrated the potency of the oils for decreasing RLS in a sample of hemodialysis patients by effleurage massage.
DIY Lavender Massage Oil for Restless Leg Syndrome
If you’re looking to create your own lavender massage oil, mix 100ml of sesame seed oil with 5ml of lavender oil (5% mixture) and you’ll get the massage oil that was used in this study. Check the quality of the oils and get them from a reputable source. You can hopefully relieve the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. It will also help you get a good night’s sleep and avoid fatigue during the day.
Lavender Soap for Restless Leg Syndrome
You may have heard about putting a bar of soap under your sheet, or at the foot end of your bed as a possible remedy. Unfortunately, there is no research to back up the effectiveness of this method. Researchers believe that it would be effective because of the magnesium in the soap. Unfortunately, it is not the same as ingesting magnesium supplements or applying topical treatments to your legs.
Massage is more effective because of the benefits the soothing motions can achieve to relax your legs. Besides the benefits of lavender itself. Therefore, if you wish to put lavender soap for restless legs under your sheet or at the foot end of the bed, you may want to try massage with lavender oil first.
Final thoughts
It can be challenging living with RLS. We hope that learning about lavender oil for restless legs will bring a positive change to your life. Be kind to yourself, and treat yourself to a leg massage with lavender oil. Observe how the condition gets better over time. If you’ve tried anything else that has helped you, please let us know in the comments below!
You can read more on Very Well Health, Restless Leg Syndrom and Live Science.