Lately I’ve encountered a lot of folks who are fellow sufferers of leg cramps a/k/a the Charley Horse.
Wonder where the name Charley Horse comes from?
Just as the reasons behind getting charley horses are not always known, the origin of the nickname is debated. It dates back to the 1880s and was originally an American baseball slang term. When Bill Brandt, a baseball official, was asked about the origin of the term, he responded with a story he was told by Mr. J. G. T. Spink of St. Louis’ Sporting News of a lame horse used in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
They had a lame horse named Charley whose regular work was pulling things around the baseball park. . . . Charley’s performance was to limp around the grassless surface of the baselines on the diamond dragging a dust-brush. This picture was so deeply stamped in the ballplayers’ consciousness that when a member of the team developed a minor cripplement in the lower extremities due to a slightly pulled tendon or muscle bruise, his teammates called him “Charley Horse” instead of his right name.
Another sources states that the earliest known use of the term was on July 17, 1886 by the Boston Globe, but does not mention a horse but rather a baseball player who originated it himself. Another story states it was about a completely different horse not used for baseball. A 1907 Washington Post story, found by the American Dialect Society, stated that
“charley horse” was used in reference to pitcher Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourne with cramps during games in the 1880s.
No matter what the origin of those wicked cramps was– we have all suffered with them at some time in our lives. I have been besieged with them at various times – sometimes it seems to be coming from over exercising the same muscles and other times – I don’t have a clue. Regardless of what causes them – they can be excruciating and they tend to have sneak attacks in the middle of the night.
It seems there are a lot of people I encounter lately who suffer from this painful “Charley Horse” phenomenon as I do so I thought I’d present some very effective home remedies to lose the leg cramps.
What to do in the midst of it?
Often your first instinct is to massage the cramp.
Good thinking! If it is in an easy to reach place you can apply pressure and try to literally “rub it out” by massaging. This will work for some areas of the leg better than others.
When you wake up with a cramp in the arch of your foot or your calf – stand up immediately and put pressure on it. Often that will relieve it.
Another approach is to use “acupressure”.
Press with your fingers on one of three points that correspond to your feet. It may sound silly but don’t knock it til you’ve tried it:
(1) the spot between your upper lip and nose; (2) the spot at the base of the calf (on the leg that has the cramp); and (3) the top of the foot between your big toe and second toe on the leg with the cramp. Try one and if it doesn’t work – try the other two.
Apply Heat:
This works incredibly well. Keep a “microwave safe” heating pad in your nightstand or next to your bed. I’ve had “Charley Horses” that knotted up the muscles so tightly I could barely walk – so hopefully, your microwave is not too far away! Apply the heat directly to the spot that is cramping and in most cases, it should alleviate the pain in a matter of minutes. As a precaution, keep the heating pad on the area for about 10 minutes to make sure the cramp has totally subsided.
Homeopathic Relief:
Take Magnesia Phosphorica which contains magnesium – a mineral that helps relax muscles. Follow instructions on the label. Caution: if you have IBS issues with diarrhea – skip this one. The results might be more problematic than the leg cramps! However you can try choosing the spray oil version which is absorbed through the skin and doesn’t produce the gastric effect of the supplement. It is known for relieving muscle spasms and it will help you get a good night’s sleep to boot!
Now for the food and beverage remedies. I saved the best for last.
Tea Totaling:
In some cases leg cramps are caused by stress and anxiety. These will respond well to drinking chamomile tea which relaxes the body. Also – cramp bark tea, available at most health food stores, contains valerianic acid – a muscle relaxer – which is good for all types of cramps. Check out the tea http://www.teahaven.com/cramp-bark-tea/?gclid=CL78-IS66s4CFYlkhgod-PoInw
Last but not least – Apple Cider Vinegar!
This is my favorite “instant remedy” for some of the most painful, debilitating leg cramps. Dissolve two teaspoons in a little honey and drink it down. It may not taste spectacular but it will relieve your leg cramps in minutes and they will not be likely to return that night. Make sure to use a brand like Bragg’s or Brad’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar because they will have “The Mother” which only occurs in naturally fermented vinegars. It is the secret to this vinegar that makes it uniquely beneficial.
There is a product that is called “Stops Leg & Foot Cramps” by Caleb Treeze Organic Farms. Ingredients are apple cider vinegar, all natural organic ginger and garlic juice. It is rather pricey – $10.00 for an 8 ounce bottle but worth every cent. Somewhat unpleasant to chug – but works like a charm. It will relieve the cramps in no more than 2 minutes and they will not return for at least 24 hours. Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar daily as described above might prevent these leg cramps entirely for some people. It will also help balance your body’s PH and reduce acidity and inflammation among many other perks.
I keep a bottle of this on my nightstand with a small 2 ounce tumbler so I can take this in the middle of the night. The cures of Charley Horse seems to befall most of us in our sleep so these days I am prepared for them.
The first lesson we teach our clients is the value of drinking water. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of leg cramps so make sure you are getting your daily dose of H20 in an attempt to prevent these midnight invaders! Just in case that is not enough – try any one of these secret Charley Horse remedies to feel better in minutes….
