Leg Calm

What is Leg Calm?

Leg Calm is an oral formulation of natural remedy for promoting blood circulation in the legs and supporting the health of limbs to help maintain healthy sleeping patterns. It is supplied in bottles each containing 60 capsules and manufactured by Native Remedies.

Leg Calm contains 6 natural remedies. Besides these active ingredients, lactose is added to bulk the capsules. The capsules are gelatin-free and suitable for vegans.

The formulation of Leg Calm follows a set of manufacturing standards that Native Remedies refer to as FSA (Full Spectrum Approach). This involves using whole herbs instead of standardized extracts in the formulation of Leg Calm.

While the active ingredients of Leg Calm do not increase dopamine and iron levels in the brain, they improve blood circulation especially in the legs and they promote the absorption of minerals from a healthy diet.

By improving blood circulation to the limbs, Leg Calm addresses venous insufficiency which is one of the secondary causes of restless leg syndrome.

Leg Calm can be used by both adults and children over the age of 6.

Adults are advised to take 2 capsules 3 times daily for 1 – 2 weeks while children age 6 – 11 should take 1 capsule 2 times daily for the same duration. After this period, a maintenance dose of ½ - 1 capsule taken 2 – 3 times daily is recommended. Leg Calm should be taken after meals.

Since safety studies have not been done during pregnancy and breastfeeding, Leg Calm should not be used by pregnant and lactating women.

How quickly Leg Calm produces positive results depend on individual differences and treatment consistency. Generally, most people experience relief 3 – 6 weeks after starting on Leg Calm.

The Ingredients of Leg Calm

Leg Calm contains 3 herbal extracts and 3 homeopathic remedies. They are discussed below.

Milk-vetch

Milk-vetch is one of the common names given to the herbs belonging to the Astragalus plant family.

The species included in Leg Calm is Astragalus membranaceus which is also known as Astragalus propinquus. Milk-vetch is regarded as one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese traditional medicine.

Milk-vetch is a tonic for relieving fatigue and for treating diabetes. 

It is also used to promote healing and support the normal functioning of the lungs, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal tract.

Astragalus membranaceus is a common herbal remedy marketed as an anti-aging supplement. Preliminary studies have confirmed that this herb may protect against cancer and lower the level of cytotoxic immune cells.

Milk-vetch has also been shown to support blood circulation and aid the absorption of iron into the body.

By promoting the uptake of iron, milk-vetch can help reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome when the increased iron levels translate to increased dopamine synthesis in the brain.

Butcher’s Broom

Butcher’s broom is also known as Ruscus aculeatus, a shrub native to Europe and Asia.

Butcher’s broom constricts blood vessels and capillaries. Therefore, it increases blood circulation to the brain and limbs. It is usually taken to relieve varicose veins because it reduces venous insufficiency.

The saponins contained in Butcher’s broom inhibits enzymes such as elastase and hyaluronidase which break down the connective tissues of joints and walls of blood vessels. Therefore, Butcher’s broom can help support the health of the legs and prevent joint pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms that may contribute to restless leg syndrome.

Horse Chestnut

Horse chestnut is also known as Aesculus hippocastanum. It is a deciduous tree native to temperate areas of Europe.

The seed extract of horse chestnut has been studied and shown to be useful in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. Therefore, by promoting vein health, horse chestnut can relieve the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

Rhus tox

Rhus Toxicodendron is a homeopathic remedy taken from poison ivy.

It is a toxic plant that causes headache, fever, nausea, itchy rash, and delirium. However, the homeopathic remedy is a very dilute solution of this poison and it can help treat the very conditions caused by poison ivy.

Therefore, Rhus Toxicodendron is used to treat fever, swollen glands, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, and restless leg syndrome. It acts by relieving joint pain and reducing muscle spasms.

Mag Phos

Magnesium phosphate or Phosphate of magnesia is also known as Schussler tissue salt in homeopathic medicine.

It is prepared from magnesium sulfate and sodium phosphate. After the water is added to the mixture, it is left to crystallize and the crystals are then crushed and diluted with lactose

It is used to treat disorders affecting nerve endings in muscles. Magnesium phosphate is used to treat restless and sensitive individuals. It is effective for treating neuralgia and cramps. Therefore, it can help reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

Zinc met

Zincum metallicum refers to zinc mineral. Zinc is a trace mineral required for some important biochemical processes in the body. It is also one of the specific homeopathic remedies for treating restless leg syndrome.

Other medical conditions that homeopaths use zinc to treat are related to restless leg syndrome. They include convulsion, fever, hysteria, neuralgia, and Parkinson’s disease.

Zinc works for restless leg syndrome because it reduces muscle contractility and spasms. Therefore, it dampens any involuntary movement of the legs.

How Effective is Leg Calm?

Although the product website contains claims that Leg Calm works in every case, this is not the case for all users.

Even the product website shies away from specifically saying that Leg Calm is effective for treating restless leg syndrome. Instead, Leg Calm is sold as a natural supplement to help promote blood circulation in the legs and improve the quality of sleep.

Most of the active ingredients in Leg Calm are only known to treat venous insufficiency. While venous reflux or varicose vein is a cause of secondary restless leg syndrome, it is only one cause and there are others such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

However, more importantly, Leg Calm does not address the main causes of restless leg syndrome: iron deficiency and low dopamine levels in the brain.

Different studies have shown that the inefficiency of the dopaminergic system is the root cause of restless leg syndrome. Iron deficiency contributes to low levels of dopamine in the brain. Therefore, the most effective medications and supplements for treating restless leg syndrome seek to increase either or both iron and dopamine levels in the brain.

Even secondary nutritional deficiencies such as folate deficiency and magnesium deficiency are not addressed by Leg Calm.

All of this suggests that Leg Calm will not be effective for moderate to severe restless leg syndrome. It may, however, work for mild cases of the syndrome.

Leg Calm is actually neither medication nor an effective supplement for restless leg syndrome.

However, it will help reduce fatigue especially in the legs and it may even help users get some sleep but it does not contain the right ingredients to cope with the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

The case for Leg Calm is not helped by the fact that is more expensive than most of the natural supplements that even provide better results in the treatment of restless leg syndrome.

Therefore, Leg Calm should only be used at the early stages of the syndrome. Even then there are better alternatives such as Sedorum.