Restless Leg Syndrome: Relaxing Your Restless Leg
As many as 10% of Americans experience unpleasant sensations in their leg that give them the irresistible urge to move them. But new research suggests that there is natural help for restless leg syndrome.
Restless leg syndrome, or Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder that causes an unpleasant crawling, creeping, throbbing, itching or electric sensation in the leg that makes you want to move it. Since it happens most when you are sitting or lying down, it can disrupt sleep and interfere with daily activities.
A new study has found that Pycnogenol can help. Pycnogenol is a standardized extract of pine bark, a powerful antioxidant herb that is loaded in proanthocyanidin flavonoids. Forty-five people with restless leg syndrome were prescribed standard management or 150mg of Pycnogenol a day for 4 weeks.
There was significant improvement only in the Pycnogenol group. Pycnogenol helped all parameters that were tested, and 19 out of 21 people experienced clear benefit. The need for pain mangagement was also significantly improved in the Pycnogenol group” only 4 of 21 people in the Pycnogenol group required pain killers versus 16 of 24 in the standard management group. Pycnogenol also improved free radical damage and edema.
This study suggests that Pycnogenol, a natural source of antioxidants, safely improves restless leg syndrome. And that can improve you sleeping and your waking life.
Panminerva Med. 2022 Jun;64(2):253-8
