These agonizing muscular spasms usually affect the legs, feet and the hand. The muscles contract suddenly, causing severe pain that can last for several minutes. Such people as athletes and gardeners, who use certain muscles all the time, often suffer from it. If a cramp is caused by working conditions, compensation may be applicable in some cases.
Other causes of cramp may include swimming in cold water, poor circulation to the muscles and salt or other mineral deficiencies. Period pains, which are often called cramps, are not caused by muscular contractions.
What the Natural Doctors Recommend
A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is recommended, including leafy greens, soy beans, nuts, buttermilk and yogurt, wholegrain cereals, and seeds such as pumpkin, sesame and sunflower. Some doctors advise to avoid high cholesterol foods such as animal and dairy fats, because the cramp may be sign of poor circulation caused by “furred” blood vessels.
Vitamins
Supplements of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, vitamins B, C and D, and kelp tablets may help if a deficiency is the cause. In addition, vitamin E is recommended for cramps after exercise or during the night. If you sweat a lot at work or exercise, you may need salt tablets to replace salt lost with the sweat.
A practitioner may advise you to make time for relaxation as well as exercise, since tension can make cramp more painful. Some people have also claimed relief from bandaging a magnet loosely to the affected area, and from a tonic which is believed to stimulate the flow of blood to the calves.
