I remember a time when I would wake up in the middle of the night holding my leg as tightly as I could, not wanting to let go, wanting to beat the shin splint and yet being afraid to move my calf. I think these cramps started when I hit my fifth or sixth month of pregnancy and were actually an unpleasant part of being pregnant. My doctor told me that it was the extra weight that I was carrying that was causing these cramps. As my weight increased, the cramps also increased.
I asked, what could I do?
My doctor shared with me several options to try, but what worked best was a bath before bed. I found that adding bath salts made the night go by even easier. The only problem was that the salt I was using (Epsom) was drying out my skin. I tried adding some oils to the bath, but then the tub became slippery and I was afraid that falling off would be worse than dry skin.
That’s when my doctor suggested using Dead Sea Salts – “make sure you get the real thing” he said… As I became more and more pregnant, so to speak, I learned about the healing properties of the dead sea. If you’ve had these cramps, you can relate when I say that I wanted whatever it took to not get those Charlie Horse cramps in the middle of the night, but I was tired of dry, flaky skin. Finally, after one night that was excruciating, I found a dealer where I could order Dead Sea salt.
I waited every day until the salts arrived; excited to try the new dead sea salts i decided to take a bath in the middle of the day. The bath was so relaxing and pleasurable that I also decided to bath again that night and add some lavender to it to help me sleep more peacefully. That night I went to bed and slept like a baby. I got hooked!
Did you know that Dead Sea salts not only heal and help get circulation moving… but Dead Sea salts don’t dry out the skin like other salts? The Dead Sea water is unique due to the high concentration of salts that reaches 27% compared to 3% in common seawater. The therapeutic properties of the Dead Sea are largely due to the presence of the percentages of magnesium, potassium and bromide -which are not found in other salts due to their unique composition-.
Dead Sea Salts contain more than 15 natural and unprocessed minerals important for health. Based on the composition of Dead Sea Salt, it hydrates the skin instead of drying it out.
In case you’re interested, here are some questions and answers to help you understand more information that may help you too, if you too are waking up with these horrible Charlie horse leg cramps!
Tips to keep leg cramps at bay:
o Avoid standing or sitting cross-legged for long periods of time.
o Stretch your calf muscles regularly throughout the day and several times before bed.
o Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes when you sit, eat, or watch TV.
o Take a short walk every day, unless your midwife or doctor has advised you not to exercise.
o Avoid getting too tired. Lie on your left side to improve circulation in your legs and help take the pressure off your heart.
o Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water regularly.
o Try a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles. Don’t forget to add the Dead Sea Salts.
If you have a cramp, immediately stretch your calf muscles: straighten your leg, heel first, and gently flex your toes toward your shins. It may hurt at first, but it will relieve the spasm and the pain will gradually go away. You can relax the cramp by massaging the muscle or heating it with a hot water bottle. Walking for a few minutes can also help.
What if the pain persists?
If your muscle pain is constant and not just an occasional cramp, or if you notice swelling or tenderness in your leg, call your doctor. In rare cases, a pregnant woman can develop a blood clot, which requires immediate medical attention. This is also another reason why a dead sea salt bath is beneficial as it helps increase circulation!
