About restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Imagine tingling and the painful feeling of it “walking” up and down your feet each time you try to rest or fall asleep, sudden awakening, even though you have just fallen asleep, and the constant desire to finally sleep at night. Other times you simply can’t find a comfortable sleeping position that forces us to walk and move our legs before going to bed. Common symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome include itching, burning and twitching in the legs, and feeling that the blood vessels in the legs are full of sparkling water. This often results in the inevitable need to move or kick your legs to get rid of this feeling.

Willis-Ekbom Disease, more commonly known as Restless Legs Syndrome, affects the nervous system. Many doctors classify it as a sleep and movement disorder as well as a neurological sensory disorder.

Although RLS is not classified as a serious illness and its progression does not cause any significant health damage, it does, however, significantly impair the quality of life. If we are unable to fall asleep or sleep well at night, the next day we will feel powerless, sleepy and tired. Leg anxiety usually worsens in the evening and at night, causing discomfort and trouble sleeping. Over time, these episodes may become more pronounced and the number of movements may increase.

Lack of sleep in the short and long term has serious health consequences. Everyday responsibilities suffer when we are unable to work at full capacity. Our immune system is hit and we can get sick more often. Lack of sleep leads to weight gain and other illnesses such as diabetes and obesity. Too little sleep makes us feel anxious and depressed. It also reduces the ability to perform even simple tasks.

So Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrolled desire to move the legs. The syndrome is often inherited and usually affects the elderly, but often also the young. Restless Legs Syndrome affects a wide range of age, gender and ethnicity. The cause of the syndrome is unknown, but it is believed that it may also be a side effect of certain medicines or may be associated with more serious medical problems. Other doctors believe the condition may involve chemicals in the body of dopamine and glutamate. Dopamine plays a role in how people control their muscle movement, and glutamate affects excitement. Iron deficiency anemia, uremia, which is one of the signs of renal failure and is characterized by an increased accumulation of various nitrogen exchange products (urea, creatinine, etc.) in the blood, can also contribute to the syndrome. Often restless legs syndrome is also experienced by pregnant women, but the symptoms disappear immediately not long after they give birth and are therefore referred to as secondary. Overall, 10% of the world’s population suffer from RLS, and this is not a small number.

The exact diagnosis and whether RLS is really at fault can be best determined by a special examination, which accurately records the number of leg movements.

The most common symptoms are: spontaneous movements of the legs, muscle cramps that prevent them from falling asleep and from sleeping at night; weakness can be felt in the legs during strong emotions; difficulty standing or walking.

It is still a mystery today and not cured, forcing many people to live with RLS.

Causes of RLS.
The causes are not known and understood yet, but there are some habits that can lead to worsening of symptoms.

Smoking, caffeine and alcohol worsen the symptoms of restless legs. A decrease in caffeine and alcohol may reduce the symptoms.

Excessive exercise can also cause the symptoms of restless legs to become more frequent and more severe. You don’t have to turn it off completely, but limiting high-intensity days and experiencing more “light” days can reduce the symptoms of restless legs.

Classic forms of treatment for RLS are aimed at alleviating the intensity of symptoms. Massaging the legs, moderate activity and more iron and magnesium in the diet are traditional means. Opioids, over-the-counter anticonvulsants, and other prescription drugs are another way to reduce symptoms. Usually, the same class of medicines used to treat the syndrome are used to treat Parkinson’s disease. But we know the harm that long-term use of medication does to the body.

Simply avoiding or reducing some of these habits and using CBD to help can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with restless legs.

CBD for RLS.
Because CBD oil can directly affect the body’s nervous system, it has the potential to relieve the symptoms of many different neurological disorders. CBD can reduce anxiety, seizures, inflammation, chronic pain and many more. Not surprisingly, CBD can also help with RLS.

The use of CBD for RLS can not only help prevent symptoms but also improve the quality of life in general. Please, read about the health benefits of CBD oil in other our blog posts.

CBD relaxes the muscles in RLS. It soothes the nerves in your legs that cause tingling and painful feelings.

People who use CBD for RLS say they have started to sleep better because CBD is a natural muscle relaxant and also helps with sleep disorders.

CBD uses for RLS.
There are many different ways CBD can be used for RLS.

One of the easiest ways to use CBD is by taking it orally. CBD uptake allows for faster action through the oral mucosa and the bloodstream.

The topical application of CBD oil as massage oil also works very well. By applying it only to the legs, the CBD will only affect the areas where it is applied, not the whole body. In this case, you can mix CBD oil with carrier oil or cream, or purchase a ready-made product for using on the skin.

CBD dosage.
As with any medication, there are different doses of CBD.

Bodyweight, desired effects and your tolerance will determine the amount of CBD needed to be effective and it may take time to find the dose that suits you.
People with a heavier weight will usually need to take a higher dose of CBD than people with a lower body weight.

The desired effects are based on the symptoms you are trying to alleviate. People with more severe symptoms or severe anxiety will require a higher dose than someone with minor symptoms.

It is always advisable to start with a lower dose and gradually increase as needed over time. For a more user-friendly orientation, see the section ”What’s my dose?” on our website.

The information on the internet about CBD products and their use will be ambiguous, so we always recommend reading safe and reliable sources. We also use websites related to the Cannabis industry, research and education to prepare information.

The content of this site is for informational purposes only. We are not medical experts and this should not be interpreted as medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor before undergoing CBD or other treatment.

The chemistry of every human body and brain is unique, so the use of CBD to improve mental as well as physical health does not guarantee results. However, many GWEEPRODUCTS CBD oil users have included it into their daily routine as one of the therapies for improving mental, physical health and quality of life.

Photo from Unsplash.