Resting your restless legs Q: I have restless legs syndrome and while I'm glad to see that this condition is starting to get more media attention, I don't really want to take the drugs being advertised for it. Are there any natural treatments? JVW: My colleague and regular Nutrition & Healing columnist Kerry Bone has had success using herbal therapies to treat this condition, so I've turned your question over to him. Here is what Kerry had to say: KB: The factors associated with restless legs syndrome, such as heavy smoking, pregnancy, obesity, advanced age, diabetes, and lack of exercise, are all linked to one common factor -- circulation. I have found that treating this common factor is the most effective way to treat restless legs syndrome. You see, when the blood isn't circulating properly, the walls of the deeper veins can stretch, resulting in unpleasant sensations in the legs. The sluggish circulation can cause red blood cells to clump together, which just exacerbates the problem. So the key herbs I recommend for RLS are the same ones I recommend for other circulatory disorders: horse chestnut and butcher's broom, which improve overall venous circulation, and Ginkgo biloba, which improves arterial and capillary circulation. Typically, daily doses equivalent to 4 to 6 g of Ginkgo leaf (80 to 120 mg of standardized 50:1 extract), 1.6 g of butcher's broom root, and 2.4 g of horsechestnut seed work well for many patients. | 
