How to Ease Leg Cramps with Mustard

When a leg cramp strikes in the middle of the night, it results in a rude awakening. Sometimes the pain can bring tears to a person’s eyes. Finding relief is just as urgent if you are in the middle of an important activity, such as running, biking or scuba diving. Consequently, a way to ease leg cramps quickly and effectively is most welcome!

Scuba Diver Uses Mustard to Ease Leg Cramps:

Q. I’m a scuba diver. During a second dive after the recommended rest period, I often get severe muscle cramps in my thighs and calves.

Now I take about two tablespoons of mustard before my second dive and have no cramps. I don’t know why this works and don’t care. Yellow mustard has saved me a lot of excruciating pain, sometimes under water and sometimes during surfacing. I hope other divers will try it.

A. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We have heard from many readers who find that swallowing a spoonful or two of yellow mustard can ease leg cramps quickly.

Although you don’t care how, others may be interested in the mechanism. We discuss it here.

Mustard Miracle for Nighttime Leg Cramps:

Q. Thanks to whoever thought of using mustard for leg cramps. This remedy is totally awesome.

At 2 am, I had the worst leg cramp. My entire leg was screaming! I grabbed the bottle of mustard and swallowed a spoonful. My leg quit hurting within two minutes. I call it the mustard miracle.

A. We too have found that swallowing a spoonful of plain yellow mustard can ease leg cramps quickly. We don’t know whether it is the vinegar or the turmeric included for yellow coloring in the mustard that works. Some people have used a small swig of pickle juice to achieve the same effect, so the vinegar might contribute to the benefit.

Other Ways to Ease Leg Cramps:

Not everyone wants to take mustard in the middle of the night, though keeping a packet of mustard in the nightstand can make it more convenient.

How to Ward Off Leg Cramps Without Tonic Water:

Q. Occasionally I experience debilitating leg cramps. Since reading about sugar-free tonic water, I’ve been drinking that.
It works great, but I am planning some travel and don’t know if tonic water will be available on the trip. Is there some form of pill or powder I could take with me as a substitute?

A. You might stock up on some single-serving packets of yellow mustard. They are inexpensive and easy to carry. Most people find that swallowing a spoonful of mustard can stop a cramp fast, and we suspect it might be working through some of the same pathways as quinine in tonic water.

If that doesn’t appeal to you, or just as a backup, you might take along some small travel-size soap. We keep a bar under the bottom sheet of our bed to discourage nighttime leg cramps. The little bars will stow easily in your luggage, or if you need protection during the travel day, could be broken into bits and stuck in your socks.

There is also placebo-controlled research showing that taking vitamin K2 supplements every day can reduce the likelihood of nighttime leg cramps (JAMA Internal Medicine, Dec. 1, 2024). The vitamin K2 was in the form of menaquinone 7 at a dose of 180 micrograms per day. We hope it helps you.

Learn More:

You can learn more about stopping muscle cramps and many other nondrug approaches to common problems from our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies. If your local library does not have a copy, you can find it here.

The mustard remedy seems to be a very reliable and quick way to ease leg cramps. There are other suggestions for ways to ease leg cramps in our Guide to Leg Pain. They range from sipping low-sodium V-8 juice to tucking a bar of soap under the bottom sheet near the legs. If you are interested in a flat bar to slip under the bottom sheet or small soap chips to tuck into your socks, we offer them in the Body Care portion of our online store.