I've been suffering the leg cramps for about 6 months now. I hate taking medications and will try anything natural. I've tried calcium and magnesium supplements, olive leaf extract and potassium. All seem to work for a little while then they come back. Went to my local health food store and they suggested a tablespoon of black strap molasses daily. It has worked for about the last 2 months. I've been able to reduce it to about a tablespoon every other day and that seems to be working. I have found that if I miss taking it for a couple of days, they slowly start making their way back. Most of them come on while I am sleeping. The ones in the thighs are the worst, they tend to pull in all different directions, getting out of bed is almost impossible. My husband has to begin rubbing it out before I'm even able to get out of bed to walk. I'm sticking with the molasses for now. I do stretch before going to bed as well. That also seems to help.

What you're describing sounds like hemochromatosis.(sp?)I worked with a man who had this condition and had to have routine tests and when the iron level got too high, he would "give" a pint or two of blood to lower the levels. Not doing this can cause severe liver damage. Point being. Be absolutely sure the water is the problem. Could be causative but still not control the problem enough not to cause liver damage. I would still have the tests to be sure. If after a period of time and with the dr's approval, stop treatment. Oh yes! He would go several months without a problem before the levels got high enough for a "donation." quotes are because the iron rich blood is discarded but he went to the blood bank to have it done.

hi sheila, yes i am having leg cramping also. last night i had such bad pain in my right foot and it moved up to my thigh, it was pretty hard to sleep. i tried putting a pillow under my foot to keep it elevated and it helped some but not much. made me feel like i have a blood clot or something. today it feels a little better. no doctor has really confirmed i am in perimenopause, but my gyno seems to think i am. this is really a scary time for me and i know it must be for you as well. i pray we get thru this time. i will be thinking of you and i hope you feel better soon. take care shirley

I agree keep hydrated and eat a banana. If I eat the wrong food like something starchy I get terrible cramps and then migraines totally Associated for me with a magnesium deficiency. The last one I got 3 days ago was so bad that it looked like something had gouged part of my leg out of my side of my calf. It was completely caved in and hard as a rock. It took 20 minutes for that one to go away even though I applied what usually helps me which is a poultice of Epsom salts. :/ I had eaten yams instead of sweet potatoes the day before. Sweet potatoes help yams hurt. They are very filling though. I can eat it usually in small amounts. I'll have to try pickle juice and the homeopathic cramp treatment. Avocados don't help me and I really get tired of bananas. Because of my kidney problems I can't take excess magnesium as it causes me to have a kidney reaction.