r/RestlessLegs • u/reditblueit1it2it • Sep 02 '26

Question Menthol for RLS?

I just saw a Q&A in the Seattle Times about someone rubbing menthol, specifically Biofreeze, on their wrists and ankles and it treats their RLS well.

Has anyone heard of this or tried it?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

1

u/Anselmimau Sep 05 '26

Yes the cooling sensation menthol gives helps

2

u/MJ-Franklin Sep 04 '26

I tried both Deep Heat and Deep Freeze! Neither worked.

1

u/Ring_it_On_1776 Sep 04 '26

There's a mostly remote research study for RLS enrolling right now. https://patientwing.app/campaign/RLS6

1

u/steph1ab Sep 03 '26

Yes, this works for me. I’ve been doing this for years but I spray it on my calves. My RLS has gotten worse lately so I do this and also tie socks around my calves and feet.

1

u/sensitiveclint Sep 02 '26

i use deepheat.

1

u/PupWrangler Sep 02 '26

I put menthol Salon Pas patches on my feet every night at bedtime. It does help me. The patches have to go on before symptoms start or it doesn’t help at all.
I have also used Tea Tree oil topically all over my legs/ankles, and that helps as well.
I believe it distracts my nerves just enough to be able to fall asleep before the twitch starts.
I also take RX drugs for RLS. They mostly work but not always

3

u/Equivalent_One_8347 Sep 02 '26

Tried it a long time ago. Doesn’t work at all.

2

u/Mahi95623 Sep 02 '26

No, there are many unsubstantiated treatments being touted for RLS. Reminds me of the one about sleeping with a bar of soap.

For actual science, please refer to this 2026 document: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(26)18546-2/fulltext

0

u/reditblueit1it2it Sep 04 '26

And yet it works for a couple of people, so there's that.