I remember a time when I would wake up in the middle of the night holding my leg as tightly as I could, not wanting to let go of it, wanting to overcome the leg cramp and yet fearful of moving my calf. I think these cramps started when I got to my fifth or sixth month of pregnancy and were actually an unpleasant part of being pregnant. My doctor told me that it was because of the extra weight that he was carrying that was causing these cramps. As I gained weight, the cramps also increased.

I asked, what could I do?

My doctor shared several options with me to try, but what worked best was a bedtime bath. I found that adding salts to the tub made the night even easier. The only problem was that the salt I was using (Epsom) made my skin dry. I tried adding some oils to the bath, but then the bathtub got slippery and I was afraid that falling out was worse than dry skin.

That’s when my doctor suggested using the Dead Sea Salts, “make sure you get the real ones,” he said … As I got more and more pregnant, so to speak, I learned about the healing properties of the Dead Sea. If you’ve had these cramps, you can tell when I say I wanted whatever it took to not get those Charlie cramps in the middle of the night, but I was tired of dry, flaky skin. Finally, after a night that was excruciating, I found a dealer that I could order Dead Sea Salt from.

I waited every day for the salts to arrive; Excited to try the new salts from the dead seas, I decided to take a bath in the middle of the day. The bath was so relaxing and enjoyable that I also decided to bathe again that night and add a little lavender to the bath to help me sleep more peacefully. That night I went to bed and slept like a baby. I got hooked!

Did you know that salts from the dead sea not only heal and help circulation move … but that dead seas do not dry out the skin like other salts? The Dead Sea water is unique due to the high concentration of salts which reaches 27% compared to 3% in ordinary sea water. The therapeutic properties of the Dead Sea are largely due to the presence of the percentages of magnesium, potassium and bromide that are not found in other salts due to its unique composition.

Dead Sea salts contain more than 15 natural and unprocessed minerals important for health. Based on the composition of Dead Sea Salt, it hydrates the skin instead of drying it out.

In case you are interested, here are some questions and answers to help you understand more information that may also help you, if you too are waking up with these horrible Charlie Horse leg cramps.

Tips to keep leg cramps at bay:

o Avoid standing or sitting cross-legged for long periods of time.

o Stretch your calf muscles regularly throughout the day and several times before bed.

o Roll your ankles and wiggle your toes when sitting, eating, or watching TV.

o Take a short walk every day, unless your midwife or doctor has advised you not to exercise.

o Avoid getting too tired. Lie on your left side to improve circulation in your legs and help reduce pressure on your heart.

o Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water regularly.

o Try a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles. Don’t forget to add the Dead Sea salts.

If you have a cramp, immediately stretch your calf muscles: Stretch your leg, heel first, and gently flex your toes toward your shins. It may hurt at first, but it will ease the spasm and the pain will gradually go away. You can relax the cramp by massaging the muscle or warming it up with a hot water bottle. Walking for a few minutes can also help.

What if the pain persists?

If your muscle pain is constant and not just an occasional cramp, or if you notice swelling or tenderness in your leg, call your doctor. In rare cases, a pregnant woman can develop a blood clot, which requires immediate medical attention. This is also another reason why a salt bath in dead seas is beneficial, as it helps increase circulation.