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muscle spasms

GABA works wonders for anal cramps (almost instantly) and relieves body aches in the hips and legs of a 75-year-old woman

By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

gaba and body aches

Dear Trudy, your recommendation of using GABA for anal cramps has changed my life. I don’t experience them often but when I do they are nasty. A crushed pill or open capsule on the tongue works wonders, almost instantly.

However, I want to add, after hearing your presentation on the Parkinson’s summit and your mention of relief from physical tension, that taking 500mg relieves body ache in hips and legs.

I’m 75, and have recently developed debilitating body aches. Taking one twice/day a.m. and p.m. has made a huge difference. Thank you for your brilliant blog.

Merril shared this wonderful feedback about how the amino acid GABA, used as a supplement helps her with anal cramps and also body aches. I never get tired of hearing feedback like this and as always, I like to share so I can educate further. This helps the person sharing the results and the community as a whole.

Today’s blog highlights more about the role GABA plays in muscle spasms and pain, and more about anal/rectal spasms in case this application is new to you. I also share other considerations when muscle spasms and/or pain are an issue: gluten, oxalates and low endorphins.

GABA works wonders (almost instantly) to eliminate anal cramps

I first blogged about GABA as a solution for agonizing rectal pain and spasms in 2017. I shared how I experienced the awful anal sphincter spasm and pain myself.  The medical term is proctalgia fugax and is described as a condition that leads to rectal/anal spasms and sharp fleeting pain in the lower rectum or anus. In some people it can be more than fleeting and is often described as excruciating and agonizing.

The first time it happened to me I was terrified and beside myself not knowing what it was or what to do. I eventually figured out the solution because of what I knew about GABA helping to ease tense muscles and wanted to shine some light on this very painful condition.

As Merril says GABA “works wonders, almost instantly”  to completely eliminate the pain. Take note that she says a “crushed pill or open capsule on the tongue.”  GABA is most effective when used this way: sublingual GABA or GABA powder or liposomal GABA (and presumably GABA cream too).

GABA can also be used to prevent a full-on spasm if you catch it in advance i.e. when you first feel the twinges of a spasm coming on.

GABA relieves body aches/pain for her and in Parkinson’s patient

I love that GABA has the side benefits of also relieving her body aches in her hips and legs. It’s not unusual to use GABA or one of the other amino acids for a symptom and then discover it’s helping in another area.

And do appreciate that she picked up this tip when tuning into the Parkinson’s summit. I always share new information when I speak at summits and the amino acid and neurotransmitter information typically has varied applications.

During my summit interviews I had shared that working with a few people with Parkinson’s disease, GABA has been very helpful for the stiffness and pain, the physical anxiety, easing some of their tremors and helping with insomnia. I had one client whose husband had anxiety, insomnia, and leg pain and “thrashed around the bed at night.” GABA helped this man tremendously.

I shared this research: Molecular Imaging of the GABAergic System in Parkinson’s Disease and Atypical Parkinsonisms

A growing number of neuroimaging studies have focused on the association with different symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, thereby suggesting a GABAergic role in motor symptoms, gait disturbances, frontal cognition, somatic symptom disorder, and hallucinations.

Other ways GABA helps with pain and muscle stiffness

With regards to my comment above about GABA having many applications, when it comes to aches, pain and spasms, GABA helps with the abdominal pain of colitis, muscle stiffness and pain in those with multiple sclerosis and even bladder pain.

Gluten, sugar, gut health, and oxalates

She didn’t mention what her diet was like so just to be safe, I encouraged her to also check out my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” to explore all the possible root causes that may be contributing to the anal spasms, pain and body aches – such as gluten (“tingling at 50%, numbness at 27%, pain at 20%, burning at 13% and “buzzing” feeling at 7%”) , gut health and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and even sugar.

I mentioned that I don’t cover oxalates in my book but with body aches, spasms and pain I’d also explore this aspect. More on oxalates here and here.

Endorphin support with the amino acid DPA helps ease pain

When there is a neurotransmitter imbalance like low GABA levels it’s not uncommon to also have other neurotransmitter imbalances. With pain and aching I’d want to explore the possibility of low endorphins and do a trial with the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) if low endorphin symptoms are present (you can find the symptoms questionnaire here).

DPA supports endorphin production (by inhibiting the breakdown of endorphins), reducing pain quickly, often in 2-10 minutes.

The use of DPA is not new information as you can read in this paper from 1982 – D-phenylalanine and other enkephalinase inhibitors as pharmacological agents: implications for some important therapeutic application

A number of compounds have been shown to inhibit the degradation of enkephalins. As expected, these compounds produce naloxone reversible analgesia [pain-relief] and potentiate the analgesia produced by enkephalins and by acupuncture.

One of these, D-phenylalanine, is also anti-inflammatory.

D-phenylalanine has proven to be beneficial in many human patients with chronic, intractable pain. It is proposed the enkephalinase inhibitors may be effective in a number of human “endorphin deficiency diseases” such as depression, schizophrenia, convulsive disorders and arthritis.

DPA also improves mood, especially when there is weepiness, and provides comfort when there is emotional eating. Here is one of many blogs that address DPAfor pain. Feel free to use the blog search feature to find others if you are new to this amino acid.

A few GABA product options – a sublingual, a powder and a cream

gaba calm
gaba pure poder
somnium gaba cream

Some of the GABA products I recommend include Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder.  You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder are available via iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Somnium GABA Cream is available with international shipping. Read more about the product and grab my coupon code to save 15%.

Additional resources when you are new to using amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do always appreciate feedback from the community and being able to share it on the blog. I’m thrilled Merril saw these benefits with GABA. She doesn’t mention if she has also seen benefits for sleep or feeling anxious or stress eating (all signs of low GABA too) – I’m curious to find out!

Now I’d love to hear from you – have you had success with GABA for anal/rectal spasms or other body aches, pains and muscle spasms? How much has helped and which product?

Have dietary changes or DPA also helped?

If you’re a practitioner have you seen GABA help in situations like this?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them.

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Somnium Nighttime GABA Cream: insomnia, anxiety, bloated belly, muscle spasms, MS, ARFID, anorexia, Alzheimer’s and autism

By Trudy Scott 45 Comments

somnium gaba cream

Somnium Nighttime GABA Cream is a topical GABA product I have been researching and trying personally with success. And folks in my community are reporting good results too. One woman shared this:

Surprisingly this stuff is very strong. I only use a small amount on the inside of my arm and it really helps me sleep better and calm down my nervous system at night. I don’t use it every day, rather I tend to use it when I’ve had a particularly busy or full/stressful day.

I endorse this topical GABA product as something to use in addition to the sublingual, powder, liposomal or opened GABA capsule you may be seeing benefits from OR it may become the one GABA product that works best for your needs – for helping with insomnia, easing physical anxiety and other low GABA symptoms.

I expect it to be beneficial for those with MS (multiple sclerosis), ARFID (Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), anorexia, Alzheimer’s, autism and special needs children, and if you have severe digestive issues – for anxiety, insomnia and related symptoms.

When to use Somnium and increasing as needed

I do recommend only trialing this GABA cream when you know that GABA does work for you and you are looking for another way to increase GABA levels. I say this because it is more expensive than other GABA products and will only work if GABA is low – so it’s best to be sure.

Also, I have clients use a similar dose when using GABA products interchangeably. Somnium is around 250mg to 500mg for a small pea-size amount (the 1oz jar lasts 45 days, and the 2oz jar lasts 90 days if a pea-sized amount is used nightly.)

When comparing this with the GABA product that is already working for you, don’t forget to compare apples to apples with no confounding influences. So if you still have your period, the time of the month needs to be considered, and diet and other factors like outside stresses of course.

And don’t forget that there is no one size fits all. I have clients increase the amount of GABA when using it as a supplement, in order to find the ideal dose for their unique needs. I use the same logic with the GABA cream – start low and increase as needed.

For nighttime use for improving sleep (and how to use it)

As you’ll see on the website, it’s recommended for nighttime use for improving sleep but I have found there are many more applications (more on these below).

You’ll also see the recommended way to use it is to “Apply a small pea-size amount to skin and massage until absorbed. For best results apply to the back of the ears and the temples before bed time.”

Very quickly after starting to use Somnium myself, I decided I didn’t like using it on the back of my ears and temples, because it’s oily and made my hair greasy.

Rubbing it between my palms and applying some onto my forearms worked as well for my insomnia. Using it on the inner thigh is an option too.

It also helps me with a painful bloated belly and muscle spasms

I’ve also used it for a painful bloated belly at night, rubbed directly on my belly.

And I’ve found it to help back pain/muscle spasms when used directly over the spasming muscle.

(By the way my sublingual GABA product works as well as the GABA cream – I was experimenting with the cream so I could compare the two and offer my feedback.)

An application for specific populations

I also see the application for Somnium GABA cream for specific populations, who may find a cream is a better way to use GABA:

Low GABA symptoms

As a reminder, if you are new to GABA, it’s an amino acid that helps to address low GABA levels and the associated symptoms: insomnia, physical anxiety, feeling worried or fearful, panic attacks, stiff or tense muscles, feeling stressed and burned-out, craving carbs/alcohol for relaxation and calming, intrusive thoughts, spinning/poor focus, fear of heights, rectal spasms, burning mouth, and visceral pain/belly pain with IBS. See the most current list of low GABA symptoms here.

Is oral GABA not effective?

When I recently shared this GABA cream product someone asked this great question: “Why have I been spending a ton of money on oral GABA if it’s not effective?”

Oral GABA does work and is most effective when it’s used properly i.e. using a capsule opened on to the tongue (and held for at least 2 minutes) or using GABA in powder form on the tongue (and held for at least 2 minutes), or using a sublingual form of GABA. More on all this here – How did you come up with the idea of using GABA on the tongue? (GABA is a calming amino acid supplement used to ease physical anxiety symptoms).

Keep in mind there are many practitioners who are not aware of these methods and will recommend swallowing GABA capsules or tablets. This is not ideal for the majority of clients I have worked with.

There are also some practitioners and consumers who do not believe that any method of oral GABA works (swallowed or using the above approaches) or even that topical GABA works.

The important thing is this: if you do have low GABA symptoms and get symptom relief when you use GABA, you can ignore the naysayers. Better yet, shout it from the rooftops so more people get to learn about the amazing amino acid GABA and get results too!

My recommendation is to first experiment with oral GABA (used as above) and then consider Somnium when you know how GABA benefits you and how much is helping.

A few of the negatives

Here are a few of the negatives: You don’t know exactly how much GABA you’re getting (it’s a proprietary formulation but I suspect it’s 250mg to 500mg for a small pea-size amount); towards the end of the jar it does start to separate a bit/get clumpy; it’s pricey but it does go a long way.

However, it works!

The benefits of combing GABA with chondroitin sulfate

Dr. Christine Schaffner helped formulate the product and shares this about combining GABA with chondroitin sulfate:

Now individually, GABA and Chondroitin Sulfate have their respective health benefits. But when you combine these 2 compounds, something AMAZING happens.

You might’ve heard the phrase, ‘your skin is the antenna of your body’. It’s a fancy way of saying that your skin absorbs everything.

When you combine the 2 compounds… the absorption happens faster than with any other GABA cream on the market. And since chondroitin sulfate is known to pass the blood brain barrier, it’s as if the GABA has hopped on a super-highway straight to your brain.

Here is some feedback from a few of her Somnium customers:

I was waiting to share until I had more than one great night’s sleep after using Somnium Nighttime Gaba Cream. I now have had several nights of deep sleep and the only thing I changed was the sleep cream. It had been years since I slept straight through 7 – 8 hours. I feel SO rested when I get up. Wow!! – Candace

It works! I LOVE gaba and am familiar with how it feels. It’s especially nice to be able to get it in cream form. I’ve been sleeping much more deeply. – Jaya

UPDATE: April 2025 – unfortunately this product has been discontinued. Stay tuned for a new updated formula.

UPDATE: July 2025 – I have been in communication with Dr. Ruggiero’s team at Bravo North America about the new formulation called Bravo cream. He worked with Dr. Christine Schaffner to create Somnium GABA cream. They have shared that “Bravo is the combination of Somnium and Lymphflo; it contains all the active ingredients of the two creams with a delivery system that has been redesigned appropriately to allow the maximum efficacy.”

Purchase Bravo cream with this link – Use trudy15 at checkout to get a 15% discount.

Have you used Somnium in the past and how has it helped you? If you have used it and decide to get the Bravo cream I’d really appreciate your feedback on how it compares.

How does using a GABA cream compare with other GABA products you have used (feel free to share specific brands and how you used them – sublingual, capsule-opened, liposomal or powder). Some folks prefer a cream only and many use a combination of cream and sublingual.

Feel free to post your questions here too.