Favorite Home Remedies: Dozens of amazing treatments for over 45 common health conditions. With drug costs through the roof, why not give a home remedy a try? Only $12.95 +s/h
Guide to Home Remedies: Learn to make your own low-cost remedies at home for only $2
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Q. A very distressed sufferer of leg cramps wrote to you for advice. I was surprised that you did not suggest placing a bar of soap under the sheet, as you have information citing this 'cure' on your website.
I too was suffering nightly from excruciating leg cramps. My husband read of this inexplicable soap cure on your website and, desperate for relief, we decided to try it. After years of not being able to go a single night without cramps, I have been episode-free ever since I first placed the soap under the sheet three months ago. I replace it with a fresh bar each month.
Initially, I was quite curious as to how a simple bar of soap could bring such pain relief. At this point, though, I am no longer concerned as to how or why this works, I am just grateful and relieved that it does.
A. Thank you for reminding everyone of this simple and safe approach to preventing leg cramps. We too have tried it and found it helpful, although we have no plausible explanation.
We describe this and many other home remedies for leg cramps in our Guide to Leg Pain.
My wife and I have also found that soap under the sheet greatly reduces restless legs.
It's been a top notch remedy for that and cramps.
Dear Joe & Terry,
I get leg cramps (only at night) from dehydration because I work outside and sweat a lot and don't drink enough.
An older friend of mine told me about the bar of soap thing and I just laughed it off. But when you get a leg cramp you'll try anything to try and stop it.
I SWEAR by this and I know it's absurd. My doctor was very amused when I told him! ANY kind of bar soap will work for me, I have used regular size Dial, a no brand name decorative soap and Zest. I just put a long sock on and stick the bar of soap in the sock exactly where it hurts (always my lower leg) . The cramp is gone in about 30 seconds. Sometimes, I can barely stand up to WALK to go get a sock & soap bar.
I'm wondering if there's a nerve the soap bar presses on and that stops the cramp?
I honestly do not understand how this works and don't believe in magic or any other crazy home cures except this one. I never heard of putting soap in your bed or under your sheet.
Well, that's about all I know
Thanks for your site!
I suffered from leg cramps for years, had various medical tests and tried different things that were supposed to help. I read somewhere that a bar of soap between the sheets can help relieve leg cramps. I didn't really pay any attention to it until I read ut in Dr. Donahue's column. I thought what have I got to lose, so I tried it. I was so amazed, from the first night I had the soap in my bed the leg cramps disappeared. After years of getting up 2 or 3 times a night hopping around the house I have now been cramp free for 2 years. I don't know how or why it works but I'm sure glad it does. I do change the bar occasionally and have found that any brand will work. I leave the wrapper on and just slide it between the top and bottom sheets and put it in the middle of the bed.