Q. When I read about putting soap under the sheet to stop nighttime leg cramps, I thought it could not possibly work. How could it make any difference at all?
Several family members convinced me to try it. For weeks, I had no leg cramps at all. Then suddenly they were back with a vengeance.
I wondered why this odd remedy had quit working and realized that my husband had changed the sheets. I didn’t know if he had put my soap back, and when I checked I found he had not.
Anyone who thinks this is all in someone’s head is just plain wrong! I had no idea the soap was no longer in place, yet I suddenly started having leg cramps again. When I replaced the bar, they disappeared. If you are a skeptic, just give it a try.
A. What a great testimonial! We offer the details on this and many other remedies for leg cramps and restless legs in our Guide to Leg Pain. Perhaps some day there will be a scientific explanation for why putting a bar of soap under the bottom sheet near the legs can keep the muscles from cramping.
Almost any type of soap will do the trick, but you might want to consider our special Bed Soap. It contains as much soap as a standard bar, but is flat so it does not create a lump in the bed.
The People's Perspective on Medicine