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Skeptics Become Bed Soap Believers To Overcome Leg Cramps

One of our readers' favorite home remedies is soap for cramps. Have you heard of this crazy remedy that calls for slipping a bar of soap under your sheets?

If you have ever been awakened in the middle of the night with a cramp in your calf or the arch of your foot, you know how much that can disrupt your sleep. But what can you do to prevent this problem? Surprisingly, many readers are enthusiastic about soap for cramps.

Soap for Cramps?

Q. I have suffered from foot and leg cramps for years. Every night! No matter how much potassium and calcium I took, these minerals didn’t make a difference.

I need my feet and legs for my job. I would actually get up with bruises. I could barely walk the next day because my feet and legs hurt so bad from the cramps the night before.

A friend told me that a friend of hers did the bar of soap underneath the bed sheet. It sounded so dumb that I just blew it off.

A few days later, I was so sore I decided to try it, and I thought ‘I’ll try anything.’ I haven’t had a leg or foot cramp since!  I know this sounds stupid, but it really worked for me.

A. You and hundreds of other people have told us that the stupid soap trick works. We have also heard from people who say it is worthless. But the good news is that soap doesn’t cost much and when put under the bottom sheet should produce no side effects.

Readers Share Their Stories About Soap for Cramps:

Here are just a few other soap stories to support your experience and entertain you:

Mary Says:

“Read for years about soap stopping leg cramps and kind of laughed at the entire scene. Then I started getting jolting cramps in my calves upon wakening in the a.m.

“Finally, I recalled the soap story and skeptically put some smaller pieces under the sheets and on top of the mattress pad.

“Well, I totally forgot I did it. About a week later upon arising, I realized NO CRAMPS! Then I remembered: SOAP!

“If only all medical conditions could be alleviated so easily and safely; we need people to continue sharing their home remedies that have worked for them or someone they know. Thank you.”

Paula adds:

“I have 5 bars of soap in my bed. My husband was a skeptic and is now a FIRM believer! I put the soap between the sheets, over the end of the bed so there is no kicking it around and it seems to work wonderfully. Hope this helps someone else.”

Delia offers this personal experience:

“Coming from a ha-ha skeptical to a wow believer: I had heard from my daughter that a friend had told her about the soap. I laughed it out of my mind.

“One day while reading the Houston Chronicle I read an article in the ‘People’s Pharmacy’ newspaper column which mentioned soap for cramps and raisins for arthritis. I did the raisins, and years later out of desperation, did the soap. Both are a miracle for me.

“Since I had saved the newspaper article, I have made countless copies for family, friends, and unknown friends’ friends. Some have been disbelievers like me, but far too many have thanked me for the information.

“I bought two (2) copies of “The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies” book, one for me and one to lend out. Thanks for all your wonder help.”

Anyone else who would like to learn more about Bed Soap and Leg Soap can find information here. And if you too would like to read all about these and hundreds of other home remedy stories in our home remedy book, click on this link.

The Scent of Soap:

There is not much research on this remedy to prevent nighttime cramps, but some research links the effect to aromatherapy. We came up with the idea of The People’s Pharmacy Bed Soap and Leg Soap because we knew that lavender might be an important scent in the cramp-relieving action of soap. We added that scent to the special flat bars so that the soap isn’t uncomfortable.

The special soap chips in Leg Soap make it possible to put them in socks unobtrusively. People tell us that they help when traveling. Some people even wear socks with soap to bed.

Lucille in Texas shared this review of Leg Soap in our shopping cart:

“I like it and so does my husband. He uses it for restless leg and I for cramps. So far, it seems to work better than anything else I have tried.”

Cheryl in Richmond, VA loves the special fragrance in Leg Soap:

“I love this soap and use it every night. It does help me in preventing night time leg/foot cramps. Also love the smell! So does my 5 year old granddaughter!”

Of course not everyone loves the tea olive fragrance in Leg Soap or the lavender fragrance in Bed Soap. If you find either Bed Soap or Leg Soap not to your liking we will gladly refund your money.

Share your own soap for cramps story in the comment section below.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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