The People's Pharmacy® with Joe and Terry Graedon

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Soap Remedy Stirs Controversy

Newspaper Columns, Editorial March 31, 2008

Some home remedies seem logical. Soaking fungus-infected toes in a footbath containing dilute vinegar and old-fashioned amber Listerine makes some sense. After all, fungus hates acid and the herbal oils and alcohol in Listerine may also have anti-fungal activity.

Using soap to combat leg cramps, on the other hand, makes no sense at all. We don’t know where the idea came from to put soap under the bottom sheet to prevent leg cramps. Regardless of its origins, many readers of The People’s Pharmacy are excited about its benefits.

One reader testified: “I have had a bar of soap under my sheet for almost six months and never once have I had any more cramping in my toes, feet and legs. It may be an old wives’ tale, but I can say that it works great because I get a good night's sleep!”

Another one cheered, “I have tried many home remedies, and this is the first that is absolutely effective. I have always experienced moderate to severe leg and foot cramps, and also RLS [restless leg syndrome]. I read about the soap remedy and have used it for nearly two years. I’ve had only a few cramps that lasted only a minute or two until I got the soap on my leg or foot. Even better--NO RLS! This is an amazing home remedy. No exaggeration, no kidding!”

Not everyone is so enthusiastic about soap in bed. One told his story: “It’s a placebo. It only works if you believe it will. My mother-in-law told my wife to try it. I told my wife, ‘it’s just a placebo. If you want to try it, wait until I’m not expecting it.’ She waited a few weeks, slipped the soap under the sheet and I still suffered from leg cramps. If you don’t believe in it, it won’t work either.”

Another wife did a similar experiment but got different results: “I put a bar of soap under my husband’s sheets without his knowledge. It worked. So this proves that it is not all psychosomatic.
“When he saw the soap, he couldn't believe it had helped. It probably wouldn't have worked if he had known in advance that I’d put it there.”

One reader doesn’t care if the effect is psychosomatic: “I suffered from calf muscle cramps (charley horses) at night for years. I read about the soap trick and thought, what the heck. I put several motel soap bars under the sheets. A couple of weeks later, I suddenly realized I had not had any charley horses for quite a while. When I changed the bed, I would put the soap in a cup while I washed and dried the sheets.

“About two weeks ago, I started having those damned cramps again. I figured, ‘Well, that soap stuff is all just suds.’ I had cramps for several nights, and then I found the cup with the soap sitting out. I had forgotten to put it back in the bed. Back it went pronto, and I have not had a cramp since. If it's psychosomatic, so be it, as long as I don't have those charley horses any more.”

Anyone who would like to learn more about remedies for leg cramps or restless leg syndrome may want our Guide to Leg Pain.

Tags: leg cramps, soap

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