All evidence of using soap to relieve leg cramps is anecdotal and not backed by scientific research, but it is cheap and drug-free, so I decided to give it a try.
Flickr faungg's photos. So, why do people think soap works? Similar anecdotal evidence exists for preventing restless leg syndrome RLS with soap, but on a smaller scale. On another popular medical talk show, "The Dr. Oz Show," Dr. Mehmet Oz recommended placing a bar of lavender soap beneath the bed sheets to alleviate RLS, hypothesizing that the smell of lavender is relaxing in itself and may be beneficial for the condition.
A few times a year I am awakened by monstrous leg cramps. In the morning, I'll see that someone's little paws have mistaken the soap for a mouse and knocked it onto the floor. I didn't know it was gone, but my leg muscles did. My next favorite treatment is a beverage — tonic water, found in the soda aisle.
Drinking 8 to 12 ounces each evening does the trick. Tonic water is rather bitter because it contains quinine, an age-old remedy for nighttime leg cramps. Prescription quinine, such as Quinnam, was once a standard treatment, but because of a recent scare, it is now only sanctioned for malaria treatment. Negative reports about quinine coincided with the launch of several new and extraordinarily expensive prescriptions for leg cramps. These are still available and really do work well, including Mirapex pramipexole and Requip ropinirole.
Some older treatments, such as Sinemet carbidopa-levodopa and Klonipin clonazepam , are also used. I will occasionally use Arnicare cream for leg cramps.
So does my 5 year old granddaughter! Of course not everyone loves the smell of lavender which helps some people fall asleep at night. Another fragrance is found in our Leg Soap. You can put these tiny soap chips in your socks at night or during the day. Let us know if soap works for you to ease leg cramps, hand cramps, restless leg syndrome or anything else that goes bump in the night.
Here is a link to our body care products, including bed soap and leg soap. We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. Is there a scientific explanation for why a bar of soap in bed may relieve some people's nighttime leg cramps? Research is providing some good theories. Joe Graedon. They submitted the following explanation for the benefit of the skeptics: The following hypothesis was contributed by Derek H.
Here are the main relevant observations taken from the anecdotal evidence: What People Report: It seems to work for many people. Soap in the bed appears to alleviate nocturnal leg cramps. Relief is immediate and sustained.
Some people report that soap does not work. It appears either to work consistently and well or not at all. There are few cases of partial success. After a few months, a bar of soap is no longer effective for preventing cramps.
It must be replaced. Old soap can be rejuvenated by scoring or shaving it to produce fresh surfaces. Some subjects have placed the soap between the sheets, and some have placed it under the bottom sheet. Either or both of these methods work.
Some subjects report that direct physical contact between the subject and the soap is desirable, but few claim it is essential. Derek H. Soap for Hand Cramps: Many people have told us that when they get hand cramps they can interrupt them quickly by holding a bar of soap.
Rate this article star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty star-full star-empty. About the Author Joe Graedon Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. Join over , Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.
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