I'd like more information about the soap bar treatment for leg cramps during the night. Do you have any references by Dr. Paul Donohue on the subject?...or any other medical doctor?

No I don't Gloria. I just know it works for my husband every time.

Is any kind or brand of bar soap effective ?

I dont know how it works , but it really does. I suffered from nightly leg cramps that kept me awake for hours, but after using soap, I have not had a problem. Praise the lord,

I can reconmend that the bar of soap works. I had been having awful leg cramps that was so bad that I could hardly walk them out. Put a bar of soap arround my feet and legs,between the sheets. Have not had any cramps at all after doing this. It really does work.

I have suffered with cxalf and thigh cramps for years.I tried quinine to no avail.I put a bar of Dial soap in my bed two weeks ago and have not had a cramp since. Just give it a try--nothing to lose

Ive heard any soap works EXCEPT Dial or DOVE could it all just be power of suggestion since Dial worked for Tom Armour? (Posted 6/3/07)

I have just had great results using Dial under the bottom sheet at the foot of the bed. One full week without leg and foot cramps. Now when I get out of bed in the morning my feet aren't stiff and painful. Sure wish I could find out why it works.

I have been using the soap under the sheets for about three months and haven't had one cramp in my legs since. I use Ivory. My cramps would feel like I was being stabbed in the top of my legs. Not any more, I don't know how it works, but it has for me.

I'm an athlete and I get terrible leg cramps that will wake me up in the middle of the night and seem to take forever to calm down. I've tried increasing water, potassium, calcium, higher protein... they would still come back.
I read about the soap thing in the local news paper and decided to try it...
I SWEAR IT WORKS!!!
I was just on now curious as to why it works (can't find out why, just that SOO many people find it does!) I don't know about specific brands, just that the article had mentioned Ivory, and I actually had some in the house. But you have to try it! I didn't put it under the sheet, I actually put it in a pillow case and sense I sleep on my stomach i just position between my calves when I lay down.
Nothing to lose by giving it a shot... it's not like you're wasting soap lol if it doesn't work, stick it in your shower!

My wife had read something about the bar of soap in the bed to relieve leg cramps, from which I have been suffering recently. Naturally I laughed when she told me, so we did nothing about it for a while, and the nightly cramps continued. One night recently I got into bed and discovered this lump - she had put a bar of soap under the bottom sheet. Again I laughed and kidded her about what brand she was using, was the wrapper still on etc. Need I say more. In the morning I wasn't laughing at her as I had not had a cramp during the night. This has gone on now for about two weeks and no cramps except for last night when I did get one in my leg which I had allowed to drift over the side of the bed. But I have to tell you that when I brought the errant leg back under the covers and close to the soap, the cramp went away!!!! And for all those who recommend not using Dove, we are using Dove, simply because that's what we normally use and we hadn't read any instructions not to. So forget that line - Dove works (I would therefore assume that Ivory does also). One can hardly argue that this was a self fulfilling prophecy, because if anything, I was the original sceptic and probably even wanted it to fail just so I could laugh some more. No more laughing - it works.

I also thought my mom was crazy when she recommended putting a bar of soap in the bed for my leg cramps. I had back surgery 3 years ago, and I started getting cramps so bad even my toes would curl. I tried the soap, and NO MORE CRAMPS! The other night I did get cramps however, and when I was making up the bed, I couldn't find the soap. I found it under the bed. I put it back in the bed, and the next night everything was fine again. Don't know how it works, but thank God it does.

Comparing the ingredients in Bar Soap and Gator Aid used for cramps etc. you will find there are several types of Sodium in both. Including Sodium Chloride (SALT) The Electrolytes in the Sodium carried by the fragrance perhaps enter the skin (your largest organ) through the bottom of your feet (the main reflexology center for the whole body) Thus the increase of electrolytes replace those lost by diuretics or perspiring etc. So there you have at least one theory. Science not superstition perhaps.
Friend had terrible cramps due to diuretics in her BP meds (loss of electrolytes) Gator Aid helped when she remembered to buy it. The soap stopped it for good though. Not one cramp since putting one bar in the bottom of her bed.
Don

It works. It really works. Not only will it work under the sheet. Just grab the bar and press it on the muscle that cramps and the cramp goes away. A Chinese doctor told me that cramps are caused by too much CO2 in our muscle and the soap absorbs the excess CO2 like a deodorant. Is there a scientist out there who can test that?

woke up last night with cramps in both legs...remembered this tip...I tucked a new bar of Dove under a pair of socks..felt relief within minutes...slept undisturbed the rest of the night.

I didn't think there was any way in heck that this would work when a friend told me this works when we were out for dinner one night. I picked up on it right away since I had been up 3-4 times a night the week prior. I went right home that night, placed a bar of Dial between the sheet and mattress cover. I did not have one cramp that night and none since. Over a week ago. I'm sold!

E had sever leg cramps for quite awhile. They were so bad that I could hardly walk them out. I would scream and cry. My husband would threaten to call an ambulance. He is a dispatcher for our local service. The last time I had an epasode like that I told him that if he did, I would not argue with him abouot that. He did not, and I walked it out. The next day at work I was telling someone about the cramps. A person sitting close told me about the soap in the bed. They also said that if you get a cramp and can get to the freezer, put an icepack on the floor and stand on it, and to keep a broom handle near to rub the cramp down. I went home and put a bar of Safeguard under the sheet, I also was told not to use Dial or Dove. I have not had the oppertunity to try the other two suggestions I was given because I have not had a cramp since I put The soap in the bed, THANK GOD IT WORKS.

I have had what I call "Charlie Horses" for as long as I can remember. I can remember by twins crying that they had "horses" in their legs as small children too. Lately, I have had cramps in both legs and feet several times a night. So bad that it took a lot of determination to just move much less stand up and force my foot to the floor to walk it out. Plus, I would have pain in my muscles during the day. The night before last was particularly bad. Before I went to bed last night I went on line and read about soap between the sheets. I found a cake of Caress in my bathroom and unwrapped it and placed it between the bottom sheet and matress pad at the foot of my bed. I had the best sleep I have had in a long time. My legs and feet felt wonderful this morning. My lower back and shoulders even felt fantaastic. If I had known this I might have tried it before I spent thousands of dollars on my popular name brand memory foam mattress. Ha!

I suppose if your doc told you to put a bag of cat and dog hair under your pillow to help with allergies, you'd believe him.
I suffer from leg cramps, mom in law told my wife about this, I told my wife to try it, but don't tell me when she was going to slip it under the sheet. A few weeks went past and I was still suffering, I told her about the soap and she said she put it in about a week ago. Didn't help one bit.
Ohh, Ohh, I know, maybe she wasn't using the right brand of soap. I also read somewhere that a spokesman for dial or dove was the one to start the rumor, to sell more soap.

yep it really does work my dad tried it 2 days ago we was amazed

I'm a 65 year old female who has been suffering from cramps for many years. I've tried stretching my legs, OTC quinine... even swallowing spoons of yellow mustard. The only thing that sometimes helped was very hot water, but it takes a long time for them to go away. I didn't know what else to try, because my doctor's couldn't really give me anything that helped.

My son told me one day that he read on the Internet that a bar of soap seems to help. I thought it was a joke, because it sounds kind of silly. But I would try anything because I couldn't take the pain anymore.

I didn't believe soap would work, and I even laughed at the idea so "faith" had no part in it working. But it really seems to work. I was suffering from hand cramps the entire day and as soon as I held a bar of soap on my hands, the cramps slowly went away and never returned. That night, I slept with a bar of soap (Dial) under my calves and slept like a rock!!!

I forgot to take one to work with me and I got a cramp! But luckily I found a bar of Dial and it placed it on my thigh... the cramp went away!

It's been two weeks now and I have have not had any cramps, and I used to get them twice a week, if not more frequent.

I also have very severe leg
cramps at night. Mine are all the way up both legs-very
painful. I tried the bar of
soap under the sheets and it
did absolutely nothing for
my leg cramps. My daughter
mentioned to try rubbing the
soap all over my legs before
going to bed.(I moisten the
soap just enough to get it to
stay on my legs) I finally
found a solution to my cramps. It has been one week
and I have had none. I was
getting them every night. So
if soap under the sheets does
nothing for you try rubbing it directly on your legs.

Well folks, I have suffered from leg cramps since childhood. I used to take QVEL, a quinine capsule specifically for leg cramps. I have been searching the grocery stores and pharmacies for months, trying to find it again. The last 3 months, it has become a nightly ritual with the most severe leg cramps 4 and 5 times a night. I am exhausted. Last night I finally asked a Pharmacist about the QVEL. You can not buy it over the counter any longer. There is Tonic Water with Quinine sold in the Drink Mixer section of the Store. He told me to take potassium and magnesium supplements, eat bananas, and drink the tonic water. Better yet, he told me to go to the doctor and have blood tests done. Said the severe leg cramps are brought on by low blood sugar or an iron deficiency. I just had blood work done a few months ago, healthy as a HORSE. Had my blood sugar level checked today, just to make sure. Perfect. I was told by a lady today to drink pickle juice, that is what athletes do for muscle cramps. I like a small pickle with a sandwich on occassion, but not a big fan of drinking pickle juice. So, for the lack of anything better to try, a bar of soap is going into my bed tonight. I desperately need the sleep. My husband also has leg cramps on occassion. Let's see who gets the first cramp. Will let you know in a couple of weeks.

I've suffered from leg cramps for the last year. They are so severe I can't move until it passes(12-15 min.) A co-worker told me about the soap trick, I had a good laugh. That night I felt the preliminary cramps starting early in the evening. I took calcium, and quinine and went to bed. The small cramp in my leg kept grabbing and I new that it would be full blown if I went to sleep. I've always used the pressure point under your nose for just foot cramps, but they have never seemed to work on these full inner leg cramps. I tried it anyway, it seemed to give me a little relieve, but once I removed by finger from the pressure point it would grab again. I finaly got up out of bed and grabbed a new bar of soap and put it under my sheet and got back in bed. It's been one week, and no cramps of any kind. I'm still not totally convienced, but I refuse to remove the bar of soap:)

Ohhhh I am so thankful I found this site. On two occassions I think I passed out from the pain not in just one inner thigh but both at same time - they hurt so bad I literally want to cut off my legs. They only thing that helps is I try to walk (limp) up and down the hallway and sing Frosty the Snowman lol - just do that to make me focus on something other than the pain. I will take three kidney stones to the leg cramps and yes I have had kidney stone. Thank you thank you thank you - I'm going in right now and putting soap at foot of bed and another bar on nightstand in case to rub on thighs. Some nights I hate to even go to sleep because I know what is coming. I'm 53 yr old woman and the pain literally makes me cry for my mama.

This is sooooooooo great - thanks everyone!!!

Mu husband sometimes had terrible foot cramps at night. Often the soap worked but occasionally it didn't. I believe they are caused by an imbalance of potassium and magnesium or just by low magnesium. So he would get the cramps depending on what he had eaten. When we added 100mg of magnesium at night they completely stopped. Just a thought for all of you suffering!

OMG my husband suffers from severe and painful hand cramps. I swore it was from the chemo he had 2 years ago welp i recently read about the yellow mustard. I begged him to try this. and he did while he was getting the cramp not just a few minutes ago! and lo and behold. cramp went away. yes it did, I am thrilled to death about this. and cant wait to get the bar of soap under the sheets as i suffer from sever inner thigh cramps from time to time.@ thank you all.

I am a cancer survivor, type 2 diabetic, suffer from fibromyalgia, have a pinched nerve in my lower back, and have severe arthritis. To date, no remedy has worked to relieve my lower extremity intense spasms and cramping. The pain does not allow sleep and affects my quality of life. I am going to try this soap thing tonight for the first time. I'm very sceptical though. I use Caress which seems appropriate. Anyway, wish me luck fellow sufferers. I'll let you know what happens. Cheers!

All I can say is that I am a beliver...not for legs cramps but for menstrual cramps. Yes, I am for real! Suffering with extreme monthly cycles, I have not taken a pain pill in 3 months. I know you have questions as to where it is placed....but if you have had pain the way I have you will try anything. And I'm thankful I did. An elderly lady at my church told me to do this and I could not be more grateful. You may be laughing out loud but I know longer fear those 5 to 7 days every month.

I had read about the soap under the sheets several months ago while searching for a cure to the nightly for the nightly calve & foot cramps and did not try it because lets be honest it sounds outrageous. A couple of nights ago I telling my mom and aunt about all the different things I've tried and I remembered this and sure enough I got a real bad cramp right above my toe at 3:15 am I tried walking on it, rolling my foot back & Forth on a rolling pin, eating a banana until I couldn't take it anymore, and I remembered the soap trick. I usually use liquid soap, but was able to find a dried-out, cracked old white soap, (could have been a Dove) I didn't remember how it was supposed to be done so I placed it inside a nylon hose and placed it under the pillow that I always use to elevate my feet. It worked like magic. Call it the power of the mind, or whatever you like but I'm no longer suffering. The soap stays and I just bought 2 more soaps, White Dove, have not oppened them yet. So maybe I'll try Caress since I read somewhere that Dial & Dove don't work as well. Either way I LOVE SOAP!!!!

I have been having cramps right at the outside of my right leg down at the ankle. The actually wake me and if I start going back to sleep I feel the "pull" of the cramp I have to get up and walk it out and let me tell you our house is under 1200 SQ feet so it takes alot of walking. My neighbor is 93 I was telling her about it she said try the soap. I only use Dove for sensitive skin per a Skin Doctor. So I figured what the heck if it does not work I'll put it in the shower. NO cramps first night....I was so amazed when I woke. So tonight is the 2nd night and we shall see. I would just love to know what it is. I put the soap between the bottom sheet and the temper pedic cover on my matteras.
I don't really care why as long as it keep working....those cramps are HORRID.
Lou

My mother, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, began getting sever nocturnal leg cramps a number of years back. Because adding an additional pill or supplement to her routine was not a realist option, a friend of hers recommended putting soap in the bed sheets near her legs. Unfortunately what she found is that some soaps show encouraging results while others were completely ineffective. To that end, our family worked with a chemist and recognized formulation expert to isolate and concentrate the ingredients in the effective soaps. After testing various formulations on a cast of eager volunteers, we were able to create a Leg Cramp Relief product. Since then we have developed quite a following.

If you have a moment, please visit our Wilcox Family Products website. www.wilcoxfamilyproducts.com If you or someone you know would like a sample, please let me know and I would be happy to get one out. Hope this adds another option.

I have leg cramp everyday; my feet/toes cramp up when I am drive, walking or just doing nothing. But last night I was awaken by a pain in both legs and my feet. My feet felt as if they were going to pop open; and it hu-r-rts like h--l. I tried to stand up, but could not put my weight down on my feet. There was so much pain; there was nothing I could do but roll and cry out loud. I could not stand up to try and walk out or extend the muscle; which helps to stop the cramp at time. I do not know what caused this pain; but I will try the soap tonight.
Lately my whole body has been in pain and the doctor's have taken test and can not tell me why I am having the pain all over my body, yes my head also.
Will respond on tommorrow--hopefully with less pain---
Jean

Add me to the believers! I take lipitor and I believe that is the cause of my leg cramps which occurr 3 or 4 nights a week. I read about the soap a couple of months ago - stuck a bar of ivory in the bed and bye bye cramps!! For me, even if I feel one coming on, I just push the bar to the cramp site (toe or calf eg.) and it goes away. I don't care if it's in my head or a true therapy..for me, it works!

didn't believe this at all when I heard about it. I work graveyard a lot, and if I stay up for awhile in the morning, when I did go to bed I would cramp real bad. Believe me this is amazing. I don't know how or why it works, but it does.

Cancer survivor, TBI/chemo, terrible leg/hand/arm cramps due to radiation and GVHD in muscles. Soap worked for awhile and they got worse, took quinine, worked for two weeks and then the Dr. took it away and the cramps were day and night. Put soap back in bed and they are greatly relieved. If I still get them, I switch to the spare bedroom and sleep in a rocking chair to exercise them and then use the bed there to fall back to sleep. Last night I went back to my bed with the soap, instead of using the spare bed and no more cramps, I put the Ivory in a sock, now contemplating taking it out of the sock and adding some to the spare room bed. I have medicinally induced Type 2 diabetes just discovered so I may also be dehydrated and low on electrolytes, the soap is working, not perfectly but I have a bunch of issues. It has worked for my aunt for 3 years. If only I could carry the soap around throughout the day so I wouldn't be plagued with the hand and arm cramps. In most cases I believe the soap really works and what do you have to lose?

I use to have leg cramps every night. Two years ago when we were volunteering at an ATP tennis tournamant, a co-worker told us the story about her daughter and her husband (both physicians) using a bar of soap to cure their leg crumps (they didn't believed it at the beganning). I decided to give a try. It was July of 2006. Would you believe it that I have been leg crump free since then! That's over 2 years ago. I don't know what brand of soap my wife use. She says Ivory is the best. If one bar doesn't work after a while, try to add another one. My mother in law (she is 88 now) has increased up to 3 bars!and now it's really working for her! Good luck.

Im an 18 yr old who suffered from horrible leg cramps. After a while I couldnt stand it so my grandma told me to put a bar of soap under my fitted sheet. I thought she was completly nuts but at that point I would try anything. I put it under my sheet and have not had one cramp since...I have no idea how it works...but I promise, IT DOES!

It's true! I used a bar of Lever 2000 (I buy what's on sale) and that was 3 weeks ago. No leg cramps. I think any brand must work.

My mom heard about the bar of soap in bed for leg cramps at the senior center. I told her I had them and she suggested Irish Spring. I have used it for about a year now with great success. My husband thought we were crazy but he doesn't say anything now since I don't complain about having leg cramps much any more. I had a cramp & took bar of soap and rubbed calf of leg and it went away. Seniors said that Irish Spring was the only one that works but now I see it is not the only brand. Thanks

I've always thought that this soap business was just a bunch of hooey. However, lately Ive been suffering from foot and leg cramps. When I last changed my sheets I thought, What harm could it do?, and I put a cake of soap under the bottom sheet.

Last night I was awakened from a deep sleep by a foot cramp, and I certainly didn't relish the prospect of getting up to work it out. On a whim I moved my foot over the soap and, Presto! -- the cramp went away -- just like that! It was almost as if the soap "sucked" out the cramp.

I will never be a doubter again, at least not as far as cramps and soap are concerned.

I had leg cramps so bad I would wake up and actually see stars from the agony, get up and walk the cramps off for like 15 minutes. I have used a bar of scented soap between my legs for the past week and have not had a cramp in seven days. To me that is amazing! I remember reading about this in Dr. Peter Gott's column years ago, and just remembered it. It Works ! !

I only heard about this recently. I too suffer with leg, shin, calf and toe cramps so bad, I wake up sobbing. I put a bar of Coast under my feet and haven't had any cramps for over a week now :D And.. I even walk around with bars of soap in my ' bootie ' type slipper.. works like a charm.. dont believe me.. just try going without it.. amazing..

My Mom told me about the Ivory Soap in the bed years ago...and I scoffed. Well, a couple of years ago I started getting nasty leg cramps at night - my husband reminded me about the soap. As long as I keep the soap in the bed - no cramps. When I change the bed and forget the soap - sooner or later I suffer. Wish I could apologize to Mom.

I have had horrible pains since I was a child. As I have gotten older it was not just my legs, but arms and even a shoulder blade. It was more than at night too. I was scared that by 40 I would be paralyzed or something. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Restless Leg Syndrom, but I wasn't sure that was right. After lots of drug combos, acupuncture, physical therapy and more I finally was on Mirapex and an opiod patch (which is ridiculously stronger than morphine) that I wore on my arm and changed every 3 days. And of course there was always the Vicodin for the bad days. The doses needed to be raised occasionaly as I got "used" to the medicine. I worried about all the narcotics in my system, and what if I reached the highest dose and it stopped working. Well about a month ago I moved out of state and things were very diffrent. I could not find 1 pain management dr that would see me! About 2 weeks ago I ran out of the patches (still have mirapex). I was so scared of the pains being like they had been in the past I tried to find old patches to put on hoping there woul be enough medicine until I got to a doctor.
This weekend I jumped and jerked from the pain all day and night. I was in so much pain. I read about the soap and tried it, but nothing, I even tied a bar to my leg! The next night I forgot I had the bar under the sheet. I was so suprised that I barel had any pain or jumping all day and night! (side note my husband had really bad back ache and he woke up pain free for 1st time in 3 days too!). When I went to go to bed last night I felt the soap. I told him and we kinda laughed it off. Today I have been awake about 4 hours no pain. And last night I slept alot!
I dont know why but it worked. And contrary to some thinking it is not mind over matter because I forgot it was there! What have you got to lose? And dont give up so quick! Good Luck!

I Laughed At First About The Bar Of Soap, But I Put A Bar Of Dial Under The Sheets, No More Cramps.

The soap works. I had tried everything and so happy about putting the soap under the sheet in between my calves.

This also works for my 2 year old with very bad night time leg cramps, we use Ivory. Amazing!

I have used Dove under the sheets and success!!! Ihave suffered with all types of cramps. I am 86 and thought I'd gave to live with it. I to wonder what's in the soap to give us such ease.

I have used Dove under the sheets and success!!! Ihave suffered with all types of cramps. I am 86 and thought I'd gave to live with it. I to wonder what's in the soap to give us such ease.

I have used Dove under the sheets and success!!! Ihave suffered with all types of cramps. I am 86 and thought I'd gave to live with it. I to wonder what's in the soap to give us such ease.

well it worked for me too. i have been having calf cramps for a while now and also jaw clenching - last night i remembered this and put a piece of home-made soap in bed - actually under my feather bed.
no more cramps in my calves or my jaw last night!!!