This reminds me of a few things: my grandfather, who reportedly wore a clove of garlic on a string around his neck and never got sick. And now you can read up on garlic’s antiseptic properties.
And, what my doc said about condroitin: tests show it only works for X% of people, but man do those it works for swear by it.
Is this like putting a knife under the mattress to “cut” the pain?
I would also have to know the science behind this in order to believe it. If it’s for real and not placebo, there should definitely be a documented explanation for its effectiveness. Anecdotes aren’t going to cut it for me. I’d have to believe in the science for even the placebo to work for me.
I have no idea why so many say this works but know that many with COPD have found it helpful as well. I personally can see no “scientific basis,” but it seems fairly innocuous and DOES grant relief to quite a few folks, so I figure if it helpful and NOT harmful, why not?
A banana a day. Worked for my dad.
Very interesting information. I used to get leg cramps at night and my doctor told me to eat bananas because they are loaded with potassium and magnesium. So you just simple put a bar of soap at the end of your bed? I also keep a glass of water next to my bed to keep hydrated at night.
http://get.smarter.com/qa/health/can-bar-soap-relieve-leg-cramps-ef3d26a8f6ac02bb?qo=contentSimilarQuestions#
Yes, I understand the bananas and potassium and magnesium but never understood the bar of soap, tho have wear many testimonials that swear it works by some mysterious means. I have also heard another woman who swears putting a dab of Coleman’s dry mustard under her tongue works. She had no idea why but swore it was the best thing when she was swimming and could feel a cramp coming on. I had never heard of that and neither of us understood it but it kept her swimming.
The placebo effect can be a very powerful thing.
Caleb Treeze Organic Farms Stops Leg & Foot Cramps, 8 oz
by Caleb Treeze from Amazon is what H uses. Just a slug and within one minute the cramps are gone and do
not return that day.
My husband had a terrible problem with leg cramps for a while. He was especially prone to them when he was swimming. What eventually worked for him was to chew on a Tums as soon as he got a cramp. Seems that the calcium in them is what does the trick. He kept a large bottle in his pool bag and he’d bring the bottle to the side of hte pool when he was swimming. We also had some at home for when this happened at night. Worked amazingly quickly.
"The cramp goes away in a couple minutes either way, right? " - no way! If you do not take care of them, they get progressively worse and very quick. The severe foot cramps are a torture. I used to stay in front of the wall in foot / leg stretching position for very long and the minute you let it go, the cramp is back and I could leave a gym. If they go away on their own, I would not worry too much, that means they are very mild. Even now that I rarely have the mild ones, I have to take care of them by stretching, but now it takes very small effort for couple seconds. When I used to have severe cramps, they were horrific and I could not get rid of them for the very long time. I wish I knew about the soap trick then! I would have a bar of soap with me all the time!! “Bananas and potassium” did not affect my cramps at all, no dietary supplement / food / whatever, I ried many things, including the coconut water. Stretching every day fixed my problem, but nobody told me that either, I wish my doc. did!!
Stretching doesn’t solve everyone’s issues. It can actually be about muscle strength. Been there, still there.
I heard the soap thing is the magnesium, but how that somehow gets where it needs to go is a mystery to me.
I will take anything that works. I would not worry too much why and how, unless you are a curious one. I am not! I just take it as is and do not question validity or reason. If one thing does not work, I would try the next on the list. I personally went thru many and discovered my own way absolutely by accident.
I used to get cramps as a side effect of an inhaler medication I was taking. The only way to get rid of the cramps was to stop the Rx, which I eventually did since it was causing side effects and no improvement in breathing. Sometimes our meds are part of the problem–it’s worth checking with the pharmacist to see if that may be part of the problem and if there are alternatives.
Just an FYI - Dates are a wonderful source of potassium and magnesium. Much higher than bananas.
My H has suffered from leg cramps at night and discovered a product that really works for him. The pharmacist at a drugstore that also sells wholistic products recommended this. Maybe it’s a placebo effect–who knows, but it works for H. The product is supposedly from an old Amish formula. Basically, it’s a drink that’s made of apple cider vinegar, garlic juice and juice from ginger–costs $11 for a small bottle. Luckily, a capful is all H uses to get rid of cramps. I believe that it’s the high potassium in the apple cider vinegar that helps with cramps.
Avocados are also high in potassium, I think. Potassium deficiency can cause cramping in the limbs.
Apple cider vinegar is also an old remedy for all kinds of great things including digestive issues but use the organic, unfiltered kind contains “mother”, like Braggs. Drinking hot water with ACV, a little honey, and a little cayenne is a nice little tonic you can make yourself to help keep your digestive tract healthy.
Pickle juice is supposed to help. Once many years ago I suggested D1 try it. Being a trusting child, she took a gulp. It did not work, and she has not forgiven me yet.
My brother LOVE pickle juice, vinegar and all things sour. I like it OK but not nearly as much. Leg cramps can definitely make you quite miserable, especially then they endure!
Broomfield----yes, Caleb Treeze Organic Farms Stops Leg & Foot Cramps, 8 oz
…we get it from Amazon. H uses it although he really wants to be skeptical but admits it works and fast.
I use the bar of soap and have had good result.