Yes, raclut; that’s the whole point, a quick infusion of something salty.
northernmom…from what I’ve read, if it’s an old piece of soap, remember to scrap it up first. For all of you making fun, I bet you’d be the first to run for soap if it happened to you!
Then someone should have a scientific rationale for what’s going on. There is with the sodium and potassium.
A doctor from the Georgetown University School of medicine suggests [pinching your upper lip](http://www.thebrothersnetwork.net/health/2015/05/folk-remedies-night-leg-pains.html) to make leg cramps go away. He’s not sure why it works but mentioned that the area may be a pressure point for those muscles.
Magnesium supplements, such as Calm, will help a lot.
That’s what this thread has led me to, @jupiter98. A couple of papers on how magnesium deficiency to leads to leg cramps, insulin resistance, a few other issues. And comments that magnesium is missing from most bottled waters. Seems it’s hard to measure adequately via blood tests, since it’s primarily stored in cell tissue.
A lot of the info is from the homeopathic side but talks about how dark colas, sweets, stress, caffeine, diuretics (an issue in the elderly,) etc, contribute. And that calcium supplements need to be balanced with magnesium or you risk other effects.
Amazon doesn’t sell dead roosters.
I read the theory of why it seems to work on the People’s Pharmacy websit;e. It clearly says the webmasters aren’t doctors. However, their theory as to why it works is that it has something to do with the perfume. Perfume ingredients aren’t listed on soap. However, one of the most common is lavender oil.
Lavender oil is suggested by many for people who have trouble falling asleep; the scent is calming. And, rubbing it into your skin is believed to help some women with menstrual cramps. Coincidence?
Sure. But then it’s lavender oil, not soap in particular.
I do not see why soap, which is basically salts of fatty acids, would have any effect, especially without any contact. It is not volatile nor does have any telepathic properties, lol. Oils or volatile components… Maybe. Mostly psychological.
For your husband, Pizzagirl. A review of lavender oil:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/pdf/ECAM2013-681304.pdf
H is going to try the soap thing since he’s desperate. He came home with an 8 pack of Ivory soap.
I’ll post results. He gets painful leg cramps all the time, even though he drinks sports drinks, etc.
I’ve tried it two nights. Still cramping. My mama always said I was special.
Have had foot cramps for years, at night mostly. Also, long time runner, so strength is not an issue, altho flexibilitiy could be.
Bananas daily seem to work extremely well. (Magnesium!)
@Anxiousmom1, I just sent D1 a link to buy Pickle Shots. 
I would go straight for the Irish Spring this week… Stinky and lucky. Maybe little leprechauns come out and massage your calves with their leprechaun golden touch.
I can’t attest to the soap under the sheets, as that is not what I did.
Not making fun, just thinking those small soaps from hotels would be handy for this application. If they need to be somewhat used first, that’s an easy fix. I’m all for natural and these types of fixes for things.
I am hoping this might work for menstrual cramps too. Told D . She will try anything at this point.
@sax Has she tried prescription strength motrin? Bless her -that is tough
Here’s an article about cramps (no mention of soap): https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/10/dont-let-foot-cramps-charley-horses-slow/
That article (and the discussion above) includes useful advice on preventing cramps, including nutrition.
But let’s think about what could help with the acute situation, which is a stiffened muscle. What action could the soap be exerting on this condition? It seems highly unlikely that any component of the soap is penetrating the skin and directly affecting the muscle–especially if it is acting quickly. It could be that the odor of the soap is having a calming effect on the person, which might be enough to help–but this would really argue for putting the soap somewhere else. Could it be that putting soap directly on the skin might help? Probably not if the idea is that something in the soap penetrates to the muscle. But perhaps a soothing sensation on the skin can help relaxation of the muscle?
For similar reasons, I find it highly unlikely that any kind of drink or medicine could give immediate relief, because it has to get to receptors somewhere in the body. Something like ibuprofen takes a while to work; apple cider vinegar would be the same. Again, some of these preparations may help relax the person, and thus may help.
Has anybody tried a stiff belt of rye for this problem? I wonder if that would help.
That’s a good one, Hunt, but alcohol is suspected to exacerbate and can affect potassium levels.
Here are some magnesium rich foods: 1 oz pumpkin seeds 151 mg,1 cup spinach 163 mg, 1 cup oat bran/raw 221 mg, and various beans. The RDAs are 420 men and 320 women.
Honestly, stretching doesn’t help me. Some think cramps are a matter of quad strength, but I’d guess that isn’t the explanation for a cyclist.