# leg cramps and soap

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901 "2005-02-19T17:10:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![canyonoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8797f3/32.png) [@canyonoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canyonoak)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901/1 "2005-02-19T17:10:39Z")

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Please excuse if this is already covered…I am ASSUMING it has been covered, but so far have not been able to access the archives.

So I ask: has anyone gome up with any plausible answer for why night-time leg cramps appear to be curable by placing a bar of soap under the bottom bedsheet?

Has placebo been ruled out?  
Does it have to be a NEW bar of soap?  
How come some can use Dial/Dove while others cannot?

thank you…

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901/2 "2005-02-19T18:06:28Z")

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I have never heard of this. Generally, stretching and getting enough potassium should reduce cramping, at least it did for my father.

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**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901/3 "2005-02-19T18:33:00Z")

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You can find a brief discussion of this in the following thread: [soap and leg cramps](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=288470&highlight=soap+legs)

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-soap/290901/4 "2005-02-20T15:39:40Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board. Questions not related to a Straight Dope column should be posted in our General Questions forum. I will move the thread over there for you.

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