Reader doubts that soap helps cramps

October 25, 2007 at 2:00a.m.

Q. You folks are ridiculous, superstitious and ignorant. How can you recommend a bar of soap under the bottom sheet for leg cramps?

It’s just plain dumb. Please spare us such silliness.

A. We agree that putting a bar of soap under the bottom sheet sounds silly. But though we can’t explain how it might work, we assure you that many people have found it helpful.

Testimonials are no substitute for scientific study, but soap is inexpensive and doesn’t usually have dangerous side effects. Here is what one reader says: “I hesitated to try the bar of soap for my leg cramps, but finally I decided to give it a try. I did not tell anyone, because I just knew it wouldn’t work. Surprise! It worked!

“Then one night it didn’t, but the next morning I discovered the bar had slipped down off the side of the bed without my knowing. This sort of proved to me that it wasn’t all in my head.

“At home I use regular Irish Spring, and by the time the bar in the shower needs replacing, I take the bar that’s been in the bed, move it to the shower and put a new bar in the bed. When I’m traveling I find that the small hotel soap bars also work. I’ve even gotten up the nerve to tell other people about it.”

Q. I have been told to take cherry juice for joint pain. Where can I find it?

A. Cherries have anti-inflammatory activity, and one study found that 280 grams (about 10 ounces) of cherries a day reduced inflammatory markers in the blood (Journal of Nutrition, June 2003). When cherries are not in season, cherry concentrate softgels are a good substitute. You can find them in health-food stores or on the Internet.

Q. I read that if you had really bad foot odor that all you had to do was urinate on your feet to make it go away. I tried this, and not only did the odor go away, but the bad, painful peeling of the skin on the bottom of my feet went away also. Why would that happen?

A. Soldiers have used this military secret for decades to treat foot fungus and odor. Perhaps the acidity of the urine does the trick. Urea, an ingredient of urine, may also have antifungal activity.

Q. My daughter is 23 and for five years has had warts on her thighs all the way to her knees. She couldn’t wear shorts or bathing suits because of this condition. She had more than 50 warts at all times.

I lost track of how much money we spent at dermatologists trying every treatment available: liquid nitrogen, Tagamet, chemotherapy, even yeast. A new dermatologist told her she was out of options. The only thing left was to boost her immune system.

I heard your radio program and checked your book for possible home remedies. In August, I told my daughter about the vinegar treatment referenced in your book. She wet a paper towel with vinegar and wiped her warts with it twice a day. Her warts are completely gone. I cannot begin to express our appreciation for the information you provide!

A. It is wonderful to hear that applying vinegar to her warts twice a day was so effective. As you discovered, we discuss many home remedies in our book “The People’s Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies” (608 pages). Local libraries or bookstores might have copies.

XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of The Vindicator or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.