Here’s why you should put a bar of soap under your bedsheet

<p>A lot of people face it – cramping in legs at night. Restless leg syndrome or nightley leg cramps, both are infamous for causing discomfort in your legs while you are resting. For the ones who go through it, it can be extremely frustrating as it can lead to poor sleep and a lot of pain to deal with. And here we tell you how by simply placing a bar of soap, you can reduce the symptoms of the leg cramps to a great extent!<br></p>

<p>LEG CRAMPS OR RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME? Firstly, you need to distinguish between the cause of the cramps in your legs. Normal leg cramps can be due to dehydration, exercising excessively or any deficiencies in the body. However, restless leg syndrome is a case of a neurological disorder which isn’t related to any of the above causes. Instead, it may be caused by alcohol intake, kidney problem, diabetes or due to pregnancy. Placing the bar of soap can help you alleviate the symptoms in both the cases, however, if you have the former case, you can also try supplements, staying hydrated and not over-straining your body.<br></p>

<p>THE SOAP METHOD: A study was conducted to test the efficiency of the soap test and about 42 per cent of the participants experienced an improvement in their symptoms. All they had to do was place soap in your bed before going to sleep. You can go for fragrances which are soothing in nature, such as lavender.<br></p>

<p>WHY THE METHOD WORKS: Investigation is going on to know why the soap method worked for almost half the participants in the study. Some attributed it to the magnesium content in the soap as leg cramps are quite often caused by magnesium deficiency. But how the magnesium of the soap treated a deficiency in the body is still not clear.<br></p>

<p>PLACEBO? Many believe that the only reason behind working of this method is the placebo effect. That is, you believe that the soap works and so it does, without any actual scientific backing.<br></p>

<p>IS IT ALL ABOUT THE SMELL? A study was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine where they concluded that the soap effect came from the smell of the soap and not the soap itself. They even tested the soap method on menstruating women who had severe cramps and they said that the soap smell did have an anti-spasmodic effect. Smell therapy has even been proven to reduce the symptoms of epilepsy and so, many believe that leg cramps is only a minor issue that can easily be cured with smells.<br></p>

<p>OTHER METHODS: Taking warm water bath before sleeping, massages, staying hydrated and eating the right food can also help you keep leg cramps at bay.<br></p>