A Bar of Soap

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Bar of Soap Therapy for Restless Legs

Folk Cure Ingredients:

• One Bar of Ivory Soap

Some remedies are as hard to explain as they are effective! For this one, take a bar of Ivory soap (it can stay in its wrapper or go into a sock) and bring it to bed with you. You can hold onto it, put it at the foot of the bed, or set it down alongside you somewhere between the knees and hips.

07/01/2011: Blanche from Iberia Parish, Louisiana replies: "I read somewhere that restless legs sometimes occur if you are anemic. Just a thought."

07/02/2011: Debbie from Melbourne, Australia replies: "Surveyor65, From the Doctoryourself.com website:

Just thought I'd let you know another great use for Niacin -- restless leg syndrome. My husband has never been officially diagnosed, but has a lot of trouble sleeping. This year when the work season started again, he began kicking me all night. It got so bad that I wasn't going to be able to sleep in the same room. Every few seconds, his legs would move and it was driving me up the wall. I persuaded my husband to try Niacin with Vitamin C right before bedtime. Works like a charm, in fact when he missed his vitamins the other night, I could tell within minutes. What a great solution to a problem that so many suffer with! "

"Doses vary from person to person, ranging anywhere from a low 50-100 mg to a high 500 mg".

Source: http://www.doctoryourself.com/leg.htm"

[NAY]  01/03/2012: Sherri from Houston, Tx replies: "The bar of soap didn't work for me either. I try not to drink caffeine in the afternoon, and get plenty of water intake. I'll try the niacin. The best thing I've found, is "Restful Legs" a homeopathic remedy that you put under your tongue. It lets me get back to sleep in 10 minutes. If I run out, I drink a large glass of water, and that will help. But then you might wake up to go to the bathroom. It's very frustrating!"

[YEA]  08/16/2010: M.h from Paisley, Scotland replies: "Tried the bar of soap under the sheet two years ago and it's been like a miracle. I change it for a new one every few months and it always works for me. M. H."

11/28/2011: Rigger from Newtown, Ct replies: "I have had RLS for about 5 years, so bad that the prescription medicine doesn't even work well. There are different levels of RLS, with mine being really bad, I have tried alot of things, including a bar' of soap. For me it didn't touch it, but what has worked is a combination of magnesium glucimate (take as much as you can, until your body tells you it is enough - don't worry, you will know!) it really works! I also use a oil that is rubbed on my lower back and the area that is acting up at the time, it is called 'Night Time leg calm' from Natures Inventory. This too has been fantastic, it doesn't make it go away for good, but it allows me to rest and to sleep. I also have just discovered that my problem with RLS might be my sciatic nerve.... will keep you posted."

[YEA]  01/29/2012: Piper from Nashua, Nh replies: "I've had RSL for over five years now... Beginning when I turned 45. No remedies have worked until I heard from a visiting neighbor's friend that putting an unwrapped bar of soap under the top sheet at the foot of the bed reduces the episodes and for some people, even eliminates it. I tried it with a bar of goat's milk soap (no reason) and NO kicking! I don't know why it works; perhaps, it's the aroma of certain ingredients - I don't know, but I'm glad I finally found something other than drugs!"

[YEA]  09/26/2012: Barbara from Denver, Co replies: "Wow! A big yea for the bar of soap! I have had restless leg for years, and just suffered through, banging my foot on the floor incessantly (which helps not at all :) Since beginning medication for hypertension it has gotten worse, and keeps me from sleeping at times. Last night I came to this site, not really thinking I'd find anything but hoping...

The bar soap idea seemed pretty strange, but the whole alkaline thing suggested by a contributor appealed to me, so I gave it a try. I use coconut soap and didn't think that would work, but my daughter had a little scrap of a bar of Dove which she prefers. Since it was pretty small, I gently rubbed it over my legs for a few minutes - not making much contact at all. Then I just let it sit atop my legs. Seriously, that was the last time I felt the effect of RLS! I slept the night with that little scrap on the sheet under my legs, and that was all it took. I slept soundly through the night, not waking once (which is notable in that I'm taking a diuretic in my drug coctail!

Fantastic! I love this website and all the wonderful people who contribute. Thank you!!!"

[YEA]  01/04/2010: Sal from Fresno, Ca, 93726 replies: "Yes. A bar of ivory soap worked for me. You would have to put a new one every now and then."

[YEA]  03/24/2010: Cynthia from Jacksonville, Alabama, Usa replies: "Well, I've tried taking just about every nutrient listed to varying degrees of success. The ivory soap bar seems to be the easiest and works the best. I tried putting it in socks, which worked well, but my feet ended up getting too hot and I had to pull them off with little crumbles of soap going everywhere. I tried a bar of soap still in it's pkg and found, rather than letting it kick around randomly in the bed, if I just held onto it it worked fine. I wake up, and I'm still holding onto the bar of soap. It's like a security blanket or something. It really does work. It's verrrry weird, makes little sense and whoever thought of it is a genius. How it works, I can not understand, but it does. Thank God for home remedies. If you havn't tried it, please do, it's strange but works for me. Thanks to everyone on this site for your help~ Namaste"

03/24/2010: Blanche from New Iberia, La. replies: "Yep. I felt a little foolish doing this, but it does indeed work. I happened to use an old bar of Lifebuoy soap, and it is firm enough to have lasted for at least three years. Every now and then I use it for handwashing or something and it seems to revive the smell of it, which I happen to like."

03/25/2010: Alain from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada replies: "An explanation to the soap bar use for the restless leg syndrome.

1st a soap is alkaline. It has to be to remove oil and grease as they are acids (as in fatty acids!).

For instance check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_(soap)
where it says "The Ivory soap bar (classic) had contained: sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernelate, water, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, and fragrance.[7] The soap bar had a determined pH value: 9.5. "

Surprise, its pH is 9.5 i.e. alkaline. Also notice it has magnesium sulfate i.e. Epsom salts.

Now from http://www.progressivehealth.com/RLS-magnesium.asp
you can read
"Magnesium for RLS

If the massive amounts of body magnesium are low, you can have restless legs, cramps of the uterus and other muscles, migraines, and other problems. It is an essential mineral critical in 300 enzyme reactions in the body.

Calcium, magnesium, and potassium all have an effect on muscle contraction and relaxation. In addition, they help nerve transmission. Experts say that you can help calm your legs and get some rest by making sure that you're getting enough of all three minerals. Taking a daily dose of between 800 and 1,000 milligrams of calcium, 300 milligrams of potassium, and 500 milligrams of magnesium at bedtime may help reduce RLS symptoms.

Magnesium is important for muscles to be able to relax, while calcium helps them contract. Too little magnesium in relation to calcium (or low levels of both) can make muscles cramp more easily and may make some muscles, like the smooth muscles that wrap around big blood vessels, stay somewhat contracted.

Magnesium deficiency can make muscles go into spasms easily. When you're short on magnesium, the waste products of metabolism, such as lactic acid, are harder to flush out, so you may get tired, burning, sore muscles."

Now check http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/restless_legs.html
and see how many post refers to minerals, magnesium, blackstrap molasses.

So definitely, RLS is related with mineral deficiency. Therefore I would suggest people with RLS to consider alkalizing protocols that would include multi-mineral like BSM ...

Search about how to take magnesium. One way is externally with Epsom Salt baths. Or take a pinch of ES with a heavy meal or with a glass of water. Magnesium will help the liver and kidneys in the digestion of proteins. I am now taking about a total of between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon a day of ES with my water through the day with beverages. But one must start slowly first. I need less ES in the summer when a eat a lot of fresh veggies.

For lengthy and technical articles on minerals you can read the following:

This, http://www.acu-cell.com/acn.html , for a very lengthy article on Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin D.

For muscle spasms http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-mus.html

And this, http://www.acu-cell.com/femn.html , for iron and manganese.

For good natural sources of numerous minerals you can take BSM and cold water kelp.

Alain"

[YEA]  04/23/2010: Cynthia from Jacksonville, Alabama replies: "I wanted to thank you for the bar of soap idea. This is the weirdest coolest thing I've found yet. Not only does it work for restless legs, but for almost any ache and pain you can imagine, for me. Neck aches, headaches, back pain, flitting pains, on and on. I just hold the still wrapped ivory soap bar in my hand while I sleep or even hold it on the pain directly. I've even seen it help sore throats and mouth sores. It is the weirdest thing, but it is beautiful. We even have a bar in the living room so if we need it, we have it handy. It even helps my hubby and he's a hard sell. I just wish I understood it. God bless this site and all the sharing going on!"

05/26/2010: Bernadette from Scunthorpe, United Kingdom replies: "I have read the interesting and helpful hints and comments on restless legs. I have suffered with this for years. Been on tablets (3 a night) but they stopped working after a few years. I am now desperate. Frequently mentioned on this site is Ivory Soap - is that only available in the US or is there an English equivalent. Have also tried cider and vinegar but maybe not for long enough. Tried homeopathic and that worked great whilst I was on it but you can only take it for five days. Look forward to hearing from someone who can advise on the soap or anything else. Bernadette"

02/01/2012: Mia B from Slough, Berkshire Uk replies: "Hi all, firstly... Terrific site! .... I have been suffering from painful feet for over 6 years, also from painful legs, especially painful after about 15 mins after getting into bed.. I originally thought that this was all the same ailment.... I must say that when I go on my low carb protein diet, the pains seem to subside within a few days... After many years, I have deducted that the joint pains in my feet, hands and knees are arthritic and are brought on by wheat.. I have yo-yo'd and proved this to myself... Within hours or days of eating wheat, my ankles and wrists swell with water retention and then my feet /joints start to ache... Negative for coeliac! ... The pain in my legs is quite separate I think and fits RLS exactly... I am glad I have found the cause... I thought I was going mad as it's very hard to describe to anyone... I have to take a co-codamol every night just to be able to sleep.

Anyway, I have read all the threads on this and as I cant get hold of the ivory soap in uk, I read the ingredients and the thread above and wondered if it was the magnesium.... And whether it had anything to do with the power being emitted or being absorbed by the body... Tonight I had a very bad case of rls and was generally tired.... I dreaded the night ahead.... I took a hot bath with epsom salts and went to bed with work to do on laptop.... My legs started to tingle after awhile but only mildly... I then put some epsom salts in a little mesh bag I had and put it under my feet and my co codamols at the ready..... That was over 2 hours ago... haven't had any pain, my legs haven't had to be moved, and I am surprised I haven't had to take my meds!!! ...

I will continue every night to see what worked... The hot bath or epsom salt bag... But definitely seems to be the magnesium... The rls seems to have eased and the throbbing pain is gone.. But joints are still a bit stiff in the hands but that's the wheat and grains at work!!"

[YEA]  03/31/2012: Doc from Youngstown, Florida replies: "I have never tried Ivory soap, but have found that Dial (gold) or Leaver Brothers 2000 (green) works really well. They were the ones recommended by my vascular physician. I unwrap the soap and place it in a clean, somewhat thin cotton sock. It is easy to smell the soap and know when it is time to change bars. Be very careful taking additional magnesium without also taking calcium. If the magnesium/calcium ratio becomes out of balance, the result may be jerking muscles in the shoulders, etc. which can make sleep difficult."

[YEA]  08/26/2008: SoapOpera from Raleigh, NC replies: "RLS --I vote "Yea" to Soap and Yea to Calcium Magnesium tablets. Don't know why the soap at your feet works, but, it does. Immediately. CM tablets also work--when I remember to take them!"

[NAY]  12/09/2008: Sammie from Ventura, Ca replies: "I have restless legs that intesify after a workout. I've tried the bar of soap remedy, and it does not work for me at all."

[YEA]  03/19/2009: Rita from Plano, TX replies: "I had never heard about putting the bar of soap at your feet but I have put soap on a wet paper towel and rubbed it on my legs at work. It works wonderful. I am so glad someone told me about it. It's awful when you are trying to work or sleep and can't because of RLS."

04/27/2009: Donna from Brattleboro, VT replies: "Good Morning, I would just like to mention that I moderate 3 online supprt groups for RLS and sleep disorders. I do have SOME members (under a dozen) who swear by the soap thing. I think almost all of us have tried it at one point or another when we were desperate. Out of 1500 members, I would say that soap may work for 6 of them. I am not puttig it down, but most of us need more than soap to keep the RLS at bay, and our sleep partners from getting kicked, if you have PLMD. It is most certainly a trial and error thing, treating RLS, and we just have to keep plugging away.
Thanks!"

[YEA]  07/29/2009: Stephanie from Racine, WI replies: "I have used the bar under the sheets as well. I think it is a life saver!!! another trick, if you wear socks to bed at night; you can also use a sliver of soap in each sock. I do this too, when my husband complains about the bar of soap in the bed."

[BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS]  02/06/2013: Cindy J from Thurgoona, Nsw Australia: "I found Apple Cider Vinegar for Restless Legs does work really well for me. The pain is minimal. However I have inherited a weak bladder from my father so when I have the ACV before bed, I spend the next 3 hours going to the toilet at least 5-6 times before I got to sleep and 3 times during night. ACV gets rid of toxins and my urine is now clear. So I am still having trouble sleeping, and my sleep patterns are totally messed up. I tried the soap on its own - pain all night. If I rub ACV on my legs, I am concerned about absorbtion into the body and it may still make me got to the toilet endlessly. Can I have ACV in the middle of the day and have the same effect of constant urination at night? Will it stop the pain at night if I have ACV during the day? I am wondering if Baking Soda will make me urinate alot as well."

07/13/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hello Barbara,

I haven't checked this out personally but have read that putting a bar of ivory soap in the bed gets rid of restlessleg sysdrome. Nobody seems to know how it works but have read where several different people with restless leg syndrome says it works. One of the claimants said you don't even need to remove the wrapper from the bar of soap."

07/13/2009: Luis from Cali, Colombia replies: "Dear Barbara:

1. A half cup of soy milk added with 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses, 1 capsule of folic acid (1000 mcgr.) and 1 table of potassium citrate (250 mgr.). Use your blender.

2. A strong alcohol massage in both legs (calf), before going to bed.

It is working to my mother, so far. No more sleeping interruptions.

To your best days.

Luis"

04/28/2009: Alice Curt from Seale, Alabama replies: "I am new to the site. I have had restless leg syndrom for MANY years now and take medication for it. I DO NOT like the side effects. I see where many people are talking about acv. I have severe rls and would like to know how much acv and water to mix? Also what time of day should this be taken? I can not take naps either because if I take a pill to sleep I am no good for the rest of the day.

I am a 59 year old female, about 5ft6inches and weigh 180, I would also like to try the acv for weight lose. Any suggestions?

Thank you for your time,
Alice Curt"

[YEA]  01/04/2010: Sal from Fresno, Ca, 93726 replies: "Yes. Thank you so very much for posting this. It really worked for me. About an half an hour to an hour before I go to sleep, I warm up a glass of water (8 oz. or so) and add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey. (I buy the one that says unfiltered apple cider vinegar made from ripe apples - organic, pasteurized). This formula really worked for me. The taste is good and I read a lot of things about apple cider vinegar, it is supposed to be a very good thing and has been used for centuries safely. So definitely give it a try. Thank you again!!!"

[YEA]  04/14/2011: Deborah from Bellingham, Wa, Usa: "I just recently found this site and have read everything here about Restless Legs Syndrome.

Everyone in my family has this problem and I have had it since I was a small child. In my family, the "cure" for an episode of RLS is aspirin. Two 325 mg tablets stops all the twitching and crawling sensations in 12-15 minutes and keeps working for at least 3 hours. I go from total twitching overload to sound asleep in moments.

I have been to several specialists about my restless legs because it has become much worse as I get older (I am now over 60). And I develop a temporary tolerance to the aspirin if used day after day, so that I need 3 tablets or 4 to stop the symptoms if I have taken aspirin every night for a week or two. Aspirin has its own serious side effects, especially in these quantities. But, after a couple weeks of no aspirin, 2 tablets will stop the symptoms again.

The neurology specialists I have seen are surprised that common aspirin completely relieves my symptoms. They tell me they have never heard of this or read about it. Their answer is various prescription drugs that have serious side effects for me. I am very interested in several of the remedies described here, but wanted to share my family's experience as well. Has anyone else tried aspirin? It is obviously not a cure, but it stops the symptoms so I can sleep. That's BIG help when you have serious RLS."

[YEA]  04/19/2011: Tammy from Ashland, Mo replies: "I have also found that aspirin cures RLS. My dad is a doctor and he said this really works. Obviously some doctors know what is going on! I also get used to the aspirin and have to take as little as possible for it to work all the time. Try it, it works! Ibprofen does not work as well for me."

[YEA]  07/12/2012: Zoe from Seattle, Wa replies: "Yup, aspirin works for me. I read somewhere that RLS is basically the brain mis-firing low-level pain signals. Aspirin works to block just enough of those signals that RLS goes away - other painkillers work, Tylenol is the safest to take long-term (some studies show elevated liver enzymes after a few weeks, but nothing to be alarmed about and no liver damage occurs). Aspirin has side-effects like blood-thinning if taken over the long-term. I just switch 'em off, but do talk to your doctor."

[YEA]  09/09/2007: Glen from Valdosta, GA: "I heard from a friend that he didn't drink diet soda because of the RLS he experienced. I realized that when I'm on the road (truck driver) drinking diet sodas I'm fine, but when I get home all I drink is tea with splenda. Within one week I'm experiencing RLS and, as mentioned in one of your posting, herpes outbreak. I think this is pretty conclusive. The word really needs to get out about this."

06/07/2009: Julia from Brooksville, FL replies: "Glen, Look into Aspartame and artificial sweetners and you'll see why diet drinks, as well as many other things that contain this product are not good for you. I use Stevia. It's a natural sweetner, not a chemical. You can find it online, or in your local health food store."

10/30/2011: Kim from Winnipeg, Manitoba replies: "How about splenda?"

[YEA]  08/10/2007: Judy from Loveland, Co: "When I was pregnant, I had terrible RLS in the third trimester. After I had the baby, it got much better. Unfortunately, five years later, I had a miscarriage and seemed to have RLS again. It wasn't as severe as the first time but it kept me up at night none the less. Meanwhile, I had started using regular deoderant with the aluminum(sp) in it. I read that that is one of the contributing factors of RLS so I stopped using antiperspirent. (Of course I use something to deoderize like a mineral rock :)) My mild case of RLS is gone."

03/17/2010: Cynthia from Jacksonville, Alabama replies: "Thanks very much for this site. I've gotten a lot of good ideas from here. I had to laugh at the dog chasing cars in the dreams comment. I can relate. My dreams totally evolved around my kicking legs. I was wondering if aluminum deoderant was behind my rls. We had been using Lavelin for years and suddenly couldn't get it anymore.I bought another kind at the HFS and the label said- no alumninum chlorhydrate. I got faked out by the label and started using it. Then my hubby noticed on the back real small it said- active ingrediant- aluminum. I thought- I'll just use it up since we paid for it. I started eventually to get rls and was wondering if it had to do w/ it. Tom's makes a deoderant w/o aluminum and my hubby likes it. Remember those "mineral stones" are made of aluminum. Learn from my sheeple move and read the fine print~

I've been trying a bunch of stuff that has been reported on this site. It seems to help, unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly which thing is working. One thing I've done too is cut way back on eating Tums for indigestion. I read on the internet it can be an iron blocker. Since I'm a vegetarian, I have to be careful about getting enough iron as it is. I've started back using vinegar for indigestion, it works well and is supposed to be good for rls anyway. I've also cut way back on aspirin, it supposedly can block iron absorbtion is what I read. I've beefed up on slow absorbtion, fem iron (not taking within one hour of tea- tea (chai) is supposed to block it), molasses, magnesium, D-3, folic acid, taking vita C with iron pill, and I tried the baking soda in the water. Baking Soda is really not the healthiest thing long term either, but when you're hurting, you really don't care. I also tried a massager, and hot bathes, so far all those things have helped some. The socks in the bed have helped a lot, I do have a problem with cold feet. I'm going to try the sliver of ivory soap in the socks tonight when I go to bed. What's kind of weird right now is, my legs quit aching and now my arms are instead. They never hurt before.

Hopefully, stopping the aluminum deoderant will make it go away. These other things to speed it up. I knew the Tums were my downfall also.

I'm certain if I keep diligent, I'll get back on top of it again.

Thanks again for this site and for everyone's posts. Thank God for the internet. If we had to rely on doctor's we'd really be screwed! They have their place, but it helps to have tried and true natural and safe remedies that work and being able to share them. God bless you all~ Namaste, Cynthia"

03/18/2010: Beth from Vista, Ca, Usa replies: "You can make your own deodorant:

5 tbsp. Virgin Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder (or Corn Starch)
1/4 cup Baking Soda
5 drops Tea Tree Oil
Optional: Jasmine Oil or any Good smelling Essential Oil

Mix the powdered ingredients together
Add the Tea Tree Oil to Coconut Oil (and Essential Oil Fragrance) and stir

Drizzle into powdered mixture until it forms a ball sort of like play dough consistency.

I store mine in a small jar. Cleaned out pimento or small artichoke jar works well.

Apply with fingers.

Hope it helps!"

10/12/2012: Ris from Dubois, Pa replies: "For everyone who tried the bar of soap (for one night). give it some time. I was on med. for my RLS. I heard about the soap and put two bars (1 ivory and 1 dial) under my sheets, I kept taking my meds for a week before going off of them. no problems, unless I kick the bar of soap out of the bed- I don't put them under the sheets- and don't retrieve them the next night. don't keep the rapper on the soap and don't put it in a sock. go ohh natural."

Baking Soda

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Baking Soda Remedy for Restless Legs

Home Remedy Ingredients:

• Baking Soda - 1/4 Teaspoon
• Small Glass of Water

Half an hour before bed, mix one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda in a small glass of water. Drink this tonic and within about 20 minutes your legs should be stilled.