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Articles categorized as Muscle Cramps

Article imageJoe Graedon - November 13, 2024
Article imageJoe Graedon - August 26, 2024
Article imageTerry Graedon - November 18, 2024 - 25 comments

High Doses of Vitamin B6 Could Cause Nerve Damage

High doses of vitamin B6 can lead to neuropathy instead of helping nerve pain heal. Why do these supplements backfire this way?

Terry Graedon - August 14, 2024

Show 1396: Home Remedies That Work

Terry Graedon - May 27, 2024

Can Tonic Water Banish Your Muscle Cramp Pain?

Joe Graedon - May 13, 2024

Can Soap Chips in Your Socks Ease Leg Cramps?

Terry Graedon - February 22, 2024

Show 1375: The Science Supporting Home Remedies

Joe Graedon - September 11, 2023

Home Remedies or Drugs? A Surprising Smackdown!

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Joe Graedon - September 4, 2023

What to Do When Quinine in Tonic Water Doesn’t Ease Leg Cramps

What is it about quinine in tonic water that eases leg cramps? Can we explain this benefit? We think the bitter taste stimulates TRP channels!

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Joe Graedon - June 19, 2023

Why Home Remedies Deserve Respect

Scientists love data! That is why they embrace drugs. Do home remedies deserve equal respect? There is surprising evidence that many work!

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Terry Graedon - May 4, 2023

Show 1340: Were the Old Wives Right?

The best way to find out if the old wives were right about a home remedy might be to give it a try. Do you have a favorite?

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Terry Graedon - November 5, 2022

Why Does Mustard Relieve Muscle Cramps?

Have you ever wondered how could mustard relieve muscle cramps? We have a probable explanation that works through nerves and their receptors.

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Joe Graedon - May 16, 2022

Is Magnesium a Miracle Mineral?

Although magnesium gets little attention in office visits, it is critical for good health. Many people find this miracle mineral very useful.

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Joe Graedon - March 14, 2022

Doctors and Patients Confused About Statins and Muscle Damage

The FDA lists myositis and rhabdomyolysis as serious statin side effects. What is the connection between statins and severe muscle damage?

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Terry Graedon - January 17, 2022

Will a Big Dose of Vitamin D Give You Leg Cramps?

Will taking a big dose of vitamin D alleviate nighttime leg cramps or trigger them? The answer may vary from one individual to another.

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Terry Graedon - August 16, 2021

Can You Really Control Blood Pressure With Dandelion Extract?

Some readers report that dandelion extract lowers blood pressure without strong side effects. Clinical studies are lacking.

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Terry Graedon - June 28, 2021

Can Coenzyme Q10 Control Severe Muscle Cramps?

Coenzyme Q10 supplements appear to prevent painful muscle cramps, including those associated with statin cholesterol drugs.

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Terry Graedon - October 28, 2019

Could Pomegranate Juice React Badly with Crestor?

You might worry about whether pomegranate juice will react badly with your medication, but it should not create problems with rosuvastatin (Crestor).

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Terry Graedon - October 28, 2019

Do Selenium Supplements Cause Leg Cramps?

Could selenium supplements cause horrible muscle cramps? Animal research suggests that an excess of the mineral can affect muscles and nerves.

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Terry Graedon - October 14, 2019

How Liquid Soap Gives Quick Relief from Leg Spasms

A reader reports that smearing liquid soap on the legs can stop muscle spasms quickly.

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Terry Graedon - September 2, 2019

Can Magnesium Relieve Muscle Cramps at Night?

Readers report that they can prevent most muscle cramps at night by taking magnesium supplements. Few scientists have studied this treatment.

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Terry Graedon - April 15, 2019

Go Easy on Licorice to Avoid Leg Cramps

Anyone with concerns about heart rhythms or blood pressure should take it easy on licorice. Too much can be dangerous and even lead to leg cramps.

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Terry Graedon - October 22, 2018

Could a Magnesium Supplement Conquer Your Leg Cramps?

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Joe Graedon - September 10, 2018

Can A Bar of Soap Stop a Cough or Laryngospasm?

Are you getting tired of reading that a bar of soap can ease muscle cramps? We get it. We frequently write about this remedy. But here are some new soap stories, including laryngospasm.

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Joe Graedon - March 12, 2018

Stop Leg Cramps and Muscle Spasms Fast With a Simple Lip Pinch

Would you like to stop leg cramps and muscle spams really fast? We've got lots of home remedies that might do the job, including the old lip pinch technique!

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Joe Graedon - October 30, 2017

Could Standing On an Icepack Cure Leg Cramps Fast?

You have read all about muscle cramp cures here at the People's Pharmacy. Have you ever heard that an ice pack could cure leg cramps? We didn't think so.

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Joe Graedon - October 16, 2017

Olive Juice Cures Muscle Cramps like Magic

Have you ever had a Charley Horse? This is a muscle cramp that is excruciating! Would you believe olive juice cures muscle cramps?

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Terry Graedon - January 30, 2017

How Soap Overcame a Scary Throat Spasm

Rubbing soap on the neck stopped a scary throat spasm almost instantly. We don't know how that works, but we suspect it is through neurons.

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Joe Graedon - October 31, 2016

Homemade Muscle Cramp Remedy: Ginger, Cinnamon and Paprika

Here is a homemade recipe to ease muscle cramps. The person who came up with this formula based it on research from two distinguished neuroscientists.

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Joe Graedon - August 29, 2016

How Does A Teaspoon of Mustard Cure Muscle Cramps?

A Nobel prize winning scientist has come up with an explanation for why mustard, pickle juice or hot chile peppers could ease muscle cramps.

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Terry Graedon - August 13, 2016

How to Stop Cramps Instantly with Yellow Mustard

Swallowing a spoonful of yellow mustard can stop cramps within a minute or two. There is new research explaining how this works.

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Joe Graedon - May 12, 2016

Why Did Abandoning Earl Gray Tea Cure Muscle Cramps?

Who would ever imagine that drinking tea could cause muscle cramps? Surprise! Earl Gray tea could be a culprit. Some people may react to green tea too.

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Joe Graedon - November 2, 2015

Leg Cramp Remedy Resulted in Red Itchy Rash

For some susceptible people, exposure to soap results in a red itchy rash as well as relief from nighttime leg cramps.

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Joe Graedon - August 17, 2015

Reader Dismisses Mustard for Leg Cramps as Junk Science

Reader is convinced that mustard for leg cramps is bogus at best and junk science at worst. Do we always need an explanation for why something works?

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Terry Graedon - September 15, 2014

Nighttime Foot Cramps May Yield to Magnesium or B Vitamins

Painful foot cramps at night may be prevented by taking magnesium or B vitamin supplements.

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Joe Graedon - May 29, 2014

Skeptics Become Bed Soap Believers To Overcome Leg Cramps

One of our readers' favorite home remedies is soap for cramps. Have you heard of this crazy remedy that calls for slipping a bar of soap under your sheets?

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Joe Graedon - March 10, 2014

Home Remedies for Hand Cramps: Soap Stories to the Rescue!

Hand cramps can be incredibly uncomfortable. A professional fisherman wrote in and alerted us to a great home remedy to fight painful hand cramps.

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Terry Graedon - April 24, 2013

Pre-Marathon Painkillers Can Cause Trouble

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Terry Graedon - July 30, 2012

Mustard for Muscle Cramp

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Joe Graedon - July 22, 2012

Why Does Soap Soothe Nighttime Leg Cramps?

Is there a scientific explanation for why a bar of soap in bed may relieve some people's nighttime leg cramps? Research is providing some good theories.

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Terry Graedon - May 28, 2012

Doctor Embraces Old Wives’ Tale

A doctor who disdained yellow mustard for leg cramps as an old wives' tale changed his tune when a spoonful eased his nighttime cramps.

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Terry Graedon - May 6, 2012

Gramps Gets Relief from Cramps

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Terry Graedon - January 2, 2012

Mustard Eases Post Wedding Party Pain

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Terry Graedon - June 20, 2010

Science Proves Pickle Juice Remedy Works

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Joe Graedon - May 8, 2009

Tums to Ease Leg Cramps