For nurses and other HCPs only, please....?

Question

While in report at the end of my shift today, other nurses told me that Restless Leg Syndrome can be treated by placing a bar of soap under the patient's sheets. I was then shown that some patients have the soap in place in their beds.
Does anyone have experience with this? Anyone agree or disagree with it?

ladybug kisses...no, I'm not a new nurse, but it was my first shift in the facility AND in the discipline (hospice). I'd never heard it, and just wanted to see what others had to say.

Ok...no one is relying solely on the bar of soap...they are using it as a stopgap until they get orders for ropinole or mirapex, or for people who can not take those drugs.

Answer 1

I am a nurse and I found this question interesting because most old wives tales or folk remedies do have some basis in fact. I did some minor "research" on the Internet and all I could come up with were a number of sites that claimed that Ann Landers, an Advice Columnist, recommended it and that a number of people had tried it and claimed it worked for them . I could find no site that attempted to explain the reasoning behind why this could work, other than one that mentioned the possible placebo effect, as another answerer already mentioned.
The only thing I can possibly guess, is that it somehow has something to do with electrical charges that are either offset or altered by the bar of soap.
I have had luck with homeopathic quinine tabs for my own leg cramps and if they returned, I see some interesting sounding treatments on this website.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=707090
I will probably look into this quirky "treatment" further just out of my curiosity for all things alternative!!

Answer 2

The Oregonian recently published a blurp about a popular RLS technique in their "People's Pharmacy" Advice section:

Q: I finally fell asleep last night but woke back up an hour and a half later. I had started getting cramps and a creep-crawly feeling in my legs. I know some people who have RLS (restless leg syndrome), so I decided to look it up and see if there were any remedies. I'm sitting at the computer right now with a bar of soap under each leg, and it seems to be working! (I thought this idea was crazy, but I figured I had nothing to lose.) Thank you.



A: (from The Oregonian) Placing a bar of soap under the bottom sheet, near where the legs will rest, is one of the wackiest remedies we've come across. We have heard from so many people that is helps, however, that it is clear some folks do benefit. Besides, soap is inexpensive and doesn't have side effects. That cannot be said about the medications prescribed for RLS..

I got a chuckle out of this one, because it sounds so absolutely ridiculous... but I figured "what the heck" - it's worth a shot. But since the soap was recommended to be put under the sheet, I figured it was more of a pressure point related solution than the contents of the soap. And if that's the case, then it should work with any object that's about an inch thick and three inches long by two inches wide. It might be a mind-over-matter trick that the brain and psyche occasionally plays on us.. But who am I to quibble?



Mineral deficiencies such as iron and magnesium would cause RLS. Lack of exercise is another one. The potassium in orange juice helps. Others mention that application of apple cider vinegar also helps. I use this a lot of bumps to avoid bruises and it does work. . Have you tried applying the bar of soap underneath your neck for neck pains and possibly headaches. It wouldn't hurt. And remember, if it doesn't work anymore, you might need to replace with a fresh a bar of soap.


I'm a modern nurse but still believe in a lot of wives' tale as they seem to be the truth at times.

Answer 3

Interesting. I'm a nurse and an RLS sufferer. It seems my legs want to continue walking shifts long after I'm ready to call it a night. A warm bath usually relieves mine. Anyway, I've never heard of this either. It has to be an old wives' tale. I can't imagine what kind of facility would rely solely on this, with the wonderful RLS medications being distributed now.

Answer 4

I have not heard of this for restless leg syndrome, but I do know it's suppose to help with leg cramps. I have tried it and I do think there is truth to it. I woke with leg cramps one night and placed a bar of soap under my sheets and had no further cramps. Now I don't know...maybe the cramp would have gone away on it's own , but all I can say is I had no more cramping that night.

Answer 5

I have heard of this, and while I don't have any experience with it, I think if it brings relief of symptoms then use it. Pain, and/or symptoms are very personal and treatment (pharmaceutical or otherwise) should be guided by patient response to it.... wives tale or not... unless other existing medical conditions contraindicate a bar of soap under the sheet... I agree with it...

Answer 6

I have been hearing this lately and believe it's an old wives tale. There is no scientific reasoning for such a silly treatment. It of course can't cause any harm. Perhaps it's the placebo effect. If nothing else they are prepared for a.m. bathing care...LOL

Answer 7

Restless leg syndrome is a real condition and as a nurse I think it is very unethical and irresponsible for licensed Nurses to be behaving in this way. I would report them to your Head Nurse, Director of Nursing and report them to the state licensing board.

Answer 8

Never heard of it...but sounds homeopathic (or maybe an old wives tale) to me. There are actual meds out now for RLS.

Answer 9

Dr. Gott, who writes a newspaper column, reports that many have had success with this.........I have a family member that finds this helps a great deal. It is worth a try.

Answer 10

women people like Helen B.Taussig who committed their entire occupation and existence for scientific field make a number of of money. women people who could compromise with enjoyed ones chores make much less funds. It has not something to do with gender.