My mother—God rest her soul—used to get horrific leg cramps at night. And she was not the type to suffer in silence. My siblings and I heard about those cramps a lot. She’d describe being jolted awake, screaming in pain, and leaping out of bed as her calf seized violently.

As a young woman, I listened patiently—if not always compassionately. She tried every remedy she could think of… daily exercise, extra hydration, and even bananas to boost her magnesium. All backed by some scientific evidence, yet none of it offered real relief. So, out of desperation, she turned to some less conventional solutions…some might say “wacky wives’ tales.”

You might be wondering, What even is an “old wives’ tale?” According to Wikipedia, it’s a superstition or belief passed down through generations of women—often more charm than science. But don’t get the wrong impression. My mom was no fool. She was whip-smart, stubborn in the best way, and full of chutzpah.

Quick detour—because she deserves it: After raising nine children, my mother took a secretarial job at the National Institutes of Health. And then—plot twist—she applied for and won a full scholarship to Georgetown University. She powered through the program, earning a nursing degree alongside classmates who were mostly 30 years her junior. Her classmates voted her “Most Likely to Succeed” at graduation. And boy, were they right.

Okay, back to cramps. Despite her nursing know-how, she couldn’t beat the nighttime agony. So, she thought, “What the heck—let’s try superstition.” Her favorite strategy? Slipping a bar of soap beneath her fitted sheet, right near her legs. Some say the magnesium or scent relaxes the muscles. She wasn’t sold on the science, but her ever-practical logic kicked in: It couldn’t hurt. Later, she told me, “I think it helps. Maybe it’s placebo—but honestly, I don’t care!”

Flash-forward to me—just two weeks shy of turning 68. Like many post-menopausal women, I now have my own history with painful nighttime cramps and let me tell you: if my mother were sharing her stories today, I’d not only listen patiently—I’d listen with deep compassion. (Note to my children: take notes!)  In the meantime, I’m sticking to advice from Harvard Medical School’s Health Beat Newsletter:

• Don’t panic. Most cramps resolve on their own.
• Gentle massage or stretching can help the muscle relax.
• Heat can soothe tense muscles—try a heating pad.

For more tips and insights, check out Healing Leg Pain by Harvard Health Publishing.

And if you ever find yourself reaching for a bar of soap to put under your sheets—I’d say, go for it. Sometimes relief is found in science. Sometimes it’s in stories. And sometimes, it’s in remembering the strength and spirit of the remarkable people who raised us.