Mustard, pickle juice advised for fast relief for leg cramps
Q: Recently, my primary physician, who knew about all my health problems, retired. On our first meeting, my new physician asked every question imaginable.
When I told him about my leg cramps, he advised me to take 1 teaspoon of yellow mustard and 1 teaspoon of dill pickle juice a day. I do not understand, but it worked. Do you know why it worked? Would you have recommended this remedy?
A: We would. We are thrilled that your doctor recommended two of our favorite home remedies. We have been writing about them since 2004, based on readers’ testimonials.
We usually suggest taking either of these remedies for quick relief when a leg cramp strikes. We think there is even a scientific explanation for how both remedies might work.
Specialized channels in nerves in the mouth and throat react to strong flavors like mustard or pickle juice. If they are stimulated, they send a message to the overactive nerves causing muscle cramps and calm them down.
Q: I used to have several beehives. Sometimes I would accidentally crush a bee when working on the hives. When that happened, they went into attack mode, and I got stung a lot.
A name-brand meat tenderizer was the ticket to take the pain away. I think it dissolved or
chemically altered the venom. I’d make a paste and get it on as soon as possible.
A: Many other readers agree with you that a paste of meat tenderizer and water can ease the pain of a bee sting. This was first written up in JAMA (April 24, 1972). Dr. Harry Arnold wrote: “There is, however, an immediately effective remedy for such lesions, available in most kitchens: meat tenderizer. The effectiveness of this material, applied in a dilute solution of tap water, prepared on the spot by mixing a quarter-teaspoonful or so with a teaspoonful or two of water, presumably depends on its content of papain. This proteolytic enzyme probably breaks down the venoms and kinins injected by the insect. The solution is merely rubbed into the skin at the site of the sting, and virtually all pain stops within seconds.”
As far as we can tell, there has been no rigorous research to test this treatment.
Q. I am a doctor with gout. I try to avoid purines and oxalates in my diet, and I also try to
avoid NSAIDs because of their side effects (cardiac events, ulcers, kidney problems).
Remedies like cherry juice, cider vinegar, lemon juice, excess hydration or avoiding meats, beer and wine have not been very helpful. I do not want to take allopurinol or colchicine. But I started taking turmeric capsules, and after five days, my foot is much better. Any comments?
A. Gout is due to uric acid crystals depositing in joints. A study in mice demonstrated that turmeric nanoparticles lowered uric acid levels (Medicina, Jan. 11, 2019). A study in humans, however, failed to show similar benefit (Journal of Dietary Supplements, May-June 2021).
The active ingredient, curcumin, does have anti-inflammatory activity. That may explain the benefit you have experienced.