Women with menstrual cramps may relish this home remedy — pickle juice.
“Drinking pickle juice for menstrual cramps can be effective due to its high electrolyte content, particularly sodium and potassium, which can help ease muscle cramps,” California ER doctor Joe Whittington said on TikTok last week.
He added: “The vinegar in pickle juice may also promote muscle relaxation and reduce pain by stabilizing blood sugar levels.”
One person taking this advice to heart and stomach? Comedian Brittany Furlan, wife of rocker Tommy Lee and host of the podcast “This Is the Worst.”
“I’m dying of cramps, and then my husband, out of nowhere, goes, ‘Why don’t you just drink some pickle juice?’” Furlan, who suffers from endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, explained on a recent episode.
Furlan, 37, said that within five minutes of downing the juice, her “cramps were at a minimum. It’s kind of unbelievable.”
She claims that Lee, 61, heard of the remedy on Instagram — and Whittington is taking credit.
However, the efficacy of pickle juice for cramps has long been debated among athletes and health experts.
“I believe it really helps with recovery and hydration,” professional MMA fighter Jason Markland told The Post in 2019. “You don’t feel an instant change, but you know it’s working. If you get cramps during training and you drink it, you can feel the difference.”
Chris Mohr, fitness and nutrition adviser at Fortune Recommends Health, says the sodium in pickle juice helps replenish the salt depleted during intense exercise, which can cause muscle spasms.
“Pickle juice is primarily believed to be effective for muscular cramps, such as those experienced in the legs, feet or arms that are usually caused by exercise or other physical activity,” Mohr told Scary Mommy in June. “However, there isn’t much evidence suggesting that pickle juice would be helpful for menstrual cramps, which are caused by hormonal fluctuations and uterine contractions.”
If you give pickle juice a try for menstrual or other cramps, Whittington says “it’s best to drink in moderation, as the high sodium content could pose risks for those with certain health conditions.”
Whittington also reports that the salty stuff can help cure a hangover.
The purported benefits of brine also extend to treating a sore throat and deicing sidewalks when temperatures fall.
