Q: I read in your column that pickle juice can ease muscle cramps.  I tried olive juice and found it much more consistently effective. The result is almost immediate.

A: Many olives are sold in a brine solution of salt and vinegar.  We suspect that these are common ingredients in both pickle and olive juice.

The mechanism for stopping muscle cramps quickly could be stimulation of TRP (transient receptor potential) channels in the mouth, throat and stomach.  When these sensory nerves are activated, they send a signal to the spinal cord and overwhelm the hyperactive motor neurons responsible for the cramp (Muscle & Nerve, September 2017).

• Article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• Copyright The Seattle Times