Non-Prescription Topical Pain Relievers Worth Trying
Pain relief canbe available without a prescription. And for centuries, ointments, rubs and liniments have been applied to the skin over painful areas. Thetopical pain relievershave withstood the tests of time, yet sometimes people overlook their existence. Over time, three basic ingredients have prevailed: the menthol products, the herbal products and the capsaicin products. All are worth trying.
The menthol products give your skin a cold sensation by stimulating the cold sensors in the skin. Over the years, I have heard the best results with a product that delivers cold therapy calledBiofreeze. Although the company who produces Biofreeze has a rathersimplistic explanation about how it works, all you need to know is that it does work for many people. If you have not tried it, you might be pleasantly surprised when you do.
Topical herbal products utilize a variety of substances used inEastern medicines. One product that is frequently mentioned by name is万金油. Some people swear that this stuff is "the bomb" because it helps to relieve their pain. Supposedly, the recipe has been passed down from an ancient Chinese herbalist to a new generation seeking relief. It may work for you, it may not - but it is certainly worth trying.
Last but not least are the products that containcapsaicin, a hot pepper extract. Capsaicin is probably the most widely studied topical pain reliever known to mankind. And many types of products contain Capsaisin, including Icy Hot Arthritis Therapy, Capsin, and Rid-a-Pain (don't you love that name). The theory behind the irritating hot pepper extract is that when applied, the painful burning sensation actuallydepletes the pain signal (Substance P) to the point that there is a refractory period of time in which no pain can be felt.1This theory is like yelling for a long period of time only to lose your voice. In essence, this topical treatment helps to desensitize the pain alarm. But first, you have to get past the initial burn and yelling. This topical is not for everyone, but it really can help conditions likepainful diabetic neuropathy2and herpatic neuralgia. Capsaicin is still studied and utilized to this day, probably because it works for some.
All of these topical pain relievers are available without a prescription and are probably worth trying in certain situations. None of these should be used on open wounds. And all, especially capsaicin, should be applied with care. Not everyone will respond to menthol, herbs, or capsaisin, but you'll never know unless you try.
《柳叶刀》。1995 Jan 21;345(8943):160-1
Drugs.2011 Mar 26;71(5):557-89
