Relieve sore muscles and arthritis: Rub some Vicks into it! Vicks has some anti-inflammatory properties that are great for achy muscles and arthritic joints. Just rub it in like you would body lotion into the affected spot and let it soak in. Get rid of headaches: Got a bad headache you just can't seem to shake?
Menthol is apt to work best for arthritis when used to target joints like those in your hands and knees that are close to your skin's surface. The catch is that menthol's benefits tend to be short-term. “It doesn't provide long-lasting relief, but it may be beneficial to use right before painful activities,” says Dr.
Chili pepper lotion
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, isn't just good for spicing up food, it can also help soothe arthritis symptoms, Dr. Martin says. “You can rub a capsaicin lotion or gel over symptomatic joints to help ease the pain and reduce swelling,” he explains.
VapoRub for Pain
The menthol and camphor in VapoRub work as topical analgesics, which means they can relieve minor aches and pains of the musculoskeletal system through the skin. They've been used that way for hundreds of years, and the benefits are backed by some medical research.
Heat and cold.
Use of heat, such as applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax, can help relieve pain temporarily.
Hydration is vital for flushing toxins out of your body, which can help fight inflammation. Adequate water intake can help keep your joints well lubricated and prevent gout attacks. Drinking water before a meal can also help you eat less, promoting weight loss.
Pills. NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
Vicks Vaporub is seriously effective at reducing minor bruises thanks to its ability to lessen swelling and inflammation.
Menthol and camphor are also used in over-the-counter anti-itch lotions. Patients reporting itch near their HS spots may benefit from the additional anti-itch action from these ingredients. The nutmeg oil present in Vicks is reported to reduce swelling and inflammation when applied topically.
Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — especially a small child's nostrils. And if VapoRub gets in your eye, it can injure your cornea.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Tiger Balm is often used to relieve back pain, joint pain, stiffness, sprains, and arthritis pain. You apply it to the area that is in pain, and it's absorbed through your skin.
Examples include Aspercreme and Bengay. Counterirritants. Substances such as menthol and camphor produce a sensation of hot or cold that may temporarily override your ability to feel your arthritis pain. Examples include Icy Hot and Biofreeze.
A: Vicks VapoRub temporarily relieves cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation associated with the common cold. It can also be used to temporarily relieve minor aches and pains of muscles and joints.
The modulation of cytokines production by menthol denotes an anti-inflammatory activity, which is confirmed in the literature using different animal models [48,49]. Epithelialization has a key role in wound healing, especially at the proliferative phase, and is used as an index of its success [50].
Menthol also induced an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity; menthol treatment decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and augmented the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
These are the most common: Pathogens (germs) like bacteria, viruses or fungi. External injuries like scrapes or damage through foreign objects (for example a thorn in your finger) Effects of chemicals or radiation.
Vicks is made with petroleum jelly, and while it's great for keeping wounds moist (and acne lesions are technically wounds), it could actually be the cause of breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Willow bark and ginger are two teas used for arthritis because of their anti-inflammatory properties. To get the dose right using loose herbs, you can consult with an herbalist or a traditional Chinese medicine physician.
Paracetamol. If you have pain caused by osteroarthritis, your GP might suggest you consider taking paracetamol for short-term pain relief. You can buy paracetamol at supermarkets or pharmacies. However, many people find that it doesn't work very well, and it is only normally tried if you can't take other medicines.