Hot Ice: How Topical Pain Relief Works
Topical analgesics, the companion or champion to our American lifestyle of non-stop hustle and weekend warriors lives. The almost instant pain relief, sometimes distinct smell, cooling or warming sensation offering a temporary reprieve. One rub swooping away the aches of our body.
Topical pain relief, now a billion dollar corporate baby with a history long before that. It’s history spanning the globe from East to West with evidence of ingredients of mercury and coca leaves. One of the earliest of records of topical analgesic traced to an Eastern herbalist named Aw Chu Kin who sold his herbal remedies to sea men, starting a legacy of Tiger Balm in 1860 China.
While the first recorded use of topical analgesic leads to China, modern times still have use and adapted it in several variety of ready made home remedies. Ingredients have certainly come a long way but some remain the same. All which “trick” our body into ceasing the feeling of pain.
The Somatosensory System is responsible for various sensation we feel including pain. This system includes four main functions:
- Mechanoreceptors (Pressure & Vibration)
- Thermoreceptors (Hot & Cold)
- Pain Receptors (Pain & Stimuli)
- Proprioceptors (Muscle Length & Tension)
When applying a topical pain treatment the various ingredients act on the Somatosensary System mainly on the Pain Receptors and the Thermoreceptors.
There are 3 million Pain Receptors (Nociception), found through out the body. They respond to heat, touch and chemical stimuli which communicate to our spinal cord which alert the brain which then outputs the sensation of pain. The common ingredient in topical treatment which effect pain reception is Menthyl Salicylate.
The entire body houses Thermoreceptors which detect heat and cold. Our body has twice as many cold receptors than heat. Our face and ears have the highest concentration of cold detecting receptors. The common ingredient found in topical analgesics which effect Thermoreceptors is Camphor.
A common ingredient such as capsicum is often added as a Rubefacient. The vasodilation which occurs with a Rubefacient helps to relax muscle and promote quick healing of both muscle and tendon. The counter irritation which is promoted by capsicum acts as an irritant to superficial skin, distracting the body from underlying pain. Capsicum acts upon nerve endings by interrupting the chemical transmission, inhibiting pain reception. Specifically inhibiting cytokines which activate inflammation in the joints, making Capsicum an excellent pain treatment for arthritis.
There are many ingredients that add to an effective therapeutic balm. Using Balm has influenced both my career and my client’s lives in these positive ways:
- Relaxes my client
- Gives my client a self care solution
- Saves my body
- Improves my clients quality of life
- Makes my massage extremely effective
- Helps my client to heal quickly
To learn more about the Online Thai Therapeutic Balm Class:
Disclaimer: All information provided is meant for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical advise or treatment.
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