analgesic rubs

[Jean]

I still want to try tiger balm. I dont think I will try the red tiger balm, but rather the white. The red has cinammon in it, and sometimes I will break out in a rash from cinammon.

They also have a Sports Rub which is pretty good too, it's stronger than the white but milder than the red. I don't like the red as it also can stain sheets and clothing.

Actually, next to Sombra and Biofreeze, Tiger Balm is darn right cheap!

Acutally, I think if you compare ounce to ounce you will find out that TB is actually more expensive. The containers that it comes in are tiny! With Sombra and Biofreeze you are getting much more product per container.

Are there any other fairly popular topical analgesics out there worth checking out?

We also sell Cryoderm (similar to Biofreeze but stronger and a more liquid consistency so it doesn't get "gunky" but it's a little too strong for me....broke me out in a rash but I have a friend who loves it and uses it all the time) Jason's Tea Tree Icy Gel (a favorite of mine) Polar Lotion, Prossage, Recovery Rub and Ahhhhloe.

When clients want to know what works best, we simply tell them that different things work better for different people and to try a few of them to see what works best for them.

Me.....I'm a Biofreeze junkie....I never leave home without my roll-on in my purse.

t023

Angie

 

[Q.B]

I have to agree with Angie, I have a preference for Biofreeze. I retail it and do wonderfully with it,selling almost 20+ bottles a month. I have tried Sombra,and like it too. But as far as cost is concerned,BF is the best-valued analgesic I have used in a while. Prossage is wonderful stuff too for trigger point tx. I am an avid user of the stuff.TB burns me,and not too many of my clients like the residual smell.

Namaste'
Johnny

 

[MehChuXD]

I love the thought behind sombra, and Jeff has been great about getting samples out... My problem is it is overly stron scented, I sneeze with citrus smelling products... and to me it is very overpowering.

I personally use biofreeze, they give out a ton of samples which I give out to clients...

 

[anna b]

"Active ingredient" is just a legally defined term that means a substance has been listed in the pharmacopia and has been recognized in an official governed way as doing specific things. Camphor and menthol have been listed in this way for many decades; most plant substances are not, even ones we clearly know have effects, like capsicum/capsaicin.

Ilex (in this case probably ilex paraguensis, or yerba mate) is not on this list, so although it indeed does have effects (mainly stimulation of the nervous system and enhancement of the effects of other herbs), listing it as "inactive" is just jumping through the correct FDA hoop. This happens with herbal teas all the time too, where all the ingredients have some well-known traditional benefits, but only mint is listed as "active."

It's related to that sentence herb merchants put on all their products when naming the benefits -- "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA." It's a way for herbal products to still be available to the public while letting herbal manufacturers set standards internally. Saves the taxpayers money, and consumers can still get their hands on herbal formulations if we choose to.

 

[GET THEM OUT OF AZ]

I use a product called nature's gel. The active ingredients are cayenne pepper, eucalyptus and aloe vera. No plastic fillers in the product. Makes it a more natural product. Comes in a couple different size containers as wells. I like the results of this product better than the others. No greasy residue left behind either.

 

[Ubaida]

I go back and forth between Biofreeze and Anti-Flamme by Nature's Kiss. Anti-Flamme is wonderful the texture is very rich and smooth. My clients love the smell of Anti-Flamme.

Here is an article by Nature's Kiss on the product.

http://www.newzealandwoolsweaters.com/antiflamme.php?osCsid=ba94e5c08950ec1f051379ae57f9642b

 

[Riley07]

I got a massage last week (yay me!) and the therapist used "Lasting Touch" on my sore arm. I don't like analgesics in general (the menthol-ish smell doesn't appeal to me, and I'm not crazy about the tingling) but this was fairly nice, not as strong smelling as tiger balm or biofreeze. It has good stuff in it, too, like arnica and glucosamine. I've seen it in Whole Foods for sale. I found their website:
http://lasting-touch.com/analgesicgel/index.htm

 

[sunlightsky]

I am a huge "Sombra-ite". I love the stuff, the smell and the way it works in general. So, I am not much help.

But that Jason's Tea Tree Icy Gel (fav of moogie's) sounds like something I might also like to try. Cold isn't really my thing, but it get's pretty hot in the summer around here, so it makes sense to check it out.

Nice thread.

I think we have an old thread discussing the whole "ilex" thing. I'll see if I can find it and add the link to this post. --- yep, found it, Biofreeze --- it's a pretty resourceful thread for anagesics too, I think.

 

[-Karma-]

I found a very reasonable source for sombra, even better pricing than biofreeze.

http://www.healthproductsdirect.com/sombra.html

Their shipping is very reasonable. I was comparing them to MW. MW has some high shiping prices! :shock:

OH YEAH!!

What do you retail your biofreeze or sombra for? Dont forget to let us know the sizes of your containers.

 

[Darksoul]

Pueppi,

Have you tried the new Sombra? They beefed up their line. The old stuff is now called "warm therapy," while the new line is called "cool therapy."

Reading the labels, I would say the main difference is that the warm therapy has menthol, camphor, and capsasin, while the cool therapy only has menthol.

I dont feel anything warm about the warm therapy actually. They pretty much both feel the same to me, except the cool therapy seems to feel quite a bit cooler than the warm therapy feels cool. If that makes sense.... I dont get the warm therapy actually. To me, it doesnt feel warm at all.

Biofreeze doesnt have any camphor or capsasin in it, so I am thinking Sombra's new cool therapy is more or less like plain ole biofreeze. except it has a slight lemon scent. This may win over a few biofreezites.

I haven't tried the "cool" one. I only use the warm one. Part of the reason they call it warm, from what I can tell is that once it is on, if you go out in the heat or start working - it warms up the region rather nicely, But, I am south of the Mason Dixon, so it gets pretty warm down here. Maybe in colder weather you don't get that effect. I know that I don't use the warm sombra in the winter down here, because it basically just makes the client cold when they walk out my door and to their vehicle.

Prossage has a pretty warm one / but I don't find it gives much in the way of relief like sombra. Probably just a personal preference. But, you might consider something like that for the cold months.

I doubt I'll go with the cool therapy at any time, just because I have found such awesome results with the regular sombra and currently there is "no need to change a winning team" as someone I love dearly always says.

 

[wicked_bunny6669]

I like Sombra a lot, too, and the customer service is top notch. Like pueppi, I have not tried the cool therapy, but the regular Sombra feels great- nice and warm- at least after the initial cool feeling, but that could just be the climate here.

But, I am also a huge fan of Arnica. There are several brands, but the only one I have used is called Arniflora. The ingredients are arnica and witch hazel- that's it. I find it to be great for releaving that difuse shoulder and neck pain.

 

[<3~??~<3]

That's funny palpable, I have a tube of Arniflora too. It is the only arnica I have used and it is great.

Thanks for mentioning that one - I forgot about that and I give it a thumbs up like you!

 

[Cristina]

I have tried both, Sombra and Biofreeze. I have clients that like one or the other so I keep both on hand. I found a supply store online that has both, but sombra is better priced. it is nice, because they will send a mixed case, 4 of each size of Sombra, 4oz, 8 oz, and 3 oz roll on.

I don't know if I can list a website her, so if it is inapropriate please let me know and I will remove it. http://www.themassageclinic.com

 

[answer2yourpromblems]

My massage therapist friend turned me onto Aveda Active Composition, http://aveda.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY10699&PRODUCT_ID=PROD5917

Yes, at $20 it's pretty pricey but I just use it as a finishing touch when I'm done with the back and a few drops go a long way. My clients love it, and it has a pleasant wintergreen scent and they have described the feeling as a warming in the area where it's applied.