Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsArnicaCapsaicinMentholLidocaineTurmericHow to Apply Muscle CreamPossible Side Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Arnica
Capsaicin
Menthol
Lidocaine
Turmeric
How to Apply Muscle Cream
Possible Side Effects
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Arnicais an herb, and its flowers are commonly used in medicine. It contains active chemicals that can aid in reducing swelling and decreasing pain and act as an antibiotic.
Common products containing Arnica include:
While Arnica is commonly used in food and homeopathic treatment, there are some concerns related to its safety. Be sure to use only as directed. Eating the Arnica plant, topical creams, or ointments, or the plant extracts or oil can result in serious poisoning. Additionally, don’t use Arnica if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have allergies to ragweed or related plants, on broken skin, have digestive issues, have a high heart rate, or before surgery.
Over-the-counter options include:
This chemical can cause burning or stinging pain, and ingestion can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If the chemical comes in contact with your eyes, it can be extremely painful and even cause conjunctivitis or blepharospasm.
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Menthol is a common active ingredient in topical pain relief products. It provides a cold sensation once applied. Similar to capsaicin, it desensitizes nerve cells in the skin.The substance can feel nice on the skin, but it cannot alleviate inflammation. Instead, it works to override the pain sensation with a cooling sensation.
Menthol can be paired with other ingredients to add to its cooling power. It’s found in the following OTC products:
Menthol and capsaicin cause local heat. When using creams that contain these ingredients, wear gloves or judiciously wash your hands, since accidentally getting it in your eyes can lead to serious irritation.
Common brands of topical lidocaine include:
If lidocaine is ingested, it can cause numbness of the mouth and throat, which can lead to trouble swallowing or choking. If a large amount is ingested, it can also get into the bloodstream, leading to serious symptoms like seizures, coma, or cardiac arrest. Consult a healthcare provider before using lidocaine.
Turmericmight be a familiar name to you. It has a chemical calledcurcumin, which can help decrease swelling, especially in arthritis. One study found that topical administration of a curcumin 5% ointment significantly reduced knee pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis.
Muscle cream products that contain turmeric include:
Turmeric is a natural ingredient. Therefore, there are limited concerns about the safety of the substance. Do not take turmeric products if you are allergic to turmeric or any ingredients contained in this drug.
Before using a muscle cream, speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to make sure it’s safe for you.
When applying a muscle cream, the first step is washing and drying your hands. Next, read the packaging completely to note the dose recommendation, directions, and warnings.
Apply the cream to the affected area or where you feel pain. Some muscle creams can be applied up to four times per day. Be sure to follow the directions and do not use more than recommended.
Wash your hands after application, and store the cream in a safe and cool place.
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The effects of muscle creams vary depending on the ingredients, but generally, there are some particular side effects to keep in mind:
If you have any of the above symptoms, call your healthcare provider right away.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Rubbing it in.Kriplani P, Guarve K, Baghael US.Arnica montana L. - a plant of healing: review.J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017 Aug;69(8):925-945. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12724MedlinePlus.Arnica.Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5(5):CD010538. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010538MedlinePlus.Capsaicin topical.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, LeQuang JA, Raffa RB; NEMA Research Group.The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12679Cleveland Clinic.Lidocaine topical lotion.Jamali N, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Soleimani A.The effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Oct 8;20(1):305. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03105-0
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Rubbing it in.Kriplani P, Guarve K, Baghael US.Arnica montana L. - a plant of healing: review.J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017 Aug;69(8):925-945. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12724MedlinePlus.Arnica.Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5(5):CD010538. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010538MedlinePlus.Capsaicin topical.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, LeQuang JA, Raffa RB; NEMA Research Group.The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12679Cleveland Clinic.Lidocaine topical lotion.Jamali N, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Soleimani A.The effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Oct 8;20(1):305. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03105-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health Publishing.Rubbing it in.Kriplani P, Guarve K, Baghael US.Arnica montana L. - a plant of healing: review.J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017 Aug;69(8):925-945. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12724MedlinePlus.Arnica.Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5(5):CD010538. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010538MedlinePlus.Capsaicin topical.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, LeQuang JA, Raffa RB; NEMA Research Group.The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12679Cleveland Clinic.Lidocaine topical lotion.Jamali N, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Soleimani A.The effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Oct 8;20(1):305. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03105-0
Harvard Health Publishing.Rubbing it in.
Kriplani P, Guarve K, Baghael US.Arnica montana L. - a plant of healing: review.J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017 Aug;69(8):925-945. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12724
MedlinePlus.Arnica.
Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5(5):CD010538. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010538
MedlinePlus.Capsaicin topical.
Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, LeQuang JA, Raffa RB; NEMA Research Group.The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018 Jun;43(3):313-319. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12679
Cleveland Clinic.Lidocaine topical lotion.
Jamali N, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Soleimani A.The effect of curcumin ointment on knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo trial.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020 Oct 8;20(1):305. doi: 10.1186/s12906-020-03105-0
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