Intro
Pain can show itself in many forms and can be treated in many ways. If you are looking for an at-home, fast remedy, a topical treatment may be the best option for you. Let’s take a look at the most popular choices and their pros and cons.
Types of Topical Treatments and Disclaimers
When looking for any topical treatment, there are many different avenues you can take. Consider a cream of some sort as these usually contain oil and water. They do also contain certain emulsifiers and preservatives to look out for.
Ointments on the other hand are more on the greasy side. However, they are more on the semi-solid side than cream. These do not contain an emulsifier as they do not have water, so they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Paste is another option, it’s a mix of the ointment and a powder. These do not rub off quite as easily as others. Lotions are easily applied to larger areas and soak in relatively quickly. These are optimal for hairy areas such as the legs as they can penetrate through.
Gels are also great for hair areas, they quickly dry and leave a thin film on the area with the medication still intact. Things to keep in mind are how irritating the substance will be to your skin.
Never apply anything when you have an open wound and keep in mind where you are applying the treatment too. Such as using the gels for the hairy areas and so on. Always read the ingredients in anything you’re putting on your body, especially if you have allergies.
1. Tiger Balm White Ointment
Tiger Balm White Ointment is coming in hot at the top of the list. The smell of it can be a bit strong and off-putting for some with hints of clove, camphor, and peppermint, but if you make it past that, you’re good to go!
This one is not to be used on huge areas, but rather on smaller, centralized pain points. That’s because the effects can make your body feel a bit cold if you are sensitive to the ingredients. A large coverage area may leave you feeling off and uncomfortable.
2. Ted Pain Cream
Ted Pain Cream uses resveratrol, which is known to help in joint pain and arthritis by preventing cartilage breakdown. With that being said, look for products that use that plant-based ingredient. This one smells of wintergreen, but the con is that it is a bit pricier. If you find that you like it, it’s recommended that consumers buy in bulk in order to save a few dollars.
3. Mary’s Medicinals CBD
This muscle freeze is next on the list as an effective, natural, and cannabis-based treatment option. The product has more of a gel-like texture to it than cream, but when applied has a strong, minty smell. This is also a more expensive option that relies on the natural efficacy of ingredients.
4. Other CBD Products
While on the topic of CBD, any CBD topical cream will do just fine. No, it will not get you as high as the same as your normal run-of-the-mill cannabis.
Most research shows that it doesn’t necessarily numb the pain the way that other topical creams do, but it instead helps reduce the inflammation that is most likely causing the pain. You might also consider other at-home remedies utilizing cannabis in order to properly address pain.
5. Penetrex’s Therapy Cream
This option is loaded with ingredients to help reduce inflammation. That includes Amica, B6, and MSM. It’s a non-greasy and non-staining brand so you can use it often throughout the day and not worry about it getting all over your belongings.
6. Biofreeze
Biofreeze makes the list as it is one of the most popular well-known brands. You can buy it in the roll-on form if that suits you best. It does have a slight green tint to it, so keep that in mind when applying.
Conclusion
Do plenty of research on your favorite topical treatments. Look into what they are best used for and the area they are best on. This can depend on the type of pain you have and the ingredients they contain.
Everyone’s body is different and our types of pain are different too. Most topical treatments can be used on all sorts of pain, but for the best result, you will want to narrow the search down and optimize your investment.
