Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

[You can call me Rob]

Hi! I am new around here and this seems to be a nice little community. So I am here for some feedback from fellow bodyworkers. I have a couple clients whom have serious muscle tension, I have been looking for a pain relieving formula to apply after working on them. There seems to be quite a few of them out there. I would love to hear what  is a great product to use....... Sombra?......Tiger Balm?...... Biotones Polar (polar something?)   I have used Biofreeze in the past when I worked for someone, but I am really unsure of the results. I just opened my own practice and I'm working on figuring out how I want to do things and what I want to use. (oh thats exciting)  And now this is great that I found this site. I appreciate any input, thanks! Have a happy day!

 

[Pierina]

Hey Relaxed!!  Welcome to town!!  I used Biofreeze on myself long before I became a MT and I'm still using it on myself and clients/patients.  For myself, I've always felt "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", so I've never tried any of the other products.  I know many companies will send samples of their products.  This might be a good way of trying some to decide for yourself.Good luck in your new venture, and again, welcome aboard.Scav

 

[ano]

Thanx scav, I'll have to look into that!  

 

[Judas Jones II]

Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

I looooooooooove Sombra!!!

 

[Hardhat]

I also use Biofreeze.  I've had good feedback and results with that.  Of course, you always wonder if there's something better.  I would love to find something that had a more pleasant smell.  Maybe I will see if I can get some samples of that Sombra!Where in NJ?

 

[Tatianna.]

Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

A client of mine got me hooked on "Po Sum On Medicated Oil".  It is chinese oil and in my opinion and many of my clients it works very wonderful!  It does have a distinct scent.  However, most pople love it.   I buy it online at

http://www.chineseherbcenter.com

I hope this helps!

 

[SeanT]

Thanks for your input , Gute and Kneaded -  I'm in Forked River, NJ are you familiar with the area?

 

[Mycala]

Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

HHMB , I'll check that out, thanx for the link!

 

[scruffycat]

I use a homeopathic antinflammatory cream called Traumeel.  It has no scent.  My acupuncturist precribed it for my muscles.  I rub in on my forearms, hands and shoulders before I go to bed.  It's pricey but works for me.  It doesn't create any icy or hot feeling. Good luck on your business.  Mine is homebased and thriving.

 

[MsJamers RN]

Relaxed......Yes, I kinda know where Forked River is.  I'm in the Princeton area.  Are you a member of AMTA?  Go to any of the meetings?  There's one this Sunday.  I'll be there.

 

[alex995bikerboy]

Great thread, and welcome to the community Relaxed!I use a variety of pain lotions ---- for clients who are tight tight tight and need to go to the chiropractor immediately after their massage, I use Prossage Heat ---I think it warms the tissues nicely so I can get things loose enough for their adjustment.  The chiropractor seems happy with the results, as do his clients.Also use Prossage on folks with arthritis ---- just be careful to only use the recommended 2-3 drops.  That's really enough!  I can even do NMT with Prossage --- less slip, more ability to stick right to the precise spot I am working on!For post training work with athletes, I still use Biofreeze.  I find that if I do several sessions back to back with it, however, my hands stay cold and achey for too long ---- even with thorough hand washing between clients, of course!  Probably not a bad thing --- and possibly even helpful to my hands, but it feels like I am putting ice sticks of fingers on the next few clients --- not my first choice for a beginning of a new session!For the ankylosing spondylitis guy, I use regular lotion for the work, and apply an Arnica gel after.  He's more of a homeopathic remedy kind of client, and likes a brand of Arnica he was used to in Switzerland ---Boiron.  I love it.  It has a scent, not menthol but kind of earthy and herby ( if that is clear).  Not unpleasant to me.  Evidently in Europe they have Arnica gel in their medicine cabinets like we have advil, etc.Another massage therapist used Sombra on me after a 2 hour trade ---- I needed it, and it was very effective.  I haven't bought any yet, but will.Hope that helps.  It's my two cents worth, anyway!Linda in NC

 

[Gwillam]

Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

I'm with ymdw2004, I LOVE Prossage Heat. I use it to 'warm up' the muscles so I can work on them, it works wonders. I started using it on almost every deep tissue session I do.After I finish working with the Prossage, I put a little Sombra on them to 'cool them off'. Seems to work great, though the only point I don't like about it is when I use my forearm and my hand scrapes against the sheet, it feels really weird.I've tried tiger balm, sombra, biofreeze, biotone polar lotion (didn't like this one much at all), and an emu oil based lotion with capsicum and aloe vera. I'd have to say that the one that works best is the emu oil lotion, with little/no scent. I will soon start selling this retail, you should all give it a try!

 

[partly cloudy]

WOW! Lots of great feedback! Thanks so much everyone, I will be taking notes! Seforum.xxxg, I was wondering if its ok to use a menthol based lotion after the prossage ( i just began using it), so thanks for clearing that up for me.    Kneaded, no I am not a member of AMTA, but I would love some info on the organization. I have been a member of ABMP for a few years. What are the benefits of AMTA?Thanks again everyone, your all wonderful!  

 

[britt. (:]

Pain Relieving Gels / Lotions

I just got some Sombra samples; haven't even opened them yet. As soon as I do, I'll throw in my assessment.I had an mt use biofreeze on me once and really didn't like it. Not sure if it was because she didn't tell me what she was doing before hand, but that cold feeling was a real distraction. There's a really nice e.o. mixture I got from a place in VT called "Wild Hill Soap and Herbal" (http://www.wildhillherbals.com) that has arnica, St. Johns Wort, calendula, chamomile and several other ingredients. It has a really nice smell and seems to work nicely on cranky muscles without getting that freeze out feeling.

 

[Tab]

For the ankylosing spondylitis guy, I use regular lotion for the work, and apply an Arnica gel after. He's more of a homeopathic remedy kind of client, and likes a brand of Arnica he was used to in Switzerland ---Boiron. I love it. It has a scent, not menthol but kind of earthy and herby ( if that is clear). Not unpleasant to me. Evidently in Europe they have Arnica gel in their medicine cabinets like we have advil, etc.

Institut Boiron
http://www.boiron.com/index_en.asp

VitaminShoppe has the Boiron Products
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/browse/brand.jhtml;$sessionid$EEOEBY3ZXFDF2CQUAOYCFEQKCQB00GXK?b=Boiron

-here is the link to the Arnica Gel
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/browse/sku_detail.jhtml;$sessionid$IUPQSUI2X5KRCCQUAOYCFEQKCQB00GXK?SkuID=10855&BreadCrumbType=SearchResult