Each of us has experienced a strain, sprain or joint pain that we wish would just “go away”. And there seems to be a grocery list of ways to help heal or relieve pain. But which one will work best?
What is interesting to me is that in Chinese Medicine the temperature of the pain or the body’s constitution in general enters into the treatment decision. Most of the patients I see have a “cold” element associated with their pain. In these cases, I recommend “hot” topical applications like Tiger Balm and/or a heating pad that gives relief and starts the healing.
With sciatica, in 95% of cases it is “cold and damp” in the channel that is causing the pain. Western Medicine sees it as an inflammation of the sciatic nerve and no matter how you look at it we want the pain to be gone. Acupuncture is excellent at relieving sciatica, but a simple combination of topical crème/ointment plus a heating pad in the evening for several nights can sometimes resolve it without too much trouble. Pain in general is a stagnation of Qi & Blood in the painful area, so the goal is to move that out and resolve the pain. The heat or cold helps to maintain it, so that’s why we care about the temperature.
So how do you know if your pain is “hot” or “cold” and what difference does it really make?? Well, if your pain is truly a “hot” pain, applying a hot topical will only make the situation worse. And if you have a “cold” pain and you apply a cold treatment, again the same result: it will be worse. So how can you tell? Well an easy way to tell is when you stand in a warm shower and your pain feels better, then it is a “cold” pain. If it’s still there or worse, then it is a “hot” pain.
Tiger Balm, Ben Gay or any of the hot topicals are great for “cold” pain but very few products on the market are good for “hot” pain. derma e®’s Anti-Ache™ Herbal Pain Relief Crème is unique in that it is a neutral-temperature formula and can be used for both. We have blended botanicals Arnica and Hypericum with Calendula, Peppermint, and Menthol to help relieve pain fast and start the healing process. This fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula is the perfect companion for the “weekend warrior over-do”, workout soreness or chronic arthritic pain. And Anti-Ache™ works perfectly on all-temperature pain. So the next time you have one of those pains that you wish would just “go away” give derma e®’s Anti-Ache™ Herbal Pain Relief Crème a try.