Review: Salonpas

With warmer weather, that means many of us are being more active - from getting the garden into tip top shape, to carting kids around from activity to activity. The Institute of Medicine reports that nearly a third of Americans experience long lasting pain! Even kids can end up with aches and pains from sports and camp activities. That's a lot of us - and a lot of important memories that could be interrupted.

Salonpas just introduced three new pill free over the counter pain relief products that are ideal for parents and children who are 12 years and up: Salonpas Pain Relieving GEL-PATCH HOT, Salonpas Pain Relieving Jet Spray, and the Salonpas Pain Relieving Massage Foam. I was sent on over a selection of this new products to try them out and see what I thought.

I have a lot more aches and pains myself since the surgery - not being able to move around as freely as I once did really took a toll on my body. I have to sleep propped up these days, and it's not always very comfortable! I always had problems with my knees from years of wear and tear on them, but now suddenly I'll wake up with aches in body parts I never thought would be bothering me. It's frustrating, and some pain relievers that come in pill form actually end up making me sick!

The Salonpas Pain Relieving Gel-Patch HOT provides up to 8 hours of pain relief. It uses the healing powers of a more natural product - peppers! Capsaicin, which is an ingredient found in hot peppers like cayenne, alongside menthol, is used in a pain relieving ointment on a breathable cloth that unlike a lot of other pain reliving patches on the market - is stretchable! It moves with your body, making it perfect for minor aches and pains in your shoulder and upper/lower back. Don't use this right after taking a shower or being in a hot tub or swimming - wait about an hour before using it.

The Salonpas Pain Relieving Jet Spray is a topical analgesic that delivers a strong cooling effect to the skin using a highly pressurized jet force in a spray bottle. The great part about the bottle is that you can direct it onto whatever part of the body you need it - from ankle sprains to thigh bruises. There's no greasy feeling or messy drip, and the bottle is lightweight enough you can carry it along with you when doing long hikes or camping trips! Just an FYI: be sure to shake this can VERY well, and hold it at least four inches away from your body, because believe it or not, if you hold it too close to your skin for too long, you could get frostbite! (Also, keep it away from campfires because it's flammable!)

The Salonpas Pain Relieving Massage Foam is an easy-to-use topical analgesic that delivers pain relief in seconds thanks to the active ingredients menthol and methylsalicylate. It combines the benefits of self-massage with a powerful, clean drying medicine. (FYI: if you have an allergy to aspirin, consult with a doctor before trying this!) Like the Pain Relieving Jet Spray, you can direct the Pain Relieving Massage Foam to whatever body part you need to use it on, from shoulder and elbows, to knees and calves - just be careful not to use were you might have an open wound, even if it's just a small papercut. Pop a bandage on the wound first, and try to avoid that area.

I really like that I can direct Salonpas to the areas on my body that are hurting, rather than overwhelming my entire body just to help one small area that's hurting. All of these products are easy to use too, which is important for me, and it's great that once I apply them, the pain reliever works for at least eight hours!

You can find these new products from Salonpas, as well as other Salonpas products great for arthritis aches and pains, at your favorite local drugstore or big box retailer for under $10!

I received samples of products from the brand mentioned above in order to try them out and share my thoughts on them. All opinions are my own. If you have pain lasting for longer than a few days, please be sure to speak with your doctor about it!