The quadriceps is a group of four muscles on the front of the thigh that extend the lower leg at the knee, and extend the thigh at the hip. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, quadriceps strains usually occur while sprinting, kicking or jumping...
Menthol and methyl salicylic acid are the active ingredients in over-the-counter creams for pain relief. Both are natural compounds from plants and can be synthesized in the laboratory. Though used for similar symptoms of joint and muscle pain,...
Scarring is a common side effect after most types of surgeries. Scars often occur because of the fibrous tissue that forms over the wound as it heals. Some individuals are more predisposed to painful scarring than others. However, there are many...
Camphor oil is an essential oil derived from the camphor tree. It has a pungent and aromatic aroma often compared to eucalyptus oil or menthol and is frequently used as a fragrance. Camphor oil is the primary source of camphor, a crystalline...
Camphor is an herb that can be used as a home remedy to treat a variety of minor conditions and ailments. Health news published online by "Disabled World," points out that camphor has been used for its pain-relieving properties since ancient...
Black pepper and turmeric are aromatic spices that not only add unique flavors to food but also have a variety of health benefits. Turmeric, Curcuma Ionga, is a member of the ginger family and one of the main spices in curry, which is a blend of...
Diabetes can cause nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathies affect various parts of the body or organ systems such as the heart, reproductive organs and the digestive system. Approximately 70 percent of diabetic patients are...
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs occur due to the hair being sharpened after shaving, waxing or electrolysis. When the hair is sharpened, it retreats back into the skin and begins to cause inflammation and irritation. Shaving with a dull razor can...
Facial pain can be so painful that it really does hurt to blink. Facial pain can be localized to one spot or it can occur over a large area. Facial pain may feel like it's a burning or searing pain, a throbbing pain like a toothache or it can...
Peripheral neuropathy affects limbs and extremities, such as, hands and feet. Distal neuropatjy affect extremities, such as, toes, fingers, hand and feet. Acquired neuropathies can be caused by drugs, poisons, injuries and trauma. Inherited...
Topical pain relief is available in the form of creams, lotions, gels and patches to provide localized pain relief to a desired body part. These forms of topical pain relief are often used by high school, college and professional athletes, but...
Menthol is a cream that may be applied to the skin to relieve mild to moderate pain from arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, muscle strains or sprains, backache, bruising and cramping, according to Drugs.com. In a report entitled "Menthol: a natural...
Pharmaceutical hand creams contain medications intended to relieve medical conditions or the discomfort caused by those conditions. Hand creams are topical ointments and how you purchase them depends on the type or amount of medication the...
Spinal osteoarthritis---also referred to as spinal arthritis---is a caused by the progressive loss of cartilage between the vertebrae of the spine, which may cause join inflammation to occur in certain people. Symptoms of this condition may...
Peripheral neuropathy is a medical condition affecting the limbs and extremities, such as the hand and feet. Neuropathy can be caused by multiple factors, such as trauma or injuries compressing nerve fibers, hormonal imbalance or uncontrolled...
Camphorated oil, also known as camphor oil or camphor liniment, is a product derived from the Cinnamomum camphora evergreen tree. According to the University of Florida, these trees are native to China and Japan, but can be found in other regions...
Most people have a love-hate relationship with body hair, which seems bizarre, considering our entire bodies are covered with it. If you look very closely, you'll see a think, peach fuzz-like layer in most areas. Moles pop up on our skin...
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that involves the inflammation of tendons that attach to the lateral elbow, or on the outside of the elbow, states the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Inflamed tendons can cause pain...
A burning sensation, depending on where it is located, can be a symptom of multiple conditions triggered by irritation, infection, or injury. Some insect bites produce a burning sensation. Overexposure to sun or tanning lamps can burn the skin,...
There are many treatments for problems affecting the urinary tract. Some of these treatments use surgery or prescription medication. Others can be found using alternative medicine---specifically herbal remedies---to help with the symptoms. There...
If you've ever experienced the eye-watering pain of spicy hot peppers, it may seem odd that the same substance can actually offer pain relief. Capsaicin is the chemical that makes chili peppers taste hot. The same compound, in a purified form,...
Neuropathy can be caused by many factors, such as diabetes, injuries, metabolic disorders, diet, toxins, autoimmune diseases or hormonal imbalance. The medicine used to treat neuropathy depends on the underlying cause and accompanying symptoms....
Nerve pain in your legs can interfere with your daily activities and cause considerable pain or discomfort. Depending on the underlying cause of the nerve pain, there may be medications you can take or modifications to your lifestyle that can...
It used to be thought that muscle soreness was caused by the buildup of lactic acid in overworked muscles. Today, we know that muscle soreness is caused by microscopic rips in muscle fiber, which trigger the release of a muscle enzyme called CPK....
The flowers of the arnica plant were used by early Native Americans to treat muscle aches and inflammation, though its first documented medical reference occurred in 16th century Europe. A member of the sunflower family, the herb forms the...
Super Blue Stuff is a topical cream owned by Blue Spring International, LLC which purchased the product line from Blue Stuff, Inc. in 2004. The Blue Spring brochure reports that several professional sports teams use Super Blue Stuff, although no...
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a painful, degenerative condition often impacting a person's daily life, interfering with walking, exercise and sometimes sleep. There are many types of treatment both conventional and alternative, including surgery...
Because allergies can't be cured, the remedies for allergic rashes are limited to symptom treatments and avoidance techniques. Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, can temper a person's sensitivity, but won't cure a rash or eliminate the possibility...
Red pepper is made using dried cayenne chili peppers. After the peppers are dried, they are transformed into a powder or flaky form. To get the most benefits from red pepper, you need to eat a significant amount. Most research is based on using...
Strained muscles result from tearing or overstretching of muscle fibers. Learn about hamstring muscle strain in this medical video.
