Head On collision

[Mephisto]

I just saw a commercial for a new headache product called Head On. It's a cream that is rubbed on the head to alleviate the pain of headaches, and there is a stronger version supposedly made for those who suffer migranes.

Now, I'd read that products like Aspercreme (a medicated cream with aspirin in it) don't necessarily work very well because of the low absorbtion rate (as well as other factors). If that's so, how can a cream you rub on your head (I also can't see anyone rubbing this stuff on their scalp) work? It seems to me that a headache (especially a migrane) comes from inside the skull (for whatever reasons) and a cream rubbed on the head wouldn't penetrate the skull.

Of course, I'll have to admit ignorance as to how these analgesic creams actually work, but I'm willing to have an open mind if any medical professional cares to enlighten me. Is it possible to rub a pain-killing cream on your head to feel the effects inside your head (and no, I don't mean a placebo)?

 

[TV's Frank]

If you read the label, near the bottom, it says "homeopathic".

So, unfortunately, I can't comment further, because you don't want to talk about placebos.

 

[Hagrok]

There was a thread on this a short while ago; I believe the only "active" ingredient in this particular product was a small amount of menthol.

 

[Rolfe]

Many headaches (including mine) are caused by excess tension in the forehead muscles. I can put my finger on the muscle causing the pain. Nevertheless, experiments with analgesic gels have not been encouraging.

Rolfe.

 

[Mephisto]

Thanks for posting everyone,

I haven't bought any of the product, TV's Frank so I didn't know it was homopathic - makes perfect sense why they didn't mention that in the TV commercial.

Sorry for the duplicate thread, Hagrok - I thought this was a fairly new product. The menthol doesn't surprise me either - it give "the feeling" that something might be working, thus taking advantage of the placebo-effect.

Rolfe, I sympathize with you. My headaches usually start at C-spine for me. Tension is usually to problem, but the weird positions I get into when painting close-up detail is partially responsible.

Think I'll just stick to Ibuprofen.

 

[Hagrok]

Sorry for the duplicate thread, Hagrok - I thought this was a fairly new product. The menthol doesn't surprise me either - it give "the feeling" that something might be working, thus taking advantage of the placebo-effect.

Just wish I could have linked it for you; I'm apparently far too lazy to search for it myself

Another currently TV marketed homeopathic "remedy" is Cold EZ. I don't think their commercial says anything about homeopathy, either.

 

[crackers]

Just wish I could have linked it for you; I'm apparently far too lazy to search for it myself

Another currently TV marketed homeopathic "remedy" is Cold EZ. I don't think their commercial says anything about homeopathy, either.

I don't think Cold Eze (or however it's spelled) is really homeopathic. It seems to have an actual ingredient in it (zinc). When I saw "homeopathic" written on the package, I looked all over the package to see what the dilution factor is, but didn't see any reference to it. Or, maybe there is more than one meaning to "homeopathic"?