How does Biofreeze work?

It's just how it works — you get hurt, but relief is not there when you need it. Whether it's a sprain or sore muscles from a workout, locating an ice pack so you can apply it quickly can be a challenge if you're not at home. That's where Biofreeze can be of help — it's a pain relieving analgesic that provides the same effect as ice, in a convenient, portable form.

Biofreeze is useful for treating not only sprains and sore muscles, but also arthritis and other types of joint pain. It comes in gel, spray or roll-on form, and is a type of cryotherapy (cold therapy). Its active ingredient is menthol (from the mint family of plants), which causes your brain to interpret the nerve signals being sent as a sensation of cold, triggering a reduction in inflammation.

The cold therapy of Biofreeze works by causing ligand molecules to attach themselves to your nerve’s cold receptors, which effectively helps to numb the area, interfering with pain signals traveling to the brain. The menthol in Biofreeze also induces vasodilation, which increases blood flow to the injured area, allowing cellular waste products to be swept away more efficiently and for healing oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the cells.

Besides menthol, Biofreeze contains other herbal ingredients including Ilex Paraguariensis (also known as Yerba mate, a plant native to South America with antioxidant properties), Arnica, Calendula, Aloe, Boswellia, Green Tea, Burdock, Lemon Balm, and vitamin E.  All of these natural ingredients have been used for centuries to treat tissue injuries such as bruises, sprains, and strains.  Camphor, another ingredient in Biofreeze, has both numbing and antiseptic properties.

How do you use Biofreeze?
You can massage Biofreeze gel into your skin (or apply it with the roll-on or spray) up to four times a day. It can also be useful for any therapy, such as chiropractic care or physical therapy. When applied ahead of time, Biofreeze can help relieve the pain that would have interfered with you getting the most out of your treatment.

Biofreeze is available for purchase at our chiropractic office in Eugene. Next time you're in to see us, ask about getting some to help with your healing.