What is the spiciest & icy-est muscle rub you know of?

October 1, 2018 8:21 AM

I have restless legs and have found that Biofreeze works well enough to make a big difference for falling back to sleep. But it is expensive so I am looking for an alternative. Can you recommend a muscle or pain rub that provides lasting heat/warmth/menthol sensations?
posted by i_mean_come_on_now to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

Are you interested in DIY? Biofreeze has pretty simple ingredients and you may be able to approximate something similar by adding menthol oil or crystals to a lotion base (like glycerine or aloe gel).
posted by adiabatic at 8:43 AM on October 1, 2018

I'm a fan of Absorbine horse liniment. It is 4% menthol, same as Biofreeze (best I can tell).
posted by slipthought at 8:45 AM on October 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I have used J.R. Watkins Deep Muscle Warming Balm for back pain. For me, I feel like it's a little "dear mother of god when will the warming stop?!" but if that's what you're looking for, the spiciness of it may be just what you want. Though it smells nice, kind of like Big Red gum.
posted by raztaj at 9:07 AM on October 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

It's not for everybody but I like liniments that contain camphor - like tiger balm. Also? yeah this is stinky but you can feel the Heet™
posted by mce at 9:33 AM on October 1, 2018

Best answer: Unker’s brand is one of the most intense I’ve had, I especially like their spray. Dragon brand is probably the second most intense, it’s got a minty/wintergreen warming.

For sheer fun, I also recommend Mclean’s Volcanic oil, which is super old timey and also has mineral spirits. Watkins’ line of liniments is also good old fashioned stuff.

I’m a bit of a connoisseur, so let me know if you want more info on these or have trouble finding the products.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:05 AM on October 1, 2018

I like Zheng Gu Shui liniment. (It's very drippy, so be careful when you apply it.)
posted by Lexica at 11:38 AM on October 1, 2018

Deep Heat (but I think Biofreeze works better for pain, at least in my experience, as someone with fibromyalgia).
posted by maybeandroid at 12:02 PM on October 1, 2018

Just seconding slipthought in that I also totally bought horse leg cooling gel (not Absorbine, but I think it hardly matters) for my own use. I got a huge tub for like $10.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 12:09 PM on October 1, 2018

+1 for tiger balm.
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:14 PM on October 1, 2018

I know it’s not your question but have you taken magnesium and is your iron topped up? These helped my restless legs a lot!
posted by catspajammies at 1:00 PM on October 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

+2 for Tiger Balm. South Asian grocery stores might also carry Zandu Balm, which I find to be a slightly stronger version of Tiger Balm, and works wonders on migraines and the like.
posted by something_witty at 1:33 PM on October 1, 2018

Motion Medecine. We use it here. I haven't looked closely at what's in it. Seems similar to some of the others. Also kinda expensive, but have found it cheaper elsewhere. +1 for iron in the diet.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 5:01 PM on October 1, 2018

If you're comfortable with DIY — making your own pain balm allows you to adjust the concentration to make it as strong as you want it. I use peppermint essential oil + any plant oil base, 10 drops per tablespoon.
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 9:04 PM on October 1, 2018