Where is all the hyssop menthol pain reliever stuff and how can I get some? In desperate need of menthol

September 23, 2011 5:45 PM

Help me find the only pain numbing cream that helps me! (Or if we HAVE to, an equivalent to replace it.)

I have a lot of pain right now (healing from 6 surgeries and preparing for one more) and one of the staples of my pain control routine has always been this strong-ass mentholated stuff that came in a little white circular tub about maybe two inches around and one inch tall. It appeared to contain the herb hyssop, and that also seemed to be the company name, although I was never certain, but the hyssop herb was not what created the pain relief - it was the medical-grade-seeming mentholated-ness. It was also the perfect texture to be able to rub it on the body and have it stay there and absorb, not melt and drip, not dry out, etc. I have googled and googled and contacted everyone I can find on there and no luck. Everyone says it's backordered or out of production. I wish I had a picture to link to but I don't, unfortunately.

So if it really is out of production, I really really need to find a replacement. Icyhot/tigerbalm/etc are not anywhere near strong enough, they're of no use to me. Is there any other product like this - super duper mentholated and easily spreadable? If so, what and where???? Thanks in advance everyone.

posted by jitterbug perfume to Shopping (9 answers total)

Is this it? It sounds like your description. If not, do you remember what the label looked like?
posted by iconomy at 6:37 PM on September 23, 2011

I'd vote for Aspercreme. It's not herbal, but it's a salicylate cream.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:16 PM on September 23, 2011

There's a Chinese liniment called Zheng Gu Shui that I find really effective for some kinds of pain.

There's at least one apocryphal story in which a fighter in a kung fu tournament breaks a bone and it looks as though the day is lost, but wait! the coach wraps the limb in bandages and drenches them in Zheng Gu Shui and the fighter goes on to win the tournament. I actually think that's plausible — the volatile fumes of menthol and whatever else is in it might well knock one's opponent out. Heh.
posted by Lexica at 8:12 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, and another thought — have you tried capsaicin-based products? I find the Salonpas Hot adhesive patch amazingly effective for back pain. My impression is that it works by overloading the nerves; they're so busy sending the message wow, it's really HOT here!!! that they don't have the bandwidth to include the oh, and it hurts, too message. (Assuming an adhesive patch is a workable format for you, that is.)
posted by Lexica at 8:17 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Voltaren gel is pretty awesome.
posted by Sternmeyer at 9:05 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Emu oil works for my mother, who has bursitis, arthritis, and calcium deposits in her hips. FYI, IANAD, YMMV, and so on. Good luck -- hope you find something that works!
posted by e-man at 10:31 PM on September 23, 2011

Not what you asked about BUT I use a topical anti-inflammatory for chronic pain and arthritis.It is called PENNSAID and it helps me a lot-along with many others who I showed it to.A prescription is needed unfortunately.
posted by plumberonkarst at 12:18 AM on September 24, 2011

Response by poster: iconomy - that IS it, but unfortunately they are sold out. I also happen to be friends with the owner of that company Rightway RX, small world.

Everyone else, I will be trying all of these one-by-one. I'll report back if anyone has any interest?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 3:08 PM on September 24, 2011

Emu oil, IIRC, is good for inflammation, which may or may not be good after surgery (depending on what you had done).
posted by evening at 7:07 PM on October 10, 2011