Warming and cooling creams: Can they help you recover?

When your joints or back are aching, most people tend to reach for various creams promising quick relief from problem areas. But do you use them preventively? There are all sorts of warming or cooling creams that, when used regularly, can have a positive effect on muscle recovery, for example, which can come in really handy after a hard workout. But what do such creams consist of? And can they have any negative effects? That's what we'll look at in our article today.

Article content:

• What are warming or cooling creams?
• When to choose which one?
• Which specific products to choose?
• What to take away from today's article?

What are warming or cooling creams?

Warming or cooling creams, such as the extremely popular tiger ointment, are products that contain, in addition to a variety of natural and synthetic substances, compounds that naturally have warming or cooling effects on our skin. Typical examples of such substances include capsaicin, which is the alkaloid responsible for the hotness of chilli peppers, menthol, which is the essential oil of peppermint, or camphor obtained synthetically or from the wood of the camphor tree.

And although many people only take capsaicin as part of a spicy meal, it actually has a number of interesting medical uses, and many people recommend using creams with this substance for arthritis, migraines, diabetic neuropathy and even the aforementioned muscle pain. Menthol has been shown to be used in cosmetic products for its mild analgesic effect, which can also be used for various minor injuries, mild rotations or again after a hard workout.

However, there are very few studies on this topic so far and it is therefore rather difficult to draw clear conclusions. Some research demonstrates the pain-relieving effects of capsaicin in diabetic neuropathy, while others suggest its use in osteoarthritis. However, we will still have to wait for some relevant conclusions.

Among the very well-known warming creams is tiger ointment.

When to choose which one?

Right at the very beginning of this article, it is necessary to say that there is quite a significant difference between hot and cold ointments, not only in the effect they have on our skin and, consequently, on the body as a whole, but also in when it is appropriate to use which one. Let's take a look at two possible scenarios and which ointment to use in such a case:

When I get injured

The first very common scenario where people reach for warming or cooling creams is as a result of a reaction to an injury - for example, a misstep that causes your ankle to swell. What ointment to choose in this case? Definitely a cooling one and ideally as soon as possible after the injury.This is because the action ofthe cold easily constricts the blood vessels and reduces the body's immune response to the swelling. If you use a warm ointment in such a case, it could exacerbate the swelling problem, as the heat causes the blood vessels to dilate. The ideal time to apply a warming ointment is when the injury is several days old. This will improve blood circulation and may flush out some metabolites. However, the key is always to give the injured area plenty of rest.

When my muscles hurt

The answer is fairly straightforward even if you want to apply some cream before and after training. It's definitely not a good idea to use a cold gel as part of your pre-workout preparation - it will constrict your blood vessels and impair blood flow to the muscle - so if you want to apply something before exercise, make sure you choose a warm cream, which can be a good choice, especially for warming up your muscles in the winter months. On the other hand, after a workout may be a good time for cool gels - for the same reason as with injuries.

Which specific products to choose?

When it comes to specific products worth trying, it primarily depends on your preferences - the truth is that many products from different brands are based on very similar formulations. Here on our website, you can find three products in particular:

Flexit GOLD gel - Nutrend's golden cream variant is a warming ointment that consists of 7 active ingredients including menthol, eucalyptus and cedar oils as well as the trio of chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM. This gel is primarily suitable for pre-workout or for relaxing stressed muscles during the day.

Flexit ICE gel - The ice gel, on the other hand, is pleasantly cooling and can be used for minor swelling or after a workout. The cooling effect is mainly due to peppermint oil, arnica, menthol and camphor.

Thai Namman Muay Oil - This type of Thai oil is probably very well known to all fans of combat sports. It spreads great, is easy to apply and can really warm up reliably before a performance, although immediately after application you may experience a rather cooling effect, which you can owe to the combination of menthol, eucalyptus, limonene and other terpenes.

Thai Namman Muay Cream - Namman Muay Cream is an alternative to the spray mentioned above, the only difference being the consistency. While the oil just needs to be shaken and sprayed, the cream needs to be rubbed thoroughly on the area. Some may find this consistency more comfortable, in which case we of course recommend the cream. Here too, there is a slight cooling effect at first, which gradually starts to turn into a warming effect.

Is there anything to watch out for?

In addition to the above-mentioned study on capsaicin use, it is certainly worth mentioning that more than half of the subjects surveyed experienced some of the common side effects. These are not serious, but can still be mildly uncomfortable - in the case of both types of creams, you may experience itching, redness, burning or even pain where you've applied the cream. So it's definitely a good idea, after choosing a new product, to try applying it to just a small patch of skin to get an idea of how your body reacts to the substance and how much cream to eventually use.

What to take away from today's article?

The main thing you should take away from today's article is that massage creams, whether cooling or warming, can be a great tool in your regular workout routine as well as for routine minor turns. But you need to know when to use which one - always reach for the warm gels before training, while the cool ones come in handy after training or during turns.