Looking for a soothing ingredient to help ease clients’ aches and pains? Look no further than menthol. Derived either from natural sources, including peppermint and eucalyptus plants, or produced synthetically, menthol provides a wide range of soothing and stimulating properties. No wonder it’s used in a wide range of health as well as beauty products.
Menthol can be applied topically to help treat pain and inflammation. The Healthy Back Institute explains three reasons why menthol is so effective at relieving aches and pain. First, when menthol is applied in a cream, lotion or gel form, molecules called ligands attach themselves to receptors in our cells triggering a change. Menthol ligands attach to the kappa Opioid receptor to produce a numbing effect.
Another reason that menthol is so effective on aching muscles is because it triggers vasodilation, which is the dilation of the blood vessels. During vasodilation, blood flow to the pained area increases, reducing the skin barrier function. This enables medicinal ingredients in the lotion, cream or gel being applied to work faster.
Menthol also is known to be a counterirritant to reduce inflammation. It works by causing the skin to feel cool to relieve the uncomfortable heat caused by inflammation.
You can help clients Erase the Ache with the following arm-to-hand treatment. It’s designed to erase the ache and discomfort of muscles and joints. The use of the Lab Blends Professional CBD Massage Balm with menthol allows for an enriched treatment with unmatched workability and superior versatility.
Ingredients
• Lab Blends 660mg CBD Massage Balm… 1/3 oz
Tools
• 4 Warm Hand Towels
Instructions
1. Position client on the massage table in a supine position.
2. Perform a gentle rocking compression from the shoulder to the hip.
3. Starting at the head of the table, apply a 5 second compression to the front of the chest. Slowly increase the pressure of the compression. Repeat movement down each arm.
4. Pump a dime size amount of Lab Blends Professional CBD Massage Balm into the palm of your hand. Rub hands together and then apply balm to client’s right arm from the wrist to the occipital ridge.
5. Perform 4 slow effleurage stokes from the wrist to the occipital ridge. Start with the hand palm down and rotate the arm with each successive stroke.
6. Perform 4 slow push/pull movements starting at the client’s wrist and moving to the shoulder.
7. Cover area(s) with a warm hand towel and allow penetration for five minutes.
8. Repeat steps 4 – 7 on left arm.
9. Incorporate trigger point and stretching to effectively reduce tension and aid in recovery.