 | |
| Product type | Analgesic heat rub |
|---|---|
| Owner | Johnson & Johnson |
| Produced by | Johnson & Johnson |
| Country | Developed in France by Dr. Jules Bengué |
| Introduced | 1898 (as Ben-Gay) |
| Markets | Over-the-counter drug |
| Previous owners | Pfizer |
| Website | www |
Bengay, spelled Ben-Gay before 1995, is a topical analgesic heat rub for temporary relief from muscle and joint pain associated with arthritis, bruises, simple backaches, overuse, sprains and strains. [1]
Bengay was developed in France by Dr. Jules Bengué (French pronunciation: [ʒylbɛ̃ɡe] ) and brought to North America in 1898. The name Bengué was Anglicized and commercialized to Ben-Gay (later Bengay). It was originally produced by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The product is advised to be used topically for adults and children 12 years of age and older, and no more than 3 to 4 times daily. [2] The manufacturer recommends storing it between 20 and 25 °C (68 and 77 °F). [2]
According to a study published by MIT Technology Review, the exact mechanism of its efficacy is not known. However, evidence indicates that it activates the neuron receptor TRPM8, which appears to keep minor pain signals in the brain from communicating with the spine. [3]
Bengay and similar products, such as Flexall, Mentholatum, Capzasin and Icy Hot, variously contain menthol, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), and capsaicin as active ingredients and have a potential to cause first-to-third-degree chemical burns. [4] [5] Some people have been hospitalized after receiving such burns. [4]
Methyl salicylate can also be toxic when excessively large doses, many multiples of the recommended amount, are administered; [6] [7] however it's an extreme rarity. [7]
In October 2007 in the United States, a teenage athlete overdosed and died from overexposure to methyl salicylate, [6] [7] having "more than six times the safe amount of the ingredient in her body." [6]
Active ingredients vary by product version, including:
Bengay can be used to remove chewing gum from clothing, as the methyl salicylate serves to loosen and diffuse the gum base. [9] [10]
Listerine is a brand of antiseptic mouthwash that is promoted with the slogan "Kills germs that cause bad breath". Named after Joseph Lister, who pioneered antiseptic surgery at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland, Listerine was developed in 1879 by Joseph Lawrence, a chemist in St. Louis, Missouri.
Peppermint is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species.
Salicylic acid is an organic compound with the formula HOC6H4COOH. A colorless (or, white), bitter-tasting solid, it is a precursor to and a metabolite of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). It is a plant hormone, and has been listed by the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory as an experimental teratogen. The name is from Latin salix for willow tree, from which it was initially identified and derived. It is an ingredient in some anti-acne products. Salts and esters of salicylic acid are known as salicylates.
Rubbing alcohol is either an isopropyl alcohol or an ethanol-based liquid, with isopropyl alcohol products being the most widely available. The comparable British Pharmacopoeia (BP) is surgical spirit. Rubbing alcohol is denatured and undrinkable even if it is ethanol-based, due to the bitterants added.
Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, clear or white crystalline substance, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above.
Benzocaine, sold under the brand name Orajel amongst others, is a local anesthetic, belonging to the amino ester drug class, commonly used as a topical painkiller or in cough drops. It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter anesthetic ointments such as products for oral ulcers. It is combined with antipyrine to form A/B ear drops. In the US, products containing benzocaine for oral application are contraindicated in children younger than two years old. In the European Union, the contraindication applies to children under 12 years of age.
Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil) is an organic compound with the formula C8H8O3. It is the methyl ester of salicylic acid. It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a sweet, fruity odor reminiscent of root beer (in which it is used as a flavoring), but often associatively called "minty", as it is an ingredient in mint candies. It is produced by many species of plants, particularly wintergreens. It is also produced synthetically, used as a fragrance and as a flavoring agent.
Liniment, also called embrocation and heat rub, is a medicated topical preparation for application to the skin. Some liniments have viscosity similar to that of water; others are lotion or balm; still others are in transdermal patches, soft solid sticks, and sprays. Liniment usually is rubbed in to the skin, which the active ingredients penetrate.
Wintergreen is a group of aromatic plants. The term wintergreen once commonly referred to plants that remain green throughout the winter. The term evergreen is now more commonly used for this characteristic.
Trolamine salicylate is an organic compound with the chemical formula [HN(CH2CH2OH)3]+C6H4(OH)(COO−). It is a salt of triethanolamine and salicylic acid, i.e. the compound consists of protonated triethanolamine and the conjugate base of salicylic acid, salicate.
Gold Bond is a brand of over-the-counter skin care products produced by Chattem of Chattanooga, Tennessee, now a subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. It is available as both a powder and a topical cream. Gold Bond is used to curb moisture, control odor, and soothe minor skin irritations, notably jock itch. Spin-off products are designed for specific uses, such as foot powders or powders for infants to treat diaper rash.
Tiger Balm is an analgesic heat rub manufactured and distributed by Singaporean company Haw Par Healthcare. It is used for external pain relief.
Peppermint extract is a herbal extract of peppermint made from the essential oil of peppermint leaves. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint. The oil has been used for various purposes over centuries.
Magnesium salicylate is a common analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain such as in tendons and muscles. It is also used to treat joint pain like arthritis, general back pain, and headaches.
Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated topical ointment, part of the Vicks brand of over-the-counter medications owned by the American consumer goods company Procter & Gamble. VapoRub is intended for use on the chest, back and throat for cough suppression or on muscles and joints for minor aches and pains. Users of VapoRub often apply it immediately before sleep.
RUB A535 is a rubefacient introduced in 1919 and manufactured by Church & Dwight in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
A counterirritant is a substance which creates irritation or mild inflammation in one location with the goal of lessening discomfort and/or inflammation in another location. This strategy falls into the more general category of counterstimulation.
A transdermal analgesic or pain relief patch is a medicated adhesive patch used to relieve minor to severe pain. There are many types of analgesic patches based on the main ingredients in the patches. These include patches containing counterirritants, which are used to treat mild to moderate pain, and patches containing opioids such as buprenorphine and fentanyl, used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Fentanyl is often used for opioid-tolerant patients. Nitroglycerin, also known as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), a medication used for heart failure, high blood pressure, anal fissures, painful periods, and to treat and prevent chest pain, can also be found in patches. Beyond these are patches that contain drugs such as diclofenac and lidocaine and various other drugs. The main purpose of transdermal analgesic patches are to administer drugs in a more viable way to patients, as opposed to oral consumption or intravenous administration such as an injection.
Celadrin is an over-the-counter medication marketed as a topical analgesic. It is a cream that is used for muscle and joint pains including osteoarthritis, strains, bruises, and sprains. The active ingredient is menthol and it also contains cetylated and esterified fatty acids. The inactive ingredients are Benzyl Alcohol, Butylparaben, carbomer interpolymer type a, ethylparaben, glycerin, glyceryl monostearate, isobutylparaben, soybean, methylparaben, olive oil, PEG-100 Stearate, peppermint oil, phenoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, propylparaben, alpha-tocopherol acetate, and water.
Fengyou Essence, also named Medicated Oil, is a type of Chinese patent medicine, usually in the form of an oily liquid with a light green color. It is derived from countries in Southeast Asia where the weather is warm and wet with the prevalence of mosquitoes because it serves a great deal in relieving itchiness. In China, it is sometimes called "panacea oil" as it is believed to alleviate the symptoms of many diseases ranging from coughing and rhinitis to the cold and flu.