Muscle Aches and Remedies
Oil of Wintergreen (Methyl Salicylate) One of the oldest Res-Q Actiflex Review remedies for muscle aches and pains was originally made from the wintergreen shrub. The compound that was distilled from the leaves was methyl salicylate, a chemical relative of aspirin (though it is not swallowed the way aspirin is). Virtually the same compound could be extracted from the bark of sweet birch (also known as cherry birch).
Today, most methyl salicylate is created synthetically and is found in dozens of rubs, liniments, and gels, often combined with menthol of camphor. Such products are called "counterirritants." That is because they create a sensation of heat and mild inflammation when massaged into the skin. Some people describe the feeling as "hurting so good."
There is no clear understanding of how counterirritants actually work. One theory suggests that by creating a distracting discomfort you can somehow dampen the original pain b overwhelming nerve impulses. This concept is based on the idea that sensations of pain travel to the brain through the spinal cord.
Think of it a little like a telephone network. If all the calls had to funnel through a central switching office, you might be able to overload the system with incoming messages and create a busy signal.
