Counterirritant

A counterirritant is a type of medicine that is used to treat a variety of conditions, such as muscle and joint pain, by stimulating a mild irritation of the skin or mucous membranes. This stimulation helps to reduce the underlying pain by causing the body to react to the counterirritant, which results in increased blood flow and the release of natural painkillers. The mild irritation created by the counterirritant is meant to distract from the more intense pain that is the focus of treatment. Common counterirritants include menthol, menthyl salicylate, capsaicin, camphor, and eucalyptus oil.