A breastfeeding mother must suffer from a lot of discomfort and pain. Hence, she looks for relievers to reduce her stress when nursing the child.
So can you use Icy Hot while breastfeeding to heal your pain? Unfortunately, this question comes with a case-by-case recommendation. It would be best to consult your doctor before using them.
In this article, we will discuss the uses of Icy Hot products and the cases of their application to breastfeeding mothers. Let’s read on to discover!
What Is Icy Hot?
Icy Hot is a brand of pain relievers that we apply to our skin. It comes in fourteen over-the-counter (OTC) medicines with eight formulas. This brand is famous because it soothes pain by chilling it down and then heating it to cure it.
Rexall Drug initially trademarked Icy Hot in 1972. The brand has been the most popular pain-relieving medication in the marketplace for nearly 50 years.
You can easily find it in grocery stores, drugstores, and online retailers. Its accessibility is another reason to make it dominant in the industry.
Uses
Icy Hot is a topical pain treatment that arrives in different forms. Menthol is present in all of them.
Other substances, like lidocaine and camphor, are available in some. Manufacturers recommend them for mild discomfort from specific sources.
These topical pain relievers have so many easy-to-follow formulas and work effectively and quickly. Hence, many athletes, medical experts, and house customers are all familiar with the term “Icy Hot.”
The chemical in these products cannot reach deep enough into the muscles to provide substantial recovery. It works by activating neurons near your skin and suppressing pain signals to give brief comfort.
You can use these products for many ailments, such as:
- Arthritis pain
- Sprains
- Bruises
- Cramps
- Achy joints
- Sore muscles
This pain reliever can be a safe, rapid, and cost-effective approach to treating common aches and pains, whether hurting from physical training or stiffness.
It’s also great for menstruation cramps because you can apply products and patches where you need them most.
Icy Hot Products
There are many products from the brand you can choose from. Here are some of the most popular choices.
Icy Hot Patch
The patches are fast-acting and comfortable. You can use them to relieve backache, bruises, arthritis, cramps, and muscle strains. Each patch can stay in place and contain more medicine than the classic version, allowing it to work for longer periods.
You have three options for the batches: the Back Patch, Lidocaine Patch, and Advanced Relief Patch.
Back Patch
- It has a menthol content of 5%.
- There are two sizes: regular and extra-large.
- Apply on your back or other large parts of your body.
- Wear it for about eight hours at a time.
- Repeat this process three times per day.
Lidocaine Patch
- The patch has 1% menthol and 4% lidocaine.
- Wear the patch for 12 hours.
- Only use one at a time.
Advanced Relief Patch
- It has 7.5% menthol.
- Wear for 12 hours and only use one a day.
Icy Hot Spray
You can feel it acting instantly by offering significant relief for both joints and muscles at the press of a spray button. It features a quick-drying solution that does not feel greasy or stays moist for long. Arthritis, muscular strains, bruising, backache, and cramps.
These items have high flammability, so do not use them if you are near a flame or heat. Read the instructions for safety.
Dry Spray
- The product has 16% menthol.
- Apply it about three to four times per day.
Lidocaine Dry Spray
- It contains 1% menthol and 4% lidocaine.
- Apply it every six or seven hours.
- You can spray three times a day.
Pro Dry Spray
- It contains 16% menthol and 11% camphor.
- Do not spray the painful area more than 4 times per day.
Icy Hot Gel
The easy-to-use gel can dry quickly and get to work right away. You can use it for different ailments, such as cramps, muscles, back, and bruises.
Power Gel
- The gel has 16% menthol.
- The formula is quick-drying and fast-acting.
- You can apply the gel to the affected areas and massage.
- Repeat the application three or four times per day.
Vanishing Scent Gel
- The gel has 2.5% menthol.
- Squeeze it onto the affected areas and massage with a sponge.
- Repeat the application four times per day.
Icy Hot Cream
This non-greasy ointment instantly relieves muscular soreness, ache, cramps, and other strain and sprain discomfort. It starts working as soon as it gets into your skin and provides long-lasting healing.
Hot Cream
- The cream contains 30% methyl salicylate and 10% menthol.
- Apply the cream to the affected areas and massage.
- Repeat the application four times a day.
Advanced Cream
- It has 16% menthol and 11% camphor.
- Apply four times a day. You can massage to accelerate the effect.
Is Icy Hot Safe to Use While Breastfeeding?
It’s not officially a pregnancy-safe product. However, you can “safely” use these Icy Hot products while breastfeeding. But each case will have different answers, such as the location and the type of product used. For example, you can apply it to the back and shoulder but not to the area near the breast where the baby is nursing. Moreover, the labels just suggest that you consult a doctor before using it.
Methyl salicylate is the major source of concern. Search for formulations that don’t include methyl salicylate to avoid bad effects. Many of these products include this chemical, which gives them a chilling effect. Wintergreen oil contains it as well.
Can Icy Hot Get Into Breast Milk?
The uncertainty about its safety and usage while breastfeeding is that its chemicals may penetrate the bloodstream and the fetus. However, it remains unknown if the product will pass into your breast milk. You should always ask your doctor for advice.
How Long Does It Take Lidocaine to Leave Your System?
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works quickly. Its effects usually last 30 to 60 minutes, but they can last considerably longer if mixed with epinephrine.
Side Effects of Using Icy Hot
Always follow the maker’s guidelines while using any pharmaceutical ointment, patch, or gel. Then, you can avoid experiencing any unwanted effects.
Although consumers consider Icy Hot a safe product, there are some potential side effects to be aware of, such as redness, stinging, and warmth.
Blisters, swelling, severe redness in the affected areas, and increased discomfort, nausea, and ringing in your ears are more extreme effects.
In addition, there are a few rare side effects that would demand rapid medical intervention, including severe dizziness and trouble breathing.
If you have any doubts about whether or not you could have an allergic response to the chemicals in the medicine, you should always see your doctor first.
Breastfeeding Pain Relief Home Remedies
There are many effective natural pain relievers to use while breastfeeding if you want to avoid Icy Hot. Below are some of them.
Noxicare Gel
This powerful, natural reliever contains many herbs, such as holy basil, ginger, turmeric, rosemary extract, willow bark, and Boswellia extract.
Anti-inflammatory effects of the ingredients aid in increasing blood circulation to muscle nerves.
Arnica Gel
Arnica is a medicinal herb that can treat bruises and wounds on your skin for a long time.
The gel can also help with pains and aches and is a good substitute for many OTC drugs.
Arnica gel can also be as effective as ibuprofen at alleviating pain in osteoarthritis sufferers.
Traumeel
Traumeel is a homeopathic ointment with twelve active components diluted naturally, including echinacea, arnica, and chamomile.
The ingredients help ease joint, back, and muscular discomfort when used simultaneously. It also comes in tablet form authorized by the FDA.
Badger
Badger is an organic rub containing ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, beeswax, rosemary, olive oil, and lemongrass. Cayenne pepper gives a little more heat to loosen your muscles.
Remember to wash your hands after applying the pepper so that you do not see them in your eyes when you touch them.
Natural Ingredients
You can also use natural ingredients to deal with the pain while breastfeeding.
- Ice cubes: Cold treatments can help relieve painful nipples. Fill a cotton towel with ice cubes and gently press it on your nipples for ten minutes.
- Garlic: Garlic, when eaten raw, can work like a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Chop cloves into small bits and swallow them.
- Olive oil: To assist treat nipple discomfort, combine tea tree oil and olive oil in tepid water, then soak a cotton swab in the mixture and rub it on your nipples.
You can learn more tips for relieving nipple pains while nursing right here:
Conclusion
Although using Icy Hot while breastfeeding is considered safe, there are side effects. So you must consult your physician before taking any medicine.
Instead, you can choose natural alternatives, such as Noxicare or Arnica Gel. They work nicely to relieve your discomfort.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. For any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for reading!
