Pepper plaster is a widely used pharmaceutical product. Refers to topical drugs. You can apply a pepper patch for diseases of various types. It is popular and belongs to budget medicines. Although it is easy to use, we recommend studying the instructions for use.
Description and active ingredients
These medications are sold through pharmacy chains. A high-quality certified product can only be purchased at a pharmacy.
The patch is available in the production of various pharmacological companies. The product is designed to be cut into pieces. The medicinal composition of a high-quality patch does not spread if its integrity is damaged.
When purchasing, you should pay attention to the expiration date, the presence of specific odors, the color of the fabric, and the adhesive base.
A suitable patch has a production date and expiration date on the packaging, there is no aroma, the paper base is white, and the glue does not flow.
Famous manufacturers
Currently, there is not such a large selection of pepper patches. One of the best is the Capsicum patch (Paul Hartmann, Germany), but it is not always available in domestic pharmacies.
But in almost every pharmacy in the Russian Federation you can buy pepper plasters produced by Novosibkhimpharm, with an area of 6 by 10 and 10 by 18 cm. It is the second option that is well suited for application to the lumbar region, for hernias of the lumbar spine.
You can also purchase pepper Silkoplast, which is produced in China by the Changzhou Nanfang Medical Apple company. In beauty salons you can buy Master Uni Farmline patch 6-10 cm kV, No. 5 per package, cost 40 rubles.
In conclusion, it must be emphasized once again that pepper applications are an excellent means of relieving pain and muscle spasms, but it does not have any therapeutic effect on a hernia defect. Therefore, the best way would be to use the pepper patch in short courses, within 3 to 7 days after the elimination of acute pain, as part of complex therapy, together with medications, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises.
The composition of the drug includes several components
The active substance is dry hot pepper extract 5–8%. The concentration of pepper is selected in the optimal amount, this allows for the manifestation of medicinal properties, while the composition remains safe for the skin.
Auxiliary components of the product:
- Thick belladonna extract 1%. Affects blood vessels, relieves muscle pain and spasm. Improving blood circulation provokes the penetration of pepper into the deeper layers. Recommended for pain in myositis and radiculitis.
- Arnica tincture 0.5%. Helps dilate blood vessels and bronchi. An expectoration effect is achieved.
- Rubber 20%. A substance that is part of the adhesive base. The action of the drug does not have therapeutic properties.
- Pine rosin 25%. Included in the base with pepper.
- Lanolin 20%. Designed to protect the skin from irritation, burns, and redness.
- Vaseline oil 2%. Helps avoid skin irritation.
- Belladonna extract 0.6%.
Before use, test for an allergic reaction. Cut a piece and stick it on the inside of your forearm. Keep for no more than 20 minutes. During exposure, a negative reaction will appear.
After removing the patch, the skin turns slightly red, which is normal.
Severe burning, rash, swelling are signs of an allergy to one of the components. Treatment should be carried out with other drugs.
Indications and rules of use
The drug has a pain-distracting effect and dilates blood vessels. The scope is wide. Pepper patch is used in therapy as the only remedy for mild cases of the disease, as well as as part of various complexes.
Prescribed in the following cases:
Based on research, it has been found that mustard is inferior to pepper in terms of therapeutic effect. It is convenient to use on any area of the skin. People around will not notice the presence of the patch on the body, it does not show through under clothing, and has no aroma.
Use the product directly on the problem area. It is necessary to glue it to the neck for cervical osteochondrosis. When the tissues of the back become inflamed, pain accumulates.
For intercostal neuralgia, pepper patch relieves pain in the chest area.
A sensitivity test is required. Manufacturers vary the composition, so manifestations of allergies occur suddenly.
Rules of application:
Self-medication is not carried out during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
We recommend watching the video instructions for using the patch:
How to use the patch?
Capsaicin is poorly soluble in fat, and on any part of the skin there is a protective film of sebum. Therefore, first you need to use a special medical wipe (for example, with isopropyl alcohol) to degrease and dry the area of skin to which the patch will be glued. The patch is never applied directly to the middle of the back, in the projection of the spinous processes.
It needs to be glued slightly to the side of the center line, paravertebrally. In these zones, to the right and left of the spinal column, the back muscles are located, which take part in straightening the body. They are most often in tonic tension in people engaged in mental work. It is these muscles that become the source of pain impulses during hernias.
After this, a patch of the required size is selected, the protective film is removed from the pepper layer and it is carefully glued without wrinkles to the dry and degreased surface. Naturally, it is better to ask a loved one to do this; it may be inconvenient yourself, especially if movement is limited. The patch can be removed after two days.
With normal tolerance, a person will feel a slight warmth during the day, which gradually begins to weaken. No unpleasant sensations are usually noted with correct application. If after a few minutes a strong burning sensation occurs, then the patch should be removed, and the skin should be washed with soap and wiped with Vaseline.
In order to avoid such situations, it is necessary to perform a so-called skin test before using the patch for the first time. To do this, the skin is degreased and a more sensitive area than the lower back is taken, for example, the outer surface of the shoulder. It is not recommended to test the most delicate skin, in the area of the elbow bend, since in any case there will be a strong burning sensation, because this is not cosmetics or a cream, but pepper. If 15 minutes after application there are no unpleasant sensations, then you can safely apply it to the lumbar region for two days.
How to remove pepper patch? The easiest option is to soak it. To do this, you can take a warm shower, bath, or, as a last resort, lubricate the patch with oil, vegetable oil or petroleum jelly. The main thing is that you don’t need to rip the patch off dry, it’s painful.
Contraindications for use
Restricted or prohibited use:
Please read the instructions carefully before use.
Contraindications and restrictions
Despite its mild action and external use, there are a number of contraindications when pepper patch cannot be used. These are the following states:
- high temperature, acute infectious pathology;
- skin diseases at the site of intended application of the patch: psoriasis, weeping eczema, as well as herpetic rashes;
- presence of a positive preliminary skin test;
- children under 14 years of age;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- the presence of protrusion and hernia of the cervical spine. Applying intense, burning capsaicin to the back of the neck can lead to the development of a hypertensive crisis, redness of the facial skin, tachycardia, or even the development of bronchospasm or an attack of suffocation.
The last contraindication is relative. In patients without arterial hypertension, excess weight and a tendency to develop sympathoadrenal crises, the patch can also be used on the cervical spine. But still, usually the patch is intended for application to the skin in the projection of the thoracic spine (except for the area of the heart at the back), and for warming the lumbar spine.
How and where to apply pepper patch when coughing
Pepper cough patch should be applied to non-greasy skin. Use medical alcohol for this purpose.
Do not apply the cough patch to the same place a second time, as this may cause a burn. Avoid moles.
The patch for bronchitis and cough is glued between the shoulder blades or on the chest.
When you have a runny nose, apply the product to your face. Apply strips from the forehead to the tip of the nose, crossing along the maxillary sinuses. Crosses applied with a runny nose patch will help relieve swelling of the respiratory tract.
Pepper plaster for coughs for children
Treatment is carried out when the condition is stable. At the onset of the disease, complications arise due to improper treatment.
Use is possible after a doctor's prescription. A burning sensation is not normal. The drug is not prescribed to small children under three years of age. In rare cases, the patch is applied to the feet after a pediatrician’s prescription.
In infancy it causes irreversible negative consequences.
For adults
If there are no signs of individual intolerance, apply to the affected area for 2 days. It is removed after time. Do not keep the product on longer, the active substance stops working.
Apply the pepper patch for bronchitis with caution, as it can cause complications.
With a dry cough, it helps relieve swelling from the respiratory tract and improves sputum discharge.
During pregnancy
Use is possible as prescribed by a doctor. Doesn't stick to the stomach. Do not use during pregnancy with uterine tone. Dilates blood vessels, increases blood circulation, which provokes complications.
During lactation, it should not be applied to the chest. Warming up this area leads to increased lactation.
The substances of the drug have no toxic effect, do not penetrate into the blood, and do not affect the growth and development of the fetus.
How to remove the product painlessly and quickly
For a tight fit to the skin, an adhesive composition with strong fixation is used. When removed, the skin and hair are damaged. The question arises of how to remove the pepper plaster painlessly.
Removal methods:
Leave the product on for half an hour, then remove slowly. It will not be possible to remove it completely without pain, but you can reduce the pain. Ask your family to remove the patch on your back. A sharp tug can cause skin and hair to be removed.
We recommend watching a video on how to remove the patch from the skin:
