
Living a mindful lifestyle means selecting what substances to allow into your body. Making smart, fact-based choices avoids unnecessary exposure to harmful elements that can cause unpredictable reactions. When choosing between oral or topical relief to treat pain, it is important to understand how each method interacts with your body in order to choose an option that keeps you healthy.
How Oral Pain Relief Works
How Topical Pain Relief Works
Oral vs Topical Effectiveness
Safety Concerns
The largest difference between oral and topical pain relief products is in their safety. The risk of complications and serious allergic reactions are higher for oral treatment since it interacts with more areas of the body. This is especially true for NSAID and steroid-based medicines, but orally-ingested natural pain relievers may cause reactions as well. Topical gels and creams ensure that any reactions are contained locally and will not affect organs such as the liver, kidneys, or intestinal tract. Side effects of topical pain relievers are uncommon and are usually due to the type of gel or cream used rather than the active ingredients themselves. This is why NeoRelief topical pain relief products use high-quality, 97% natural ingredients and avoid dyes or perfumes that are known to cause irritation.
For those with chronic pain like arthritis or muscle cramping, oral pain relief can damage the body over time and lose effectiveness as the body overcompensates for their effects.4 Because topical pain relievers do not affect the whole body, they are a good choice for repeat use with minimal side effects. Learn more about the benefits of using natural, topical pain relief in Opioid Alternatives: Exploring Gentle Pain Relief Solutions.
Sources:
1 https://www.livescience.com/45241-medicine-journey-through-body-nigms.html
2 https://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/medication/how-do-topical-drugs-reduce-back-neck-pain
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23703519
4 https://greatearthpharmacy.com/2014/07/07/topical-pain-cream-better-swallowing-pills-pain-relief/