Products
Various heat patches and heat wraps are on the market in many countries. Some products are registered as medicines, while others are marketed as medical devices.
Ingredients
Some heat patches contain a capsicum extract obtained from the dried, ripe fruits of -species (cayenne pepper, “hot chili”). The extract’s ingredients include capsaicinoids such as capsaicin. Other possible ingredients include essential oils such as rosemary oil, lavender oil and wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate), and nourishing fatty oils such as almond oil. There are also heat plasters or heat wraps, which do not develop the heat pharmacologically, but physically like hand warmers. They contain iron powder. See under heat pads with iron powder.
Effects
Heat patches (ATC M02A) have warming, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, muscle relaxant, circulatory, and irritant properties depending on the ingredients.
Fields of application
Heat patches are used for local treatment of pain and muscle tension of various causes:
- Back pain
- Neck tension
- Muscle pain
- Nerve pain
- Osteoarthritis
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects include hypersensitivity reactions, itching, redness of the skin and a severe burning sensation.