Sombra Warm Pain Relief 32 oz Pump for Arthritis, Back Pain & Pre-Exercise

[ REVIEW & INGREDIENTS LIST UPDATED: JANUARY 2016 ] I have a rheumatic condition and a pinched nerve on my neck causing carpal tunnel/median nerve/ulnar nerve pain, shoulder pain, joint pain, stiffness and peripheral neuropathy. I bought the best selling products in the pain relief category along with cold pads, warm pads, computer gloves, a traction device + pillow, and supplements; each of them carefully researched. I've been using them on a daily basis for a little over a year now. If anyone's interested, I will keep the review updated with my progress. List of INGREDIENTS as of January 2016 PENETREX: Note: The ingredients list has been updated. No more Parabens! (Thank you, Biomax!) Water (Aqua), Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Esters, Steareth-20, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM/DMSO2), Glucosamine Sulfate, Ethoxydiglycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Cetyl Myristoleate, Pentylene Glycol (and) Sea Whip Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Boswellia Serrata (Frankincense) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyl-Dimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate BIOFREEZE: Note: There are 2 different versions of Biofreeze now: Original & Colorless. The new colorless version is free of parabens and propylene glycol and made with USP grade ingredients and it seems to contain the same ingredients listed below, without the artificial dyes and P.Glycol. The new formula has 4% natural menthol and a number of botanical ingredients including Arnica Montana Flower Extract (Arnica), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe), Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract (Boswellia), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Arctium Lappa Root Extract (Burdock), Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract (Lemon Balm). Inactive Ingredients (Original Version): Camphor (for scent), carbomer, FD&C blue #1, FD&C yellow #5, Glycerine, Herbal Extract (ILEX Paraguariensis), Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Silicon Dioxide, Triethanolamine, Water, Vitamin E, Glycerin. SOMBRA: Note: List updated. Sombra no longer contains Silica. Active Ingredients: Menthol 3.0%, Camphor 3.0% Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Vera Extract, Carbomer, Capsaicin, Decyl Plyglucose, Deionized Water, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Green Tea Extract, Orange Peel Extract, Queen of the Prairie Extract, Rose Water, Sodium Hydroxymethyl Glycinate, Vegetable Glycerin, Witch Hazel, Yucca Extract. ================ ***INGREDIENTS*** SOMBRA is made of natural ingredients, no harmful parabens or artificial colors. Highlights: Green Tea, Capsaicin, Grapefruit Seed. BIOFREEZE now has more menthol but also artificial colors (Original). There's also a colorless version without dyes or propylene glycol, make sure it's labeled as "Colorless". They recently removed parabens from the formula and added Vitamin E. Highlights: Boswellia, Arnica, Lemon Balm. PENETREX has B6, Boswellia, MSM, Glucosamine, making it better for people with carpal tunnel and arthritis. No longer contains parabens. ***PAIN RELIEF*** I'm happy to say all of them do what they should: relieve pain. SOMBRA is supposed to give you a warming sensation, but it feels like it's just the menthol and camphor doing their job and that's a cold tingling sensation, not what I would call warm. It takes a few minutes to get some relief but it lasts for hours. It's a bit overwhelming at times, I use it on my shoulders and if I ever get it on my neck or the top of my shoulders my eyes will water for hours. It's REALLY strong. Good on back, arms, legs, anywhere that isn't remotely close to your eyes. **Note that there's multiple studies on Capsaicin and its effect on neuropathic pain. Do give Sombra a try if you suffer from neuropathy. BIOFREEZE's effect is pretty much immediate, it feels really cold, not as overwhelming as Sombra but it doesn't seem to last as long. You may need to reapply more often than Sombra. Perfect for your back, arms and shoulders, don't get it anywhere close to your mouth/eyes/nose (unless you want to clear up your sinuses) PENETREX doesn't have any fancy warming or cooling effects but the relief is also almost immediate. Use it at night on your hands and wake up without pain. Not overwhelming at all so you can use it freely on your neck and clavicle if you have TOS. ***SCENT*** SOMBRA: Has a citrus & menthol scent, it's rather strong and the capsaicin makes it hard to remove the smell from your hands so I don't recommend using it for arthritis or carpal tunnel. My physical therapist has to wear gloves to apply it. BIOFREEZE: Smells like menthol, camphor and peppermint. Not as overwhelming as Sombra and it's easy to wash the smell off your hands. PENETREX: No strong smell. It has a soft peppermint oil scent. ***TEXTURE & ABSORPTION*** SOMBRA: The texture is creamy and fast absorbing. It's really good for a light rub or massage, not a deep massage (you'd need an ointment or vaseline-based rub). I use it on my back because it's the only one that I don't have to use either too much (Biofreeze) or too little (Penetrex, due to its cost) to get a light massage. BIOFREEZE: The original formula is a green colored gel; doesn't stain clothing but it may stain certain types of fabric & carpets since it does have artificial colors. The colorless version doesn't have that problem. It's absorbed really fast so it's not good for massaging but really good if you just want pain relief and don't want to have to massage the area for it to get absorbed. PENETREX: Creamy light texture, not greasy, doesn't stain, no stains on my mouse/keyboard when I use it on my hands. Fast absorption but it gives you enough time to lightly massage the area before it goes to work under your skin. ***VALUE/COST*** I bought a 32oz Sombra, 2 x 4oz Biofreeze & 1 x 2oz Penetrex Best value for your money? Probably Sombra for large areas; legs, back. Biofreeze for arms, shoulders and medium-small areas. Penetrex for really small areas like your hands and the back of your neck.

1) I have sciatic nerve pain in my foot and leg every single day. This lessened the pain dramatically. 2) Relief is instant! 3) Sombra Warm Therapy works SO much better than Bengay, Icy Hot, etc. 4) This can be used for tight muscles, joint pain, nerve pain, and even headaches! 5) Sombra WARM Therapy worked well for me. Sombra COLD therapy did not work at all. 6) I alternate this with other pain creams that work quite well (like Arnica Gel, Neuragen, and Muscle & Joint Gel) because you can build a tolerance to it. (This is because menthol works as a weak opioid receptor agonist, which is the same receptor to which narcotic drugs bind strongly. Unlike narcotics, this is NOT addictive because it binds weakly to opioid receptors. It is still very effective, though, with none of the bad side effects pain medications cause.) Physical therapists use this on their patients. 110% recommended!!! I hope it works for you. Good luck! --------------------------------- P.S. If you are on any pain medication in the HYDROCODONE family (examples: Vicodin, Norco, Oxcodone, Oxycontin, Methadone, etc.), please do everything you can to quit and find different solutions. Hydrocodone causes cells to the increase their numbers of pain receptors. This causes you to feel way more pain than you ordinarily would feel than if you were not on hydrocodone. That means hydrocodone causes you to have more pain--the very problem it is trying to solve! As soon as I read research publications on NCBI (I have background in microbiology/cell biology), I quit cold turkey. After that, I had the least nerve pain I've ever had. If you give your body a few weeks without hydrocodone, it will reduce the number of pain receptors, which will make you feel less pain. Then, it will produce its own endorphins (your body's own natural painkillers) to combat the pain. When you are on hydrocodone, your body depends on the drugs for pain relief and slows its own endorphin production, weakening your body's natural ability to fight pain. I switched to Tramadol, which is a weak opioid receptor agonist. At first, it will feel not that effective, but after your body is weaned off hydrocodone, it will work. Just remember to give it at least an hour to work. I also started taking LifePak Nano twice a day. This significantly reduced my pain because it provides all the nutrients your body needs to help itself. Due to its nano-sized particles, it has far superior absorption to the garbage they sell at GNC. I hope at least some of this info can help you. I wish all of you good health!

I MUST say this product is probably the best on the market I’ve used for its effectiveness. I’ve tried many over time and this does the job. Proper sized bottles. No skin irritation. Best part of it is it works even days after the application. Very safe if you read the instructions. Kinda expensive but it does the job. Easy pump operation

Soothing relief that relaxes my muscles with a warm menthol feel. Lasts for several hours and love the all natural ingredients. It isn’t greasy and doesn’t stain clothes and glides on the skin well. We buy the large size that comes with a pump for ease of application. It does have a good percentage of both camphor and menthol so you don’t want this near your eyes. While it is a bit pricier than others, the quality is there. I’ve used this product for over a decade and we always have it in hand.

Somber in my opinion the best on the market. Works great

I like this product. Even though it states, Warm Therapy (it eventually does get warm), it first goes on cold to the touch; almost like Icy Hot, but better. I do like the scent and the nice ingredients as well and how it is nicely and quickly absorbed. I have to say; this gel does indeed get warm; even "hot" (at least to my skin). Overall, It does feel nice and soothing and while it's temporary, it makes you feel good. I have a lot of all over chronic joint pain (now, I am scheduled for hip surgery in mid May). The gel did help a bit sooth the area. I have dealt with pain and was searching for something other than OTC pills which I only took once in a blue moon. One thing though as I mentioned, I have all over joint pain and I decided to slather the gel on my neck (the neck in particular is sensitive and the gel can "seem hotter/colder" if that makes sense) and elbows, ankles, feet, knees, hips, lower back and even hands and I have to tell you, for about a half hour, I was "chilled to the bone." :-} This was I guess due to the pepper effect in the gel. After that wore off slightly, it warmed up and felt real nice. It didn't hurt at any time; I just felt quite chilly and had to put on my heavy robe. Everyone is different and you may not experience this effect. Nonetheless, I feel this is a great product and I would order this again and I think it's worth the price and is a great value.

This product is amazing and buying this quantity with a pump on it makes it so much easier than I have been using this product for years.

I suffer from reoccurring pinch nerve pains and painful is an understatement. I’ve recently suffered from a pinch nerve that starts in my upper back and radiates down my left arm and nothing would help alleviate some of the pain. It was so painful that I went to the emergency room because I couldn’t handle the excruciating pain, this didn’t help as the doctor only gave me pills for pain but only helped temporarily mask the pain. A family friend recommended Sombra and it helped so much to the point where the pain would not feel as painful. This was a big help for me and also I found a doctor who prescribed steroids in the form of a pill which did the trick …no more pain… Good luck if you’ve experienced this pain but at least this lotion does help a lot….highly recommend…just don’t take a shower hours after you apply the cream as it will burn, it takes minutes for the burning feeling to diminish …🙏🏽

My parents are in their 80's, dealing with muscle ache and Fibromyalgia. They are thrilled and relieved that Canadians can once again order Sombra. It is their lifeline to comfort. The pump is easy for them to access the product. A little goes a long way. Stiff muscles in the morning? It works almost instantly. It soothes at night so sleep comes more easily. It has a pleasant scent, not as strong as other mentholated rubs. They swear it works better than other over-the-counter products, too. I've tried it and agree. Sombra is worth every penny!

Although this product is expensive compared to other products in the same area, this one has worked for me the best. It smells good, it feels nice, and it works. I previously purchased an 8 oz. container of this stuff and I definitely prefer the pump (32 oz. version). 5 stars for a good product with no need to settle.

Love this product I have tried numerous muscle relief and none even hold a candle to this product.i suffer from tennis elbow and it provides such relief. My husband also uses it in his arthritic knees and says it’s 1000% better then it’s competitors.. will continue to buy again and again

I was introduced to this product by a family member while traveling. This was a life saver as I have serious joint and spine inflammation...and when traveling we re not allowed to bring more than 4 oz fluids so I was limited on what I could bring on my carryon. This gel/lotion worked beyond my expectation...and so I have ordered my own supply to be delivered to my home, which came in a very timely manner. Thank you

Excellent transparent ointment with subtle aroma glides on smoothly providing soothing relief of minor aches and pains throughout the body. I particularly use this product after giving a deep tissue massage, patients appreciate the soothing effects. Considering offering product on a retail basis. Thank you.