The Misty Manor, Mercers

An ointment made from habanero peppers and turmeric for sore joints and bruises. Not FDA approved for any use.

Capsaicin is the chemical component of hot peppers which makes them "hot" (genus of hot peppers = "Capsicum"). It is also anti-inflammatory and readily absorbed through the skin which is why a profusion of products such as Capizan™ exist. Turmeric is also anti-inflammatory/decongestant and absorbed through the skin. It is one of the main ingredients of the old "mustard plasters" used to treat congestion and pneumonia. (Turmeric is the yellow coloring and flavor additive in yellow mustard spreads.) A traditional approach to sore joints is therefore an ointment made from turmeric and peppers and this product is based on such recipes. I first learned of this approach from an Indian (as in the Indian subcontinent) medical student I went to college with. His thesis research involved chemical analysis to determine why some of these traditional recipes were effective. In experimenting on one of my college housemates who had a sore ankle, I did discover that turmeric can stain the skin yellow temporarily :-)

Truth In Advertising The habanero peppers were grown by a friend of ours in Missouri. Traditionally, goose grease is often used as the base; we use beeswax and sheep tallow in this recipe. We render our own tallow and, yes, it is an animal product. The Physician's Desk Reference For Herbal Medicines, 4th Edition, discusses the anti-inflammatory and other effects of turmeric, including citations to relevant literature. We use it ourselves for sore joints, bruises, and as a vapor rub for congestion. No one has approved our specific product to confirm any claimed effects. Specifically, the FDA has not approved this product for any use. This product may temporarily stain skin and may stain clothing. Overuse may be irritating to the skin. Extracts of hot pepper like this may be quite painful if gotten in the eyes. I find that this product is not as strong as Tiger Balm™ or Vicks™ but is less irritating to the eyes and skin.

We occasionally apply this product for veterinary use. It does not contain concentrated camphor or menthol like some common rubs and therefore should not pose a problem if the animal is dumb enough to lick off a hot pepper cream. You may wish to check other sources and not take our word on it before using on your animals.

Tips: If you are worried about staining clothing, stick a bandage or piece of soft rag over the ointment or wrap with an elastic bandage. Some people find sticking plastic wrap over the ointment works better. I use this often on my hands and will put a pair of lightweight gloves or glovelets on to keep from spreading the ointment or getting it in my eyes accidentally. After applying (to somewhere other than the hands), wash your hands with a good degreasing soap to get the leftover oils off your skin and avoid transferring them to your eyes. Do not eat ointment. Do not set yourself on fire while wearing ointment.