Heat vs cold therapy for arthritis

When to reach for heat

• Chronic stiffness that's worst after rest, especially first thing in the morning.
• Joints that feel tight and reluctant rather than hot and swollen.
• Before gentle activity, to make movement more comfortable.
• Muscular aching around a joint that's been guarding for months.

When to reach for cold

• An acute flare with heat, redness and swelling.
• The first day or two after an injury or an obvious overuse episode.
• Immediately after activity that has aggravated a joint.
• Any joint that feels hot to the touch.

The simple rule

Hot and swollen? Cool it. Cold and stiff? Warm it. If a joint is both flaring and stiff, follow whatever your doctor or physiotherapist has advised for your condition — and pay attention to which one your own joint actually prefers.

Using them safely

• Never apply a warming cream together with a heating pad, hot water bottle or electric blanket.
• Don't layer a warming and a cooling product on the same patch of skin at the same time.
• Limit ice packs to around 15 minutes with a cloth barrier.
• Stop anything that causes pain rather than relief.

How to apply Arthryon to the painful joint

Technique matters more than quantity. Warming creams work through the skin over the joint, so the goal is thin, well-massaged coverage of the skin over the joint rather than a thick layer sitting on the surface.

1. Wash and dry the skin over the joint. Clean, dry skin absorbs the cream evenly; lotion or sweat already on the skin slows it down.
2. Take A pea-sized amount — roughly the size of a large pea per area — onto your fingertips.
3. Massage it into the skin over the joint in slow circles for 30 to 60 seconds, until nothing is left sitting on the surface.
4. Wash your hands straight away, unless your hands are the area you are treating — in that case rinse only your palms and keep the cream on the joints.
5. Wait five to ten minutes before dressing so the warmth can build and clothing doesn't wipe the cream away.
6. Repeat up to three or four times a day, and no more than that in 24 hours.

Do not use a heating pad, tight bandage or hot bath over the area — combining external heat with a warming cream is the most common cause of skin irritation.

Related reading: Full application guide · Safety and side effects

Safety, precautions and who should not use it

Arthryon is an external analgesic-style topical product. The precautions below follow standard guidance for capsaicin and camphor topicals and should be read before your first application.

• For external use only. Keep away from eyes, mouth and any mucous membrane; rinse with water for 15 minutes if contact happens.
• Do not apply to broken, cut, irritated, sunburned or recently shaved skin.
• Patch test on a small area first if your skin is sensitive, thin or reactive.
• Do not bandage tightly or apply heat over the treated area.
• Stop use and speak to a doctor if redness, blistering or persistent burning develops, or if pain worsens or lasts more than seven days.
• If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or living with a condition affecting skin sensation such as diabetic neuropathy, check with your doctor before use.
• Keep out of reach of children. Not for use on children without medical advice.

Arthryon is not a treatment for arthritis and does not slow joint damage. Keep taking anything your doctor has prescribed.

Related reading: Full side-effect guide · Is Arthryon safe?

Arthryon pricing at a glance

Arthryon is sold in bundles rather than a subscription. You pay once, the price per jar falls as the bundle size grows, and shipping is free on every option to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and France. All prices are billed in US dollars.

There is no auto-ship, no membership and no recurring charge. If the cream doesn't suit you, the 30-day money-back guarantee covers your order.

Related reading: Full pricing breakdown · Money-back guarantee

Ordering, shipping and the 30-day guarantee

Orders are placed directly on this site and are processed on a secure, encrypted checkout. Payment is taken once — there is no subscription and no stored auto-ship.

Orders placed on a business day are picked the same day. Delivery is free to all seven countries we serve, and you receive tracking by email as soon as the parcel leaves the warehouse.

If Arthryon isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days of delivery and we'll arrange a refund of the purchase price.

Related reading: Shipping and returns · Contact support