People with arthritis and other muscle complaints have turned to a cream beloved by new mothers from another species.
Uddermint is a veterinary cream that contains peppermint oil. It is prescribed to treat mastitis in cattle – when the udders become inflamed and painful.
But it has recently been gaining human fans who have called it a ‘wonder cream’ and a ‘magic healing potion’ for muscle tension, using it to treat tendonitis, arthritis and joint pain.
Dr Wendy Holden, a rheumatologist and medical adviser for Arthritis Action, said there is growing evidence that the mint oil in Uddermint could be an effective treatment.
She said: “There haven’t been any large studies in humans so it’s difficult to know how effective it might be – but in one very small study of 20 people with knee osteoarthritis, menthol rubbed into arthritic joints was more effective than a placebo at reducing pain.
“Many people with osteoarthritis live with daily pain, poor sleep and low mood. Most conventional medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are not recommended for long-term use and have many side effects. There is an unmet need for safe and effective treatments which don’t have side effects.”
But other doctors have advised against using Uddermint. Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says: “While Uddermint might work wonders for cows, it’s not licensed for human use and there’s little evidence peppermint oil effectively relieves joint pain.
“Using products intended for animals can be risky – self-medicating with unapproved treatments may lead to adverse effects. If you’re experiencing pain or inflammation, we would advise speaking to a pharmacist who can recommend safe, proven treatments, like ibuprofen gels or pain relief tablets such as paracetamol.”
Doctors are concerned this is part of a wider trend of people turning to animal medicine to treat conditions with a study in the journal Toxic finding thousand of reports of patients having severe reactions atfer misusing animal drugs.
Uddermint director Peter Teisen says: “We’re very clear it is not a medicine or a licensed drug – either for humans or animals. It’s basically a hand cream containing pure mint oil. We’ve been selling it for 30 years. Gradually farmers realised it was good for their aches and pains too – and started using it on themselves.
“We’re very aware of the growing popularity of Uddermint among humans. We don’t even advertise, yet people with all sorts of conditions have told us they’re using it. It has taken off phenomenally.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
