No medicine cabinet should be without! (4head Headache Relief)

Member Name: bamamo

Product:	4head Headache Relief
Date:	28/07/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really works, convenient to carry about, quick acting, no residue

Disadvantages: None

I've been suffering from a few headaches lately that tablets just don't seem to shift. Never in my life have I gone to bed with a headache only to find it still there the next morning, and I was getting quite miserable.

I guess I have been complaining quite a lot about it, because my mum popped over to present me with a 4head stick, telling me that while she hadn't used one herself, people at work swore by it.


I was willing to give anything a try to end my misery, although my dad, who is a pharmacist, was exceedingly skeptical and told me that it would do nothing more than a wet flannel. (Although, of course, when it did work, he gave me a spiel about how they have been using menthol for years to treat headaches...go figure!)

The stick is essentially what looks like a short, wide glue stick, with a cap and another inner cover (not sure what it does but we'll keep it!). It is small enough to pop into any bag or pocket. It twists up, to reveal a miniscule amount of the product itself if I'm honest, which looks almost like a block of ice really, and somehow made me feel confident about it's cooling effects!

The stick works by applying it to the forehead (duh!) "as required but avoiding excessive use". Helpful. I have no idea what they consider going overboard, but I apply pretty regularly when I've got a bad head and have been known to apply when I haven't because the tingling is fun...is that weird?

Anyway, I just applied some for reviewing purposes (this is probably what they mean by excessive) and the stick glides on smoothly without leaving any residue at all, let alone sticky or greasy which I was half-expecting. The stick smells pretty whiffy, but I like the menthol smell so it's not a problem for me. I will say that if you do touch your forehead (like I did to test for stickiness!), don't rub your eyes as it does sting!

After a couple of minutes, the cooling kicks in and it feels oddly pleasant. Not so much wet flannel, which is good because to be honest if I'm applying this in an everyday situation in the office or what have you I don't want to feel like I have a wet face. It's more the feeling you would have if you went for a run around after washing your face or something, a "wind on damp skin" kind of cool, which is pretty soothing without being distracting.

After a few more minutes, the analgesic effects take hold, and I must say this has helped me through headaches that I couldn't shift with Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. Its direct application means it gets working really quickly, and the cooling gives you something else to think about in the meantime!

The stick costs £4.99 and is available from most chemists or supermarkets. While this seems expensive compared to the pennies you would pay for own-brand tablets, bear in mind that the seemingly-tiny amount of product is going to last a seriously long time. You feel no residue and it honestly feels as if nothing has transferred off the stick so I can't see it wearing down at all to be honest. Therefore it should last its entire shelf life, which for my stick is three years.

This product can be used by anyone over the age of six, and I suppose is aimed at those who dislike or have trouble taking pills. I don't, but if they aren't shifting my headache and this is I'm sold! Obviously with any product applied directly to the skin there might be the odd person who suffers from an allergic reaction, but this is true of tablets also, and I see this as a useful addition to any medicine cabinet.

Summary: Does exactly what it claims to do, a great product!