Soothe the throbbing with a gentle rub... (Badger Balm Headache Soother)

Member Name: Sarccyslayer

Product:	Badger Balm Headache Soother
Date:	24/03/09 (268 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smells lovely, coolness is very soothing, lasts a long time, quick acting

Disadvantages: None unless you hate Peppermint

Working long hours, spending long periods of time staring at a computer screen, taking calls and generally multi-tasking your way through the day to try and leave before it turns as dark as it was when you left the house that morning, is often something I have to endure with the job that I do, not that I am complaining because there are times when I absolutely love everything about it and everything I do and there are sometimes when I just want to hide under my desk away from the world and have a power nap because I am stressed and I can feel my blood pressure rising rather rapidly.

When I am stressed I can feel my shoulders hunch up, I become less patient and more agitated and then I can feel the first signs of a headache appearing across my eyes as I sit and stare into space waiting for whatever stresses me to pass by. More often than not a walk around the block where my office is helps a great deal, but during what I call a crisis, I need something more.

I mentioned in my last review that one of my volunteers swears by Badger Balm, an American product designed using natural and organic ingredients to be an alternative method for soothing and calming whatever the issue is. Having tried the Badger Balm Sore Muscle Rub Extra Strength and being extremely impressed with it (despite being convinced it wouldn't work before I tried it) I decided to try the other little tin of Badger Balm which is titled 'The headache Soother'. Whenever I get a headache, for me the last resort is to take some form of Ibuprofen or Paracetamol, I hate taking pills, so it has to be nauseatingly bad for me to consider that option, I have tried those heat pads (which again didn't work) and cool pads (which kind of worked but not for a long period of time) and none of them I was totally happy with.

Like the Badger Balm Sore Muscle Rub Extra Strength, is packaged in a small tin and on the front of that tin you will find a picture of a Badger whom on this creation is sitting near a stream surrounded by nature with an eye mask across his eyes to show that he is relaxing and de-stressing.

As a family run company Badger started back in 1995 from the family kitchen in New Hampshire in the USA. The head of the family Bill Whyte whom by trade was a carpenter was also a keen herbalist in his spare time and formed the company after coming up with his own solution and remedy for soothing his own his sore, cracked and dry skin on his hands, something he had never been able to find on the open market. So using products such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax, Castor Oil, Aloe Vera and Essential Oil of Sweet Birch he was so impressed with the results he formed the Badger Company who are committed to being chemical-free and 100% natural also they also use at least 70% Certified Organic ingredients in all of their products as well as now being 100% Vegan.

Badger Balm Headache Soother is sold as being a product "to soothe your skin, relieve your aches, refresh and invigorate. Headache Soother is one of three amazing Mind Balms that help ease your sore mind!" Which given that it contains nothing but natural and organic ingredients sound perfect for someone like me.

Again, the tin itself is made of a soft metal which can be dented very easily, but to remove the lid you simply twist it in a clockwise position and inside there is the balm which again looks very similar to Vaseline but it smells really minty and given the scent of Lavender is also quite strong. Like the previous product there is a long list of ingredients which start with Peppermint which gives the balm coolness when it touches the skin and immediately helps to refresh the head. Often with a headache your head will be slightly hot as you have a higher than normal temperature and Peppermint is great for soothing the skin. Secondly with Lavender this has a soothing and calming effect on the nerves, helps to relieve tension, depression, and nervous exhaustion whilst being extremely effective for headaches, migraines and insomnia. Eucalyptus Oil is a third ingredient and like Peppermint it has a cooling effect on the body and is particularly good for helping with headaches and migraines whilst soothing the skin. Finally we have Mandarin Oil is a great help for relieving stress which works well along side Sandalwood which to also relieve stress and reduce tension by promoting calmness within the body. This is by no means all of the ingredients, the list seems endless and they are all listed on the website associated to this product should you feel the need to look them up and they are also listed on the bottom of the tin.

When it comes to using this balm, the instructions state that you should massage the balm onto your temple, your neck and your forehead to soothe away stress and headaches. To do this, you simply need to run your finger along the top of the balm so that you see a small amount on your finger and then apply it directly to the sore area and massage it into the skin gently; the balm absorbs itself straight into the skin and you can feel an instant coolness upon the skin from the balm and the peppermint aroma is a really pleasant fragrance, not to overpowering as I suspected it might be and you can also smell the Lavender oil as you begin to massage your temple. I find with this balm that massaging it onto the skin is the best way to use it and although at first touch it appears to be slightly greasy on your fingers, but as the balm absorbs itself into the skin the greasiness disappears totally and there is no chance any stains will be left upon your clothes, however if you do have excess balm on your hands, I would advise that you wash them after using this product.

After a few minutes of using this balm the coolness on the forehead and back of the neck is a really soothing experience, the effects last for a good half an hour or more in which time the aches and pains have been soothed away. As this balm works the aroma is still as fragrant as it was when you first apply it and breathing in the fragrance is really relaxing and it is a great product for leaving you feeling de-stressed. There is no information on the product as to how often you can and cannot use it, but I have found that one application has always been enough for me to ward off a headache, but I have to admit that as soon as I feel any tension in my shoulders or feel my head begin to get hot and my eyes begin to ache I do reach for the tub of balm.

As I said in my previous review, I am a convert to these balms, they are cost effective in that they cost between £3 and £6 depending upon where you purchase them from, this particular balm retails at £6 and within the tin there is 2oz of balm which is similar in size to a Vaseline tin. I suspect that this tin will last between 3 and 4 months depending on how much I use it but even if you don't use it regularly it should remain usable for up to 2 years as long as you keep the lid securely on the tin to keep the fragrance of the essential oils within and prevent the balm from evaporating.

I now carry my little tub with me in my handbag, with it being so light I don't have to make any effort to be able to fit it into my bag on a daily basis and I also have a Badger Balm for headaches within my bag as well as my desk drawer in case of an emergency. The Badger Balm brand can be found in local pharmacies and online, which are the two places I usually look too and it is something I recommend trying, even if like me you were a little skeptical.

Summary: A soothing rub from Badger Balm