Ah - Deep Heat rub! A wonder product that (in my household at least), is *always* the first port of call for muscular aches, sprains and pulls. Certainly one of the finest products to come out of East Kilbride, it can be a good alternative to anti-inflammatories in pill form (including Ibuprofen) and increases the options of cautious consumers who don't wish to build up their natural resistance to the effectiveness of such generic drugs.

The product is available in a range of sizes (including the very handy 67g and 100g ones, which are more than suitable for treating a specific muscular injury for a period of a week or two). I typically buy the 67g one at a cost of ~£3 from Boots, which is definitely not the cheapest place to obtain it. Boots points make slaves of us all...

One of the first things that you will doubtless notice about the product is the very pronounced smell (a sort of chemical cinammon), which (like Vicks), is never going to win any awards. Part of the reason for the pungent odour are the oils menthol and eucalyptus used in the creation of the product. These are in significantly concentrated enough to be listed as active ingredients. Also on this list are methyl salicylate (a counter-irritant that also helps the cream penetrate your skin) and turpentine oil (an ingredient that has been used in medicine for hundreds of years and shouldn't be confused with the 'turps' you use to clean your paint brushes).

The cream is slightly greasy to begin with, but even a large amount of it can be worked into the skin with a little patience. The application is simple (stick a generous dod on the affected area and massage in). If you have a helper this can be even better than the cream itself, as their healing hands might provide a little additional tension relief. Your hands will smell after using it - this is perfectly normal. Wash them thoroughly after use, as the rub can sting a little if you get traces in your eyes.

I have found that while it will make contacting clothing and bedding smell, the after effects in terms of odocur aren't terrible. You will probably want to change the sheets after a few days of sleeping in a bed when using this, just to stop things becoming too stuffy.

After applying the cream, wait for a couple of minutes and a very enjoyable heat will start to build up in the area where you applied the cream (and around it). This builds up quite dramatically and can actually feel very hot on occasion. Not to worry - it won't burn you. That said, I wouldn't recommend using it directly after a bath or shower, as your pores will already be open. This heat frees up muscles and allows you to regain some of your natural movement, pretty impressive for a splodge of cream. The feeling of warmth and comfort typically fades within about 30 minutes and while other reviewers appear to have market it down a little for this, I can't complain. This window of relief is usually ideal for application before bed, helping you get the sleep your body needs to help repair your injured joints and muscles.

While it won't cure your aches entirely, it can provide some much needed respite and can be safely combined with another painkiller or anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin or ibuprofen. I only do this myself when I have a particularly painful injury, but it's a winning combination. If a few aspirin and some Deep Heat rub doesn't alleviate your symptoms, get to the doctor straight away!

An excellent product for those of you who regularly carry out physical work, strenuous exercise, or are just prone to muscular injuries.