---
title: "Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol)… | Magellan"
description: "Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol) — Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch delivers two topical counterirritant analgesics through the…"
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/216.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/216.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/216.html"
type: "product"
section: "Topical Pain Relief"
evidence_grade: "Moderate evidence"
evidence_tier: "moderate"
citations: 18
product_id: 216
price_usd: 19.99
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
license: "Educational content — not medical advice"
---

# Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol)

[Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Topical Pain Relief](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/7.md) › Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol)

**HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/216.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/216

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Product | Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol) |
| Category | [Topical Pain Relief](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/7.md) |
| Evidence grade | Moderate evidence (B) |
| Peer-reviewed citations | 18 |
| Typical listed price | $19.99 (check the live price) |
| Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Salonpas%20Pain%20Relieving%20Patch%20%28Methyl%20Salicylate%20%2B%20Menthol%29&tag=magellanlong-20) |
| Catalog ID | 216 |

## What it is

Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch delivers two topical counterirritant analgesics through the skin over a painful area: methyl salicylate (a salicylate ester chemically related to aspirin) and menthol, in an occlusive patch formulation approved by the FDA in 2010. After application, methyl salicylate is hydrolyzed in the skin to salicylic acid, providing weak local COX/prostaglandin inhibition together with rubefacient vasodilation (increased skin blood flow), while menthol activates cold-sensing TRPM8 receptors on sensory nerves to produce a cooling sensation that masks pain and desensitizes nociceptors. The combination is sold over the counter for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint aches, strains, sprains, and arthritis pain.

## Its role in longevity

Randomized trials of methyl-salicylate/menthol patches and menthol-based topical products show modest, short-term reductions in pain from muscle strain and other musculoskeletal complaints — in the pivotal multicenter trial of this formulation class (208 patients), a single 8-hour patch beat placebo on day-1 pain relief with adverse-event rates similar to placebo — and a large Cochrane overview finds good evidence that some topical analgesics help acute sprains and strains. A 2024 trial of a related salicylate/camphor topical found it non-inferior to topical diclofenac. The evidence is still genuinely mixed: systematic reviews of topical salicylate rubefacients report only moderate-to-poor efficacy for chronic musculoskeletal pain, and long-term data are lacking. These agents are generally well tolerated, but percutaneous salicylate absorption has potentiated warfarin anticoagulation in a case report, and occlusive or misused counterirritant topicals have caused chemical burns. This evidence describes topical menthol and methyl salicylate and their mechanisms in general, not this specific commercial patch.

## Evidence grade: Moderate evidence

- **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound.
- **Dose used in studies:** 1 patch (methyl salicylate ~10% + menthol ~3%) over the painful area, up to 8 hours per application
- **What this grade does not say:** Moderate evidence for short-term relief of acute muscle strain and sprains — one solid placebo-controlled patch trial plus Cochrane support — but chronic-pain data are lacking and relief is symptomatic only. Rare but real risks: skin irritation and chemical burns with occlusion or heat, and case reports of warfarin potentiation through skin absorption.

## In the news

- **Are Topical Anti-Inflammatory Creams Worth the Rub?** — Cleveland Clinic 2025 [Read it](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/anti-inflammatory-cream)
  > Menthol is another common ingredient with anti-inflammatory properties. It's often used in combination with other active ingredients like methyl salicylate (BenGay®, Icy Hot®) or camphor (Sarna®) to reduce inflammation and swelling.
- **Menthol and methyl salicylate (topical application route)** — Mayo Clinic 2026 [Read it](https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/menthol-and-methyl-salicylate-topical-application-route/description/drg-20526859)
  > Menthol and methyl salicylate combination topical is used to relieve minor pain caused by arthritis, simple backache, bruises, cramps, muscle strains, or sprain. This medicine is a topical analgesic.

## The research

Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product.

### Cited studies

1. **Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use for acute musculoskeletal pain: a scoping review**
   CJEM 2025 · [PMID 40952589](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40952589/) · [DOI 10.1007/s43678-025-00982-7](https://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-025-00982-7)

   > Findings suggest topical NSAIDs may be effective and well tolerated for managing acute musculoskeletal pain; interventions included ketoprofen gel, methyl salicylate/1-menthol patch, and diclofenac epolamine patch.

2. **Comparison of diclofenac gel, ibuprofen gel, and ibuprofen gel with levomenthol for topical treatment of musculoskeletal pain**
   J Int Med Res 2019 · [PMID 31353997](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31353997/) · [DOI 10.1177/0300060519859146](https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519859146)

   > Both ibuprofen/levomenthol and diclofenac gels provided superior global pain relief compared with ibuprofen gel, with a shorter median time to significant pain relief. Only ibuprofen/levomenthol gel provided cooling for up to 2 hours.

3. **Efficacy and safety profile of a topical methyl salicylate and menthol patch in adult patients with mild to moderate muscle strain: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.**
   Clin Ther 2010 · [PMID 20171409](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20171409/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.01.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.01.016)

   > The primary efficacy analysis (SPID8 with movement) indicated that patients receiving the active patch experienced significantly greater pain relief (approximately 40%) than those patients receiving a placebo patch (mean [SD], 182.6 [131.2] vs 130.1 [144.1]; P = 0.005).

4. **Improvement of Pain and Function After Use of a Topical Pain Relieving Patch: Results of the RELIEF Study.**
   J Pain Res 2020 · [PMID 32617016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32617016/) · [DOI 10.2147/JPR.S258883](https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S258883)

   > At day 14, TG pain severity score and pain interference score decreased (49% and 58.1%, respectively).

5. **Menthol-Based Topical Analgesic Induces Similar Upper and Lower Body Pain Pressure Threshold Values: A Randomized Trial.**
   J Sport Rehabil 2021 · [PMID 34552033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34552033/) · [DOI 10.1123/jsr.2021-0144](https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2021-0144)

   > A menthol-based topical analgesic increased PPT (decreased pain sensitivity) overall (P = .05; 11.6% [2.4%]; d = 1.05) and PPT was higher (P < .0001; 31.5%-44.2%; d = 1.03-1.8) for lower versus upper body locations.

6. **Efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac/menthol gel for ankle sprain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial**
   J Int Med Res 2017 · [PMID 28345425](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28345425/) · [DOI 10.1177/0300060517700322](https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517700322)

   > No significant improvement was observed with topical 1% diclofenac/3% menthol gel compared with placebo, 1% diclofenac, or 3% menthol gel in treating pain from ankle sprain.

7. **Study to determine the efficacy and onset of Bonipar, a topical analgesic for the management of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain.**
   Complement Ther Clin Pract 2024 · [PMID 39293126](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39293126/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101908](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101908)

   > The success rates of achieving a 50 % pain reduction with Bonipar were found to be non-inferior to those treated with diclofenac.

8. **Penetration capacity and local anti-inflammatory effect of a methyl salicylate gel with turpentine essence, camphor, and menthol for the symptomatic local treatment of muscular and joint pains.**
   Farm Comunitarios 2024 · [PMID 39188782](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39188782/) · [DOI 10.33620/FC.2173-9218.(2024).15](https://doi.org/10.33620/FC.2173-9218.%282024%29.15)

   > The results showed that approximately 0.8% of the total applied methyl salicylate penetrated the skin with a time-dependent concentration increase.

9. **A clinical and mechanistic study of topical borneol-induced analgesia.**
   EMBO Mol Med 2017 · [PMID 28396565](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28396565/) · [DOI 10.15252/emmm.201607300](https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201607300)

   > Investigation of the actions of topical borneol and menthol revealed mechanistic differences between borneol- and menthol-induced analgesia and indicated that borneol exhibits advantages over menthol as a topical analgesic.

10. **A randomized, double-blind comparison shows the addition of oxygenated glycerol triesters to topical mentholated cream for the treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain demonstrates incremental benefit over time.**
    Pain Pract 2012 · [PMID 22304620](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22304620/) · [DOI 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2012.00529.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-2500.2012.00529.x)

    > Patients in both groups experienced statistically significant pain relief on Day 8 over baseline, with the MC plus OGT-treated group reporting statistically significantly greater pain relief than the MC group (P = 0.016).

11. **Topical analgesic added to paraffin enhances paraffin bath treatment of individuals with hand osteoarthritis.**
    Disabil Rehabil 2010 · [PMID 20617919](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20617919/) · [DOI 10.3109/09638288.2010.498552](https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.498552)

    > The PTA group had greater improvement over the 12 treatment sessions for their pain at rest (t = 2.92, p < 0.05) and with movement (t = 4.73, p < 0.05) than the PO group.

12. **Topical analgesics for acute and chronic pain in adults - an overview of Cochrane Reviews.**
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017 · [PMID 28497473](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28497473/) · [DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD008609.pub2](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008609.pub2)

    > In chronic musculoskeletal conditions with assessments over 6 to 12 weeks, topical diclofenac and ketoprofen had limited efficacy in hand and knee osteoarthritis, as did topical high-concentration capsaicin in postherpetic neuralgia.

13. **Systematic review of efficacy of topical rubefacients containing salicylates for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.**
    BMJ 2004 · [PMID 15033879](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15033879/) · [DOI 10.1136/bmj.38040.607141.EE](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38040.607141.EE)

    > Topical salicylate was significantly better than placebo (relative benefit 3.6, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 5.6; number needed to treat 2.1, 1.7 to 2.8).

14. **The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.**
    J Clin Pharm Ther 2018 · [PMID 29524352](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29524352/) · [DOI 10.1111/jcpt.12679](https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12679)

    > Menthol is a selective activator of transient receptor potential melastatin-8 (TRPM8) channels and is also a vasoactive compound. As a topical agent, it acts as a counter-irritant by imparting a cooling effect and by initially stimulating nociceptors and then desensitizing them.

15. **Diffusion modelling of percutaneous absorption kinetics. Predicting urinary excretion from in vitro skin permeation tests (IVPT) for an infinite dose.**
    Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020 · [PMID 32018051](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32018051/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.01.018](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.01.018)

    > Good linear IVIVRs for ethyl and glycol salicylates were obtained, but the IVIVR for methyl salicylate was poor, perhaps because of topical stimulation of local skin blood flow by methyl salicylate.

16. **Herbal medicinal products or preparations for neuropathic pain.**
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 · [PMID 30938843](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30938843/) · [DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD010528.pub4](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010528.pub4)

    > There was insufficient evidence to determine whether nutmeg or St John's wort has any meaningful efficacy in neuropathic pain conditions.

17. **Potentiation of warfarin anticoagulation associated with topical methyl salicylate.**
    The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2000 · [PMID 10860133](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10860133/)

    > Case report: percutaneous absorption of topical methyl salicylate potentiated warfarin anticoagulation, a flag for users on blood thinners.

18. **From Chemical Burn to Below Knee Amputation: Amputation Secondary to Application of Over-the-Counter Topical Analgesic With Menthol and Methyl Salicylate.**
    Cureus 2021 · [PMID 35004014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35004014/)

    > Case report: misuse of an occlusive menthol/methyl-salicylate topical caused a severe chemical burn culminating in amputation — a rare but sobering misuse risk.

## Where to buy

[Search Amazon for Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch (Methyl Salicylate + Menthol)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Salonpas%20Pain%20Relieving%20Patch%20%28Methyl%20Salicylate%20%2B%20Menthol%29&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link.

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## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).