Analgesic heat creams for increased muscle recovery?

[Iron-56]

I have been experimenting with the idea of using heat creams to aid in muscle recovery for some time now. The idea here is to generate heat to unrecovered muscle, increase blood flow and drive nutrients to the area quickly. I have been applying heat cream a couple of times a week to body parts that I happen to hit hard and definitely see an increase in recovery time and a decrease in DOMS. The only issue I see is that methyl salicylate , the active analgesic ingredient in heat creams, is toxic to the body.

Thoughts?

[lovbyts]

Consider a steam room, sauna, hot tub, heating pads?

[TbolzNdbols]

I have to use Icey hot every night for some back herniations. Stuff is no joke. Also have a really bad right hip.

Icey hot packs, and spray works wonders when I sleep at night. Idk where I would be with out it. If I knew football would cause my life to be this way at just 25 I would have never played ever!

Icey hot has similar agents. I wouldn't worry about the toxicity of it to much man.

[Iron-56]

Consider a steam room, sauna, hot tub, heating pads?

I have but the idea of directing blood flow to a specific area interests me.

[Iron-56]

Icey hot has similar agents. I wouldn't worry about the toxicity of it to much man.

Think again!

Death by Bengay

[Quester]

I used to get in the hot tub after a workout but I got the feeling it was slowing my gains. My theory is that by increasing blood flow all over the body, the skin especially, competes with what the body could have sent to the muscles that were just used. Working out in morn and hot tub (and/or sauna) in afternoon is probably ok. I now use a heat pad but on a muscle the day after it was worked. I'm not sure but I think that increasing blood flow directly after a workout just sends more lactic acid and causes other inflammation. Kind of like an ankle sprain. Ice first to reduce inflammation, heat after to flush. However, not exactly like an injury because we still want nutrients to get to the muscle. At different times, I also make use of a little tens machine (from Prospera $40) and a sport massager (Brookstone $70) and a foam roller. I use a heat pad the most. I'd like to know more about this subject.