The effect of liniment on blood flow

The effect of liniment applied by massage or stick on skin and calf blood flow was studied in 12 subjects. The blood flow was recorded with laser Doppler flowmetry with skin probe and strain gauge plethysmography. A massage liniment used to lower the friction that is not supposed to have any therapeutic effect (Frisco) was massaged into the right lower leg for 10 min and the registration was performed for 60 min. Then the liniment studied, Tiger Balm was massaged into the left lower leg and another registration was carried out. This procedure was performed a second time and the liniments were applied with a stick and wiped off after 10 min. Liniments with massage resulted in an increase in both skin and calf blood flow. The effect was greater and longer lasting when using Tiger Balm. When the liniments were applied with a stick, a decrease in skin and calf blood flow was noted when using Frisco. Tiger Balm caused a slight increase in the skin blood flow but had no influence on the calf blood flow.