|
|
Test
series by David Wilkes
|
Nature’s Willow Balm
|
Tester
Information
|
|
| Name:
|
David
Wilkes |
|
E-Mail:
|
amatbrewer@yahoo.com
|
|
Age:
|
52 |
|
Location:
|
Yakima
Washington USA |
|
Gender:
|
M |
|
Height:
|
5'11"
(1.80 m) |
|
Weight:
|
210
lb (90.7 kg) |
|
Biography:
I started
backpacking
in 1995 when I moved to Washington State. Since then, I have
backpacked in all seasons and conditions the Northwest has to
offer. I prefer trips on
rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously
strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most important to me.
I have finally managed to get my basic cold weather pack weight, not
including consumables, to under 20 lb (9 kg).
|
|
Product
Information
|
|
Manufacturer:
|
WB Ventures, LLC. |
|
Year
of Manufacture:
|
2020 |
|
Manufacturer’s
Website:
|
https://natureswillowbalm.com/ |
|
MSRP:
|
$10.00
USD
|
Size:
|
3.5 fl oz (104 ml)
|
|
Product Image
|
|
Product
Description:Nature's
Willow, Willow Balm is a natural pain relieving cream made from a blend
of camphor, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, helichrysum gymnocephalum
oil, lavender oil, spearmint oil, white willow bark, as well other
ingredients. It is intended as a topical cream for the temporary relief
of minor joint and muscle pain. It is also described as a replacement
for oral pain relievers to help lesson migraine and chronic pain.
|
|
Initial
Report
|
|
August 18 2019
|
I received one 3.5 oz (104 ml) tube of the Willow
Balm as well as two 4 ml (0.13 oz) sample packets (the sample packets
do not appear to be for sale on the manufacturers web site), and a 0.5
oz (15 ml) tube of Bug Bite Balm Itch Relief Cream. (The package also
contained a rather attractive sew-on patch with their logo).
Upon
hearing about this product I was quite interested because I am aware
that extracts from willow bark (e.g. salicylic acid. Aspirin is a
synthesized version of salicylic acid) have long been used for various
medicinal purposes including pain relief, and I don't like to take
medications if I can avoid it so this sounds like a possible
alternative. I would also mention that I am a skeptic about most claims
for 'natural' or alternative products. However I try to keep an open
mind and am very happy when a product surprises me. I have also used a
few different topical pain products and have found few to be effective.
Upon
receiving the product I read all of the instructions, warnings, etc
that were on the product packaging as well as on the manufacturer's web
site. I applied a small amount of the Willow Balm to the back of my
hand to check for any adverse reaction and had none. I did find the
product to have a rather pungent aroma, I would say stronger than any
other topical cream I have used but I would not go as far as saying it
is unpleasant but rather the opposite. The most distinct aroma I picked
up was of menthol, and it kind of reminded me of the over the counter
nasal inhalers that were a popular decongestant when I was a kid. The
menthol odor faded rather quickly leaving a predominantly eucalyptus
like aroma. Again not unpleasant, and rather herbal. The balm initially
left my skin feeling slightly oily, as would be expected for this type
of product, which quickly became more like I had used a skin softener.
After
I was confidant I was unlikely to have any adverse reaction I applied a
small amount (about the size of a large pea) to one calf. I felt a
little bit of a cooling sensation for a few seconds and then nothing
further.
I have a chronic problem with my Achilles tendon
(tendinosis) and obviously being in my 50's and active I experience
occasional soreness in my joints and muscles, mostly from overwork
and/or strain.(aka Doing something that I should be old enough to know
not to.)
As for the bug bite balm, I am not especially affected by
bugs, and take precautions when I am in mosquito/tick areas, but do get
the occasional bite.
|
Long Term Report
|
| October 7 2020 |
 Since
receiving the product I used it on my ankle and knees as well as calf,
all due to pain from working in my yard (digging, lifting and carrying
bricks, etc). In one case both my knees hurt so I treated only one of
them. I can't say I experienced any relief due to applying the product
aside from an immediate and short term lessening of discomfort during
the initial cooling stage of the application, but that only lasted a
short time (a few minutes). However after a short backpacking trip (1
night, about 6 miles / 10 km) I experienced some mid and lower back
pain (probably due to some difficulties I had getting my hammock hung
correctly and being rather cold all night due to an inadequate
under-quilt). I had my wife apply the Willow Balm on my back. I
experienced immediate reduction of the discomfort and after about an
hour, no pain at all. I was fine by the following morning.
I
have used the bug bite balm on a couple of suspected bug bites I
discovered after working in my yard, as well as a couple my wife had
after a picnic in a park. In both cases I treated all but one bite (my
wife was not excited about that part but agreed it was a good way to
evaluate the effectiveness). The treated bites stopped itching very
soon after application, while the untreated bites continued to itch.
The redness and swelling of the treated bites started to subside within
hours and were completely gone within a day, while the untreated bites
took about 2 days to fully heal.
The attached image is of two bites prior to application of the Bug Bite Balm.
It
is not what the product is intended for, but just to see I used the bug
bite cream on a skin irritation cause by a bandage (tape on some tender
skin after I gave blood). The discomfort subsided withing moments of
application and healed quickly with no problems.
As noted above
my experience with the product was obviously mixed. My experience
suggests that for me at least, the Willow Balm can be effective on some
minor muscle pain, and as I don't like to take medication for minor
discomfort this provides me with an alternative in at least some cases.
I will probably try to keep at least some of the Willow Balm on hand
for those times.
I don't get many bug bites, and when I do they
tend to cause only minor discomfort. However my wife and kids tend to
get many more bug bites than I do and experience much more discomfort,
so I am glad to have discovered this product and plan to keep this on
hand at home as well as carry it when we travel (e.g. Tropical areas)
as well as when we visit parks and such where bites are more likely.
|
This
concludes
my Report.
I would like to thank the folks at Nature's Willow and BackpackGearTest.org
for the opportunity to test this product.
|
|
| |
Read more reviews of WB Ventures, LLC gear
Read more gear reviews by David Wilkes
|
