There are many different over the counter products that are made to help alleviate joint and muscle pain. The formulas may be pills, gels, sprays, or creams. One of the most popular formulas that has been on the market for 20 years is BIOFREEZE. Biofreeze is topical and is available in both creams and spray formulas.

Osmoflex is a relatively new topical CREAM formula that was also made for the relief of joint and muscle pain. It has been on the market for about 3 years and it is superior to other products, including Biofreeze, in many ways.

Why Choose Osmoflex over BioFreeze?

First, Osmoflex is made with a liposomal delivery system that allows the ingredients to penetrate through the skin layers to get to the actual point of the pain. Biofreeze applied topically breaks the pain cycle by stimulating sensory receptors in the skin with cold therapy. Therefore, they have completely different mechanisms of action to relieve pain.

Secondly, Osmoflex uses as its active ingredient menthol (1.30%). This is a very small amount of menthol because the product was made to avoid the smell commonly associated with these formulas. The inactive ingredients are actually what make this product work. They include CHONDROITIN, GLUCOSAMINE, MSM, AND MAGNESIUM. These essential supplements were chosen because they all occur naturally in the body and then are then delivered to the actual point of pain, whether a joint, muscle, tendon, or soft tissue. Biofreeze, on the other hand, also contains menthol (3.5%) as its active ingredient. The higher amount of menthol is used in this product to create the cooling effect that stimulates the pain receptors on the skin. The inactive ingredients are a blend of camphor and some herbs. Biofreeze produces the same sensation of cold that accompanies applying ice to the pain.

Naturally Occuring Ingredients

Because Osmoflex was made with only naturally occurring substances in the body, it does not contain herbs or camphor or capascian. It contains glucosamine and chondroitin which we all know is necessary for maintaining healthy bone and cartilage. MSM is included because it is an amino acid found normally in the body that has anti-inflammatory properties which is also necessary for pain control.

The Power of Magnesium

The key to this formula and Osmoflex is the only joint or muscle formula of any kind that contains MAGNESIUM. Magnesium is very important for many enzyme reactions in our bodies including the fact that it stabilizes cortisol production. Since cortisol is our stress hormone it is increased whenever we have an injured joint or muscle. Therefore, magnesium functions as a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent by decreasing cortisol production. It is well known that Epsom Salts is mostly magnesium and has long been used to ease pain and swelling. You can use Osmoflex instead because you get the magnesium in a cream form that when applied penetrates down to where the injury/pain occurs. Also, magnesium is our bodies naturally occurring muscle relaxer (calcium causes muscle contraction and therefore magnesium relaxes muscles). Therefore, OSMOFLEX, works very well when applied to muscle strains and sprains. It is especially useful for neck pain associated from chronic stress for example in the workplace.

As you can see, these two products, Biofreeze AND Osmoflex, were both made to relieve pain, but they work completely different at all levels.