Eight pain relievers flunk 'Eco-test', indicating potential environmental harm
In the latest issue of Öko-Test, 20 pain-relieving ointments and gels were put to the test to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and presence of harmful additives. The results reveal a mix of successes and failures, with eight products falling short of expectations, receiving ratings of either inadequate or unsatisfactory.
The tested products typically contain active ingredients such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Menthol, Camphor, Salicylates, and Capsaicin. These ingredients are known for their pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the test results show that not all active ingredients perform equally well.
For instance, an ointment containing Salicylic acid, known to be harmful to fertility, and another containing Arnica, for which there is insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness against pain and inflammation, both failed the test. On the other hand, six of the failed ointments contain the plant-based active ingredient Camphor.
Despite Diclofenac's documented pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, it received only satisfactory ratings at best in the test. The environmental impact of Diclofenac, which can enter waterways via wastewater and harm aquatic life, is believed to be the reason for its lower ratings. Interestingly, Diclofenac is not mentioned as an active ingredient in any of the ointments that received the highest rating of "very good".
Three of the "very good" rated ointments contain the active ingredient Ibuprofen, and one each contains Felbinac and Piroxicam. All three belong to a group known as NSAIDs. NSAIDs are known to significantly relieve pain in acute conditions such as sprains, strains, or overuse injuries.
The magazine recommends wiping off any remaining ointment with a paper towel before washing hands, regardless of the active ingredient, to minimize environmental impact. After wiping, the towel should not be flushed down the toilet but disposed of in the regular trash.
Five ointments received the highest rating of "very good". However, five of the ointments at the bottom of the list contain aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH), which can include substances that are carcinogenic and mutagenic.
For the specific results and recommendations from Öko-Test issue 8/25, including the names of the best-performing ointments and their exact active ingredients, I recommend consulting the official Öko-Test publication or website for that issue, as no details were found in the search results provided.
Science plays a crucial role in evaluating health-and-wellness products, such as pain-relieving ointments and gels. In the latest Öko-Test issue, various therapies-and-treatments were tested for their efficacy, safety, and lack of harmful additives. Interestingly, six fitness-and-exercise-friendly ointments containing the active ingredient Ibuprofen, known to aid in pain relief for acute conditions, received top marks. Conversely, certain ointments containing aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons, which may involve carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, received the lowest ratings.
