counterirritant

The counterirritant capsaicin cream is oddly helpful too, replacing that gnawing ache with a superficial burn that is far easier to ignore.

Menthol is a counterirritant, which relieves underlying pain near the site of application by causing irritation at the surface.

This theory helps to explain why acupuncture may work, and it is also the basis of chemicals such as BenGay, which are classified as counterirritants—they cause a sensation to compete with the pain sensation.

The ordinary use of a seton is to keep up constant drainage from a cavity containing matter or to act as a stimulant or counterirritant.

We prefer counterirritants, for the reason, among many others, that by the promptness of their action they tend to prevent the formation of the bony deposits.