A substance or treatment applied to the skin that causes mild irritation to reduce pain from a deeper injury or condition.
From counter- + irritant, from Latin irritare (to provoke or anger). Irritant refers to something that causes irritation. Counterirritants were first used in traditional medicine.
Grandparents have used counterirritants like mustard plasters for centuries—the theory is that creating a new, mild irritation distracts your body from deeper pain!
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