Resinol

On my injured leg is slathered an ointment that has always been used by my grandmother, mother and myself throughout our lives for injuries. My other family members and many friends use it as well. There has not ever been a time when a jar of the ointment wasn’t in my medicine closet.  It has only the slight smell of woodsmoke now, but still does its job well. We love Resinol! 

I am now applying it to relieve the  sensitivity, tightness and burning sensation of edema that has followed a deep cut to my shin that occurred December 30. During a final visit to review the healing process yesterday, my doctor suggested I use Vaseline (UGH! Greasy!) or Aquaphor. I asked him if I used Resinol would it be OK as well. He had never heard of it!!  He will now, because I intend to tell him all about my magic ointment. 

Resinol Medicated Ointment relieves pain and itching and protects, soothes and promotes healing of skin irritations and rashes.

From the internet home page (http://resical.com)

"Resinol Medicated Ointment has a time tested record of safety and effectiveness for many skin irritations. Resinol was developed by Dr. Merville H Carter in Baltimore, Maryland at the turn of the last century. In the course of his medical practice, Dr Carter saw many patients with skin conditions that were difficult to treat. After many years of practical application among his own patients, he perfected Resinol. Over the years thousands of mothers, nurses and doctors have voluntarily written letters attesting to the safety and effectiveness of Resinol.

In 2002, Resinol Medicated Ointment was purchased by Resical Inc. The company is dedicated to introducing the same effective product to consumers, nurses and doctors through out the United States.

There are no plans to ever change the time tested effective formulation of Resinol Medicated Ointment.

In 1983 a fragrance oil known as Oil of Cade was removed from the formula because it had no known therapeutic value and many consumers objected to the aroma. Yet, many other consumers dearly remember the “old familiar smell” of Resinol from their child hood days. 

 A new sealed jar has been introduced to insure the integrity of Resinol. It was necessary to slightly reduce the content of the 3.5 ounce size to 3.3 ounces in order to make this change.

Over time the labeling has been changed to conform to updated FDA over-the-counter monographs."

I have written about this ointment before. 

Click on links below to review. 

My Resinol Testimony

I Smell.....

Memory of Remedies

This morning as I applied Corn Husker’s Lotion to my wrinkly old face, it brought back memories from a LONG time ago. My mother had a pump and bottle contraption attached to the doorway frame between the kitchen and dining room. It was used as often as the old can opener that was attached to the same board. The Corn Husker’s Lotion has the same texture and aroma as the contents of that pump bottle. Everyone in the home used this lotion frequently. Winter chapped cheeks, sunburned shoulders, scraped knees, and dishwasher’s hands benefitted by its regular utilization. I remember it was called Italian Balm. It smelled nice and, if you licked it, it was sweet. (Yes, I tasted it back then.) Off to the computer for some research I went. 

Ingredients list for Campana’s Italian Balm Cosmetic in Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products by Marion N. Gleason, 1957, published by Williams and Wilkins 

Essential oils 

Alcohol 

*Phenol 

*Benzoic Acid 

*Gum Tragacanth 

Glycerin 

*Sorbitol 

FYI:  Every American soldier carried a bottle of Italian Balm to treat and to prevent burns. 

*Phenol
Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula C₆H₅OH. It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group.

Soluble in water

Drug class: Melanin Synthesis Inhibitor

*Benzoic acid
Benzoic acid, is a colorless crystalline solid and a simple aromatic carboxylic acid. C₇H₆O₂. The name is derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time its only known source.

Drug Class: Nitrogen Binding Agent

*Gum Tragacanth

Gum tragacanth is a viscous, odorless, tasteless, water-soluble mixture of polysaccharides obtained from sap which is drained from the root of the plant and dried. As a mucilage or paste, it has been used as a topical treatment for burns. It is used in pharmaceuticals and foods as an emulsifier, thickener, stabilizer, and texturant additive.

*Sorbitol
Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol derived from fruits, corn, and seaweed. It has a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, changing the aldehyde group to a hydroxyl group.

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Then the memory of Italian Balm led to a memory of using a yellow vaseline that also smelled nice (to me). My grandmother smeared it on me when we sat on her front porch in the evening to keep away bugs. Yes, we used citronella sometimes, but I always preferred the vaseline. It was also a lip balm. It smelled so good!  Back to researching again. I love the internet for this very reason. My curiosity is often satisfied.

Carbolated Vaseline:

Chesebrough Manufacturing Company

 “This perfect antiseptic dressing is the safest way of utilizing the cleansing and healing values of Carbolic Acid, with the soothing comfort of Vaseline.”

Only Carbolated Vaseline was still on the market when Chesebrough joined with Pond’s in 1955 and it lasted another twenty years or so before it too was discontinued.

Source: http://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/chesebrough.php

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No, I haven’t forgotten another often-applied salve. My use of Resinol is a family tradition as well. My grandmother, mother and I have all used it for multiple kinds of irritations and I still do today. It works, I swear by it. It is still being manufactured. Yea!!

Ouch!

Be careful, be VERY careful if you ever have any *kinesiology taping done. I have been having severe spasms in my left ribcage area. Not knowing why, I consented to have the area taped by my chiropractor. I have visited him twice since my sacroiliac is out of place again (this is an ongoing issue through many years). After the last visit I actually wondered if I had a cracked or even broken rib it was so painful. I have had broken ribs in my past years due to falling off of horses so I know how it feels. 

I also think the muscle spasms could have been caused my my extreme sneezing spells lately. I have them often and they are sudden and violent and long lasting. 

Anyway, my chiropractor determined that the muscle in that specific area was swollen and heated and explained that the taping would help ease the pain. OK. I asked if it contained latex because I have VERY sensitive skin and often react to things touching my skin.

I left with a 3 inch wide piece of tape adhered all along the area front to mid back. It stayed on for eight hours before removal because I felt tingling and itching getting strong. 

Well, what do you think? I had a horrendous red rash that itched and burned and tested me to the limit of endurance. It was awful. I took a picture to show doctor at my next appointment, but I won't show you here.

I have been treating the area now for 3 days with gentle cleansing and application of good old fashioned *Resinol ointment. It is healing nicely, though slowly. 

Learned my lesson. Added that product to my allergy list! I should have known better. And....there are warnings "out there."

My use of Resinol is a family tradition. My grandmother, mother and I have all used it for multiple kinds of irritations. It works! I swear by it.

* Kinesiology Taping Inf.