Through the scenic topography of South Africa lies an unparalleled experience of remarkable transformation.
Here, you can stand among the lush trees of a forest as easily as you emerge into an arid open grassland.
The countless vibrant plants of the Fynbos coexist side by side with extreme desert climates, each biome breathing its own distinct beauty into the wildlife it has nurtured for millennia.
African Botanics Revitalizing Therapy Gel combines arnica with stimulating black pepper, red pepper (capsaicin has long been researched as a treatment for chronic pain), and cinnamon with soothing herbs like comfrey and buchu, a South African plant that’s been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory for decades (but hasn’t been studied much).
It has a heating sensation that feels great on injuries such as muscle pulls, says Chiu.
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The Muscle Pain Relief Recovery Gel starts working a few minutes after you've applied it to the skin.
Thanks to the cooling gel-cream texture of African Botanics Muscle Pain Relief Recovery Gel, you'll enjoy feeling a soothing sensation.
Apply a small amount of the gel onto the affected area and gently massage it into your muscles or joints.
We recommend using Muscle Pain Relief Recovery Gel 2-3 times daily for best results.
Used daily, a single tube of African Botanics Muscle Pain Relief Recovery Gel can last approximately 2-3 months.
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African Botanics Revitalizing Therapy Gel
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits
We select the most concentrated plant extracts and active molecules, which are known for their ability to thrive in extreme environmental conditions.
We take these rejuvenating benefits even further by harnessing the latest advances in green biotechnology, choosing carbon-efficient processes that have the advantage of lowering our environmental impact.
The labs we partner with perfectly recreate the natural environments of these potent ingredients under clinical, controlled settings, encouraging plants to sustainably grow with the greatest care.
As a result, we can better preserve the integrity of our remarkable ingredients for unparalleled nutrient density and high antioxidant count.
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Here are some of the key ingredients found in African Botanics products:
- Bio-Retinol: A sustainable alternative to synthetic retinol with similar anti-wrinkle efficacy.
- Kalahari Melon: Sustainable, drought-resistant fruit, native to southern Africa, thrives in the harsh conditions of the Kalahari Desert. High in beneficial essential fatty acids (up to 70% as Linoleic acid), natural Vitamin E, and plant sterols. Provides nourishment, helps to repair skin cells, excellent for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Marula: An upcycled oil, sustainably and ethically harvested from a drought-resistant tree. Naturally rich in many antioxidants and contains skin-benefiting micro-nutrients and essential fatty acids, especially Omega 9. Helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles; soothes redness and sensitivity; helps prevent free radical damage.
- Pearl Extract: A hydrolysed pearl extract is rich in magnesium, calcium and antioxidants that stimulate cell regeneration.
- Resurrection Plant: Protecting and regenerating, this bio-extract has incredible water-retention properties that help it thrive in extreme weather conditions.
- Rosehip: Nourishing and regenerating oil fraction extract, it is rich in Omega-3, 6, 7 and 9 as well as the antioxidants beta carotene and lycopene.
Full Ingredient List:
Aqua (Water), Menthol, Glycerin, Arnica Cordifolia (Arnica) Flower Oil, Aloe Ferox* Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginia (Witch Hazel) Extract, Harpagophytum Procumbens (Devils Claw) Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)**, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus)* Oil, Carbomer, Menta Piperta(Peppermint)* Oil, Zingiber Officinate (Ginger)* Root Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllata (Clovebud) Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula)** Seed Oil, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey)* Leaf Extract, Piper Nigrum(Black Pepper)* Seed Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage)* Oil, Juniperus Communis (Juniperberry)* Oil, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum(Cinnamon)* Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina (Buchu)* Leaf Oil, Oleoresin Capsicum (Red Pepper) Extract, Alcohol Denat (Sugar Cane), Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol. *Organic, **Wild-Harvested Ingredients.
Responsibly sourced. Never tested on animals.
Diverse Plant Life of South Africa
Athletes can reap recovery benefits from these chicly-packaged products.
Best 3 Natural Essential Oils for Muscle Pain, Muscle Spasm, Tendonitis, Joint Pain
While it would be a stretch to say any balm or cream is a recoverycure-all, finding and diligently applying the right rub could help prevent some pain and reduce inflammation, according to Evanston, Illinois-based sports massage specialist Lori-Ann Gallant-Heilborn, LMT, who has traveled to four Olympic games with Team USA.
“Depending on the client, I recommend either a warming product, to help loosen up muscles pre-workout, or a cooling one afterwards to decrease any inflammation created by micro-tearing or over-stretching,” she explains.
She’s also a proponent of earth-derived ingredients.
“I started out using Biofreeze, but the athletes I work with have had fewer allergic reactions and responded better to natural products,” says Gallant-Heilborn.
Her best tip for picking a balm: “Read the label-if there are things on there you can’t pronounce or you don’t recognize at all, then keep looking.”
Start with dime-size portion to see how your body responds, suggests board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist Sandra Lanshin Chiu, an expert in both skin issues and pain relief based in Brooklyn.
And don't overdo it: "Apply your product three to four times a day. I’ve found that any more than that in a 12-hour period starts to decrease the effectiveness,” adds Gallant-Heilborn.
