Death by BenGay

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  • June 9, 2007 at 2:08 am #53475
    Lingster
    Keymaster

    A Staten Island teenage female track athlete died as a result of toxic levels of methyl salicylate in her blood.  Methyl salicylate is the "wintergreen" oil additive in rubs like BenGay and Icy Hot, and it is toxic at high levels. 

    I used a lot of this stuff when I was a high school athlete, because one result of training hard is pain.  But I also knew it was toxic if overused and applied a less-toxic product when I could.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,279482,00.html

    June 9, 2007 at 2:36 am #53476
    Chuck
    Participant

    Daggum!

    I should check my dad's pain rubs to see if it has any of this stuff in it. He uses it a lot.

    June 9, 2007 at 4:01 am #53477
    Lingster
    Keymaster

    Well, read the label.  The girl in Staten Island was probably using several times the recommended amount, over a prolonged period.

    June 21, 2007 at 5:13 pm #53478
    baditude41
    Participant

    I read about that too…what a shame.  Do you think it's only BenGay, or could that go for IcyHot as well? (that's what we keep in my home).

    June 21, 2007 at 6:48 pm #53479
    Lingster
    Keymaster

    I read about that too…what a shame.  Do you think it's only BenGay, or could that go for IcyHot as well? (that's what we keep in my home).

    "methyl salicylate"

    June 21, 2007 at 8:42 pm #53480
    cpbell0033944
    Participant

    I'm going to have to watch my Olbas Oil too, although I usually only use it as an inhalant decongestant (it can also be used as a muscle rub, although it's only part oil of wintergreen).

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