A liniment is a liquid medicine that you rub directly onto sore muscles, aching joints, or stiff body parts to help them feel better. Unlike pills or syrups that you swallow, a liniment works from the outside in. You massage it into your skin where it hurts, and its ingredients create a warming or cooling sensation that eases pain and stiffness.

Athletes often use liniment after hard practices when their muscles are sore. Farmers and ranchers keep liniment handy for treating tired, overworked muscles. Many liniments contain ingredients like menthol or camphor that create a tingling feeling on your skin. Some smell quite strong, like the sharp scent of mint or eucalyptus.

You might see liniment in your grandparents' medicine cabinet, since older people often use it for arthritis or joint pain. Veterinarians also use liniment on horses, dogs, and other animals with sore muscles. While modern pain-relief creams and gels work similarly, liniment is the traditional name for these rub-on medicines that have helped ease aches and pains for hundreds of years. Follow the directions, and don’t use it on broken skin or near your eyes.