What Does Salonpas Mean? How Did The Pain Reliever Get It’s Name?

You've probably seen the ad on television, heard the name of the product, and wondered:  "What does Salonpas mean"?

For starters, you should know that Salonpas is the name of a pain relief patch - a relatively new concept in which the analgesic is delivered via a sticky patch that is applied externally, directly to the site of a users pain.  Although the medication has its origins in other forms that date back to the 1930's, the Japanese manufacturer of the medication in its present form applied for approval from the FDA in 2008.  Since that time, it's been marketed heavily through mass media - especially television.

Which brings us back around to the "interesting" name that the product has.  With no disrespect to the quality of the medication, one has to admit that it has a strange-sounding name.

According to the Frequently Asked Questions section on the Salonpas website, the names is derived from it's ingredients.

Our product name SALONPAS® comes from its active ingredient, Methyl Salicylate. Methyl Salicylate passes through the skin and goes directly to the site of your pain, right where it hurts. Therefore, SALONPAS® represents “Salicylate”- “Pass”.

So - now you know.  The next time you see the ad on television and you hear the name, you can turn to the person next to you and say "Did you know....."

Frequently Asked Questions | Salonpas® Pain Relief Patch.