VANCOUVER — After almost a decade of research and testing, QR (Quick Relief) Cream, the first and only over-the-counter pain-relief cream powered by mannitol, is making its debut in the U.S. market. The first product from MaryHelene Enterprises, QR Cream’s mannitol can now be applied directly to painful areas to interrupt the signal the pain nerves send to the brain—no prescription required.

Featuring 30% mannitol + 1.25% menthol, this natural, non-greasy, narcotic-free cream relieves aching, tingling or burning pain of the neck, back, shoulder, wrist, finger, knee, thigh and foot—anywhere the pain nerves are close to the surface of the skin. For example, it is recommended to relieve pain from arthritis, neuropathy, migraines, shingles, and pain and itch associated with poison ivy, psoriasis and insect bites and stings.

Th pain cream was developed by Dr. Hélène Bertrand, a family physician and scientific researcher, and Marylene Kyriazis, a clinical pharmacist with a focus on pain management and palliative care. In 2010, Dr. Bertrand started working with patients who were suffering from pain. When she injected mannitol around inflamed nerves, the pain would frequently disappear before she removed the needle from the skin. She believed that it might be possible to use a skin-penetrating cream to deliver mannitol to those nerves. She began collaborating with Dr. Kyriazis, and together they created QR Cream.

“Common topical pain relievers work by reducing inflammation, numbing the skin or irritating it to distract the brain from pain,” explains Dr. Bertrand. “But QR Cream works by interrupting the signal the pain nerves send to the brain. Clinical studies have shown that for most painful conditions, QR Cream relieves pain originating in nerves close to the skin better than acetaminophen, narcotics and anti-inflammatories taken by mouth.”

Adds Dr. Kyriazis, “QR Cream works without contraindications or drug interactions. Plus, results are cumulative—the more you use it, the less you need it.”

The suggested retail price for the product is $29.99. QR Cream is patented in the United States and Canada and approved by Health Canada as a natural health product.

QR Cream is available through select retailers, at qrcream.com and on Amazon.