Chilblain Pills

[Cloverjo]

I suffer from chilblains every winter. When I was younger I used to take pills bought over the counter. I can’t remember what they were called. I’ve googled and only found prescribed nifedipine, which is also used to treat high blood pressure. I have low blood pressure so don’t want to take those.
Does anyone know what those pills in the past were? I know I can ask at the pharmacy tomorrow, but it’s Sunday and wondered if any of you can help.

[mallyh]

my gran always told me to pee in a pot and put foot in .it took the itch away .

[brainiac]

I'm a sufferer, too, jo, really only on my right hand which I damaged doing some building work about 10 years ago. They've started early this year, and I'd be delighted to hear of anything which genuinely helps, as they're very sore and unsightly.

I once bought some cream called Balmosa which did absolutely nothing - just made my fingers look like fat basted sausages!

[Rosie29]

I know a lot of people swear by a very old fashioned ointment called Zambuk. You can still get it.
My sympathies - chilblains are wretched.

[Cloverjo]

Thank you for the answers. I’ll look out for Zambuk. I’d love to remember the name of the pills as they had quite a nice effect on the brain too.

I remember scrubbing my feet with a hairbrush and then standing in the snow to cool my itching. Probably not the best idea.

[brainiac]

They are one of those things that unless you've had them, you've no idea just how ennervating and unpleasant they are. I think the only real answer for me is to move to a warm climate :)

[EDDIE51]

Chilblains are low level frostbite ! The answer is to keep warm ! Woollen socks help as well !
I think the pills were called 'Gone' !

[gingejbee]

Any effective medication will work by increasing bloodflow to the extremities and so will lower your BP a bit more....you could try topical applications instead - creams and gels. I've seen this Boots product recommended for chilblains (not it's primary use)...as it's cheap, worth a go?

https://www.boots.com/boots-tea-tree-and-witch-hazel-night-gel-75ml-10125610?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoSy5dDh2AIV7BbTCh0P6gYZEAQYASABEgJ6Q_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&queueittoken=e_preblackfriday19~q_67eeca3c-08a6-4978-901d-e7ab443c8f4d~ts_1574604611~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_8ca7392e24a069164f387183e767860ed327213eec7222b691967d766fdb234f

[MallyJ]

I have only had chilblains when I got really cold....eg no central heating, having to walk home through snow. I used to scrape my toes long the carpet..especially the front door mat. I learned my lesson and always make sure that my feet don't get cold.....thick socks, slippers that cover virtually all of each foot. Haven't been troubled with them for years. Please ensure you keep your feet warm and don't get close to a fire or you will be getting corned beef legs too.

[gingejbee]

^^I understand that they are caused if you try to heat the cold parts (feet, hands, ears and nose even!) too quickly....so no feet/hands in very hot water!

[woofgang]

worth trying calmagzinc either tablets or liquid

[Patsy33]

I used to get them terribly bad. If you can try to keep feet, especially, at a constant warm temperature, then this helps. Strange isn't it, it's only in this country we suffer from chillblains. Something to do with our climate. When I Canada, I was telling a friend about it, she didn't know what I was on about!