counterirritant

American  

[koun-ter-ir-i-tuhnt] / ˌkaʊn tərˈɪr ɪ tənt /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. an agent for producing inflammation in superficial tissues to relieve pain or inflammation in deeper structures.

2. any irritation or annoyance that draws attention away from another.

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adjective

1. Medicine/Medical. of or acting as a counterirritant.

counterirritant British  

/ ˌkaʊntərˈɪrɪtənt /

noun

1. an agent that causes a superficial irritation of the skin and thereby relieves inflammation of deep structures

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adjective

1. producing a counterirritation

Other Word Forms

• counterirritation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of counterirritant

First recorded in 1850–55; counter- + irritant

Example Sentences

Menthol is a counterirritant, which relieves underlying pain near the site of application by causing irritation at the surface.

From The Guardian • Jan. 16, 2013

Since then I have often wondered why the American press never reported on this Oriental medical treatment, called "counterirritant."

From Time Magazine Archive

Ian Fleming made this first excursion into adventure fiction "as a counterirritant or antibody to my hysterical alarm at getting married at the age of 43."

From Time Magazine Archive

In desperation, he learned how to tickle his nose until he sneezed, which helped somewhat as a counterirritant.

From Time Magazine Archive

The ordinary use of a seton is to keep up constant drainage from a cavity containing matter or to act as a stimulant or counterirritant.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

Related Words

• balm
• lotion