Frequently Asked Questions

A bursa sac is an extremely important compartment found through our body. It can be regarded like a flat balloon with a small portion of oil in the middle. Imagine now that these balloons lay between regions within the body which move against one another, (like inside joints) and you can see how this would permit minimum friction and wear on the bones and cartilage by permitting a smooth gliding effect to take place.

Of course the bursa isn’t really a balloon, actually the bursa sac is essentially made from a special kind of tissue called synovial tissue which is highly vascularised and permits the controlled movement of water and tiny molecules to and from the inside space of the bursa. The oily substance in the middle of the bursa sac which supplies the gliding effect is named Synovial fluid. A major element of healthy and normal synovial fluid is Hyaluronic Acid (HA), a very long chain molecule that gives synovial fluid its viscosity and gliding effect, but which isn’t readily capable of being transported or lost via movement across the synovial tissue.

Bursitis is categorised as a soft tissue injury and it’s the condition which happens when a bursa sac becomes inflamed. This could happen because of a variety of reasons like; a repetitive injury, a sudden impact injury, sporting injury or as a result of an underlying inflammatory condition.

As the synovial tissue of the bursa sac (See: What’s a bursa sac?) is extremely permeable to water and tiny molecules, then instantly following injury to a joint where a bursa sac is located, an immediate acute inflammatory reaction will result and the bursa shall fill with inflammatory fluid (water and inflammatory molecular mediators), along with a local cellular response.

A Baker’s Cyst is a type of Bursitis found behind or about the knee joint and is categorised as a soft tissue injury and is the condition which results when the bursa sac in this area becomes inflamed. This could happen because of a variety of reasons like; a repetitive injury, a sudden impact injury, sporting injury or as a result of an underlying inflammatory condition.

Primary treatment of soft tissue injuries are based mostly on the rules of R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and Avoid H.A.R.M (Heat, Alcohol, Reinjury. These are stated to be most critical in the 48-72 hours following the injury¹.

Soft tissue injuries frequently result in bleeding and tissue damage followed by an inflammatory phase that is a necessary part of the tissue repair². Though the inflammatory process is a very important component of healing, when it continues for too long a period it may cause further swelling and this could then be negative to the process of healing². The aim of R.I.C.E is to reduce the amount bleeding and leakage of inflammatory mediators into the affected tissue to minimise the amount of swelling and associated pain and discomfort.

If swelling is minimised early, this will help the injury to resolve quicker and should also result in a reduction of pain.

Immediately following a soft tissue injuries a release of prostaglandins and histamines will occur within the injured area and damaged capillaries will leak cellular waste (water, dissolved electrolytes and proteins) into the encompassing tissue². White blood cells are then recruited into the region to get rid of damaged tissue. As soon as the process starts, fluid accumulates in the intercellular space causing oedematous swelling. A decrease in swelling is frequently associated with a decrease in pain and discomfort. This could be a result from the reduction in pressure and/or a decrease in pain mediators in the associated tissue.

While the body has inbuilt mechanisms to get rid of oedema through re-absorption, it doesn’t always do this efficiently, which can then lead directly to an extended process of healing, continuing pain and the likelihood of chronic inflammation followed by the formation scar tissue². Additionally there are other factors that may also lend to delayed healing. These may include non compliance with R.I.C.E in the primary 48-72 hrs, or an injury sustained in an area that might not easily or readily allow for adequate support and/or rest.

In such circumstances as mentioned above, the utilisations of NSAIDs or steroids are commonly advised to reduce and control the level of inflammation, swelling and associated pain. Unfortunately not all people respond well to treatment with these classes of medicines. Additionally, there are contraindications and risks connected to each of these classes of medicines.

The extract below is from the Victorian Government better health website and is pertaining to the treatment for bursitis:

“Treatment will depend upon the cause of the bursitis. Treatment aims to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible while the healing process takes place. Options may include pain-killing drugs, cold packs, gentle mobilising exercises and rest. Anti inflammatory medications or injections of corticosteroids may be used in cases of severe pain.

If infection is present, there is usually warmth, redness, pain and swelling in the areas affected. Treatment with an appropriate antibiotic is necessary. If the bursitis was triggered by overuse, it is important to avoid the particular activity.

Correct posture and joint protection are useful and braces or splints can decrease the stress on the areas and support good alignment. After a major attack, it is important to consider how recurrences can be prevented.”³

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1. Vic Gov DHS, (2008), Soft Tissue Injuries (Sprains and. Strains) Fact Sheet https://www.health.vic.gov.au/edfactsheets/softtissue-injury.pdf
2. Kumar V, et al. (2005). Robbins Basic Pathology 7th edition, (Chapter 2) W.B. Saunders Company: 33-59
3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Bursitis?open

It is important to understand that our patches should not be regarded as a cure for any condition. Instead, OSMO Patch offers a drug-free, non-invasive alternative to medications, steroid injections, or surgery.

For best results, users should also rest the area and avoid repetitive strain or activities that may continue to aggravate the condition.

No. It is very important to have doctor inspect and examine your injury if there’s an sign of infection or an existing open wound. Your health practitioner will probably prescribe antibiotics in the situation that an infection is present.

Apply patch before bed and wear overnight for approximately 8–10 hours. Discard the patch in the morning (single use). Generally, one patch per night is standard, although more than one may be worn if required. Repeat each consecutive night as needed.

It is impossible to know exactly how many patches you will need, as everyone’s condition is different. Many customers experience substantial or full relief after 1–2 boxes of 10 patches, while others with chronic conditions use them as needed during flare-ups.

Apply patch each consecutive night while continuing to feel improvement. If progress plateaus, you may consider stopping and keeping any remaining patches in case of a flare-up.

One of the great things about the OSMO Patch is that it actually does not contain any ingredients. Ingredients are substances that are either ingested or intended to be absorbed into the body, and as such, ingredient labeling is commonly required for foods, cosmetics, drugs, and similar products.

The OSMO Patches however are classified as a Class 1 medical device. Being a Class 1 medical device means that there are actually no ingredients used in the product. The composition of the patches is neither ingested nor intended to be absorbed into the body. Therefore, unlike oral medicines or medicated slow-release transdermal patches, the OSMO Patch contains absolutely no drugs or other ingredients. They actually fall under the same classification as a band-aid or bandage, which also do not work via releasing active or inactive ingredients into the skin.

While the particular composition of the patch is a company trade secret*, the patches are made to stringent GMP standards. However, it is important to note that one of the compositions in the patch is the crustacean derivative ‘carapace powder,’ so if you are allergic to shellfish or seafood, then the patches should not be used.

Please be aware that labelling laws do not require a medical device to have an ingredients list for the reasons above. However, any material/s in the composition that may be a known allergen must be labelled.

No, we do not use latex or PVC in the adhesives. The adhesives are instead made from thermoplastic rubber; Styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber (SIS) coated onto a spunlace non-woven Fabric.

If you are allergic to thermoplastic rubber; Styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber (SIS), then you should not use the adhesives supplied. If you are unsure, then it is always best to cut a small test strip to try before full use.

If you are allergic and you still wish to try the patches, you can consider buying your own low irritant adhesives from a chemist or otherwise you may consider using a bandage as a substitute for holding the patch in place if appropriate.

No. The patches contain carapace powder, a crustacean by-product. If you have a shellfish or seafood allergy, the patches shouldn’t be used.

Do not panic, while it is uncommon for this to happen, it can occur. This is typically due to an irritation or allergic response to the adhesives that the individual wasn’t previously aware that they had. If this occurs, simply discontinue use and the rash should clear within 2-3 days. We do recommend cutting and trying a little test strip of the adhesive prior to use.

No. There are absolutely no drugs, hormones or any kind of medications in the patches.

Yes. Our patches do not contain any active ingredients or release anything into the body. Therefore, they will not interact with any medications, including blood thinners or cholesterol-lowering medication. They are suitable for diabetics.

The patches can be applied over most areas of the body where there is swelling, inflammation, or pain. Do not apply on the face, eyes, mucous surfaces, genital organs, anus, open wounds, rashes, or sores.

The patches have not been evaluated for use on children under 13, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. The patches should not be used in these cases.

There are several medications and procedural treatment options available, and you need to do what you feel is the best for you. Our product has been developed for;

• People that have attempted other treatment options without successes,
• People who can’t take anti-inflammatory medicines due to gastro-intestinal irritation,
• People who can’t take anti inflammatory medicines due to contraindications with other medications, and
• People that wish to take a natural and non-invasive approach to their treatment.

The patches may vary in the quantity of fluid seen after use from person to person, however do not forget that the patches work in 2 ways. The first is by stimulating blood flow to the area which can prompt healing. The second is by removing excess fluid. This is the reason why it’s best to focus on how the actual area is improving instead of the visual appearance of the patches.

It’s important the patches maintain good contact with the skin and should be applied over the affected area just before going to sleep, or they may become loose and lose contact with the skin. Also strolling around a lot before bed can make the powder collect at the base of the patch. It is important that the powder is uniformly spread before applying the patch.

Some individuals have reported that the patches work better when a fine mist of water is sprayed directly on to the skin first prior to the patch being applied as this helps the patch to maintain good contact (It is important to properly dry the area of skin where the adhesive is to be applied if you use this approach).

Please see our Guarantee, Returns and Refunds Policies for our current policy.