PROMISING RESULTS FOR ARTHRITIC CREAM
09:00 - 09 October 2004
Anorth-east entrepreneur is revelling in the results of a customer survey into a cream his mother invented 15 years ago to soothe the pain of arthritis.
Peterhead-born Adrian Whalley was overwhelmed when 250 arthritis sufferers called him up following an appeal for volunteers in the Press and Journal.
He picked 25 people to take part and sent out free samples of the cream - asking everyone to keep a diary on its effects over a two-week period.
The cream, containing eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender, helps to eliminate uric acid in the joints, which can cause swelling and inflammation.
When he got the results back, Mr Whalley was thrilled to find that over 70% found the cream made a difference to their pain levels.
"When you get feedback like this, it makes everything so worthwhile," he said.
"I am now hoping to get in touch with all the arthritis organisations in the country to make them aware that this is what the product has done and what people are experiencing.
"I knew it worked because we always got a lot of repeat customers who recommended it to friends but to get a 70% success rate blew me away.
"People have written to say that they are even getting on better with their families because they are suffering less pain."
The cream was invented over a decade ago by Mr Whalley's mother Janet, who is a clinical aromatherapist.
Two-and-a-half years ago, Mr Whalley formed the Natural Skincare Factory, whose head office is in Aberdeen's Union Street, to market this, and more of her products, on a larger scale.
Since then, the cottage industry has received endorsements from celebrities like Liza Tarbuck, Anna Ford and Sarah Heaney, and now supplies department stores across the country, including Edinburgh's prestigious Jenners store.
The company also produces a moisturising face cream, hand cream and products for stimulating blood circulation, and relieving psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Speaking about the decision to run the trial, Mr Whalley said: "It is important to have feedback on what our product does.
"As the company owner I can talk about it until I'm blue in the face but what I say doesn't matter. It has to come from the customer."
Derek Littlejohn, 60, of the Holburn area of Aberdeen, was one of those who took part in the trial.
Over the two-week period, Mr Littlejohn, who has had an arthritic condition since 1988, used the cream on his left knee, hip and hand.
The Aberdeen City Council worker, who admits he has tried out a number of alternative products over the years, said he was impressed with the results.
He said: "I tried various things but I had given up some time ago because I found that prescribed medications were the best solution.
"At the moment my arthritis is quite active and painful so I thought I would give it a go.
"I used it for a fortnight and I thought it lessened the pain factor in my hip and my knee, and that I had a better flexibility in my hand."
Mr Littlejohn said although it was not a cure for the painful condition, it certainly provided some comfort.
He said: "You get a constant nagging pain and when you apply the cream, you feel it penetrating and getting to the point of discomfort. So it has a soothing effect."
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