Search Here

South African seniors are swapping their prescription meds for boxes of condoms to relieve their arthritis pain, according to a new study.

It's believed that the lubricant oil on condoms helps alleviate arthritis-related pain, AFP reports.  Arthritis is a common condition among older adults and causes pain and inflammation in the joints.

According to the Sowetan newspaper, an increasing number of arthritis patients are rubbing condoms on their painful joints to get "instant relief".

"This oil is number one," Elizabeth Moyo told the Sowetan after showing how she uses the condoms. "I am tired of the pills."

The trend may be taking off because condoms are readily available and often free in South Africa.  The African nation has one of the world's highest HIV infection rates with one in 10 people testing positive.

However, health experts stress that there is no scientific evidence that condoms help with pain relief. Experts are worried that condoms will now be wasted and not used for the right reasons.