If there were a “father of invention,” it might be Rhinebeck”™s Lou Paradise, whose all-too-frequent bouts with carpal tunnel syndrome left him searching for a cure when all else failed.
Paradise, plagued by the pain that texters, cashiers and keyboarders fear, tried everything to relieve the inflammation. When he ran out of options, he started experimenting, using various homeopathic remedies to create a cream that would give him relief without surgery.
When he perfected his antidote, his wife Aurora made the rounds to health fairs and chambers of commerce shows, handing out samples of he husband”™s over-the-counter “Topricin” medication to both the curious and to fellow sufferers seeking relief.
Fast forward to 2010, and Lou Paradise”™s pain cream has joined the big leagues. Topricin has been selling in health food stores locally for several years, but has eventually gotten the notice Lou Paradise prayed for as he applied for FDA approval for his homeopathic pain reliever: Vitamin World, with 450 stores nationwide, will now stock Topricin on its shelves.
Aurora Paradise couldn”™t be prouder of her husband, his creation or the hard work both have put into the company they created, Topical Biomedics, a literal “joint venture” that was a success.
“We always hoped we”™d see Lou”™s product recognized for its value,” said Aurora Paradise. “What”™s so wonderful is that it”™s gotten recognition from several reputable doctors as a healing alternative for pain relief ”“ and because it is totally homeopathic, without the grease or the camphor usually associated with pain relievers. People like to use products that are natural, not chemically made.”
The recession set the Paradise family back a bit, but a helping hand ”“ being chosen one of the top 10 pain relievers for the year by Vitamin Retailer Magazine in 2009 ”“ helped them over the bumpy economic road.
Today, Topricin can be found in the 2010 edition of the Physician”™s Desk Reference. It has been given the blessings of several doctors and is on shelves across the region ”“ and now across the United States.
Paradise also formulated a foot and ankle therapy cream and Topricin Jr. for Kids, which his wife dubs her “pet project.”
With so many over-the-counter drugs, Aurora Paradise”™s new mission is to introduce parents to the child-friendly cream.
Saying there is nothing on the market to effectively take away pain for children”™s bumps and bruises sold over the counter, Aurora Paradise is doing her best to get the word out about Lou Paradise”™s children”™s formulation. “Lou”™s main goal was to get better and to help others achieve the same relief he did,” she said. Many experiments ended in the trash, she said, “and he had to start all over.”
Today, the Rhinebeck couple maintains their office in the same place where Topricin was born. They now have four employees there.
They opened a warehouse in West Hurley, where they employ another three people to fill orders that go from Long Island to California, shipping out approximately 50,000 units a month.
“We”™re very proud of our accomplishments,” said the couple. “When we started out, we didn”™t think we could go this far, but we both had faith in the product and what it could do. Diligence does pay off, although the road isn”™t always an easy one.” ?But Lou Paradise has one comfort: He”™s found relief for his carpal tunnel, allowing him to continue with his work without stopping for a “pain break.”
