I think the green medical tape you're talking about is called Salonpas. I had heard that it was effective and bought some in an asian market. I've tried it once but I didn't seem to have any better luck than family members who weren't using it.

By the way, the ingredients are methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil), menthol, camphor, and tocopherol acetate. It sure smells like mentholatum. Has anyone ever tried using mentholatum, vick's vapor rub, or tiger balm (using it like smelly jelly) instead of the tape?