Counter irritants applied to decrease pain by action on

(B) Inhibition of pain pathways in the dorsal horn gate # Central Inhibition & Counterirritants> Stimulation with an electric vibrator at the site of pain also gives some relief. The relief is due primarily to inhibition of pain path- ways in the dorsal horn gate by stimulation of large-diameter touch-pressure afferents.> The same mechanism is probably responsible for the efficacy of counterirritants.> Stimulation of the skin over an area of visceral inflammation produces some relief of the pain due to the visceral disease.> The old-fashioned mustard plaster works on this principle.