Tiger BalmRed 30g (Pain Relief)

Great Product, It sure does work

By massaging a finger-tip full of Tiger Balm into your skin, you can get quick relief for headaches, sinusitis, colds, flu, arthritis, rheumatism, stiff necks, and more. There are two variations - the the red one and the white one.Does it work? I've been using this little remedy (mostly the red variety) for decades, and yes: it does help indeed.MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCESI've used tiger balm ('red' - which is actually orange) many times, especially for my knees. I was in my late twenties when I suffered from near-unbearable pain in my left knee. I used anti-inflammatory painkillers, which helped a little. More effective was physiotherapy, learning which exercises would strengthen the knee without wearing it out unduly. Nevertheless, I was in severe, almost constant pain, for nearly two years. For the first six months of that time, I was barely able to walk. I hobbled and limped. Doctors couldn't agree on a diagnosis - some said there might be a piece of broken cartilage which didn't show on X-rays, others thought it was early onset arthritis. They told me I would more or less have to live with it for the rest of my life.Whatever the cause, I wanted the pain to go away. A friend recommended Tiger Balm. I rubbed a generous amount all around my knee joint - it tingled, warming and cooling the area at the same time. Within a few minutes, the pain eased, although the relief didn't last long. I had to re-apply it every six hours or so. The tiger balm didn't heal the arthritis (or whatever it was), but it eased the pain enough and loosened the join sufficiently that I could walk again. I became a big fan of Tiger Balm in those days.One of the drawbacks was that I smelled of Tiger Balm all the time. Although it's not an unpleasant smell - a bit like cough syrup - it was strong. It filled the room I was in. It was like I was wearing a heavy perfume, and lots of it. People in the office could smell me when I walked down the corridor. At first I didn't realise it (just like you don't realise when you've put on too much perfume) because people were too polite or too embarrassed to point it out. Then I caught an overheard remark. So from then on, I apologised for the smell. People assured me they didn't mind, but that was probably British politeness.Fast forward twenty years. Now both my knees are stiff and ache in cold weather, and it's clearly arthritis rather than a piece of broken cartilage. On cold, wet, windy, wintry days I apply tiger balm to make my knees feel better.Now I work from home, and my smell doesn't bother anyone. But I have to remember not to apply it when I go out, or it gets embarrassing. Recently I rubbed a generous amount on both knees, then went to the dentist, forgetting I had tiger balm on. It was only when the dentist tilted my chair and my legs went up that I got a srong whiff. Then the dentist's assistant came through the door, and the first thing she did was stop in surprise and sniff. The tiger-balm smell had filled the small treatment room. I was embarrassed. I apologised, was again assured with British politeness that it didn't matter, and eventually forgot about it when the dentist's drill started to whine in my mouth.I also use it when my muscles are painfully tense, for example after doing concentrated work on my laptop for hours. When my neck aches, and the pain spreads slowly across my skull, I try to ease the tension with neck stretches, shoulder rolls, self-massage, a walk in fresh air, but when that doesn't help, it's time for tiger balm. I rub it into my neck and shoulders. Within five minutes, my shoulders begin to elax and the worst of the pain disappears. After about fifteen minutes, only a trace of tightness in my neck remains.Many people recommend tiger balm for insect stings and bites. I've tried it last summer when some mysterious nasty insects infested my garden and I had huge painful swellings for ten days. I applied tiger balm, and I can't say I noticed an improvement, although of course there's no knowing how bad the swelling and pain would have been without it. A friend who tried it said it provided instant partial relief for him, but needed to be reapplied once an hour.HOW TO APPLY IT FOR BEST EFFECTI discovered that the effects of Tiger Balm increased if I applied them after a bath, probably because the open pores absorbed the salve better. Where I rubbed the balm in after a bath, the skin got really hot and tingly. I loved to feel it work so intensely. In my current home I don't have a bath tub, just a shower, so I can't give my knees the full soak, but it still helps to apply the tiger balm after a shower, or after wetting the skin with a warm wet cloth.OTHER USESSeveral people I know swear by Tiger Balm as a headache and migraine remedy; one migraine sufferer calls it her life saver. I have to say, though, that for me it doesn't have such a powerful effect on headaches. It seems to ease them a bit, yes, but it doesn't make them go away. The white variety (which has a slightly different composition) seems to be better for that.Apparently, Tiger Balm is great for relieving stuffed noses and inflamed sinuses. I have been hesitant about this. Oh, I have been tempted when my nose was blocked up and frontal sinuses felt like they were bursting! But you are meant to apply it to the side of your nose. I don't know about you, but when I have a cold, the skin around my nose is quite sore, and I don't want to apply something burning to it. Besides, I'm worried that I might, inadvertedly, rub my nose and then my eyes, thus getting the stuff in my eyes. Or that, by blowing my nose, I might get it inside my nose. Tiger Balm absolutely must not get to those, and other, sensitive body parts.However, it can be rubbed on the chest, or inhaled (place a lump in a pot of very hot water and inhale the steam) to ease sore throats, blocked noses and other cold symptoms.It is also said to help with, itching, rashes and allergies, and allegedly aids fertility. but I have not tried it for those purposes.DRAWBACKSRed Tiger Balm stains textiles. In the years of my terrible knee pain when I kept my left knee wrapped in bandages, the yellowish stains could not be washed out from the white bandages. That wasn't a big problem, since nobody got to see those bandages. However, take care not to apply red tiger balm when you're wearing your favourite garments, because it might ruin them.A big drawback - actually a dangerous one - is that the stuff must not touch sensitive areas. Don't get it into your nostrils, your eyes or anywhere else where it might cause major irritation.Years ago - at the time when I was hobbling around with a bandaged left knee and stinking up the office with this ointment - several colleagues discussed its efficiency. A male colleague shared a memorable experience of what happened when he applied Tiger Balm to his aching shoulders and forgot to wash his hands afterwards.A short while after rubbing his shoulders, he did something men sometimes do... . something involving a particularly sensitive body part. In an instant, that part burned like it was on fire! Frantic washing with cold water didn't cool the burn, because the Tiger Balm had already penetrated into the skin. The poor guy suffered hellfire agony, and feared his part would be permanently harmed.He did survive - intact - but never again made that mistake.For the same reason, I recommend that you don't use it for babies, or on sore or broken skin.LEGENDOnce upon a time, a Chinese Emperor suffered from lumbago, and commanded his physicians to find a cure. They tried this, they tried that, to no avail. At last, one physician presented a jar of fragrant ointment. It was applied to the imperial back, and the pain ceased. (I have not been able to verify the legend or find out the emperor's name and dynasty).However, the inventor did not get a chance to make a profit from his creation. The emperor's sons realised the money-making potential, claimed the patent, and started up a factory. One of the sons had the name 'Leopard', the other was called 'Tiger'. It seems that Tiger convinced his brother that his name was more marketable.Other sources say that the product is so called because it makes your movements as smooth as a tiger's.Tiger Balm is a salve containing several strong plant oils. I lived and travelled extensively in several Asian countries where Tiger Balm is a popular remedy and found in practically every household's first aid kit or medicine cabinet. It's regarded almost as a 'cure-all' and with reason. I was surprised to learn that this remedy isn't centuries old. When I did a bit of research, I found it goes back no further than the 20th century.INGREDIENTSTwo versions of the Tiger Balm are available, 'red' (which is actually orange-coloured) and 'white'.Both contain the same ingredients - menthol, camphor, clove oil, cassia oil, peppermint oil, cajuput oil, in a wax and petroleum base. All that differs is the proportion of the ingredients. Some users prefer one, some the other. I think the 'red' version is more heating and the 'white' one more cooling. The red seems to work better for my knees, so that's what I'm using.The white one has the advantage that it won't stain the clothes yellow.The oils and other active ingredients make up more than half of the contents which gives an idea of the potency.PACKAGINGThe balm is sold in tiny octagonal glass jars with metal lids, each holding 18 or 30ml of the ointment. The glass is so thick and strong that you can drop it, even throw it against a wall, and it won't break. They are further packaged in cardboard cubes, mostly red with colourful printingWHERE TO BUYThe popularity of Tiger Balm has increased so much that you can buy it not only in health food shops and pharmacies but from several sellers on Amazon, on Ebay and even in local supermarkets. The prices are lower on Amazon than in pharmacies and shops, but check the postage cost which is often more than the product itself. Also check that you're getting the real thing, not an imitation product.FAKE PRODUCTSPlease note: the success of Tiger Balm has led to imitation products flooding the market. This isn't a new wave, but something that's been going on for decades. The imitations use similar-sounding names and similar packaging. They have almost identical ingredients, albeit in lesser concentrations.MY REVIEWI wrote a review of Tiger Balm for another (now apparently defunct?) review site many years ago. I've incorporated bits of what I wrote then (including the cautionary tale of the guy who forgot to wash his hands) into this review. Should that old review still float around on the internet somewhere, please know that I'm the author; it's not a case of plagiarism.LAST WORDDon't forget to wash your hands. :-)

This is amazing for muscle aches and bruises. I purchased it for use after my muay thai training because your shins take quite a bit of damage. I recently got a rather more severe bone bruise which was causing me some greif.This is really waxy in consistency but not sticky and doesn't leave residue all over your hands etc. It's warming to start with and then feels cooling on the skin.It also smells great; kinda like 'Vik's' rub but with cinnamon, creating a slightly more herbal smell.Would definitely recommend.Only thing is I've found it looks a lot smaller than I was expecting so next time I'd maybe purchase a set of 3 together for better value.

As a pain relief, it works.

This balm is rather good. It has a pleasing smell that changes when used.When you first open the small jar you are confronted by a POWERFUL minty smell that is a little like toothpaste BUT don't be fooled. This is just because you are the first to open the jar. Give it a second and the smell dissipates into a pleasing minty smell with a subtle after aroma that comes out later. It has a gentle tan colour to it and this is because of the natural oils that are placed in there.When this is applied you get a tingling sensation. This is due to the mint oil, It's similar to the timgling you get when you brush your teeth. Now, as time goes on this "tingling" can do one of three things. It can feel cold, it can start to feel war or, randomly, it can be cold AND warm.After a while the minty smell goes away but you are left with another nice (IMHO) smell. cinnamon.Now on to the effects:I have used this for muscle cramps (massage the area).Arthritis, (massage the area).colds/blocked nose (a TINY amount on the webbing between the thumb and finger and used as an inhalant... like vicks rub)I use TINY amounts for dry skin (not broken skin though! I had a paper cut and regretted using this INSTANTLY!)Pro tip: Use a piece of folded, STRONG tissue, (None of that £1 store rubbish!) Or another applicator to apply. A TINY amount goes a looooooooong way. A pea sized application can cover an area of AT LEAST 10cm^2 if applied this wayTip 2: if used sparingly, a 30g jar will last you WEEKS. (The 19g jar does both my arthritic knees AND muscles after a workouot for about 3-4 weeks.Pro tip 3: Less is more. For best effects I suggest using a TINY amount and rubbing it in very, VERY well. You'll know when it's applied properly as the area goes cold/warm and it doesn't feel oily or greasy.

Used for pain, but newer formulation not as strong as used to be many years ago.not as effective as used to be.

Good stuff for all sorts value for moneyNice smell

I was always put off by the size of the container, but amazing stuff & you don't need much.Too much though can appear to cause a bit of a burning sensation.