"Question about Tiger Balm | Arthritis Information

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I've been reading Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection by Katherine Poehlmann.  She has an Appendix on Common Herbal Treatments.  She says that although Tiger Balm , a topical compound, was developed in China only about 60 years ago, its ingredients (oils of camphor, menthol, mint, clove, cajuput, wintergreen and cassia) have been used for centuries in various linimens for relief of minor aches and pains.  There are many other external herbal poultices one could make from scratch using the Tiger Balm ingredients or a blend of comfrey, willow, theyme oil and tumeric.

 
Has anyone tried this?
 
Jan
No, but sounds worth investigating though.Hi Jan,
 
I've used Tiger Balm in the past.  I like the smell, I think its the cloves, which to me, has sorta a calming effect.  Its soothing, has a warming effect upon application.  You only use a little, it generally comes in a bitty container, though I found a large container at Costco.   If I recall correctly, it can stain your clothes if you don't apply it well into your skin.
 
It can leave you sorta smelling like a "cookie"  Hubby has used it for running injuries.  Doesn't seem any different than BenGay, Icy Hot, other topical ointments.  Strong, sinus-opening odor, too LOL. Thanks Joie.  I will check it out at Costco if I can find where it is!!!!  I love the clove smell also.
 
Jan
Sounds better than icy hot, that stuff stinks, and I guess I do too since I use it often. lol
Oh well clears my sinuses out when I use it.

I may just have to try the Tiger Balm, I've been eyeballing it  for awhile now anyway.
Jan, I have used Tiger Balm for years when I have had a pulled muscle or an ache.
It was a prerequisite for hippies the first  time I came across it, kinda like having the Tibetan Book of the Dead was also!! ( Oh, and some butterflies and flowers somewhere on your person 
Comes in tiny wee pots, is very strong smelling as mentioned by others, and is effective for muscle pain, not sure about joint pain though. You do end up smelling like a football team's dressing room but hey!! If it works, thats a small price to pay. Just dont bother using your best perfume at the same time.
 
 
Cheers....Lyn
 
ETA the peacenik!
LyndeeNZ2008-08-27 13:49:10I like Biofreeze myself......I find that it works very well.I like Icy Hot extra strength.  I love the smell of methyl salicylate - wintergreen! Tiger Balm is very popular among martial arts students after a long training session. If I remember correctly,if you weren't sore after class, you felt guilty. I love Tiger Balm.  I find it works a lot better than Bengay, etc.  To me it's stronger.  I've never seen anything at Costco (will look now) but buy the itty bitty jars.
 
A word to the wise:  Do not put it on and then workout.  OUCH, I used it in between racquetball matches at a tournament.  My muscles were sore, put it on, had to play a couple of hours later and OMG, the heat was so intense!!!!!!!
 
RE:  finding tiger balm at Costco.  I should add that was years ago that I found it in the section w/pharmaceutical stuff.  I've had RA 31 yrs so during that time I've tried a lot of different things, especially in the early years -- did acupuncture a couple of times, and one of my early treatments was gold shots!
 
Tiger balm is used sparingly, a little dab will do ya, so read the instructions, as Debrakay says it can heat up. 
 
I think I'll stick to my icy hot- I'm with Jasmine Rain I love the wintergreen smell!
Cloves- yuck that puts me in mind of a dental procedure!
Lyndee-
 
The NZ hippies must have been into tiger balm.  I don't think the U.S. hippies were.
my daughter has spondyloarthropy  and has pain in all her joints  she is almost 15 and is a very active athlete .
SHE LOVES TIGER BALM !!!she says it works the best for her!
plus I think she likes the reaction to the smell in the locker room I found some Tiger Balm at Walgreen's.  It was made in Malaysia!!!!!  I've also heard some radio ads for Tiger Balm, no specific company.  There must be a Tiger Balm association.  Live and learn. [QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]I found some Tiger Balm at Walgreen's.  It was made in Malaysia!!!!!  I've also heard some radio ads for Tiger Balm, no specific company.  There must be a Tiger
Balm association.  Live and learn.[/QUOTE]

Nope, Tiger Balm is made by Haw Par Healthcare, based in Singapore.  They may have manufacturing plants in other countries, or perhaps they contract out the manufacturing.

Has anyone heard of Bag Balm?  The use it on cattle, etc.   Some claim that it is better than tiger balm.  Google it, it sounds like good stuff. I've used Tiger Balm, and I also use Ping On when I can get it---it's like a Chinese Tiger Balm. I like to put Ping On on my neck muscles and lie in the bath.[QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]Lyndee-
 
The NZ hippies must have been into tiger balm.  I don't think the U.S. hippies were.
[/QUOTE]
 
I think you are probably right Jan! Like you all had/have San Francisco and we never did. 
Auckland was great but didnt quite cut it IMHO..lolol  
 
We managed flowers tho!  And any serious hippy still suffers neck probs because of all those damned beads, ....never mind RA!
 
xxxx  Lyn
 

I just realized that Tiger Balm comes in 3 strengths, regular, strong and ultra.  That was why I thought there was more than one brand.  Yes, just one brand headquartered in Singapore, manufactured in Malaysia.

LyndeeNZ- yes, we did have San Francisco hippies.  Didn't know they were in Auckland!

WTB-
 
THis was the thread about capizan.
Thanks Jan! That Capszian is going back to the store. For .99 and no help and then nearly searing my eyeballs LOL!Is there a money back guarantee!Gee I don't know- I was just going to tell Shop Rite this crap doesn't work. I guess maybe they could say tough luck tho- huh?You can see what they say.  I think people want your business in this economy so they may give you a refund or credit.  Hope so.I have never tried tiger balm but I have used icy hot and found it worked ok. My rheumy prescribed Voltaren Gel. It has diclofenac sodium in it. It has smell of rubbing alchohol but it is not strong. I sure works for me. It can be used up to four times a day.
Ask you dr about it.
I've heard of Voltaran Gel. but never used it.I have used Tiger Balm many times over the years for injuries and found it to ease that immediate grip of pain when you pull or tear a muscle, or things like that.
 
My daughter actually said 'mum why don't you use tiger balm for your pain, it may actually do the same thing' ..... I hadn't even considered it because the pain was pretty horrendous, however I did, and it does .... when I flare the pain levels for me can go from around a 9 to a tolerable 7-1/2 and it takes the edge off so that I can sleep - but you are right it does stain, and don't get it into your eyes, mouth or other places you don't want it to be --- it burns like hell!
 
Othere than that, go tiger balm I say -
Anything that takes the edge off is worth using -
 
Maz-aust2009-02-12 20:36:51
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