hour before or 30 minutes after exposing the skin to hot, humid conditions, including a hot shower, a sauna, or a hot tub This pain ointment can be used for temporary relief of stiff muscles, minor aches, and pains associated with: Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub: Made for muscle strains, this non-greasy cream is designed to ease pain from exercise and other physical activity. The active ingredients are 15% methyl salicylate, 5% camphor, and 3% menthol. If a person swallows or ingests Tiger Balm, they should call their local poison control helpline immediately. The phone number in the United States is 1-800-222-1222. People in the U.S. can also text 797979. Headaches: Research has found Tiger Balm to be as effective as Tylenol (acetaminophen) for headaches.

Twelve hours after applying their patches, the participants experienced, on average, a 40 percent reduction in pain, compared to the 103 control subjects who used placebo patches. Kotaka T, et al. (2014). Camphor induces cold and warm sensations with increases in skin and muscle blood flow in human. DOI: Tiger Balm Extra-Strength Pain-Relieving Ointment: This is the standard Tiger Balm ointment formula with a strong menthol scent. It can be found in most drugstores. It contains 11% camphor and 10% menthol. Joint pain: Tiger Balm is often used to treat joint pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions that affect the joints.

Cinnamomum cassia oil provides anti-inflammatory effects. It may soothe arthritis and other inflammatory pain.

Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub - methyl salicylate, menthol, unspecified form, and camphor (synthetic) cream. (2018). Kotaka, T., Kimura, S., Kashiwayanagi, M., & Iwamoto, J. (2014, December). Camphor induces cold and warm sensations with increases in skin and muscle blood flow in human. Biological Pharmacy Bulletin, 37(12), 1913–1918 Antonelli M, Donelli D, Valussi M. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of Tiger Balm® ointments: a systematic review and a meta-analysis of prevalence. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res. 2020;8(1):1-7. Camphor and other toxic substances in the balm may enter the bloodstream through the skin. A small Cambodian study found that that camphor does not enter the bloodstream, but more research is needed to confirm this. Menthol may also be toxic to humans.A pain relief balm is a type of topical medication that can be applied to a body for pain relief purposes. A balm is typically semi-solid in its formulation, giving it a different texture to other creams, rubs, or ointments. Tiger Balm’s most popular pain relief balms include Tiger Balm Ultra, Tiger Balm Extra, and Tiger Balm Ultra Sports Rub. How do you use pain relief balm? Kulkarni, Y. A., Suryavanshi, S. V., Auti, S. T., & Gaikwad, A. B. (2017). Chapter 9 - capsicum: A natural pain modulator. Nutritional Modulators of Pain in the Aging Population, 107–119 Siva Krishna, G., Venkatesulu, V., Seshanna, G., & Pratap, G. (2012, December). Management of tension headaches by various alternative therapies – an update. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , 3(4), 11–18 Capsicum may help reduce inflammation and pain in a variety of chronic conditions, such as arthritis and neuropathy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Tiger Balm contains ingredients that may help relieve sinus and chest congestion. Some have been used for centuries in oils, ointments, and inhalant form to ease congestion from colds and allergies. Pannee, C., Chandhanee, I., & Wacharee, L. (2014, October 15). Antiinflammatory effects of essential oil from the leaves of Cinnamomum cassia and cinnamaldehyde on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated J774A.1 cells. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 5(4), 164–170 Fattori V, Hohmann MS, Rossaneis AC, Pinho-Ribeiro FA, Verri WA. Capsaicin: Current understanding of its mechanisms and therapy of pain and other pre-clinical and clinical uses. Molecules. 2016;21(7):844. doi:10.3390/molecules21070844 Menthol or methyl salicylate are made from mint extracts. They’re common anesthetics and work by constricting muscles to help decrease muscular and joint pain. This ingredient may also help aid colds and congestion when inhaled.

Pharmacy product

Tension headaches are not life threatening, though if you think you suffer from chronic tension headaches, you should speak to a healthcare professional. It is best to consult a doctor about aches, pains, or health concerns that last for more than a few days, get worse, or return. Higashi, Y., Kiuchi, T., & Furuta, K. (2010, January). Efficacy and safety profile of a topical methyl salicylate and menthol patch in adult patients with mild to moderate muscle strain: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study [Abstract]. Clinical Therapeutics, 32(1), 34–43