The History of Tiger Balm
Have you ever have seen those little jars with tigers on them at your local store or pharmacy? Perhaps you are already a loyal customer of this popular balm. I’m talking about Tiger Balm. This formula has a 100-year-old legacy, its roots traced back to a small village in China in the 1860s. An herbalist, Aw Chu Kin, first set off to Rangoon and settled there creating formulas and recipes for herbal remedies. It wasn’t until 1908 that the grandsons of Aw Chu Kin, Boon Par, and Boon Haw took the family recipes and created what is considered a “cure-all” balm in China for almost a century.
This analgesic balm was officially named in 1924 – Tiger Balm – by Boon Haw, after himself. Tiger Balm quickly became popular; a go-to for many ailments including itchy bug bites, cold symptoms, headaches, or muscle aches. It became part of every family’s first aid kit, making it a staple in every home and office. “It is much stronger than most similar products on the market. Vicks contains 8.6 percent active ingredients: synthetic camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. Tiger Balm contains 60 percent, including natural camphor, mint oil, cajuput oil, menthol and clove oil” (DeWolf).
Tiger Balm is an excellent ointment that works for many ailments, however, it also smells strong. Some people, over the years, valued its healing properties but were not willing to smell bad because of it. So the company re-branded, creating many different forms of the analgesic balm including patches and different scent options.
This balm may have a history of over a century, but it’s makers are not about to fall into obscurity. They are using social media to advertise their balm. The nostalgia or “grandparent remedy” that Tiger Balm projects in China are not so in other countries, where it can be considered a new herbal formula for many ailments.
At Acupuncture Atlanta, we have known the benefits and quality of Tiger Balm for some time, carrying it for years. Learn more about Tiger Balm products here.
Interested in learning more about the 100-year-old tradition of Tiger Balm and watching a video about this company?
Tiger Balm Products
- Minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with over-exertion
- Simple backache
- Arthritis
- Strains
- Sprains
- Minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with over-exertion
- Simple backache
- Arthritis
- Strains
- Sprains
- Supports normal joint and muscle function
- Backache
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Stiffness
- Joint pain
- Joint redness
- Joint tenderness
- Joint swelling
- Joint warmth
- Minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with over-exertion
- Simple backache
- Arthritis
- Strains
- Sprains
Pain Relieving Patches
The Tiger Balm Patch uses a new delivery technology to deliver its pain-relieving formula to “Where it Hurts”. Five patches come in a re-useable zip pouch for convenient storage and use. Tiger Balm Patch is fast-acting, long-lasting, and is not messy. Stick it to your pain!
- Minor aches and pains associated with arthritis
- Backaches
- Stiffness
- Muscle strains
About Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm, with a rich history of success dating back to the ancient courts of Chinese emperors, has evolved into a line of formulations used for its soothing relief from everyday pains and discomforts. The Tiger Balm herbal ointments have been developed using time tested formulas joined with modern innovations. The penetrating rubs, herbal ointments, and patches are so effective, many are used by massage therapists, chiropractors, sports trainers, and collegiate and professional sports teams.
References
Dewolf, Christopher. “The Tiger Balm story: how ointment for every ailment was created, fell out of favour, then found new generation of users” South China Morning Post. International Edition. 17 Feb. 2018. Web.
Video Transcript
00:00
This is Tiger Balm.
00:08
One ointment to cure them all.
00:10
From bug bites to rashes and muscle pain.
00:29
Tiger Balm has been a popular pain reliever
00:31
in the East for over 100 years.
00:33
The West is finally catching on,
00:35
and the relieving burn is growing in popularity.
00:38
It’s a must-have backstage for Lady Gaga.
00:40
Benedict Cumberbatch is a fan.
00:42
And of course,
00:43
Gwyneth Paltrow gives it the thumbs up.
00:48
It’s found in the medicine cabinets
00:49
of just about every Chinese household.
00:52
But what’s so special about it?
00:57
pain-relieving product.
00:58
And that analgesic property
00:59
comes from substances known as counterirritants.
01:02
Like camphor,
01:03
menthol,
01:04
cajuput,
01:05
clove and cassia oil.
01:07
Counterirritants distract the brain
01:08
by creating hot and cold sensations on the skin.
01:11
The product was invented by this guy.
01:13
A herbalist who migrated to Myanmar from South China,
01:16
to open an apothecary.
01:28
And mass produces they did.
01:31
Today Tiger Balm is moving away from its old school feel.
01:35
It’s tweaking its image from a grandma’s favorite remedy,
01:37
to a must-have for every athlete.
Jemile earned a degree in Food Studies and Writing and has worked for almost 23 years in the medical and health industries. She has been a digital marketing consultant for Acupuncture Atlanta since 2011 as the social media manager and content manager. Writing has been a childhood dream for Jemile and writing daily for clients in the health, wellness, food, and art industries have been phenomenal. Jemile is originally from Brooklyn, NY, and lives in the Hudson Valley, NY. She lives with her husband, two daughters, her dog, and two fish. You can contact Jemile via Linkedin, her mom blog, or her website, lunaroseconsulting.com
