Tiger balm Red and white - instructions for use

In Thailand, there are many balms of different colors, almost all the colors of the rainbow.
It is believed that the more poisonous the color of the balm and the richer it is, the greater the effect of the balm and the more effective and stronger it will be. As you might guess, the most harmless and light balm will be white and can be used by almost everyone; usually experienced masters use it for the simplest massage.

But Thai red balm is rightfully considered the most powerful; it can no longer be used for this type of massage. Red Thai massage consists of natural herbs that have a special effect.

The History of Tiger Balm

Thai legend attributes the invention of tiger ointment to the famous healer and herbalist, O Chu Kin. In the 70s of the 19th century, a famous herbalist collected in the required proportions the ingredients and compositions that were used to treat the Chinese emperors. The newly invented ointment, which heals bruises, soothes pain and warms the body, brought O Chu Kin fame in his native Rangoon. The healer passed on the secret of making the balm to his sons, and soon the miraculous remedy conquered the markets of Singapore and Malaysia. Buyers quickly snapped up jars with the image of a tiger, symbolizing strength and health. The analogy was so successful that today the product is known as “tiger ointment from Thailand” or “tiger balm.”

Due to the high demand caused by the truly unique effect of the ointment, the Sons of O Chu Kin launched mass production of the product in the 20s of the 20th century and founded it in Singapore. Currently, the “Red” and “White” Tiger can be purchased at any pharmacy in Thailand or ordered online.

Tiger Balm Tiger Balm

Thai balms for joint pain

This is not a panacea for sure, since you need to deal not with the effect, but with the cause of joint pain. But Thai balm can reduce joint pain (tested on my mother and grandmother), just choose not the most nuclear one. You can use something like red balm, green balm or tiger balm.

Will Thai balm help with eczema-psoriasis-dermatitis-hernia and other things?

On one site I came across a description of one of the balms that it can help people start walking. That is, for bedridden people. Well, not unscrupulous? Don’t let yourself be deceived, they will lie to you about three times just to sell you, it’s a no brainer. And here’s another “anecdote” - I quote: “apply Thai balm to the affected area when treating hemorrhoids.” Is it normal? To set a speed record for a hundred meters or something?

Just imagine what will happen to a person who trustfully rubs his hemorrhoid-affected area with Thai balm. Such sellers should be impaled so that they can experience the effect of the balm on themselves during pain in this area. There are a lot of balms, but they need to be sold, so some people simply don’t have a conscience.

No. Thai balms will not help against any serious diseases! They are not able to cure psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, etc. I myself personally bought Thai ointments for psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis and tried them on my relatives and even on children (oh, gullible). Did not help. There are prescription remedies for these sores, and in general, in this case, it is better to go to a dermatologist. The same psoriasis can be stopped with 1 injection, which helps for 1-3 months.

How not to use Thai balm

Do not try to smear any of the Thai balms on open wounds. No Thai balms will cure your hernia, psoriasis, or other serious medical diagnoses. Do not smear Thai balm on children, try it on yourself first. Thai ointments should not be smeared on the mucous area

Range of applications and properties of the balm

The range of uses of the ointment is extremely wide: it can be used for dermatological, mycotic, viral, and colds; injuries, bruises and fractures; circulatory disorders.

Properties and areas of application of tiger ointment:

Tiger balm has an antiseptic effect - it kills germs on the surface being treated;
Used as an anti-inflammatory agent;
The composition soothes itching and relieves swelling; it can be used after insect bites;
Balms “White Tiger” and “Red Tiger” improve metabolic processes, increase blood flow, thereby accelerating regenerative functions in the body. The product accelerates the resorption of hematomas and bone fusion;
The ointment warms up the muscles well, which allows it to be used before intense sports activity: training or competition.
With long-term use, it prevents the formation of salt deposits in the joints;
Prevents the development and spread of fungus, improves the absorption of other drugs (you must first consult a doctor when using with other drugs);
Inhalation with a small amount of tiger balm is detrimental to viruses in the respiratory tract;
The product promotes local restoration of strength, elasticity and patency of blood vessels;
Quickly restores and warms overcooled tissues;
Improves blood flow in numb limbs;
Applying a small amount of tiger balm to the temples relieves headaches and improves brain function;
Inhalations with tiger ointment improve the removal of mucus from the lungs and help cure a runny nose.
Rubbing the chest with the “White Tiger” or “Red Tiger” shows a good healing effect in the treatment of colds.

Red Tiger Balm

Composition of the miracle remedy

With so many positive effects, it seems that the drug must contain complex ingredients and a huge number of components. In fact, the instructions state that the composition is extremely simple, all components are natural, and the therapeutic and preventive effect is achieved by enhancing the action of each other by the components.

Tiger ointment is created on the basis of white paraffin and petroleum jelly. Thanks to this, it has a dense structure and quickly melts from the heat of the human body.

Thai balm will help relieve headaches

Nonsense. 1 time out of 100. And then, if you rubbed your temples with balm, and then ate, and the pain went away, because it was caused by a decrease in blood sugar or something like that. A massage with a balm for headaches helped me once, so my opinion is that a balm without a Pentalgin tablet for headaches is profanity.

(UPD. After 6 years of living in Thailand, I can say that Thai balm in combination with a massage helped me get rid of headaches twice:) It’s difficult to say whether it will help you or not, but sometimes it’s worth a try, since even just smelling a collection of Thai herbs with eucalyptus, borneol, lavender, can help relieve headache attacks. Rubbing Thai ointment into the area of your temples and neck and massaging a little won’t hurt either. Of course, it won’t help with a migraine, but if the headache is caused by pinched muscles, fatigue, or incorrect posture when working, then it will do just fine.

If you like roll-on aromatic oils, there is a very good line from Sabay Arome, which you can buy at Boots Pharmacy. They are designed to soothe, relieve headaches, etc., but in reality they don’t always work, but they smell delicious and are 100% natural

Thai balms for arthritis and pinched joints

Yes. An excellent tool. You can use absolutely any Thai balm; there is not much difference between a sports balm and just a balm. Thai balm as a remedy for muscle pain is designed to warm, improve blood circulation, relieve swelling, soreness of muscles and joints, which it copes with most successfully. I have two athletes in my family and very, very many jars of various Thai ointments. Most of all, they “respect” green and red Thai balm, since the red one actively and quickly warms up and relieves pain, while the green one first warms up and then cools. The main thing is not to overdo it and mix Thai ointment with regular cream or oil, because if you smear it all over your body, it won’t be good, we tried it, I know what I’m talking about :))

I like these Thai balms - yellow and green from 7/11. Not smelly and helps with sprains - good for muscle pain

Of course, in different situations you need to use different Thai balm. First, determine whether the painful area can be heated or whether it needs to be cooled. For example, in the case of “tennis elbow” (which affects not only tennis players, but also people carrying buckets and potatoes in their dachas), you first need to cool it (for a week), and only then warm it up.

Thai balms - How not to buy a fake?

Thai balms and ointments also help well against radiculitis, arthritis, pinching and pain in joints and muscles. All the grandparents I know are delighted with the black, red, green balm. Tastes are divided and some people prefer Thai ointments based on snake venom, others prefer tiger balm, one way or another, this product is absolutely necessary for those over 50. In a few minutes of massage it relieves joint pain, improves blood circulation and metabolism , helps you sleep at night, during colds and flu epidemics.

There is no point in buying balms similar to Thai ones. The price for Thai balm is small, but there are many fakes even in Thailand. Prices for such ointments fluctuate for a reason; they directly depend on the quality of the composition and ingredients. The simplest ones contain a lot of petroleum jelly and a little bit of eucalyptus with borneol. Good Thai balms have a large list of herbs that will really help relieve conditions associated with pain in joints and muscles. It is also useful to apply the ointment on a cotton swab and leave it at the head of the bed during colds or nasal congestion. Please note that Thai balms are strictly prohibited for massage for children!!! There are special herbal ointments for children, which are much softer in their properties, but also contain useful extracts of herbs and plants. My favorite is lavender, it’s called a sleep balm. I massage my youngest daughter with it, it helps calm her down and set her up for a quiet, peaceful sleep.

Balms from Thailand for insect bites and after bites

Yes. I use this balm:

green balm for mosquito bites

since it was recommended in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, after the birth of my daughter, it is ok, and even small children can be smeared. Any Thai balm with a cooling effect is suitable for insect bites, just do not experiment on children. Most often it is green or blue.

Which Thai balm to choose for massage?

A must if you like the smell. If you think that Thai massage parlors use some wonderful Thai balm for all diseases, then alas. They use exactly the same ones that are sold in pharmacies. If you have any preferences, feel free to bring your own. Thai masseuses (good ones) always use ointments and balms during the massage, even if this is not provided. For example, during a Thai massage. Let me remind you that you are in a special “robe” during it, but at the very end the masseuse will definitely rub the ointment on your neck, back and shoulder blades so that the warmed and massaged muscles relax even better.

Thai balms in Pattaya Beauty

in general, yes, Thai balm for massage is very good, but you don’t need to smear it all over your body, just energy points, such as temples, feet, neck and maybe a little back. If you want to massage a large area with balm, as I said earlier, mix the balm with massage cream. For one application, a balm the size of the upper phalanx of the little finger is enough.

Here's an example: good and inexpensive Thai balms. Also at the pharmacy

Blue Thai balm for varicose veins - reviews and experience

During varicose veins, massage is contraindicated, as is heating. So the only suitable option in this case is blue Thai balm.

There is a blue Thai balm that helps with varicose veins. I tried it on my mother, who even had surgery to remove veins on her legs, and she really praised this balm. When I say that you should not use it during a massage for varicose veins, I mean that you should not go to a massage parlor with varicose veins. In decent salons there is a sign with a list of contraindications for massage, and inflammation of the veins is one of them. But the Thai blue balm Royal Thai Herb (royal thai herb), for varicose veins, is still worth buying, as it very pleasantly cools, relieves heaviness and fatigue in the legs, will be especially useful for those who have slow blood circulation in the vessels of the legs, for smokers , for those who have a sedentary or standing job for a long time; for drivers, in general this blue balm is a good thing and is needed on the farm. It should be used several times a week, very carefully massaging the painful areas, without pressure, gently, without any other means except your palms. Do not press, do not use massage rollers. We received this advice from a phlebologist.

Blue Thai balm royal thai herb is not cheap in Thailand either; blue balm is one of the most expensive, on par with tiger balm or even a little more expensive. If you didn’t have time to buy it in Thailand, don’t worry, you can order it in Russia. I can recommend an online store of Thai cosmetics in Moscow, the quality of whose products I am confident in. Deliver all over the world. I myself ordered Japanese Hada Labo creams and gels there, since they disappeared from sale in Thailand. The price is quite reasonable - blue Thai balm is 450 rubles and there are often some discounts and promotions.

How to use Thai balms, ointments, inhalers for colds

I can say this about myself: if I have a cold, I take a menthol sniffer, some liquid Thai balm and go to the sauna. I breathe essential oils there diligently, I repeat several times - the cold goes away before it even starts. I also drink Thai tea Matumbael at the same time, it is simply a brilliant remedy for coughs and colds. For children, it is an ideal remedy to treat symptoms of cough before it travels down to the lungs. In Thailand, buying it is not a problem; it is even available by weight in large supermarkets. There is one in Russia, too, here . You shouldn’t smear yourself with Thai balms in the sauna, as the smeared areas will burn so much that you won’t be able to sit for even a minute (I tried it).

you can buy something like this. recommended for rooms where children are often present, as a disinfectant (eucalyptus in a spray bottle)

So for a runny nose, I recommend Thai inhaler sniffers, which are available in any 7/11, or just a jar of balm, a light version like white Thai balm, which can be smeared under the nose without fear of burning the mucous membrane.

For motion sickness and nausea, I also recommend Thai snuff inhalers. They should always be at hand.

thai inhaler photo

And in Russia they go with a bang, because on a cold winter day they help to pierce the nose, relieve nausea during motion sickness in transport, etc.

A very, very good thing, this is a Thai liquid roll-on balm. Inside, in a glass flask, a collection of herbs is filled with extract, eucalyptus, borneol, menthol, etc. It is convenient to smear the temples, under the nose, helps during motion sickness, colds, nausea, can be used in the sauna and is convenient to carry in your purse.

I have this Thai liquid balm .

Contraindications

Even this natural and healthy product has several contraindications:

Intolerance or allergy to one or more components of the drug;
Oncological diseases;
The presence of warts, moles, open and bleeding wounds, and pustules in the treatment area;
Heat;
Pregnancy and lactation;
Increased skin sensitivity;
Children up to 3 years old when using the “White Tiger” and up to 7 years old when using the “Red Tiger” drug.

User reviews

Reviews from Internet users report that tiger ointment is very thick in consistency, milky or red-brown in color (depending on whether the “Red” or “White” tiger is used) and quickly “melts”, reacting to the heat of the human body.

User Walery

If you have pain in your lower back or neck or joints, then Red Tiger is your go-to. Well, it’s clear that this is not a panacea, but it brings very noticeable relief.

(https://otzovik.com/review_2643003.html)

User Vazary88

The packaging says that the balm is intended for headaches. In fact, it is great for helping with insect bites, back and joint pain, and sprains.

Has a cooling effect.

(https://otzovik.com/review_8061358.html)

User Tanya-Tanya

Apply it to the place where it hurts and... that’s it, after half an hour - you are already a person, the pain goes away. What is there! Inflammation stops and hematomas resolve. I recently treated a sprain and bruise with ointment after slipping on the road. The pain was severe and there was swelling. The pain instantly disappeared, the swelling and inflammation was treated with ointment for several days, and now I forgot where everything was.

An indispensable ointment for colds. Runny nose, aches, headaches - all this goes away quickly! I also treat it at home with inhalations, adding ointments to hot water for cough and sinusitis. Instead of potatoes, I put a match head of balm in boiling water, stir it, put a blanket on top - and breathe! A few inhalations - goodbye ARVI, cough!

The balm is very good for the treatment of osteochondrosis, radiculitis, neuralgia, sore throat, headaches. I recently learned that this ointment is used for neuroses: after all, camphor and mint have a calming effect.

(https://otzovik.com/review_2588578.html)

User Georgy Volin

From my own experience, I am convinced that Tiger Balm from Haw Par Corporation is very effective and deserves a place in our first aid kits!

(https://otzovik.com/review_3480291.html)

Details

This balm speeds up the process of bone fusion, helps with dislocations and fractures, as well as with cracks in the bones. Treats all possible joint diseases, and also helps if excess salt is deposited in the joints. But the main feature of this remedy is that it helps people who have temporary paralysis of their limbs, in addition, it helps perfectly with numbness.

It will also help those who always suffer from the accumulation of excess air in the intestines in the form of colic, as well as stomach pain. If you suddenly fall ill or just have a cold, then red balm will also help if used correctly. The instructions for use are simple, any child or elderly person can handle it, the balm does not require rubbing, it is enough to apply it to certain areas of the body.

If you have a cold, you usually spread it on your feet and simply put warm socks on top so that the balm warms up and produces the desired effect. Another method of use for colds is almost the same as applying mustard plasters to the chest, first apply the ointment, and then wrap yourself with a warm scarf or gauze on top for an additional thermal effect. When heated, the balm begins to have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect; in other words, its ingredients become even more effective. And our grandparents will definitely remember another way to use the balm; the easiest way is to do various inhalations using the balm; to do this, dissolve a small amount of the product over a saucepan and begin to actively breathe in its vapor.

For those who suffer from constant headaches, the balm should be applied to the temples and the painful area. If you suffer from indigestion or your stomach hurts from eating the wrong foods, then the red balm can be applied directly to the stomach without rubbing; after use, you will need to wash it off. The balm will be a great help for those who have been sitting in the cold for too long and have caught inflammation or simply have a cold somewhere in the neck; for treatment, you need to apply a small amount of the product to the affected areas.

However, it is not recommended to self-medicate, it is best to consult a good doctor about the use of this balm, and if you are already prescribed other medications, then you need to inform that you are also going to use Thai red balm to complement the treatment. In order for the doctor to understand everything correctly, you need to provide the composition of the medicine and make sure that you are not allergic to it. Usually, Thai doctors allow children from about three years of age and older to take this balm, but our Russian doctors play it safe and recommend not giving it to children under five years of age.

Like all other balms, red cannot be used inside the body; it is prohibited to apply to any open wounds or burns. It is not advisable to use it in the spine area without special instructions from a doctor and should not be applied to the front of the head, that is, to the skin of the face. If trouble happens and the balm does get on the mucous membranes or in the eyes, then you need to rinse them thoroughly with water, but if the burning sensation does not go away, you may have to consult a doctor for advice, be careful when using it and do not let it get on open areas of the wounds. It is recommended to wash your hands with soap after using this balm, it will be even better if you buy special gloves in order to use such products, it would be good if they are separate specifically for this balm, but you will still need to wash your hands so as not to eat the contents of the balm with hands with food. There are almost no other contraindications, the main thing is that there is no allergy to the components of the drug.

Like other Thai balms, it is best to buy it in a Thai pharmacy; you should not buy it second-hand from personal sellers or at the tourist market; usually only fakes are sold in such places. There are online sales points in Russia, but there are vague reviews about them. If you want to use the balm yourself, it is better to order it from friends who are flying to Thailand on vacation if it is not possible to go to the country themselves. There is also a new opportunity that appeared quite recently - now you can order the balm online directly in Thailand and it will be delivered to you by mail anywhere in the world.

If you read reviews about Thai red balm, they will be mostly positive; people note that it copes well with headaches, and also warms and fights cold symptoms, especially if you catch the beginning signs of the disease in time. Many people write that Thai red balm really helps them out in any situation and keep it in their home medicine cabinets. Its effectiveness is also noted for various neuroses and migraines; it works great with pinched nerves.

Many people note the warming effect of the balm; during use, it begins to heat first, creating a slight impression of a bath, especially if you put gauze or a towel on top of the ointment. Many people write that for more serious treatment of joints or complex diseases, using the balm for one week will not be enough, the effect is achieved by regular use over a long period of time, the approximate treatment time is 3 weeks, if you use it on a schedule and do not violate the application schedule. It is not recommended to skip days of treatment.

It is believed that Thai red balsam is one of the hottest and spiciest, this is due to the presence of red pepper in its composition. Red pepper is an excellent natural component that can dilate blood vessels and move blood faster. Despite the fact that pepper is considered one of the most effective in the composition, it is also one of the most irritating and allergenic. Before use, doctors recommend carefully checking yourself for allergies and checking local skin reactions. To do this, you need to apply a little on your wrist and see if there is a severe burn or if a rash or other reaction develops around this area.

You can use Thai red balm as a cosmetic product to combat certain imperfections of the figure. We are talking about cellulite, which is a problem for most women. Apply a small amount of product to the required areas of the thighs and work over the area with massage movements.

Souvenir from Thailand

Balms "Red Tiger" and "White Tiger" will be an excellent gift from Thailand for friends and family members. A therapeutic souvenir will not only replace tired magnets, but will also bring tangible benefits to its recipients. Moreover, the cost of the miracle ointment is about 150-200 baht, which corresponds to 350-500 Russian rubles, and the shelf life is as much as 4 years.

You can buy jars of ointment in pharmacies in Thailand. Buying a product on the market is not the best solution due to the possibility of counterfeiting and violation of storage conditions.