Tiger Balm® is an ointment which is designed to treat muscle aches and pains. Application of the ointment creates a feeling of heat in the muscle, encouraging it to relax and easing pain. The ingredients in Tiger Balm® are also supposed to help promote rapid healing. The Tiger Balm® company manufactures a large line of products, including the classic Tiger Balm®, an assortment of ointments and liniments, and cool packs for treatment of inflamed muscles.

According to the company, the recipe for Tiger Balm® was developed in the 1870s by Aw Chu Lin, an herbalist who lived and worked in Burma. He marketed his products to the Chinese, especially the Imperial Court, and his children later moved the product and its manufacture to Singapore, where it is now managed by the Haw Par Healthcare Company. Lin's original Tiger Balm® formed the basis for a large family of preparations aimed at treating a range of conditions.

The basic recipe for Tiger Balm® includes menthol, camphor, clove bud oil, cajuput oil, and mint oil in a base of paraffin or petroleum jelly. These ingredients all create the feeling of heat when they are applied, and some can help to stimulate bloodflow as well. The balm also has a very strong and distinctive odor; many people who have used it at some point could recognize the smell anywhere. This basic recipe is used to make Tiger Balm® Red, a product for sore muscles, along with an assortment of muscle rubs, joint rubs, and liniments.

Tiger Balm® White is a slightly less strong formulation which is sometimes helpful for the treatment of congestion, itchy skin, and headaches. An even more mild version of the product is known as Tiger Balm® Soft, and it uses lavender and mild essential oils, which are designed to work on mild muscle aches, headaches, itchiness, and sprains. For people who find the odor of the original Tiger Balm® a bit intense, this can be a more pleasant alternative.

Most markets and drug stores carry original Tiger Balm®, and a few of the products in this diverse family are often available as well. As with any liniment which creates a feeling of heat, Tiger Balm® should be used carefully. It can cause skin irritation when applied in excess, and it can also mask the symptoms of a more serious problem which might require medical attention. It is a very good idea to keep Tiger Balm® away from mucus membranes to avoid an uncomfortable burning sensation.