What’s Inside Tiger Balm? Definitely not Actual Tigers
FIERY. FIERCE. SINUS-CLEARING.Anyone who’s stood within wafting distance of a marathon knows the smell: Tiger Balm. The classic pain-relieving ointment can be traced to a Chinese herbalist who began selling it in the 1870s; subsequently commercialized by his sons, it’s been sold around the world ever since. The balm promises to “work where it hurts,” and many medical and sports professionals agree: A vigorous rub of the ointment on a sore muscle or bruised body part eases the aches. But unlike ibuprofen or aspirin, Tiger Balm doesn’t attack the source of the pain. It’s made of so-called counterirritants, substances that cause mild hot and cool sensations on your skin to distract your brain. In other words, Tiger Balm won’t pounce on your pain—but it will confuse and delight your nerve endings (and your nose) with tingle-inducing ingredients.
Camphor
One of the muscle balm’s two active ingredients (meaning the FDA recognizes its medicinal properties), camphor reduces pain through distraction by activating your skin’s temperature sensors and tricking you into feeling cold. There’s only so much input the nervous system can handle in one location, so forcing the body to focus on the chills has the effect of masking the underlying pain.
One of the muscle balm’s two active ingredients (meaning the FDA recognizes its medicinal properties), camphor reduces pain through distraction by activating your skin’s temperature sensors and tricking you into feeling cold. There’s only so much input the nervous system can handle in one location, so forcing the body to focus on the chills has the effect of masking the underlying pain.
Menthol
The other active player, menthol, is an alcohol extracted from mint oil. Like camphor, it triggers your cold receptors, which might be why it reduces blood flow and swelling—just like an ice pack. Because it also seems to interact with opioid receptors, menthol may have painkilling effects beyond its powers of distraction and inflammation reduction.
The other active player, menthol, is an alcohol extracted from mint oil. Like camphor, it triggers your cold receptors, which might be why it reduces blood flow and swelling—just like an ice pack. Because it also seems to interact with opioid receptors, menthol may have painkilling effects beyond its powers of distraction and inflammation reduction.
Dementholized Mint Oil
Though it’s the byproduct of the menthol extraction process, this stuff still contains menthol—but it’s cheaper in this form. Plus, it’s 26 percent menthone (menthol with two fewer hydrogen atoms), which may help the other ingredients penetrate the skin.
Though it’s the byproduct of the menthol extraction process, this stuff still contains menthol—but it’s cheaper in this form. Plus, it’s 26 percent menthone (menthol with two fewer hydrogen atoms), which may help the other ingredients penetrate the skin.
Cajuput, Cassia, and Clove Oils
More neurological tricksters. These oils are believed to be counterirritants like menthol and camphor, except they can simulate heat as well as cold. The FDA isn’t convinced they can relieve pain, but clove oil is widely used as a natural analgesic.
More neurological tricksters. These oils are believed to be counterirritants like menthol and camphor, except they can simulate heat as well as cold. The FDA isn’t convinced they can relieve pain, but clove oil is widely used as a natural analgesic.
Paraffin Petrolatum
The carrier for all the other ingredients, this is a mixture of a hard wax (paraffin) and a soft petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline. Both are crude oil derivatives made up of chains of carbon and hydrogen. But the chains in paraffin tend to be slightly longer, and the degree of attraction between these molecules is proportional to the surface area. So the paraffin molecules stick together and stay harder at room temperature, while the petrolatum spreads more easily. Together they make a semisolid that softens at just around body temperature—the purrrfect vehicle for delivering brightly burning tiger tingles.
The carrier for all the other ingredients, this is a mixture of a hard wax (paraffin) and a soft petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline. Both are crude oil derivatives made up of chains of carbon and hydrogen. But the chains in paraffin tend to be slightly longer, and the degree of attraction between these molecules is proportional to the surface area. So the paraffin molecules stick together and stay harder at room temperature, while the petrolatum spreads more easily. Together they make a semisolid that softens at just around body temperature—the purrrfect vehicle for delivering brightly burning tiger tingles.
0 comments