Have you made Tiger Balm?

Tiger Balm is my go to cure all. As a kid, it soothed headaches, mossie bites and worked as a great insect repellent. We had one jar in the medicine cupboard that my dad had brought back from Hong Kong sometime in the sixties! When I lived in the South East Asia, everyone had their own jar and it was a staple on the shopping list. I always wondered if I could make my own, but seeing as it was so cheap and you could buy it in just about any shop, there didn’t really seem much point. Now I’m a little older and wiser and its damn expensive in the US. I’m learning lots in the Natural Medicine BB’s, so have a much better understanding of how to make the stuff - beeswax and coconut oil instead of paraffin. I found some online recipes:

How to make red tiger balm
How to make white tiger balm
Home made tiger oil (with emu oil???)

Do you have personal experience of making tiger balm? Do you have a trust recipe you’re willing to share?

Cheers.

I also am a big tiger balm fan (I even keep a tiny tin of it in my wallet....), but for shoulder/neck pain I have what sounds like a "tiger oil" type thing that is my go-to, and it's almost gone so I have been thinking about mixing up my replacement batch, but I'm excited to see what other folks are using!

The oil I use is a blend of lemongrass, eucalyptus globulus, and peppermint essential oils. It is way more intense than any of the tiger balms I`ve tried! (also 100% emu free)

I've made tiger balm and put it in one of the available screw up deodorant size containers for applying. Much cheaper than the original.

Tereza Okava wrote:I also am a big tiger balm fan (I even keep a tiny tin of it in my wallet....), but for shoulder/neck pain I have what sounds like a "tiger oil" type thing that is my go-to, and it's almost gone so I have been thinking about mixing up my replacement batch, but I'm excited to see what other folks are using!

The oil I use is a blend of lemongrass, eucalyptus globulus, and peppermint essential oils. It is way more intense than any of the tiger balms I`ve tried! (also 100% emu free)

I’ve used for muscle aches and it was brilliant when I tore my ACL. That sounds like a lovely blend. I’ve just made my first balm and I’m amazed how good it is - just peppermint for the BB. I’m guessing, making your own, is a bit like blending spices for garam masala / curry powders. Game on . . .

Robert Ray wrote:I've made tiger balm and put it in one of the available screw up deodorant size containers for applying. Much cheaper than the original.

Good to know - thanks Robert.

I have my own version I make with the additions of arnica oil, St. John's wort, and Comfrey-infused tallow or oil. I'm always happy to share my recipes, but please don't sell the recipe or the product. I share for others to benefit their health, no charge.
Carla's Deep Intense
1 - 1oz bottle herb pharm arnica oil (https://www.herb-pharm.com/product/arnica-oil/)
2oz St Johns wort oil
2oz tallow, macadamia, or jojoba, double-infused with Comfrey
10 drops each of these essential oils: cassia cinnamon, camphor, clove, wintergreen, black pepper, ginger
Combine into a dark, roll-on bottle, & shake well, before use. If using tallow, you may need to roll the bottle in your Habs a bit, to warm it.

To use it, just massage a few drops in, at a time, until you feel like you've got the coverage you need. It doesn't need to feel like you took a bath in it. Just enough to lubricate the skin, to comfortably massage it. Cover it with plastic wrap, and for the fastest, best results, add some heat - a hot water bottle, heating pad, hot rice bag - whatever works for you. Just don't make it TOO hot - just very comfortingly warm. I prefer doing it after a shower, just before bed, so it will stay on a good long time, & so it's a time when my body is ready to relax. But, sometimes, I'll put it on, getting ready for working out, or on my chores, too.

If you want a soft, easy to use salve, add 1pt beeswax:5pts oil. For a soft bar, use 2pts oil:1pt beeswax, for a harder bar, 1:1. Just keep in mind,  the beeswax properties, beyond hardening the bar; it will lessen the strength of the oil, but will also keep it sealed into the skin better. So, you may need to use it a bit more frequently - but, it will stay put longer/ wipe off less. I like the oil or soft salve, best.

My long term goal is to grow my own arnica and st Johns wort.  

Thank you Carla. That’s just what I was looking for. I soooo need to plant comfrey - don’t tell anyone here that I don’t!

Edward Norton wrote:Thank you Carla. That’s just what I was looking for. I soooo need to plant comfrey - don’t tell anyone here that I don’t!

I don't have any growing yet, either! I've been buying mine from the Mennonites. I'm hoping to get that 'remedied' next spring!

I use the deodorant tube so I don't have to use my hands while applying the Tiger Balm. Tiger Balm and my homemade version get hotter if you take a shower. I applied some with my hands once and then went about my chores, a restroom stop before finishing up,  and jumping in the shower. Now I'm not sure the ladies would have the same problem. Once the water hit my nether regions I was doing a full blown shower River Dance with appropriate Celtic high notes. My wife just corrected me she says it sounded like Gaelic gibberish. Use caution with your homemade versions.

Robert Ray wrote:I use the deodorant tube so I don't have to use my hands while applying the Tiger Balm. Tiger Balm and my homemade version get hotter if you take a shower. I applied some with my hands once and then went about my chores, a restroom stop before finishing up,  and jumping in the shower. Now I'm not sure the ladies would have the same problem. Once the water hit my nether regions I was doing a full blown shower River Dance with appropriate Celtic high notes. My wife just corrected me she says it sounded like Gaelic gibberish. Use caution with your homemade versions.

I can promise you - the ladies would have an even more intense experience. 😬🤐😂🤣