The ingredients of the Tiger Balm

The Tiger Balm uses differents plants recognized for their benefactions, since Antique China. So, it is important to know what are the effects of each of the ingredients.

The camphor

The camphor represents between eleven and twenty five percent of the balm, according to the type of product (red or white). The camphor tree, or cinnamomum camphora in Latin, is a tree which grows in the south of China, on Taïwan as well as in Japan. Its height can reach fifty meters and its circumference approaches twelve meters. In the 11th century, the Arabs obtained crystals of camphor from the wood and the roots of the camphor tree. They found them effective to revitalize the heart and treat the infections. They also made incenses and flavors. So, the camphor was already used for its antiseptic and cardiotonic properties.

The essential oil of camphor is extracted after the distillation of leaves, twigs and trunks of camphor trees of more than fifty years old. This essential oil can be rubbed on the skin or used in massages to relieve the pain on all parts of body. It is considered as an analgesic, an antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory. It relieves the asthma attacks, stimulates the brain and calms down the muscular pains. It helps in the treatment of the viral diseases, like the flu.

The oil of Cajeput

The essential oil of Cajeput represents seven to ten percent of the balm. The cajeput tree, or Melaleuca leucadendron in Latin, is a tree which grows in Indonesia, in Australia and in Madagascar. Its height can exceed twenty meters. Its oval leaves and its white or yellow flowers are used to extract essential oil of Cajeput.
The essential oil of Cajeput can be mixed with some juniper berry or some sandalwood. It is used as a natural therapeutic for its numerous properties : it is tonic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antineuralgic, vermifuge, reinvigorating and stimulating. It is indicated to relieve headaches, throat pains, cold, asthma and cystitis. It is also effective against the cholera and the rheumatism.

The of Eucalyptus

It replaces the oil of cajeput in the manufacturing of the white tiger balm. It represents thirteen percent of its total composition. This oil is made with the fresh leaves of the Eucalyptus Globulus.
The properties of the oil of Eucalyptus are multiple : it is stimulating, it relieves congestion, it is anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic. It is effective against the cold, the cough, the rheum, the throat pain, the asthma, the bronchitis and the sinusitis.

The oil of mint and the menthol

The Peppermint, called also Mentha X piperta in Latin, is a hybrid plant native of the Middle East. The essential oil of mint represents fifteen to sixteen percent of the composition of white tiger balm and five or six of the red balm. It is especially used for the inflammations of the respiratory system. We also use it to relieve headaches, protect the nipples of the nursing mothers against cracks, and to prevent and the travel sickness.
The menthol is an organic compound, it can be of synthetic origin or extract from some essential oil of peppermint. Its proportion is ten percent in the red tiger balm and eight percent in the white tiger balm. As local anesthetic, the menthol is used to relieve the migraines, the cramps and the sprains. We use it in the treatment of the sunburns , for its effect of cooling.

The oil of cloves

The Clove tree, or caryophyllus Eugenia in Latin, is a shrub with varnished leaves which grows in the tropical countries, especially the Moluccas islands in the North of Indonesia and Zanzibar island in Tanzania. The essential oil of cloves represents five percent of red tiger balm and one or two percent of the white balm.

It is used for its numerous properties: it is an aromatic, a painkiller, an antineuralgic, an urinary antiseptic, a healing product, a stimulant and an aphrodisiac We use it for the infected wounds, the muscular, articular and dental pains and the respiratory problems.

The cannelier of China or Cassia Fistula

The cassia is a very known tree in India. It blooms at the end of the spring. All its components are used in Asia and in Europe. They represent five percent of the total composition of the red tiger balm.

The properties of the cannelier of China are numerous: it is antiseptic, astringent and laxative. That is why it is used to treat the outside poisoning by stings of scorpions or snake bites…

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