|  | Conditions Treatments | Muscle Strain

Recipes to Make Tiger Balm

Tiger balm was originally made by Chinese healers and herbalists. It was and still is used to relieve sore muscles, headaches and chest congestion. The balm works by dilating the blood vessels and bringing blood close to the skin surface, which then creates a sensation of warmth. You can find it in any Chinatown, and you can also make it at home. The ingredients are easy to come by, and there are many recipes to use.

  1. Basic Process

    • You can make tiger balm by melting a few natural ingredients in the microwave. Ingredients are one part soy wax to one part edible oil (such as canola). A little beeswax (about 5 percent of the whole mixture) helps keep it solid. Melt the beeswax and soy wax only for a few seconds. Use a small plastic cup for this or another container that will not melt in the microwave. When this base is liquid, you can mix in the canola oil and some essential oils to make tiger balm. Pour the mixture into small containers to cool.

    Recipe with Essential Oils

    • A standard recipe for tiger balm includes 10 drops of essential oil of peppermint, 10 drops of essential oil of eucalyptus, 5 drops of essential oil of clove, 60 ml of extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil and 15 grams of beeswax. You can vary the amounts of the oils for more intensity of one or the other. The balm is used for sore muscles as well as for colds, congestion and sinusitis. You can apply it to the throat and chest for relief from discomfort.

    Varieties with Additional Oils

    • Most recipes for tiger balm like the one here include camphor, mint oil (which has menthol in it) and clove oil. You can double or triple the recipe to make larger amounts. The camphor, clove and mint have anaesthetic properties. Usually you will feel the warmth and then some coolness in the area where the balm was applied. There are several varieties of tiger balm sold. The white variety is a bit milder and often used to treat itching and pain. Th red balm is a bit stronger with some Cassia oil added to the mixture. Generally this works well for muscle soreness. You can also experiment with other essential oils to create a version with a lighter odor.

Muscle Strain - Related Articles