Can Tiger Balm Help With Aches and Pains?

Summary

Chasing Life — “Can Tiger Balm Help With Aches and Pains?”

Host: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Date: October 7, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta addresses listeners’ health queries, focusing on the effectiveness and safety of Tiger Balm for aches and pains—a traditional remedy widely used in many Asian households. The conversation delves into what Tiger Balm is, how it works, when it should (and shouldn't) be used, and the evidence supporting its efficacy. Later in the episode, Dr. Gupta tackles a question about whether taking antibiotics can prevent you from catching bacterial infections like pneumonia.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. What Is Tiger Balm and How Does It Work?

[02:58–04:30]

• Product Overview: Tiger Balm is an over-the-counter topical ointment originating from East Asia in the late 1800s and now widely available in the West.
• Usage: Commonly applied for muscle soreness, strains, aches, or minor injuries; familiar as an immediate go-to remedy in many Asian families, including Dr. Gupta's.
• Main Ingredients:
  • Menthol: Extracted from mint oil, provides a cooling or warming sensation that distracts from pain, decreases inflammation, and increases blood flow.
  • Camphor: Originally from the camphor tree (now often synthetic); produces similar effects as menthol.
• How It Works: Both menthol and camphor act as counterirritants—creating a sensation (cool/warm) that temporarily “distracts” the brain from the underlying pain.

“They are what are known as counter irritants, which are pretty much like what they sound in some ways. They provide a counter irritation, which may work by distracting you.”
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [03:35]

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2. Scientific Evidence and Applications

[04:30–05:40]

• Effective For:
  • Muscle/joint pain (arthritis, backache, bruises, cramps, strains/sprains).
  • Some evidence for tension headaches—a recent study showed Tiger Balm to be more effective than placebo.
• Less Clear Evidence:
  • Nasal congestion: No strong studies support its use here, but the cooling sensation may "trick" the brain into feeling like breathing is easier, even if the airflow isn't actually improved.

“There was a recent study which showed a statistically significant difference in tension headache relief between Tiger Balm and placebo.”
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [05:15]

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3. Safety, Cautions, and Best Practices

[05:40–07:20]

• When You Should NOT Use Tiger Balm:
  • On broken skin or open wounds.
  • On mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyes).
  • Children under 12: consult your physician; be especially careful around infants due to transference/inhalation risks.
• Test First: Patch-test before wider application; everyone reacts differently.
• Product Variations: Other strengths/forms may include “methyl salicylate,” which acts like aspirin—check labels carefully, especially if allergic to aspirin/salicylates.

“Don’t use this on broken skin or open wounds. That probably goes without saying. Don’t use it on any area of the body with mucous membranes. And be careful around the eyes, the mouth and the nose. This stuff can last a long time and you will feel a sting for a long time.”
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [06:11]

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4. Bottom Line: Does Tiger Balm Work?

[07:20–07:39]

• For muscle pains, mild strains, and even tension headaches: There’s some evidence it helps—“at least a little.”
• For stuffy noses and other claims: More likely a function of sensory experience than physical change.
• Not a miracle cure, but not snake oil either; can be a handy tool if used responsibly.

“Tiger Balm is not a miracle cure, but it’s not snake oil either. Used correctly, it can be a helpful tool in your pain relief kit. Again, just be mindful of where and how you apply it.”
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [07:36]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Traditional Remedies:

  “I come from an Asian family that if there is an injury to the skin to the muscle, immediately we bring out the tiger balm and start rubbing the heck out of it until it gets pretty hot.”
  — Erica, listener [00:32]

• Summary Advice:

  “For things like muscle aches, sprains, even tension headaches, there is evidence it can help at least a little… Tiger Balm is not a miracle cure, but it’s not snake oil either.”
  — Dr. Sanjay Gupta [07:27]

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Additional Q&A: Antibiotics & Preventing Infections

[09:15–14:41] (Included here for completeness and context)

• Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but do NOT prevent you from catching infections like bacterial pneumonia from others.
• They are not interchangeable—must match to the specific bacteria.
• Vaccinations and hygiene are the true preventatives.
• Careless antibiotic use can cause harm and contribute to resistance.

“Point being, don’t go digging around in your medicine cabinet looking for any old medication to take. You could actually do more harm than good. Misusing antibiotics can lead to side effects… and you might have heard of antibiotic resistance.”
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta [13:43]

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Recommended Listening Segments:

• Tiger Balm discussion: [02:58–07:39]
• Antibiotic clarification: [09:15–14:41]

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Tone & Language

Candid, friendly, evidence-driven, and approachable; Dr. Gupta combines medical expertise with relatable personal anecdotes, creating a trustworthy atmosphere for listeners seeking actionable health advice.

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Final Takeaway

Tiger Balm, rooted in tradition and bolstered by some scientific evidence, offers mild relief for muscle and joint pains and tension headaches—if used cautiously and as directed. Not a panacea, but a potentially useful tool in your home remedy kit.

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For more listener questions or to submit your own, send a voice memo or email to asksanjaynn.com!

Transcript

[A]

Hey there. Welcome to Paging Dr. Gupta. Thanks so much for joining us. This is the place where we get to hear your health questions, hear your concerns, and hopefully in return provide you some real answers. Our producer Jennifer is back with us again today. She's got some brand new questions from the inbox. Who do we have first?

[B]

Hey Sanjay. Today's question is from Erica in San Diego, California. And Sanjay, I really love this question. Have a listen.

[C]

Hi, my name is Erica and I really love listening to your podcast Chasing Life. I do have a question. I recently listened to your episode regarding pain and some potential best practice remedies. I come from an Asian family that if there is an injury to the skin to the muscle, immediately we bring out the tiger bomb and start rubbing the heck out of it until it gets pretty hot. And I'm just wondering what your perspective is on this practice. Is it healthy? Does it make a difference from a long standing Chinese family? It's just like standard practice that we do immediately once someone gets hurt physically. Thank you for taking my question.

[A]

Okay Erica, that is a fantastic question. I have been thinking a lot about pain lately. I recently wrote a book about this so I'm very immersed in this. I know a lot of people who turn to products like Tiger Balm after a hard workout or after pulling a muscle. It's quite common in my family as well. I'm going to tell you what you need to know right after the break.

[D]

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[A]

Okay, first things first. Tiger Balm if You're not familiar with this. This is a topical ointment that you apply directly on your skin. It's over the counter. It's been around for a long time. It's been used in East Asia since the late 1800s and has more recently become popular here in the west as well. You can pretty much find it at any pharmacy. It's usually right there in the section next to bandages and ibuprofen. So what's actually in Tiger Balm? I'm going to be talking today about the classic Tiger Balm. That's the one that comes in a small jar. It's listed on their website as Tiger Balm Regular strength Ointment. Now, what are the active ingredients? Here they are menthol and camphor. If these sound familiar to you, it's because they're often used in topical pain relievers. They are what are known as counter irritants, which are pretty much like what they sound in some ways. They provide a counter irritation, which may work by distracting you. Think of it as sort of creating superficial irritation in one part of the body to maybe relieve irritation in another part. So, menthol, let's tackle that first. That's an alcohol extracted from mint oil. It's been used for centuries, since ancient times. If you've ever felt it, it'll make your skin feel warm or cool, which can then block pain signals going to the brain. It also decreases inflammation, increases blood flow, and as a result, can relieve minor pain in your muscles and joints. Think arthritis, simple backache, bruises, cramps, muscle strains or sprains. Camphor is derived from the camphor tree originally. Nowadays, though, it is made synthetically from an extract from pine trees. And again, works like menthol. Increases blood flow, can make your skin feel warmer or cooler. So a product like Tiger Balm can relieve or maybe distract from muscle pain or a sprain. It's not entirely clear how it works, but it has been known to relieve headaches. And there was a recent study which showed a statistically significant difference in tension headache relief between Tiger balm and placebo. Some people also swear that it works for nasal congestion, but honestly, we couldn't find any studies on that. The effectiveness of camphor or menthol as a decongestant, that is questionable. Studies have shown that aromatic ointments containing menthol and camphor actually improve airflow in the nose. But it might feel like it does because it creates a cooling sensation. That cool feeling may trick your brain into thinking that you're breathing more easily. So in that case, the relief may be more about perception than actual physical change. I do want to be clear though. If you have a serious injury, if you have serious pain, you may need to get medical attention. Don't delay doing that. Also, also, don't use this on broken skin or open wounds. That probably goes without saying. Don't use it on any area of the body with mucous membranes. And be careful around the eyes, the mouth and the nose. This stuff can last a long time and you will feel a sting for a long time. Also, when it comes to children under the age of 12, talk to your doctor about that. Obviously, be careful with this stuff around infants. If you have it on and and then you touch the baby, it can easily transfer to a baby's skin. It can also even be inhaled. And if you're thinking about it, try testing the area first on your skin as you should with any new topical painkiller. Everyone's different. Everyone's gonna react differently. Lastly, I should mention that there are other formulations and strengths of Tiger Balm aside from the classic one that I was just talking about today. Some of those come in different forms for application. Some of them are a cream or a spray. Some might have different ingredients, including methyl salicylate, which is a compound similar to aspirin. So read the ingredients on the label. You should always do that. And again, check with your doctor, especially if you have an allergy to aspirin or salicylates. So, bottom line, does Tiger Balm work well? Erica, it kind of depends on what you're using it for. For things like muscle aches, sprains, even tension headaches, there is evidence it can help at least a little. And while some people again, swear by it for congestion and other pa, it might be more about the cooling sensation than really clearing anything up. Tiger Balm is not a miracle cure, but it's not snake oil either. Used correctly, it can be a helpful tool in your pain relief kit. Again, just be mindful of where and how you apply it. Thanks for the question. Hope that was helpful. Up next, can taking antibiotics prevent you from getting sick? We'll be right back.

[D]

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[B]

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[A]

Okay, we're back with Paging Dr. Gupta. Jennifer. What do we have next?

[B]

Okay, Sanjay, our next question comes from homer in Woodland, California.

[F]

Hello, Dr. Gupta, this is Homer. My question is about bacterial infections and antibiotics. If I'm taking antibiotics and I am exposed to someone with a bacterial infection, let's say pneumonia, do the antibiotics that I'm taking prevent me from catching the pneumonia that the other person has? In other words, do antibiotics prevent you from catching a bacterial infection from someone else? Love your podcast.

[A]

Okay, this is a really interesting question and an interesting way of framing this. So Homer, I'm glad you asked it because when it comes to antibiotics, I think there's quite a bit to clear up. So first, let's talk about what we know about antibiotics. They are used to treat bacterial infections. Okay, Antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for viral infections, antiparasitics for parasitic infections. So antibiotics are not going to work on viruses like the common cold or the flu. Only bacterial infections, as you mentioned, Homer. And antibiotics are not needed to treat all bacterial infections. Some will clear on their own. They're more commonly used to treat things like strep, whooping cough, and urinary tract infections. Some really common bacterial infections like ear infection, some sinus infections, they're not generally going to require antibiotics. And not every antibiotic works for every infection. There's lots of bacteria out there. There's lots of antibiotics out there. You gotta make sure you're taking the right one. So in the case of pneumonia, like you mentioned, it depends to some extent what kind of pneumonia you're referring to. In the case of bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics can be necessary. Super important. That type of pneumonia could be life threatening if not treated. But if it's pneumonia caused by a virus or a fungus, for example, you're not going to need antibiotics. They're not going to be helpful. Bacterial pneumonia, bottom line, tends to be more severe. Now Again, antibiotics are not interchangeable, even though a lot of people treat them as such. Not all bacteria are going to respond to all antibiotics. So if you have bacterial pneumonia, doctors will prescribe an antibiotic based on the bacteria that's causing your infection. Prescribe an antibiotic that's known to work against a particular bacteria. To your question, Homer, if you are taking antibiotics and exposed to someone with pneumonia, will you be immune to pneumonia? It depends again, on everything I've just said. What kind of antibiotic you're on, what kind of pneumonia they have, and to be precise, pneumonia itself isn't actually contagious, but the bacteria and viruses that cause it are. When people cough, sneeze, or talk, they're going to send respiratory droplets into the air, and those can be inhaled by people around them. You could also get pneumonia from touching an object or a surface that has the germ on it and then touching your nose or your mouth. That's a lot less common, though. That said, not everyone who is exposed to pneumonia causing germs will actually get pneumonia. So antibiotics are not prescribed to prevent pneumonia, not to be preventative. They're used to treat patients who already have it. But if you're worried about catching pneumonia, there are vaccines available to prevent some common types of pneumonia. So cdc, for example, recommends pneumococcal vaccinations for for kids younger than 5 years old or kids with certain risk conditions. Adults 50 years or older. That's me now. Adults with certain risk conditions. Other things you can do, obviously, practice good hygiene, especially around someone who you know is sick. Don't smoke, take care of your immune system, get enough sleep, exercise, eat a well balanced diet. Those are the things that can truly help prevent you from getting an infection. If you do feel sick, get diagnosed. I'll say this for the third time, not all antibiotics are interchangeable. You want to determine if an antibiotic is actually needed and then make sure you are taking the right one. Point being, don't go digging around in your medicine cabinet looking for any old medication to take. You could actually do more harm than good. Misusing antibiotics can lead to side effects, diarrhea, potential liver and kidney damage, and you might have heard of antibiotic resistance. That's when a bacteria will change and evolve so that the antibiotics can no longer kill them. In those cases, antibiotics stop working well against those infections. And the more antibiotics are used, the more chances the bacteria have to adapt and resist them. So if it just so happens you are taking the exact antibiotic for a potential bacteria that you're exposed to that might be protective. But again, that is not the point of antibiotics. When we're trying to prevent disease, we're often talking about vaccinations. When you're talking about antibiotics, that's to treat disease. Homer, Great question. I hope that was helpful. There's a lot of nuance there. I think we all learned something today. Thank you for your fantastic questions, all of you. And thank you for staying curious. Asking questions about your health is never a bad thing. It's why I created this podcast. This is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Part of chasing life is asking questions. The big ones and the small ones. Staying curious, informed, and proactive. That's how we take care of ourselves and the people we love. So keep searching, keep learning. And if you've got a question you're wondering about, don't keep it to yourself. Send it our way. We might just answer it on our next show. Record a voice memo, email it to asksanjaynn.com or give us a call 470-396-0832 and leave a message. Thanks so much for listening. Tev.

[G]

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[H]

Oh, gonna click my heels and jump for joy. Got a clean bill out from Dr. McCoy.

[G]

Have I got News for your ears. Releases new episodes every Wednesday. Don't miss an episode. Follow us wherever you get your podcast.