Tiger Balm Extra Strength

Tiger Balm was created by a Chinese Herbalist living in what was then known as Rangoon, now known as Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, formerly Burma.  Got that?  The year was 1870 something.  The balm was originally called Ten Thousand Golden Oil, but in the early 1900’s they rebranded and took their tiger logo as a name.  Then, over the course of a century, the Tiger Balm empire grew.  Eventually there was a Tiger Balm theme park (it still exists) with a strange and heady mix of Americana and Chinese mythology, mashed up together like a Girl Talk track.  Unfortunately, the ‘Ten Courts of Hell’ boat ride was eventually shut down, and now it’s a walk and gawk kinda place.  True Facts.

Tiger Balm has been a global hit for 100+ years, but it’s still relatively under the radar in the US.  Here’s what you need to know: Tiger Balm is good for sore muscles.  Really good.  Soothing / warming / nasal passage clearing.  It’s like Vicks and Bengay rolled into one better smelling, better functioning package with superior labeling.  It’s made of a blend of mints, camphor, myrtle (related to bay rum) and clove.  You only need a little dab to do the job.  

This isn’t vaseline, don’t smear it on open abrasions.  It’s too spicy.  

Place the jar on your bookshelf in a conspicuous location so friends will think you both more worldly and mysterious than you actually are.