View source for Tiger Balm

{{Short description|Heat rub used for pain relief}}
{{For|the generic product|Liniment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=November 2021}}
[[File:tigerbalm.jpg|thumb|right|The white and red versions of Haw Par Tiger Balm]]
'''Tiger Balm''' ({{zh|t={{linktext|虎|標|萬|金|油}}|p=Hǔbiao Wànjīnyóu|poj=Hó͘-phiau Bān-kim-iû}}) is an [[analgesic]] [[heat rub]] manufactured and distributed by [[Singapore]]an company [[Haw Par Corporation|Haw Par Healthcare]]. It is used for external pain relief.

== History ==
[[File:Tiger Balm 永安堂.jpg|thumb|Tiger Balm Red]]

A precursor to Tiger Balm called Ban Kin Yu ({{lang-zh|t=萬金油|l=Ten Thousand Golden Oil}}) was developed in the 1870s in [[Rangoon]], [[Province of Burma|Burma]], during the [[British Raj|British colonial era]] by the practising Chinese herbalist [[Aw Chu Kin]],<ref name="Marks2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/singapores-creepy-wonderland/|website=[[Collectors Weekly]]|last=Marks|first=Ben|date=2016-06-29|access-date=2021-09-19|title=Singapore's Beloved and Creepy Wonderland, Built on the Healing Powers of Tiger Balm|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919161450/https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/singapores-creepy-wonderland/}}</ref> son of Aw Leng Fan, a Chinese [[Hakka people|Hakka]] herbalist in [[Zhongchuan, Yongding|Zhongchuan]], [[Fujian Province]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]].<ref name="Seng2020">{{cite news|title=Tiger balm, the panacea for all ills|last=Seng|first=Alan Teh Leam|date=2020-01-28|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/560325/tiger-balm-panacea-all-ills|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919165421/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/560325/tiger-balm-panacea-all-ills|work=[[New Straits Times]]|location=[[Kuala Lumpur]]}}</ref> His father had sent him to Rangoon in the 1860s to help in his uncle's herbal shop. Eventually, Aw Chu Kin himself set up a family business named Eng Aun Tong 永安堂 ("Hall of Everlasting Peace"). On his deathbed in 1908, he asked his sons [[Aw Boon Haw]] and [[Aw Boon Par]] to perfect the product. In 1918, the product was renamed "Tiger Balm" in order to gain broader appeal.<ref name="Seng2020" /> By 1918, the Aw family had become one of the wealthiest families in Rangoon.<ref name="Ting2019">{{cite journal |last=Ting |first=Kennie |date=2019 |title=Advertisement signboard for Tiger Balm Ten Thousand Golden Oil, Singapore, c. 1970s. |url=https://www.mccy.gov.sg/-/media/MCCY-corp/Sectors/Cultural-Connections-Vol4.pdf |url-status=live |journal=[[Cultural Connections]] |publisher=[[Culture Academy Singapore]] |volume=4 |page=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616134847/https://www.mccy.gov.sg/-/media/MCCY-corp/Sectors/Cultural-Connections-Vol4.pdf |archive-date=2020-06-16 |access-date=2021-09-19}}</ref> By the 1920s, the brothers had turned Eng Aun Tong into a very successful business empire that produced and marketed pharmaceutical products, including the Tiger Balm medicinal ointment.<ref name="HuangEtHong2007">{{cite journal|title=Chinese Diasporic Culture and National Identity: The Taming of the Tiger Balm Gardens in Singapore|page=47|last1=Huang|first1=Jianli|last2=Hong|first2=Lysa|journal=[[Modern Asian Studies]] |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2006-12-11|volume=41|issue=1|doi=10.1017/S0026749X05002349|doi-access=free}}</ref> Tiger Balm sold well in Burma, and was exported to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.<ref name="Pwint2019">{{cite news|last=Pwint|first=Zon Pann|date=2019-11-15|title=Tiger Balm – from Yangon to the world|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/tiger-balm-yangon-world.html|work=[[Myanmar Times]]|access-date=2021-09-19|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919162528/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/tiger-balm-yangon-world.html}}</ref> 

The brothers moved to Singapore in the 1920s due to problems with the [[British Indian Empire|colonial British government]].<ref name="Pwint2019" /> They set up a branch first at [[Amoy Street, Singapore|Amoy Street]], then moved to Cecil Street and finally to [[Eng Aun Tong Building|89 Neil Road]] between 1924 and 1926, at the junction of Neil and Craig Road. The Aw family founded the [[Tiger Balm Garden]]s in Hong Kong in 1935, Singapore in 1937 and Fujian Province in 1946<ref name="Ford2018">{{cite news|last=Ford|first=Peter|date=2018-09-07|title=Why Tiger Balm is the secret behind this Singapore theme park|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/traveller/haw-par-villa-singapore-tiger-balm-garden-history-photos-a8526096.html|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=2021-09-19|url-status=live|archive-date=2020-12-24|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201224194954/https://www.independent.co.uk/traveller/haw-par-villa-singapore-tiger-balm-garden-history-photos-a8526096.html}}</ref> to promote the product. Boon Haw also established newspapers in China and Singapore; his daughter said that he spent so much money on advertising that "he thought it would be cheaper to just open a few newspapers".<ref name="Berfield1999">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Asiaweek]]|date=1999-02-12|last=Berfield|first=Susan|title=Fall of the House of Aw|url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0212/cs1-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010054753/http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0212/cs1-2.html|archive-date=2017-10-10|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]}}</ref>

In 2013, a lawsuit filed by Haw Par against the Indian company [[Rangoon Chemical Works]], asserting that the latter's "Flying Tiger" balm with similar branding infringed on the Tiger Balm trademark, reached the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="BusinessStandard2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/sc-moved-against-tiger-balm-imitations-198043001075_1.html|title= Sc Moved Against Tiger Balm Imitations|date=2013-01-27|work=[[Business Standard]]|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919175309/https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/sc-moved-against-tiger-balm-imitations-198043001075_1.html}}</ref> As a result, Rangoon Chemical Works made changes in the branding of its product and redesigned packaging.<ref name="BusiessStandard2013b">{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/balm-maker-to-redesign-packaging-198050601022_1.html|title= Balm Maker To Redesign Packaging|date=2013-01-27|work=Business Standard|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919180549/https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/balm-maker-to-redesign-packaging-198050601022_1.html}}</ref>

In 2018, there were 10 products being sold under the Tiger Balm brand,<ref name="DeWolf2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2133311/tiger-balm-story-how-ointment-every-ailment-was-created-fell|title=The Tiger Balm story: how ointment for every ailment was created, fell out of favour, then found new generation of users|last=DeWolf|first=Christopher|date=2018-02-17|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|publisher=[[Alibaba Group]]|url-status=live|archive-date=2020-10-08|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201008053528/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2133311/tiger-balm-story-how-ointment-every-ailment-was-created-fell|access-date=2021-09-19}}</ref> in over 100 countries.<ref name="Singh2018">{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Rajiv|date=2018-02-25|title=Can iconic Tiger Balm makers be third-time lucky in India?|work=[[The Economic Times]]|publisher=[[Bennett, Coleman & Co.]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fmcg/can-iconic-tiger-balm-makers-be-third-time-lucky-in-india/articleshow/63059565.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919171238/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fmcg/can-iconic-tiger-balm-makers-be-third-time-lucky-in-india/articleshow/63059565.cms}}</ref> Tiger Balm generated {{SGDConvert|152|m|year=2015|mode=historical|showdate=no}} in revenues in 2015.<ref name="SMU2016">{{cite web|date=2016-05-25|title=Tiger Balm: Roaring back to success|publisher=[[Singapore Management University]]|work=Perspectives@SMU|access-date=2021-09-27|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927231417/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/111761311.pdf|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/111761311.pdf}}</ref> Haw Par's revenues from Tiger Balm sales in India were {{INRConvert|85|c|year=2018|mode=historical}} in 2018.<ref name="Tiwari2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-tiger-balm-maker-targets-rs-200-crore-in-india-revenues-2584342|last=Tiwari|first=Ashish K|date=2018-02-14|title=Tiger Balm-maker targets Rs 200 crore in India revenues|access-date=2021-09-19|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919165943/https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-tiger-balm-maker-targets-rs-200-crore-in-india-revenues-2584342|work=[[Daily News & Analysis]]|publisher=[[Diligent Media Corporation]]}}</ref> The product sold in India is manufactured in [[Hyderabad]] by Makson<ref name="Datta2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/a-balm-for-smart-gadget-users/article22733908.ece|last=Datta|first=Jyothi|location=Mumbai|date=2018-02-13|title=A balm for smart-gadget users|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]}}</ref> and marketed by [[Alkem Laboratories]].<ref name="FE2017">{{cite news|work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|publisher=[[Indian Express Limited]]|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/alkem-to-market-tiger-balm-range-of-products-in-india/541164/|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|date=2017-02-07|location=[[New Delhi]]|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919172908/https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/alkem-to-market-tiger-balm-range-of-products-in-india/541164/|title=Alkem to market Tiger Balm range of products in India}}</ref> Between 1993 and 2011, it had been manufactured and marketed by [[Elder Pharmaceuticals]].<ref name="Chatterjee2014">{{cite news|last=Chatterjee|first=Purvita|date=2014-10-01|title=As dengue, malaria threats loom, Tiger Balm shifts to mosquito repellent|work=The Hindu Business Line|publisher=The Hindu Group|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/As-dengue-malaria-threats-loom-Tiger-Balm-shifts-to-mosquito-repellent/article20879758.ece|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919210630/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/As-dengue-malaria-threats-loom-Tiger-Balm-shifts-to-mosquito-repellent/article20879758.ece}}</ref>

[[File:BTS Siam - Tiger Balm x Bayern Munich Ads (2025).jpg|thumb|An advert in [[Siam Station]], [[Bangkok]] showcasing the brand's partnership with [[FC Bayern Munich]]]]

In 2024, Tiger Balm became an official regional partner of [[FC Bayern Munich]] for China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for four years.<ref>{{cite web|title=FC Bayern and Tiger Balm enter into regional partnership|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/fc-bayern-and-tiger-balm-enter-into-regional-partnership-39823122|date=2024-07-29|work=Onefootball}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FC BAYERN ANNOUNCES TIGER BALM AS REGIONAL PARTNER IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND CHINA|work=FC Bayern Munich|date=2024-07-29|url=https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2024/07/contract-till-2028-fc-bayern-and-tiger-balm-enter-into-regional-partnership}}</ref>

==Composition==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Ingredient
!Red<ref name="EMC2020-TBRed">{{cite web|work=[[Electronic Medicines Compendium]]|publisher=[[Datapharm]]|date=2020-03-18|title=Tiger Balm Red - Summary of Product Characteristics|url=https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6814/smpc|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304062718/https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6814/smpc}}</ref>!!White<ref name="EMC2021-TBWhite">{{cite web|work=Electronic Medicines Compendium|publisher=Datapharm|date=2021-04-14|title=Tiger Balm White - Summary of Product Characteristics|url=https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6813|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919213420/https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6813}}</ref>!!Ultra{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
|-
|[[Menthol]]||10%||8%||11% <ref name="Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Label">{{cite web|title=Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Label Information |url=https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f0561804-e0f7-495d-9768-9b86a208c51e#modal-rx-norm|website=Daily Med |publisher=National Library of Medicine |access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Camphor]]||11% or 25%||11% or 25%||11% <ref name="Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Label"/>
|-
|[[Menthol|Dementholised]] [[mentha|mint]] [[essential oil|oil]]{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}||6%||16%||6%
|-
|[[Cajuput oil]]||7%||13%||13%
|-
|[[Oil of clove|Clove bud oil]]||5%||1.5%||2%
|-

|}

The remainder is a [[petroleum jelly]] and [[Paraffin wax|paraffin]] base.  The packaging label states that the active ingredients are menthol and camphor.

The camphor concentration varies by country of sale; as of Nov 2023 Tiger Balm Red and Tiger Balm White both contain 25% camphor in Singapore and Cambodia, but only 11% in Australia as an example.  This is likely due to different regulatory requirements.{{fact|date=September 2021}}

A new{{when|date=May 2025}} product named '''Tiger Balm White HR''' uses eucalyptus oil instead of cajuput oil.{{fact|date=September 2021}}

== See also ==
* [[Amrutanjan (balm)]]
* [[Ben-Gay]]
* [[Liniment]]
* [[IcyHot]]
* [[Mentholatum]]
* [[Siddhalepa]]
* [[Ya mong]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tiger Balm}}
* {{Official website|https://www.tigerbalm.com}}

[[Category:Ointments]]
[[Category:Singaporean brands]]
[[Category:Drug brand names]]
[[Category:1870s establishments]]