Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

White tiger balm - how did I not know about this years ago?

98 replies

EverySporkIsSacred · 05/12/2023 10:27

I get quite frequent migraines. Sometimes no painkillers touch them. It may be only temporary but OMG the relief of white tiger balm on my temples is amazing!
Just really wanted to share a I've only discovered it in the past year. It's like that 4head stuff on steroids.
Also when the migraine comes with neck and shoulder pain, the red tiger balm (or any other heating muscle stuff) works wonders.

The only issue is remembering through the pain and brain fog to actually use them!

Anyone else got any "wonder products" they want to share?

OP posts:
Mothmansknickers · 05/12/2023 12:08

The only thing that works for mine is Sumatriptan. I've tried everything as I get them regularly.

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 05/12/2023 13:14

My wonder product is the insect repellent Smidge. Every biting insect on the planet has my number, but this stuff keeps all of them away, even ants. It's life-changing.

https://www.smidgeup.com

Smidge - The UK’s No.1 Midge Repellent

Developed in Scotland, Smidge is scientifically proven to provide instant, sweat-proof protection from all biting insects for up to 8 hours.

https://www.smidgeup.com

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 05/12/2023 13:22

@Vegemiteandhoneyontoast oooh I get bitten by everything as well, and I would love to be able to go for a walk in the summer without returning home covered in red itchy lumps! Thanks for the tip.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 05/12/2023 13:45

@EverySporkIsSacred if you get some I really hope it works as well for you as it does for me. I've worked outside for years and have tried countless repellents, but none of them have been as effective as Smidge. It keeps all insects away, which is like a miracle. I even wrote to the company to tell them that.

AlisonDonut · 05/12/2023 13:52

I have white tiger balm in the jars in every room of my house, and one in the shed.

I also found white tiger balm massage oil, which I also keep in the shed, it is superb on bites and aches and pains.

I brought a few with me when I left the UK as I'd heard that they didn't sell it in France and lo and behold, it is everywhere with a huge range in the queue area of Intersport.

DoktorPeppa · 05/12/2023 13:54

Anybody else remember tiger balm when, ahem, clubbing?

EBearhug · 05/12/2023 14:02

Tiger balm also great for removing leeches when in the jungle. Top tip everyone needs. ;-)

oakleaffy · 05/12/2023 14:09

EverySporkIsSacred · 05/12/2023 11:20

With red tiger balm (the one I use on neck/shoulders) I haven't noticed any staining but I* *wear a lot of dark clothing so maybe wouldn't notice.

@oakleaffy yes it does have clove oil in it. Good guess. It only works for a temporary reprieve from migraines for me, but really good for any stress/eye strain headaches in between the migraines as well. Yes, I get a lot of headaches.

Urgh yes- I’m a martyr to headaches- both ordinary ones and migraines with sickness and aura
However they mercifully are said to decline with middle age plus
I get them less nowadays.
Our GP swears by cheap Tesco own brand soluble aspirin and an anti emetic taken at first dazzle spot of aura appearing-
A good call.

Worst ones are when one wakes up with them .. really grim and nothing really works once it’s taken hold.

MrsMarzetti · 05/12/2023 14:13

I have Rosacea have tried every prescription gel/cream and have spent hundreds of pounds on "miracle creams" then i was told about a £2 tube of Aqueous and calamine lotion cream from Amazon. Worked wonders for me.

eujk · 05/12/2023 14:18

What works for me is putting lots of ice around my head and neck. I think I freeze my brain lol but at least the pain is nearly gone. If that doesn't work, I use Sumatriptan.

I'd give a try to White Tiger but my fear is the smell...I can't stand lots of smells when I have a migraine.

ChoupetteTheCat · 05/12/2023 14:21

eujk · 05/12/2023 14:18

What works for me is putting lots of ice around my head and neck. I think I freeze my brain lol but at least the pain is nearly gone. If that doesn't work, I use Sumatriptan.

I'd give a try to White Tiger but my fear is the smell...I can't stand lots of smells when I have a migraine.

The white tiger balm just smells of menthol but the red one smells really strong, kind of clove or cinnamon type smells which I don't like.

Larabelle6 · 05/12/2023 14:31

I have been having THE worst pressure headaches every day for over a month now. I can’t get to sleep without a cool n soothe patch on or a shit load of forehead. Off to boots to try some of this stuff before it closes tonight. Thank you so much for the tip 😀

misscockerspaniel · 05/12/2023 14:37

You can also buy it (Amazon) in plaster form - and the plasters don't smell etc

HachiAndNana · 05/12/2023 14:40

I lived in HK for 15 years so if you love Tiger Balm can I introduce you to Nin Jiom Pei Pa Kao the best cough medicine EVER and now in the UK.

oakleaffy · 05/12/2023 14:41

eujk · 05/12/2023 14:18

What works for me is putting lots of ice around my head and neck. I think I freeze my brain lol but at least the pain is nearly gone. If that doesn't work, I use Sumatriptan.

I'd give a try to White Tiger but my fear is the smell...I can't stand lots of smells when I have a migraine.

Out of interest do any of you fellow migraineurs suffer from motion sickness?
My GP also said they can be linked—and a definite YES to finding smells intolerable- reed diffusers at people’s houses can be overpowering and have had to get off buses if people are wearing strong perfume.

Tinysoxxx · 05/12/2023 14:42

Be careful with Tiger Balm and olbas oil if you or anyone else has epilepsy as the ingredients have been linked to seizures.

CactusMactus · 05/12/2023 14:43

White Monkey Holding Peach Balm... mainly for the name but also works a treat and has a cute tin.

ChoupetteTheCat · 05/12/2023 14:47

Larabelle6 · 05/12/2023 14:31

I have been having THE worst pressure headaches every day for over a month now. I can’t get to sleep without a cool n soothe patch on or a shit load of forehead. Off to boots to try some of this stuff before it closes tonight. Thank you so much for the tip 😀

I recently tried the cool and soothe but I didn't find it very helpful. The thing I've found with tiger balm is if you reapply, wipe the previous application off with a tissue. For some reason it works better that way, for me anyway. When I have a really bad headache I apply the tiger balm all over my forehead and at the back of my neck. Personally, I love the smell.

LeRougeEtLeNoir · 05/12/2023 15:07

HachiAndNana · 05/12/2023 14:40

I lived in HK for 15 years so if you love Tiger Balm can I introduce you to Nin Jiom Pei Pa Kao the best cough medicine EVER and now in the UK.

Oh now that’s interesting g!
A cough syrup is a godsend.

Callipygion · 05/12/2023 15:07

oakleaffy · 05/12/2023 14:41

Out of interest do any of you fellow migraineurs suffer from motion sickness?
My GP also said they can be linked—and a definite YES to finding smells intolerable- reed diffusers at people’s houses can be overpowering and have had to get off buses if people are wearing strong perfume.

Show quote history

Gosh, yes, me too. Certain smells can give me a terrible headache/migraine almost immediately. That heavy Dior ‘Poison’ perfume (from 1980s?) was one, thank goodness it has gone or at least declined in popularity, I don’t notice it around anyway. I even had a bottle given to me as a present and I had to send it to a charity shop - I couldn’t risk giving it to family or friends in case they wore it when with me!

spiderlight · 05/12/2023 15:11

Yes, I get severe migraines and terrible motion sickness. I can't use anything that smells, especially once a migraine has already started. The smell of Tiger Balm is actually a massive migraine trigger for me :(

Rosecoffeecup · 05/12/2023 15:20

My old manager used to keep a jar of this on her desk for when we had stressful meetings. I bloody love the smell

FishPie2 · 05/12/2023 15:20

White Tiger Balm works brilliantly on insect bites but depends where they are. We were in Asia and I asked the pharmacist what was good for them and she recommended Tiger Balm but I did not tell her where the bites were. Please do not use TB on mosquite bites which are at the inside of your leg near the top. I spent an age in the shower trying to get rid of it, my was it painful.😥

oakleaffy · 05/12/2023 15:21

HachiAndNana · 05/12/2023 14:40

I lived in HK for 15 years so if you love Tiger Balm can I introduce you to Nin Jiom Pei Pa Kao the best cough medicine EVER and now in the UK.

I used that in U.K. years ago- bought at Chinese supermarket!

Swipe left for the next trending thread