Sore Muscles & An Old Remedy I Remembered

Yesterday, I somehow pulled my hamstring in my right leg. I’m still not exactly sure what I did, but I knew it the minute the soreness started. By the end of the day, my leg was really bothering me. Finally, at bedtime, I was about to give in and take some Advil. Then I suddenly remembered the Tiger Balm I had used years ago when the muscles around my knee were inflamed. I found that little jar, rubbed some on my sore hamstring, and went to bed. And boy, I remembered why I liked this stuff!

That Cooling-Warming Feeling

If you've ever used Tiger Balm, you know what I'm talking about. First comes that cooling, tingling sensation, followed by a gentle warmth. It doesn't magically heal a pulled muscle, but it can temporarily take the edge off minor muscle aches and soreness.

The main ingredients in many Tiger Balm products are menthol and camphor. They work on the skin, creating those cooling and warming sensations that can help make an achy area feel better. And honestly, that's just what I needed. By morning, my leg wasn't completely back to normal—but it felt much better. I was able to move around without constantly feeling how sore it was.

An Old Remedy for Sore Muscles

What struck me most was how easily I had forgotten about something that had helped me before. I was ready to reach for a bottle of pain reliever when there was already something in my medicine cabinet that I could try first. Not that Tiger Balm is a cure-all; it won't repair a serious muscle injury, and severe or persistent pain should always be checked out. But for those everyday aches, sore muscles, and minor strains, it can be a handy option to have around.

Just remember that it's for external use only, and don't put it on broken or irritated skin, avoid your eyes, and don't use it with a heating pad or tight wrap.

Optional: There's one other thing I like to do. After I've given the Tiger Balm a few minutes to work, I rub a little lotion over the area. I can't say for sure that the lotion makes the Tiger Balm penetrate deeper—that's just how it feels to me. But I do notice that it seems to spread the balm around nicely, and, perhaps most importantly, it takes some of that strong menthol smell away, and the extra rubbing also feels good on a sore muscle.

So whether it's the Tiger Balm, the lotion, the message, or a little bit of them all, I'll take the relief!

We don't always need something new.

Sometimes we just need to remember what worked for us before.