Muscle Pain Reliever: Tiger Muscle Rub Product Review

I'm pretty athletic. I've been a runner for over twenty years (completed my first marathon in November 2006 - yeah). Never run a marathon? Read my account here to see if it's for you.

I also like to hike, practice martial arts and work in my yard. In short, I'm pretty active - which means lots of ways to strain my muscles. Years ago, a friend of mine who also practiced martial arts turned me on to what he nicknamed "Tiger Balm," ie, Tiger Muscle Rub.

I tried it, and now it's a constant in my medicine cabinet, for the following reasons:

Effectiveness: It works similar to Icy Hot, the popular muscle and joint pain reliever. But, I like Tiger Balm better because the cooling sensation is more intense than Icy Hot.

I feel like it penetrates deeper into the muscle tissue, and it's an almost instant feeling, unlike Icy Hot which can take a minute or so.

Smell: I like the strong, minty-like smell of Tiger Balm. It reminds me of the strength of Vick's Vapor Rub, but with a much better smell. I've even held Tiger Balm up to my nose when it's been clogged.

I don't know if this is an advised use of the product, but it clears the passageway, if only briefly. It does have 5% menthol and 3% camphor, some of the same ingredients found in Vick's Vapor Rub, so that only makes sense to me.

Price: The last time I bought this cream, it was about $4 at a little discount store I frequented in New York City for a 2 oz tube. Web searches revealed prices of $5-6.50 for the same 2 oz tube.

What I Don't Like About Tiger Muscle Rub

Application: Similar in texture to Icy Hot, Tiger Muscle Rub is a white cream. It's a bit heartier, which may be why I find it difficult to rub in. You can rub for upwards of two minutes before it will dissolve into your skin. The cooling sensation starts immediately though - you'll feel it long before the cream is fully rubbed in.

Uses of Tiger Muscle Rub

Pre-Exercise: The instructions on the tube implore you to "Masse in Tiger Muscle Rube before sports or exercise to help prevent stiffness from settling." I can attest to this firsthand.