It belongs to a large class of chemicals known as terpenoids. These compounds are diverse and can be found in all types of living things, but are particularly well recognised in the plant world, where some of them possess strong aromas – think cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, pine sap.Ī balm containing camphor can indeed provide “temporary relief” from muscle pains, because the chemical works as a ‘counter-irritant’. Distilled from the wood, it is white and has a waxy texture. The most famous of camphor balms – Tiger Balm – is marketed as “temporary pain relief of muscular aches and joint pain.” How camphor balms workĬamphor is a natural substance derived from a tree called camphor laurel ( Cinnammomum camphora). However, if you are to apply it on the skin, you will experience a tingling sensation that is both cool and warm at the same time, perhaps a little bit like burning, but you can never be quite sure how to describe the sensation.
I find the smell irresistible, so much so that simply sniffing the balm was far more appealing than actually putting it on the skin. But it is camphor in particular which lends its unmistakeable aroma to these remedies. They all have several things in common, most notably camphor and menthol, along with peppermint oil. But if you had a whiff, you would instantly recognise it as a cousin of Vicks, or, if you’ve come across it, the Chinese Tiger Balm. Funny enough it was a popular import in the Soviet Union and is still widely used across the region, while almost unheard of in most parts of the Western world. This remedy is known as Golden Star Aromatic Balm, and it comes from Vietnam, where it is known as Cao Sao Vang. Golden Star Balm | Image stolen from this German Ebay listing. Inside was a thick, slightly yellow substance that mum would put on her temples if she had a headache, or used it as a chest rub when I had a cold. Roughly the size of an average coin, when pried open, these tiny containers exuded a most peculiar scent that you couldn’t get from anything else. When I was growing up, we had these fascinating red tins in our medicine cabinet.
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