The Ointment That Cures Almost Everything (AKA Tiger Balm)
This is the story of Tiger Balm: the sweet, minty ointment signature to 99% of Chinese grandmas.
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Written by: Timmy Shen and Clarissa Wei
Research by: Ashley Kung
Shot by: Shanshan kao
Voiceover and Edited by: Joel Roche
Mastered by: Victor Peña
Music: Audio Network
**New videos every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
**Subscribe to @goldthread2 to get stories like this and more
Written by: Timmy Shen and Clarissa Wei
Research by: Ashley Kung
Shot by: Shanshan kao
Voiceover and Edited by: Joel Roche
Mastered by: Victor Peña
Music: Audio Network
Transcript
00:00This is Tiger Balm.
00:08One ointment to cure them all.
00:10From bug bites to rashes and muscle pain.
00:29Tiger Balm has been a popular pain reliever
00:31in the East for over 100 years.
00:33The West is finally catching on,
00:35and the relieving burn is growing in popularity.
00:38It's a must-have backstage for Lady Gaga.
00:40Benedict Cumberbatch is a fan.
00:42And of course,
00:43Gwyneth Paltrow gives it the thumbs up.
00:48It's found in the medicine cabinets
00:49of just about every Chinese household.
00:52But what's so special about it?
00:57pain-relieving product.
00:58And that analgesic property
00:59comes from substances known as counterirritants.
01:02Like camphor,
01:03menthol,
01:04cajuput,
01:05clove and cassia oil.
01:07Counterirritants distract the brain
01:08by creating hot and cold sensations on the skin.
01:11The product was invented by this guy.
01:13A herbalist who migrated to Myanmar from South China,
01:16to open an apothecary.
01:28And mass produce they did.
01:31Today Tiger Balm is moving away from its old school feel.
01:35It's tweaking its image from a grandma's favorite remedy,
01:37to a must-have for every athlete.