Pain relief creams have been in use for a long time. In times gone by natural ingredients were used to come up with pain relief creams and other products that healed wounds and soothed pains. Later, they were taken more main stream and started to be used in making some of the popular pain relief creams, balms, and sprays that you may know today. To increase the shelf life of these products, some other active and non-active ingredients are also added.
Most pain-relieving cream or sprays is made out of their own unique ingredients but some core ingredients always seem to remain the same. These key ingredients define the effectiveness of the products in the long run.
Not all pain relief creams turn out to be as effective for everyone. We all experience pain in different ways, for example, some people may only have muscle soreness others may have joint pain or arthritis. If one cream works for one person it can totally be ineffective for a lot of other people. So, the choice of products varies accordingly and sometimes by trial and error.
In this regard, there is a lot of debate going around about which pain relief system is best. Biofreeze and Tiger Balm have both got extremely popular pain-relieving products.
So which one to choose? Don’t worry, we have done thorough research for you, so you can make a better and more informed decision about which one to choose.
Biofreeze
What is Biofreeze and Who Manufactures it?
Biofreeze is a pain-relief formula that’s been helping people with body and joint pains for the past 25 years. Like every other topical pain reliever, Biofreeze also counterirritates the nerve ending causing the pain.
First, it stimulates those nerve endings, and then due to their continued exposure to the pain reliever, they get desensitized. Eventually, you get that temporary relief from the pain that you so need!
Biofreeze, in particular, with its fast-acting cold therapy, gives you instant relief from pain and can resume your day-to-day tasks. Then with the long-lasting formula, you stay calm for a long duration and don’t feel any pain sensations in the affected area.
Biofreeze was first launched by a company named Performance Health, which was later taken over by the Hygienic Corporation in 2006. Since then, it is being manufactured by them and supplied to different parts of the world.
Biofreeze Products
Biofreeze comes with multiple products each focused on pain relief. Its products include Spray, Roll-on, Gel, Cream, Large-patch, On-the-go-singles, Pump, Foam, Precision relief pen, Flexible relief strips, and the Extra large patch.
Among all of these forms of Biofreeze, the roll-on and gel formulas last longer and are highly effective in removing pain from any body part. A brief description of some of the Biofreeze products is given below:
- Spray: The spray is perfect for those body parts where cream or gel cannot be applied.
- Cream: The Biofreeze cream comes with a natural moisturizer that has a non-greasy texture. It can be applied to all body parts.
- Gell: This is especially useful for large muscle areas because they require massage application of the pain reliever.
- Roll-on: It's particularly beneficial for mess-free applications and gives instant relief from pain.
- Large patch: This helps in pain relief for a long time as it lasts up to 8 hours, which is a great thing for sportspersons.
- On-the-go-singles: As evident from the name, this product is easy to carry and can be used on the go for immediate pain removal.
Ingredients of Biofreeze and their Benefits
Menthol counts as the active ingredient of Biofreeze products. Among the inactive ingredients include Menthol, Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, and Aloe Leaf Extract.
- Menthol
Biofreeze uses 3.5% Menthol as the main ingredient in its products. An amount more than this is not considered safe. Menthol's presence makes the products relieving for pain.
When you apply the product to the pain area, you first get an icy hot sensation, which is followed by the numbness of the area and eventually the removal of pain.
- Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract
This ingredient also counts among the active ingredients of Biofreeze products. It is found to be helpful in fixing joint pains, the swelling of bursitis, and tendonitis. This makes it particularly useful for elderly people with chronic joint pains.
- Arnica Montana Extract
This extract has clinically been proven to be effective in pain. Blams or gels that use this ingredient help in healing wounds.
- Aloe Leaf Extract
Another active ingredient used in Biofreeze is Aloe Leaf extract. Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient that is extremely helpful in skin rejuvenation and repair.
Due to the presence of this ingredient, Biofreeze products get pain-reducing properties and soothe the affected area.
- Natural Camphor
Camphor, being a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient helps with instant pain relief. It improves blood circulation in the body, which catalyzes the process of pain and irritation relief.
Biofreeze - Advantages
- Long-lasting method formula to relieve pain
- Fast-acting cold therapy treatment instantly fixes pain
- Doesn’t have a strong odor
Biofreeze - Side Effects
- Because of Menthol, if the product is used for a long time, it can cause skin irritation and eventually rash.
- Applying Biofreeze on open wounds can be dangerous because of ingredients like Arnica extract as they are poisonous in nature.
Biofreeze Cost
The average cost of Biofreeze products is $12 or around £15. All the products are quite reasonably priced and provide great value for the money.
They are readily available on the internet at Amazon.
Tiger Balm
What is Tiger Balm and Who Manufactures it?
Tiger Balm has been fixing people with different types of pains and body aches for over a century now. Its products are famous in all parts of the world and have proven to be effective in relieving pain in different body parts. It’s especially helpful in healing headaches, muscle pains, and arthritis pains as well.
The products don’t enter into the bloodstream and thus are completely safe to use. When you apply the balm or spray on the body part suffering from pain, the ingredients from the product penetrate deep into your skin and fix the body part sending pain signals. They cause a numbing sensation in the pain area and counter the pain and swelling.
Tiger Balm is an ancient Chinese product that was started in China by Aw Chu Kin and later spread globally from Singapore. Currently, Tiger Balm products are acclaimed worldwide as the best pain-relieving products.
Tiger Balm Products
Tiger Balm also comes with multiple products and all of them are made for dealing with pains in different body parts. These products include Neck & Shoulder Rub, Pain Relieving Patch, Active Muscle Spray/ Gel/ Rub, Arthritis Rub, Liniment, and Pain Relieving Hydrogel Patch.
The top three picks of Tiger Balm include the Tiger Balm Extra, Tiger Balm Ultra, and the Tiger Balm Ultra Sports Rub. Have a quick look at some of the popular products of Tiger Balm:
- Extra Strength Ointment: This is found to be helpful in fixing neck and shoulder pain relief.
- Active Muscle Spray: For those suffering from muscle pulling and pain, Tiger Balm’s spray is a quick fix for pain relief.
- Ultra Sports Hub: This formula is made up of the strongest concentrations of active ingredients. Hence, it’s very powerful and the best solution for sportspersons.
- Hydrogel Lower Back Pain Relief Patches: This product is made from stretchable material to fit the body contours and it instantly provides comfort to the lower back area for a long time.
- Active Muscle Pain Reliever Spray: This spray is made for hard-to-reach body parts and helps fix muscle stretches.
- Arthritis Rub: Tiger Balm has specifically manufactured this rub for arthritis patients. It fixes their joint pains instant relief from pain.
Ingredients of Tiger Balm and their Benefits
Some of the ingredients used in all Tiger Balm products include Camphor, Menthol, Capsicum extract, methyl salicylate, and some other essential oils. Each one of these ingredients comes with plenty of benefits that collectively relieve your body from pain and aches.
- Camphor
One of the most used ingredients in almost all topical pain relievers is Camphor. Tiger Balm products also use Camphor, which helps in blood circulation and counters irritation. Hence, the pain and swelling instantly go away when the product is applied to the affected area.
- Menthol
Menthol’s presence in any product makes it useful for those suffering from back pains, arthritis, cramps, muscle sprains, etc. When applied, it first gives you a cooling sensation, which is then taken over by the warm that targets the pain area. Due to Menthol, Tiger Balm products help in relieving minor pains instantly.
- Capsicum extracts
This extract is also used in two of the Tiger Balm products i.e., the Pain Relieving Patches and Pain Relieving Hydrogel Patches (Large). This ingredient also helps with temporary main relief in muscles and joints.
- Methyl salicylate
It’s used in the Active products and the Liniment of Tiger Balm. it is useful in backaches and joint pain. This ingredient makes the pain relief product suitable for sportspersons as they can use them for pre-sport warm-ups.
- Other essential oils
Other than the above-mentioned ingredients, Tiger Balm products also use some other essential oils. These include Dementholized Mint Oil, Clove Oil, Cassia Oil, and Cajuput Oil. All of these oils are blended with active ingredients such as Camphor and Menthol for giving the product a unique scent. This helps make the product bearable for the person using it as well as for others.
Tiger Balm - Advantages
- Has a pleasant smell because of the essential oils
- Instant relief from pain
- Offers strong anti-inflammatory properties
Tiger Balm - Side Effects
- When applied for chest pain, it can cause breathing issues
- Can cause stinginess
Tiger Balm Cost
The average cost of Tiger Balm products is $19 or £6. Like Biofreeze, Tiger Balm products are also very affordable.
They are readily available on the internet at Amazon.
Biofreeze vs Tiger Balm - Which One To Choose?
Well, the choice between Biofreeze and Tiger Balm is totally based on one’s personal preference. However, Biofreeze is considered a perfect solution for instant pain relief. It comes with less Menthol percentage that helps with temporary relief of pain.
For people suffering from severe pain, Tiger Balm products work well. This is because their Menthol concentration is higher compared to Biofreeze products. But you need to keep in mind that Tiger Balm products cause skin irritation because of this high concentration of Menthol.
As far as price and product availability is concerned, there are differences between both. The average price of Tiger Balm products is a little higher than the products of Biofreeze. Also, Tiger Balm products are available at a lot of stores whereas Biofreeze products are available at limited stores.
FAQs
Some of the FAQs are discussed below:
Is Tiger Balm anti-inflammatory?
Yes, Tiger Balm products are anti-inflammatory. This is because they use Camphor and Methyl salicylate, both of which are highly anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Which balm is best for muscle pain?
Biofreeze is considered the perfect fit for all muscle and nerve pain.
Does Tiger Balm help with stiffness?
Yes, Tiger Balm can be used for muscle stiffness. Because of the active ingredients present in all of the products, you can instantly get rid of stiffness.
Is it easy to wash off Biofreeze?
Yes, Biofreeze can easily be washed off.
How long do the effects of Biofreeze last?
The effects of all of the Biofreeze products easily last for up to 5 hours.
Is Tiger Balm banned in the U.S.?
No, all the Tiger Balm products are available at stores in the US as well as online. All of them totally comply with the US rules and regulations.
Final Thoughts!
Lastly, both Biofreeze and Tiger Balm are fab in their own ways! The choice of a pain reliever depends on the pain intensity of a person, the scent of the product, and the time it takes to remove pain. So based on all these parameters, some people love Biofreeze while others find Tiger Balm as the sole pain reliever.
However, both products have good reviews on all the online stores where they are available. You can find Biofreeze and Tiger Balm in various online stores including Amazon, Walmart, and CVS.