I Tried a Headache Balm and Ended Up with Rashes

I do have this habit of slathering pain balms whenever I have a headache. But never did I get rashes from it. It so happened that I had an extremely severe headache a few months ago. The pain was so unbearable that I gingerly reached out for a pain balm kept on my bedside table and kept on slathering it repeatedly all over the temples of my forehead. Next morning, after I woke up, I found that the skin on my forehead was peeling off and worse there were red rashes! This was the first time in my life that I was getting rashes from applying a pain balm on my forehead!

I have never had any pain balm allergy as such! I usually use pain balms of reputed companies – my usual favourites are Tiger balm, Amrutanjan, Zandu balm and Sloan’s balm. This time I had used Tiger balm. But why did it  give me rashes now, when I had used it  a number of times before with absolutely no issues? I just checked the balm once again and to my surprise found that it was not the usual Tiger balm, but Flying Tiger Cub Balm.

Tiger Balm V/s Flying Cub Tiger Balm

Apparently, Flying Tiger Cub Balm is a different brand. I wondered if it was a counterfeit of Tiger Balm. Apparently, somewhere in 2013, Tiger Balm company had filed a lawsuit against the Indian company Rangoon Chemical Works for infringing on the original Tiger Balm trademark. After the Supreme Court of India judgement, Rangoon Chemical Works made changes in the branding of its product and redesigned packaging. [Source]

So even though Flying Tiger Cub Balm is now a genuine, different product, the remarkable similarities between the trademark logos of the two products is striking! So it’s quite natural to mistake one for the other. And that’s what happened with me. I wasn’t even aware of the existence of a pain balm called Flying Tiger Cub Balm!

The logos of Tiger balm and Flying Tiger Cub Balm are remarkably similar. Image credits: Steffen Buus Kristensen – Wikipedia & Amazon

Now as far as the efficacy of the product Flying Tiger Cub Balm is concerned, at least for me, it did provide relief for my pounding headache except for the rashes which I got later. I did check the reviews of this product on Amazon and Flipkart and found that it wasn’t a bad product and some had even mentioned that it has strong ingredients and could cause allergy and rashes. Most probably I got the rashes because I applied too much of it!

What did I do for rashes caused by the application of pain balm?

I decided to go for home remedies and DIY for the rashes. Though the skin near the temples and forehead were peeling, I felt it did not warrant a dermatologist’s visit. And it was not that I was allergic to such balms, anyway. Too much of anything is bad. In a bid to get rid of the agonizing pain, I had slathered too much of the balm and that had affected my forehead skin.

DIY for rashes caused due to pain balm

I soaked some masoor dal (red lentil) in water for around 20 minutes and then ground it with milk. I added 2 tsp of honey to the resultant paste. I applied this paste on my forehead and kept it for around 15 minutes and then washed it off.   I had prepared quite a bit of this DIY paste so that it could be used for next 3-4 days which I stored it in the refrigerator. After washing off this paste, I applied an ice cube wrapped in a handkerchief all over my forehead area. I did this ritual for around 3-4 days.

I have a small piece of red sandalwood (Rakta Chandan) in my house. I made a paste of it by rubbing it on a stone slab with some water. I applied this  red sandal wood paste on my forehead for 2-3 days. As soon as you apply this paste, you get a cool feeling and get so much relief. Even sandalwood or Chandan can give good results but I preferred red sandalwood.

After fussing myself with all this TLC rituals,my forehead skin recovered beautifully. Thankfully, the balm hadn’t done much harm to my skin.

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Should you apply pain balms for headache?

After this debacle, I wondered whether it’s a good idea to apply pain balms for headaches. Apparently, the answer is ‘Yes’. Pain balms do provide relief for headaches, depending on the formulation and individual response. Here’s a summary of the benefits and considerations:

Efficacy of Pain Balms for Headaches

1. Many pain balms, such as Tiger Balm and Zandu Balm, contain active ingredients like menthol, camphor, and methyl salicylate. These components work through mechanisms such as:

• Cooling and warming sensations that distract from pain.

• Increased blood flow to the area, which may help alleviate tension headache.

• Analgesic properties that can numb the skin and reduce pain perception

2. Research Findings:

• A study indicated that Tiger Balm significantly relieved tension headaches compared to a placebo, suggesting its effectiveness in acute headache management.

• A randomized trial involving Amrutanjan balms found them effective for various types of headaches, with rapid onset of action observed.

3. User Experience: Many users report positive outcomes when applying these balms, often noting a soothing effect and reduced headache severity. However, individual experiences may vary based on skin sensitivity and the specific formulation used.

Considerations

• Application Method: The effectiveness can depend on how the balm is applied. Rubbing the balm into the temples or neck may enhance its effects due to increased sensory input, which can help block pain signals

• Potential Side Effects: Some individuals may experience irritation or allergic reactions to certain ingredients, so it's advisable to perform a patch test before widespread use.

Applying pain balm for headaches can be a good idea for many individuals seeking quick relief from tension-type headaches or mild discomfort. However, it is essential to consider personal sensitivities and consult healthcare professionals for persistent or severe headache issues.

So go ahead and buy pain balms and apply them whenever you get an headache, with adequate precautions and care, of course!

Sources:

A Randomized, Multicentric, Open Label, Interventional Study to ...ijirms, Tiger Balm as a treatment of tension headache.  A clinical trial in general ...pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih,[PDF] Does your Pain Balm really relieve your pain?, consumeraffairs.nic

Buy from Amazon

• Tiger Balm Red Ointment
• Tiger Balm White Ointment
• Zandu Ultra Power Balm
• Amrutanjan Pain Balm Extra Power
• Sloan's Balm

Will I use Flying Tiger Cub Balm once again?

Nope, I’ll not use Flying Tiger Cub Balm for my headache again. Though, it was my fault for slathering too much of it, I won’t take any chances with my skin. The ingredients are probably too harsh for my skin. I’ll stick with good old Tiger Balm, Zandu Balm or Amrutanjan. But I won’t dissuade you all from buying Flying Tiger Cub Balm. But be careful while using it or for that matter any other balm and don’t apply too much of it like I did.

Image Credits: Gerd Altmann,  Alana Jordan from Pixabay