Pain relief

Thai pain relief: patches, balms and gels for back, neck and joints

Lower-back pain after gardening, a stiff neck after the computer, an aching knee — Thais deal with it externally, without tablets: a Tiger Balm or Neobun patch overnight, Counterpain cream by day, a balm on the spot. About 40 products: Tiger Balm (balms, patches, Neck & Shoulder cream), Counterpain warming and cooling gels, Neobun and Neobun-Gel patches, Ammeltz Yoko Yoko roll-on, Wangprom balms, Namman Muay liniment.

How to choose

Lower back — a large warming Tiger Balm patch overnight, Counterpain by day. Neck and shoulders — Tiger Balm Neck & Shoulder or Ammeltz roll-on, which does not stain collars. Fresh bruise, sprain, swelling — cold: Counterpain Cool, a cooling patch, orange balm; warming products from day 2–3. Knee — the thin Neobun-Gel patch stays on while walking. Sensitive skin — gel patches are gentler than fabric ones, white balm gentler than red.

Good to know

External pain relief based on menthol, camphor and methyl salicylate relieves pain but does not treat the cause. Pain lasting over a week, swelling with limited movement, numbness or fever need a doctor. Not on broken skin, no heating pad on top, wear a patch for 8–12 hours at most with a day's break. Methyl salicylate — with aspirin allergy, anticoagulants, pregnancy or under 12 — ask a doctor.

Questions and answers

Warming or cooling patch?

Cooling for the first 48 hours after a bruise or sprain and for swelling; warming for chronic pain and tension, from day 2–3 after an injury.

How does Counterpain differ from Tiger Balm?

Counterpain is a methyl-salicylate cream that absorbs without an oily trace — convenient by day; Tiger Balm is a dense camphor-menthol balm that holds heat longer.

How is the order shipped?

From our warehouse in Thailand with a tracking number.