Comparing Dit Da Jow and Tiger Balm
There seems to be a lot of confusion when comparing Dit Da Jow and Tiger Balm Tiger Balm is a rubefacient formulated according to standard pharmaceutical practice in two forms, Red and White. Dit Da Jow is an herbal blended liniment to treat blood stasis and blood stagnation while at the same time unblocking and moving Qi. The main ingredients in Tiger Balm are camphor, menthol, clove oil and cajuput oil. Tiger Balm, in various forms, has been used for years as an externally applied ointment for the relief of muscle aches and sprains as it improves blood flow and brings warmth to the area applied, since it is a rubfacient, it can cause skin redness.
Dit Da Jow can have a variety of different Chinese herbs generally 10 to 20 which are macerated in alcohol or rice wine for a designated amount of time depending on the herbs used and is considered a liniment since it is in liquid form. Tiger Balm as the name applies is an ointment due to the paraffin petrolatum used. Below is a list of the ingredients as of 2021.
Tiger Balm
Active Ingredients: Camphor – 11 % (Topical Analgesic), Menthol – 10 % (Topical Analgesic)
Inactive Ingredients: Cajuput Oil, Cassia Oil, Clove Oil, Dementholised Mint Oil and Paraffin Petrolatum
While both help with pain relief Dit Da Jow is more for healing trauma type injuries due to the unique blend of herbs that have been used in Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine for over 1000 years. While some Dit Da Jow is warming, generally it is more neutral and can be used for acute injuries when there is swelling and when ice generally would be used. Applying a balm or liniment that is too hot can cause increased swelling to the injured area delaying recovery and also increasing pain.
Dit Da Jow
Dit Da Jow comes in kit form to make at home or pre-made and sold in small bottles normally 2 or 4 ounces. Tiger Balm does not come in kit form and is sold in small 0.63 oz (18 gram) glass container. We wanted to point out that there is a liquid version of Tiger Balm called Tiger Balm liniment that has different ingredients using oils and Methyl Salicylate.
Bottled Dit Da Jow and the herb kit to make your own at home.
For bruising or sprains Dit Da Jow is our recommendation, for stiff muscles or minor pain without swelling Tiger Balm is good. If you were to sprain ankle, Dit Da Jow would be used first then in a few days when the swelling is gone and you have minor stiffness Tiger Balm can be used, so they can compliment each other. If you are training in the martial arts and sustain bumps and bruises Dit Da Jow is the preferred choice. If you are looking for a liniment that combines the warmth of Tiger Balm along with tendon healing the Tendon Warming liniment should be considered.
Conclusion
In our opinion Dit Da Jow and Tiger Balm are two completely different products but they can be used together. For treating new injuries Dit Da jow should be used as most formulas like the Shaolin Dit Da Jow contain herbs that heal and move blood which carries the Qi, for minor aches or muscle soreness Tiger Balm should do the job.