The reason why pain relief supplements have become so popular is that they claim to be organic and are touted to have no, or fewer side effects.

Fortunately, the internet has made access to research materials on most of these ingredients easier, unlike some years back when you had to be in a university to access such research reports. With this information at hand, let’s compare Biofreeze vs Tiger Balm from what type of pain each product is designed for, the ingredients, to what users say about these two pain relief products.

A side by side comparison at two pain supports supplements like these need you to stay blind on the prices a bit, and look at the most important aspects. Let’s go:   

(a). What is Biofreeze and who Manufactures it?

Biofreeze is marketed as a pain relief product and promises to deliver the results quickly. It comes in various forms. We have Biofreeze cream, gel, and spray.

The way this product works according to its producer, is you have to apply it directly on the pain spot. The ingredients then seep through the skin to go ease the pain. Among the people who use this product, the most include those who exercise regularly, runners, football, and rugby players.

In precise, Biofreeze is the main product of a brand that goes by the same name Biofreeze. All the literature on their official website summarizes to one major conclusion – they are a pain support product manufacturing business. In size, this brand is quite established as its product is sold by key retailers.

(b). What is Tiger Balm and Who Manufactures it?

Tiger Balm is an ointment for reducing pain, according to its producer. This product only reveals a few of its ingredients and claims that their secret active ingredients remain undisclosed.

The balm works as a topical pain ointment and maybe good for arthritic caused pains, backaches, joint, and muscle pains, among others. Some users point out that it works for pain which comes from muscle strains as well as joint inflexibility. Rubbing this balm on the forehead sides may also reduce the severity of headache, and the same results may be true on insect bites.

A company by the name Haw Par Healthcare is the main distributor of Tiger Balm and trails show it could be the manufacturer. They are an international company but the product is sold by major retailers in the US as well. A rough count shows that Tiger Balm is consumed in over 69 countries across the globe.

Biofreeze vs Tiger Balm Ingredient Comparison

(a). Ingredients for Biofreeze and their Benefits

• Menthol 3.5% – Biofreeze lists menthol as its main ingredient and the 3.5 concentration rating is considered safe. In different studies like for example one in an article featured in the Rehabilitation Research and Practice journal, menthol has been seen to play a role in relieving pain through the gate control concept.

• Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract – Some research agrees that Boswellia’s resin has components that may improve joint pain. It may be particularly effective on joint pain and this is suggested by one publication in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences journal.  

• Arnica Montana Extract – contents of the flower extract from this plant may play part in improving the time it takes for an ordinary wound to heal, as suggested by a research report in the Royal Society of Medicine journal.

• Aloe Leaf Extract – the beneficial part of this plant (also scientifically known as Barbadensis) is leaf extract components. An overview of Aloe appearing in the Pharmacognosy Reviews journal mentions that it might have anti-inflammatory or pain-reducing properties to the tissues under the skin.   

(b). Ingredients for Tiger Balm and their Benefits

• Camphor – based on findings, camphor has properties that may ease swelling. It may also reduce rheumatism, support the wound healing process, and relieve tissue discomfort, as per one article in the journal Cureus. 

• Clove Oil – has been linked with having antiseptic properties. Some studies like one at Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine suggests that its scent also repels insects on the skin, it brings about a warm feeling that may ease swelling.

• Menthol – since both Biofreeze and Tiger Balm use menthol, it likely that it is a defining ingredient when it comes to pain management. In this case, however, the menthol’s concentration percentage is not shared, and that this one comes from mint oils. Different studies, one being a review in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy agree that menthol may ease arthritic discomfort.

• Cajuput Oil – this ingredient may help ease muscle tension, sore ligaments, and reduce back pain. According to some studies – one being the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, oil from Cajuput may improve rheumatism pain.

Customer reviews for Biofreeze vs Tiger Balm

Biofreeze customer feedback	Tiger Balm customer feedback
1. My hubby loves it   “This is my husband’s go-to joint relief balm. Initially, his doctor used to give him Tylenol and Ibuprophen but Biofreeze came along. He came to contact with this balm when at a rehab facility. And it was because he was complaining of shoulder pain during therapy that someone mentioned it, so he decided to give it a shot.” – Chloe	1. I couldn’t change to another option   My mother trusts Tiger Balm so much that I felt it’s the real deal when it comes to pain relief. I came to agree with her after I tried other options including Bengay, Icy Hot, and BioFreeze, well they worked but I still couldn’t stick with them long so I reverted to my mother’s choice. All I can say if your mother has arthritis and she trusts it, it is super hard to think of anything else. – RVS
2. Works okay for temporary pains   “Not bad. It works for knees and ankle pains especially if you are working hard to cut off some pain. As in, besides your diet program, having such a pain relief spray like Biofreeze becomes essential”. – Crawford	2. Tiger Balm ‘burns’ but it works “It sure burns the skin when I used in excess, just as its name. However, when I use it according to the guideline its comfortable and pain soothing. – Adrianne.

Alternative Products for Biofreeze and Tiger Balm

S/N	Brand	Price	Active Ingredients
1.	Blue Emu	Around $20	Emu oil, Aloe Vera, stearic acid, water, cetyl alcohol
2.	Arnica Gel	Not shared	Arnica Montana, sodium hydroxide, purified water, carbomer
3.	Theraworx Relief	$20 to $50	Aloe Vera, Colloidal Silver, Grapefruit extract
4.	Relief Factor (tabs)	$79 + $6.95	Resveratrol, Curcumin, Icariin, Omega-3

Final Verdict for Biofreeze vs Tiger Balm

For temporary relief, BioFreeze is considered to suffice in most situations. This is particularly because its menthol concentration is not that too high to cause skin irritation. However, if your pain is much severe Tiger Balm’s menthol content as well as its ingredients may work better.

Well, both of these products claim to offer near-instant relief from joint discomfort. The only key difference is that the balm might more effective in stronger pains.

Also, in terms of the length of time that the benefit lasts, this may vary from one user to another. The gap in the rating by different users is also not big. Biofreeze is rated 4.7/5 and Tiger Balm 4.6/5, which is a difference of 0.1.