Rubefacients

[Guest guest]

My DH is a martial arts publisher and Tai Chi practitioner. One of the

things that are always hanging around on shelves at home are bottles of weird

liquids that are used for rubbing on bruises and strains. I have always

ignored these, and indeed have *almost* become used to the smell of them

wafting off my beloved...

Recently though, I had a look at one. Then I had a look at the rest. Here

are the full label details from four of them exactly as they are printed,

including interesting spellings. They are all variations on the Tiger Balm

theme. I know they cannot be even remotely classified as cosmetics, but I

thought they might be of interest to members of this list...

MACAU'S HEALING OIL (Singapore Medicine Co)

is good for

Bronchitis

Burns

Bruises

Cuts

Catarrh

Coughs

Colds

Croup

Corns

Earache

Fever

Lame Back

Neuralgia

Piles

Rheumatism

Swellings

Stings of Insects or Reptiles

Sprains

Sore Throat

Toothache

Wounds of all descriptions

Formula

Camphor 3%

Spirit Turpentine 9%

Eucalyptus 0.5%

Liquid paraffin 87.5%

WHITE FLOWER EMBROCATION (Hoe Hin Pak Fah Yeow Mfy Ltd, Hong Kong)

provides relief from stuffed up feeling associated with with catarrh colds,

influenza and irritating throat.

Relieves headache, minor stomach ache and abdominal pain.

Temporarily relieves muscular pain.

Good for travel and motion sickness.

Antiseptic

Stops itching such as insect and mosquito bites.

Gives remedies to inflammation pimples, burns, scalds and cuts.

Helps to stop bleeding associated with minor wounds.

Refreshing.

Contents

Wintergreen oil

Menthol crystal

Eucalyptus oil

Peppermint oil

Camphor

Lavender oil

BAMBOO GREEN OIL (Singapore Pak Hee Medicine Factory)

For all Wind troubles, Sprains, Mumbness, Cramps, Back Ache, Headache,

Rheumatism, Cough.

Made of high grade Chinese herb, using century old Taoism temple

prescription. It is mild and applicable to a wild variety of sickness.

Efficacy

Rheumatism, bone ache, bone fractures, dizziness, cold, headache, bruise,

cramp, spasm, coughs, seasickness, nausea, faint, diarrhea, abdominal pain,

heart and lung pain, insect bites.

Menthol crystal 26%

Eucalyptus Oil 12%

Lavender Oil 0.5%

Camphor 12%

Methyl Salicylate 20%

White Oil 29.5%

WISEST OIL (Lee Kam Wing Martial Arts Sports Association, Hong Kong)

Heaven will know the conscience - Nobody can realize the manufacture.

An unique good prescription of the Northern Shaolin Seven-Star Mantis Style

for aches-killing and Arthrolithiasis-eliminating in application-external,

which is refined by Master Lee Kam Wing who adapts precious Chinese medicine

from the bottom of his heart.

The notable effectiveness of the Wisest Oil which gives actions on

tendon-relieving, blood-circulating, hematoma-dissipating and aches-killing

has been a good remedy for patients.

Administration

For application-external only.

Use Wisest Oil to brush slightly and massage onto the inflected part.

Permeate cottons with Wisest Oil to spread over external surface of the

inflected part for intense pain.

Indication

Rheumatism Bone pain

Nervous paraesthesia

Tendon injury

Mucle swelling and pain

Dizziness and headache

Menstrual abdomenal pain

Arthritic pain

Back and leg pain

Ingredient

Pamax notoginseng

Lycopus lucidus

Rheum officinale

Casalpinia Sappen

Siler divanicatum

Nepeta japonica

Polypodium fortunei Kze

Phellodendron amurense

acutloba

Carthamus tinctorius

Pistacia lentiscus

Inula helenium

Fresh Rehmannia glutinosa

Commiphora myrrha

Calamus draco, Wild

Sanguisorba Ossicinalis L.

Of these four, the Bamboo Green oil smells quite pleasant, with little of the

traditional 'linament' smell of the others. Having had a quick test of all

of them, I can report that it is also the only one that continues to smell

relatively pleasant after it has been lingering on clothes for a few hours.

Rose

The London Soap Company