Can Tiger Balm Help With Aches and Pains? – Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Hey there, welcome to Paging Dr. Gupta, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us. This is the place the place we get to listen to your well being questions, hear your considerations and hopefully in return present you some actual solutions.

Our producer Jennifer is again with us once more immediately, she’s bought some model new questions from the inbox. Who do we’ve got first?

Hey Sanjay, immediately’s query is from Erica in San Diego, California. And Sanjay I actually love this query, have a pay attention.

Hi my identify is Erica and I actually love listening to your podcast Chasing Life. I do have a query, I just lately listened to your episode concerning ache and some potential finest observe treatments. I come from an Asian household that if there may be an damage to the pores and skin, to the muscle, instantly we convey out the tiger balm and begin rubbing the heck out of it till it will get fairly scorching. And I’m simply questioning what your perspective is on this observe: is it wholesome? Does it make a distinction? From an extended standing Chinese household, it is similar to normal observe that we do instantly when somebody will get damage bodily. Thank you for taking my query.

Ok Erica, that could be a improbable query. I’ve been considering loads about ache these days, I just lately wrote a guide about this so I’m very immersed on this. I do know lots of people who flip to merchandise like Tiger Balm after a tough exercise or after pulling a muscle, it is fairly widespread in my household as properly. I’m going to inform you what you could know, proper after the break.

‘Ok, first issues first, Tiger Balm. If you are not acquainted with this, this can be a topical ointment that you simply apply immediately in your pores and skin. It’s over-the-counter, it has been round for a very long time, it has been utilized in East Asia for the reason that late 1800s and has extra just lately grow to be in style right here within the West as properly. You can just about discover it at any pharmacy, it’s normally proper there within the part subsequent to bandages and ibuprofen.

So what’s truly in Tiger Balm? I’m going to be speaking immediately in regards to the basic Tiger Balm, that is the one which is available in a small jar. It’s listed on their web site as Tiger Balm Regular Strength Ointment.

Now what are the energetic elements right here? They are menthol and camphor. If these sound acquainted to you, it is as a result of they’re typically utilized in topical ache relievers. They are what are referred to as counter irritants, that are just about like what they sound. In some methods, they supply a counter irritation, which can work by distracting you. Think of it as kind of creating superficial irritation in a single a part of the physique, to perhaps relieve irritation in one other half.

So menthol, let’s deal with that first. That’s an alcohol extracted from mint oil. It’s been used for hundreds of years, since historical instances. If you have ever felt it, it will make your pores and skin really feel heat or cool, which might then block ache alerts going to the mind. It additionally decreases irritation, will increase blood circulation, and in consequence can relieve minor ache in your muscle groups and joints. Think arthritis, easy backache, bruises, cramps, muscle strains, or sprains.

Camphor is derived from the camphor tree, initially. Nowadays although, it’s made synthetically from an extract from pine timber. And once more, works like menthol, will increase blood circulation, could make your pores and skin really feel hotter or cooler.

‘So a product like Tiger Balm can relieve or perhaps distract from muscle ache or a sprain. It’s not fully clear the way it works, but it surely has been recognized to alleviate complications. And there was a latest research which confirmed a statistically vital distinction in rigidity headache reduction between Tiger Balm and placebo. Some folks additionally swear that it really works for nasal congestion. But actually, we could not discover any research on that. The effectiveness of camphor or menthol as a decongestant –that is questionable.

Studies have proven that fragrant ointments containing menthol and camphor do not truly enhance airflow within the nostril. But it’d really feel prefer it does as a result of it creates a cooling sensation. That cool feeling might trick your mind into considering that you simply’re respiration extra simply. So in that case, the reduction could also be extra about notion than precise bodily change.

I do wish to be clear although. If you’ve a severe damage, you probably have severe ache. You might must get medical consideration. Don’t delay doing that. Also do not use this on damaged pores and skin or open wounds. That most likely goes with out saying. Don’t apply it to any space of the physique with mucous membranes and watch out across the eyes, the mouth and the nostril. This stuff can final a very long time and you’ll really feel a sting for a very long time.

Also in relation to youngsters beneath the age of 12, discuss to your physician about that. Obviously watch out with these things round infants, you probably have it on and then you definately contact the child, it could possibly simply switch to a child’s pores and skin. It may also even be inhaled.

And for those who’re eager about it, attempt testing the world first in your pores and skin as you need to with any new topical painkiller. Everyone’s completely different. Everyone’s going to react in a different way.

Lastly, I ought to point out that there are different formulations and strengths of Tiger Balm except for the basic one which I used to be simply speaking about immediately. Some of these come in numerous kinds for software. Some of them are a cream or a sprig. Some may need completely different energetic elements, together with methyl salicylate, which is a compound just like aspirin. So learn the elements on the label. You ought to all the time do this. And once more, examine with your physician, particularly you probably have an allergy to aspirine or salicylates.

So backside line, does Tiger Balm work? Well, Erica, it form of depends upon what you are utilizing it for. For issues like muscle aches, sprains, even rigidity complications, there may be proof it could possibly assist, a minimum of a little bit. And whereas some folks, once more, swear by it for congestion and different pains, that is likely to be extra in regards to the cooling sensation than actually clearing something up.

Tiger Balm isn’t a miracle remedy. But it isn’t snake oil both. Used accurately, it may be a useful device in your ache reduction equipment. Again, simply be aware of the place and the way you apply it. Thanks for the query. Hope that was useful.

Up subsequent, can taking antibiotics stop you from getting sick? We’ll be proper again.

OK, we’re again with paging Dr. Gupta. Jennifer, what do we’ve got subsequent?

OK, Sanjay, our subsequent query comes from Homer in Woodland, California.

Hello, Dr. Gupta, that is Homer. My query is about bacterial infections and antibiotics. If I’m taking antibiotics and I’m uncovered to somebody with a bacterial an infection, for instance pneumonia, do the antibiotics that I’m taking stop me from catching the pneumonia that the opposite particular person has? In different phrases, do antibiotics stop you from catching a bacterial an infection from another person? Love your podcast.

OK, this can be a actually attention-grabbing query and an attention-grabbing approach of framing this. So Homer, I’m glad you requested it, as a result of in relation to antibiotics, I believe there’s fairly a bit to clear up.

So first, let’s discuss what we learn about antibiotics. They are used to deal with bacterial infections. OK, antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for viral infections, antiparasitics for parasitic infections. So antibiotics usually are not going to work on viruses. Like the widespread chilly or the flu. Only bacterial infections, as you talked about, Homer. And antibiotics usually are not wanted to deal with all bacterial infections. Some will clear on their very own.

They are extra generally used to deal with issues like strep, whooping cough, and urinary tract infections. Some actually widespread bacterial infections like ear an infection, some sinus infections, they don’t seem to be usually going to require antibiotics.

And not each antibiotic works for each an infection. There’s a number of micro organism on the market. There’s lot of antibiotics on the market, you bought to be sure to’re taking the proper one.

So within the case of pneumonia, such as you talked about, it relies upon to some extent what sort of pneumonia you are referring to. In the case bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics might be obligatory, tremendous essential. That sort of pneumonia could possibly be life threatening if not handled. But if it is pneumonia brought on by a virus or a fungus, for instance, you are not going to wish antibiotics. They’re not gonna be useful. Bacterial pneumonia, backside line, tends to be extra extreme.

Now once more, antibiotics usually are not interchangeable, although lots of people deal with them as such. Not all micro organism are gonna reply to all antibiotics. So you probably have bacterial pneumonia, medical doctors will prescribe an antibiotic primarily based on the micro organism that is inflicting your an infection. Prescribe an antibiotic that is recognized to work in opposition to a specific micro organism.

To your query, Homer, in case you are taking antibiotics and uncovered to somebody with pneumonia, will you be resistant to pneumonia? It relies upon once more on every little thing I’ve simply stated, what sort of antibiotic you are on, what form pneumonia they’ve.

‘And to be exact, pneumonia itself is not truly contagious, however the micro organism and viruses that trigger it are. When folks cough, sneeze or discuss, they’re gonna ship respiratory droplets into the air and these might be inhaled by folks round them. You may additionally get pneumonia from touching an object or a floor that has the germ on it and then touching your nostril or your mouth. That’s loads much less widespread although. That stated, not everybody who’s uncovered to pneumonia-inflicting germs will truly get pneumonia.

So antibiotics usually are not prescribed to stop pneumonia, to not be preventative. They’re used to deal with sufferers who have already got it. But for those who’re nervous about catching pneumonia, there are vaccines obtainable to stop some widespread varieties of pneumonia.

So CDC, for instance, recommends pneumococcal vaccinations for teenagers youthful than 5 years outdated or youngsters with sure threat circumstances, adults 50 years or older, that is me now, adults with sure dangers circumstances.

‘Other issues you are able to do, clearly, observe good hygiene, particularly round somebody who you recognize is sick. Don’t smoke, care for your immune system. Get sufficient sleep, train, eat a properly-balanced weight loss plan. Those are the issues that may actually assist stop you from getting an an infection.

If you do really feel sick, get recognized. I’ll say this for the third time: not all antibiotics are interchangeable. You wanna decide if an antibiotic is definitely wanted and then be sure to are taking the proper one. Point being, do not go digging round in your medication cupboard on the lookout for any outdated medicine to take. It may truly do extra hurt than good.

Misusing antibiotics can result in uncomfortable side effects, diarrhea. Potential liver and kidney harm. And you may need heard of antibiotic resistance. That’s when a micro organism will change and evolve in order that the antibiotics can not kill them. In these instances, antibiotics cease working properly in opposition to these infections. And the extra antibiotics are used, the extra probabilities the micro organism must adapt and resist them.

So if it simply so occurs, you’re taking the precise antibiotic for a possible micro organism that you simply’re uncovered to, that is likely to be protecting. But once more, that’s not the purpose of antibiotics. When we’re making an attempt to stop illness, we’re typically speaking about vaccinations. When you are speaking about antibiotics, that is to deal with illness.

Homer, nice query. I hope that was useful. There’s quite a lot of nuance there. I believe all of us realized one thing immediately.

Thank you to your improbable questions, all of you. And thanks for staying curious. Asking questions on your well being isn’t a nasty factor. It’s why I created this podcast. This is among the finest issues you are able to do for your self. Part of chasing life is asking questions, the massive ones and the small ones, staying curious, knowledgeable, and proactive. That’s how we care for ourselves and the folks we love. So maintain looking, continue to learn.

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