I've been using tiger balm for so long that I no longer can figure out whether it's actually an effective ointment, or if it's the placebo effect. I mean, what kind of magical cure can take care of everything from tummy aches to coughing? 

And yet… everyone uses Tiger Balm, from every Asian person I know to athletes with muscle pains. And, I should add that this stuff has never failed me yet. Just a whiff of that heady herbal scent, and I feel better already. After it's applied, you'll feel a very comforting, tingly "heat" sensation where you've applied the stuff. 

Here are some of my common uses for Tiger Balm: 

* Headaches: Massage on both your temples

* Stomach aches: Rub some around the area near your belly button

* Muscle pains: Apply wherever you feel the pain

* Insect bites: Rub directly on the bitten areas. It'll take away the itch. 

* Coughing: Rub on your chest, kind of like Vicks Vapor Rub. 

The only drawback is that the substance is waxy, so you'll want to wash it off after its done its work.