Tiger Balm vs Wong To Yick vs Po Sum On — The Three Hong Kong Classics Compared

If you walk into any Hong Kong pharmacy, TCM shop, Chinatown grocer in Vancouver, or a Southeast Asian supermarket in London, you will find the same three products sitting side by side on the medicated oil shelf: Tiger Balm (in its red and white variants), Wong To Yick Wood Lock Medicated Oil, and Po Sum On. Each has been in continuous production for between 65 and 150 years. Each has survived the arrival of Bengay, Icy Hot, Salonpas, topical NSAIDs, CBD balms, and every other Western muscle-rub innovation. And each occupies a distinct niche that most first-time users don’t fully understand until they have tried all three.

This article is a head-to-head comparison of the three Hong Kong classics: how they differ in ingredients, sensation, duration, best-use scenarios, cost, and safety profile. By the end, you will know which bottle to reach for in which situation — or whether to keep all three in your cupboard (which is what most Hong Kong households actually do).

Quick comparison table

Background and history

Tiger Balm was created by the Aw (Haw Par) brothers in Rangoon in the 1870s, moved to Singapore, and has since become the most internationally distributed of the three. It is owned by Haw Par Corporation, a Singapore-listed company, and marketed globally in two primary variants: Red (stronger, warming, for muscles) and White (milder, cooling, for headaches and insect bites).

Wong To Yick Wood Lock Medicated Oil was created by Huang Daoyi (黃道益) in Hong Kong in 1962. Huang trained in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, and his formulation was specifically designed for “dit da” injury recovery — bruises, sprains, and muscle strain common in kung fu training. It has remained family-owned and HK-manufactured for over 60 years. Wong To Yick is the single most popular medicated oil in Hong Kong households and the most recognised TCM product in overseas Chinese communities globally.

Po Sum On (保心安油) was created by Leung Kan Kee (梁根記) in Guangzhou in 1907 and moved to Hong Kong in the mid-20th century. It is the oldest of the three and has the deepest traditional Chinese medicine roots. Po Sum On is positioned as a gentler, more aromatic “general household oil” suitable for colds, headaches, muscle aches, insect bites, and stomach discomfort in adults.

Ingredient comparison

The three products differ substantially in both the concentration and mix of their active ingredients:

Tiger Balm Red

• Camphor 25% — highest camphor of all four products. Creates intense warming sensation.
• Menthol ~10% — moderate cooling.
• Methyl salicylate ~10% — modest anti-inflammatory action.
• Cassia oil — traditional TCM ingredient for warming.
• Clove oil — eugenol for mild analgesia.
• Mint oil — adds freshness.

Tiger Balm Red’s profile is “warming-dominant with balanced salicylate”. It feels hot fast and the heat lasts 30-60 minutes.

Tiger Balm White

• Camphor ~11% — much less than Red.
• Menthol ~8% — moderate cooling.
• No methyl salicylate — no salicylate warmth.
• Clove oil, cajuput oil, eucalyptus oil — for mild analgesia and aromatic effect.

Tiger Balm White’s profile is “cool with mild warmth”. It feels cool on application, with a gentle lingering warmth from the small amount of camphor. It is the best of the three for sinus/headache use because of the cajuput and eucalyptus profile.

Wong To Yick Wood Lock Medicated Oil

• Methyl salicylate ~40% — highest salicylate of any common HK medicated oil.
• Menthol ~16% — strong cooling.
• Camphor ~15% — moderate warming.
• Lavender oil — gentler aromatic.
• Eucalyptus oil — mild decongestant.
• Turpentine oil — mild counterirritant.

Wong To Yick’s profile is “salicylate-dominant with intense cooling”. It feels cool very fast (from the 16% menthol), then the warming kicks in from the camphor, and the anti-inflammatory effect from the 40% methyl salicylate continues for hours. This is the most “biochemically active” of the three — the 40% methyl salicylate provides actual anti-inflammatory pharmacology, not just sensory substitution.

Po Sum On

• Camphor ~16% — moderate warming.
• Menthol ~16% — strong cooling.
• No methyl salicylate — no salicylate action.
• Lavender oil — prominent aromatic note.
• Dragon’s blood (resina draconis) — traditional TCM ingredient, adds to the reddish tint.
• Peppermint oil — adds to the cool-aromatic profile.

Po Sum On’s profile is “balanced cool-warm with aromatic complexity”. It lacks the salicylate kick of Wong To Yick but has more aromatic depth from the lavender, dragon’s blood, and peppermint. It is gentler on the skin and more versatile for household use.

Sensation profile — what each actually feels like

Tiger Balm Red: On application, a few seconds of neutral sensation, then rapid warming. Within 30 seconds the skin feels distinctly hot. The warming intensifies over 2-3 minutes, peaks, and then gradually fades over 30-60 minutes. There is a mild underlying tingle from the menthol. Most users describe it as “hot and tingly.”

Tiger Balm White: Immediate cooling sensation from the menthol, followed within 30-60 seconds by a mild warming that is much less intense than Red. The cool dominates for most of the application period. Most users describe it as “cool and slightly warm.”

Wong To Yick: Intense cooling from the menthol — the coolest of the four on initial application. Within 60-90 seconds the warming from the camphor and methyl salicylate starts building. The sustained anti-inflammatory action from the 40% methyl salicylate means the sensation lasts longer than the others — sometimes noticeable for 2-3 hours. Most users describe it as “cool first, then warm, then tingly for a long time.”

Po Sum On: Balanced cool-warm sensation from the start. The cooling and warming are both present but neither dominates. The lavender adds an aromatic quality that is absent from Tiger Balm or Wong To Yick. Most users describe it as “cool and warm together, and smells nice.”

When to use which — best-case scenarios

Tiger Balm Red is best for:

• Deep muscle soreness — running, gym, physical labour
• Lower back pain — chronic or acute
• Cold-climate muscle stiffness — winter joint ache
• Pre-exercise muscle prep — like a “heat rub” before activity
• Older adults with chronic joint pain

Tiger Balm White is best for:

• Tension headache — dab on temples
• Sinus congestion — rub on chest (children under 2 excluded)
• Insect bites — small dab, great for mosquito bites
• Travel/motion sickness — sniff or dab under nose
• Light muscle ache — for when Red is “too hot”

Wong To Yick is best for:

• Post-exercise muscle injury — strained hamstring, sprained ankle
• Bruising from impact — especially from sports or martial arts
• Severe lower back pain — the 40% salicylate gives real anti-inflammatory relief
• Stiff shoulder from prolonged computer work
• “Dit da” traditional injury treatment
• Cases where you want genuine pharmacology, not just sensory substitution

Po Sum On is best for:

• General household first aid — the “everything bottle”
• Light headaches — when you want something gentler than Tiger Balm White
• Insect bites on sensitive skin
• Mild muscle ache — for a gentler alternative to Tiger Balm Red
• Stomach discomfort (traditional — dab on abdomen)
• Elderly users who find Wong To Yick too intense
• Daily small aches where you want low-risk multi-purpose action

The “if you can only have one” question

If you asked ten Hong Kong grandmothers which one they would pick if they could only have one, you would get:

• 6 out of 10: Wong To Yick. “It actually works.” (Nodding at the 40% methyl salicylate, even if they don’t know the chemistry.)
• 2 out of 10: Po Sum On. “It’s gentler and I can use it for more things.”
• 1 out of 10: Tiger Balm White. “I like the smell and it’s good for headaches.”
• 1 out of 10: Tiger Balm Red. “For my bad back it’s the strongest.”

The practical answer: Wong To Yick is the “serious” choice for serious muscle complaints; Po Sum On is the “daily” choice for gentler household use; Tiger Balm White is the best specific choice for headaches and colds; Tiger Balm Red is best for heavy-duty heat-rub use. Most households own all three — Wong To Yick + Po Sum On + Tiger Balm White (or Red) — and use them for different situations.

Safety comparison

All four products require the standard medicated oil safety rules: small area, small amount, intact skin, no heat, no occlusion, no children under 2, cautious use in pregnancy and G6PD deficiency. But some are stricter than others:

Tiger Balm Red

• 25% camphor is high — toxicity risk if used in large amounts, especially in children
• Contraindicated in children under 2
• Cautious use in pregnancy (camphor is concerning)
• G6PD patients: small areas only

Tiger Balm White

• Lower camphor (11%) makes it the safest of the four for inhaled use (close to the face)
• Still contraindicated in children under 2
• Pregnancy: avoid entirely due to camphor
• Considered “gentler” in common parlance but still full-strength medicine

Wong To Yick

• 40% methyl salicylate is the highest OTC concentration of any major brand
• Banned for OTC sale in Canada (restricted to prescription)
• Fatal topical salicylate toxicity has been reported from excessive application
• Absolutely no whole-body or large-area use
• Contraindicated with oral aspirin or warfarin
• Contraindicated in third trimester pregnancy specifically
• Very strict adult-only use

Po Sum On

• No methyl salicylate = no salicylate toxicity risk
• Moderate camphor (16%) — still a real concentration but no worse than the others
• Generally considered the gentlest of the four
• Still contraindicated in children under 2 and in pregnancy (due to camphor)
• The safest of the four for elderly and sensitive-skin users

Bottom line on safety: Wong To Yick has the highest pharmacological activity and therefore the highest risk profile if used wrong. Tiger Balm Red is the most “fiery” and can burn sensitive skin. Tiger Balm White is the mildest traditional choice. Po Sum On is the gentlest overall. All four require adult-only use and intact skin.

For specific populations, see our articles on pregnancy, G6PD deficiency, and infants and children.

Cost comparison

All four products are priced similarly per application:

• Tiger Balm Red/White: approximately HK$30-45 for a 20g jar
• Wong To Yick: approximately HK$55-80 for a 50ml bottle (but lasts longer per application)
• Po Sum On: approximately HK$40-60 for a 30ml bottle

Cost per application is comparable across all four, and none is notably expensive. The main cost consideration is authenticity — all four have counterfeit problems, and buying from authorised retailers is essential.

Authenticity and counterfeits

All four products are heavily counterfeited, particularly in overseas Chinese markets. Key authentication strategies:

• Tiger Balm: Look for the Tiger Balm hologram and manufacturer info from Haw Par Healthcare (Singapore). Real Tiger Balm jars have a distinctive printed metal lid with consistent quality.
• Wong To Yick: Holographic sticker on the box + QR code verification. Real bottles have a strong, complex mint-camphor-wintergreen smell. See our Wong To Yick complete guide for full detection tips.
• Po Sum On: Look for the Leung Kan Kee manufacturer mark and consistent orange-red bottle label. Real Po Sum On has a pronounced lavender top note.

Buy only from authorised pharmacies (Watsons, Mannings, official brand stores, reputable Chinatown TCM shops with street addresses). Avoid street-market stalls and unverified online sellers.

Regional availability

The camphor 11% limit in the US and the methyl salicylate 30% limit in Canada are the biggest regulatory issues, which is why Wong To Yick (40% methyl salicylate) is restricted or banned in some Western markets.

Practical conclusion

Tiger Balm, Wong To Yick, and Po Sum On represent three distinct philosophies of Hong Kong medicated oil:

• Tiger Balm is the “international brand” — well-distributed, reliable, with clearly differentiated Red (strong) and White (gentle) variants
• Wong To Yick is the “serious muscle treatment” — highest pharmacological activity with the 40% methyl salicylate, best for real injury, strictest safety profile
• Po Sum On is the “gentle household remedy” — most versatile, safest for sensitive users, good for daily light use

Each has a valid place in a Hong Kong household’s medicine cabinet, and the most common setup is to own one strong muscle treatment (Wong To Yick) plus one gentle multi-purpose option (Po Sum On or Tiger Balm White). Pick based on what you actually do — if you play contact sports, get Wong To Yick; if you want a mild family-friendly option, get Po Sum On; if you travel often and want something compact for headaches and insect bites, get Tiger Balm White.

All three are real medicines with real mechanisms, real benefits, and real safety considerations. Respect the concentration, follow the safety rules, and buy genuine from authorised retailers.

This article is part of the Medicated Oil Knowledge Hub, a free educational reference on traditional Chinese and Southeast Asian herbal medicated oils. Information here is for education and is not medical advice. For individual medical questions, consult a pharmacist or physician.

Related articles

• Tiger Balm Complete Guide
• Wong To Yick Wood Lock Medicated Oil Complete Guide
• Po Sum On Complete Guide
• White Flower Embrocation Complete Guide
• Camphor Pharmacology
• Menthol Pharmacology
• Methyl Salicylate Safety
• Medicated Oils During Pregnancy
• G6PD Deficiency and Medicated Oils
• Infants and Children Safety