Thailand’s Medicated Oil Tradition: Yaa-Mong Balms, Yaa-Dom Inhalers, and Namman Muay

Summary — Thailand operates three distinct but related medicated-aromatic categories: yaa-mong (ยาหม่อง) topical balms, yaa-dom (ยาดม) inhaler sticks, and the yaa-hom (ยาหอม) classical oral tonic tradition from royal tamrap manuscripts. This guide traces Siang Pure (Bertram 1963), Poy-Sian Mark II (1936), Namman Muay Thai boxing liniment (Thongtos Intratat, 1937/1960), and Counterpain (Taisho Pharmaceutical Thailand) through their pharmacology, Thai FDA regulation under the Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 (2019), and the safety considerations that matter most for travellers, Muay Thai students, and Chinese-diaspora readers buying Thai balm online.

Independently written by the CompanyForge AI editorial team. Primary sources cited. License: CC BY 4.0.

1. Three Thai Categories You Must Not Confuse

Thai medicated aromatics comprise three distinct categories that travel guides and export listings routinely conflate:

The words yaa-mong (balm) and yaa-hom (oral tonic) are routinely confused in English-language sources. Yaa-hom is a classical Thai oral medicine documented in royal manuscripts — it is not the topical balm. Celebrated yaa-hom recipes include Ya Hom Thep Chit, Ya Hom Thipsot, and Ya Hom Nawakot, administered for “wind imbalance” (lom), dizziness, and fainting (Thailand Foundation, “Ya-hom: Thailand’s Former Panacea”; Tultavai pharmacology review: PMC3794403). This article focuses primarily on the balm and inhaler categories that anchor modern Thai OTC medicated-oil commerce.

2. Siang Pure (สยามเภสัช / Bertram) — Thailand’s Flagship Balm House

2.1 History

The Siang Pure formula traces to a Shantou-region traditional-Chinese-medicine lineage (Master Tang), commercialised in Bangkok by entrepreneur Boonchua. The commercial entity Chakrintr Ltd. Partnership was formally registered in 1963, evolving into Bertram Chemical Works and then Bertram Chemical (1982) Co., Ltd., now parented by Bertram (1958) Co., Ltd. The company operates PIC/S GMP-certified facilities in Thailand and a secondary factory in Shantou, China, where most of its raw peppermint, camphor, clove, menthol, borneol and cinnamon inputs are sourced (bertram1958.com; WIPO IP Advantage case study #2684).

Note on frequently cited but unverified claims: Many English-language listings assert “Siang Pure Sole Brothers 1942 Bangkok.” Our primary-source research could not verify a 1942 founding date or a firm called “Sole Brothers” — the verifiable commercial registration is 1963 (Chakrintr Ltd.).

2.2 Product lines

Bertram markets three core brands:

• Siang Pure Oil — the flagship liquid (menthol + camphor + eucalyptus + peppermint + cajuput + cinnamon); amber and green-label variants.
• Peppermint Field — contemporary inhalers, balms, and roll-ons targeting younger consumers.
• Sabai Arom — aromatherapy spa line.

Bertram exports to 25+ countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Colombia, the United States, UAE, and South Africa (Nation Thailand, 2015).

3. Poy-Sian Mark II — The Iconic Yellow Inhaler Stick

Poy-Sian (ปี่เซียน, literally “immortal flute”) traces its heritage to a 1936 Bangkok shop called PE-PEX. The Poy-Sian Mark II inhaler — the yellow plastic barrel-shaped stick sold at every 7-Eleven in Thailand — launched approximately a decade later.

Published ingredient composition (poysian1936.com):

This is a very high aromatic-terpene concentration compared with Western inhalers (e.g., Vicks Inhaler contains ~50 mg menthol in a disposable tube). The high concentration is what drives the characteristic “ice-in-the-nose” sensation that Thai consumers report. Mechanistically, menthol activates the TRPM8 cold-receptor on trigeminal nerve endings (McKemy 2002; Peier 2002), producing the sensation of airway clearing without altering actual airway patency (Eccles 1994).

4. Namman Muay Thai Boxing Liniment — 31% Methyl Salicylate

4.1 History

Namman Muay (น้ำมันมวย, “boxing oil”) was formulated in 1937 by Bangkok pharmacist and Muay Thai gym owner Thongtos Intratat, with first commercial production around 1960. The brand became internationally recognisable after WBC world champion Pone Kingpetch used it during his title run (16 April 1960) (nammanmuay.eu/history).

Common error: Many online sources list “Namman Muay since 1951.” The verified dates are 1937 (formulation) and 1960 (commercial launch).

4.2 Composition (US DailyMed label)

Source: DailyMed, setid a5f00371-5d1e-4a6b-b167-72c6eba8e4ef.

4.3 Why the 31% methyl salicylate matters

Namman Muay’s pharmacology centres on methyl salicylate (MS), a salicylate ester that penetrates skin, is hydrolysed to salicylic acid, and provides NSAID-style COX inhibition in peri-articular tissue. The 31% concentration is deliberate — Muay Thai fighters want deep, rapid warming before training.

The trade-off is high systemic absorption risk with over-application. Classical pharmacology teaches that 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of 98% pure methyl salicylate ≈ 7,000 mg salicylate, or roughly four times the toxic threshold for a 10-kg child (Tennessee Poison Center; Medscape). Even liniments in the 10–30% range have produced salicylism in adolescents who applied them over large areas repeatedly — most famously in the 2007 death of 17-year-old cross-country runner Arielle Newman in New York City from chronic topical MS absorption.

A 2016 review (J Clin Med Res, PMC4786239) documents that scrotal and genital skin absorb topical agents up to 40× the rate of other sites, a concern given that Muay Thai training involves groin/inner-thigh liniment application.

No peer-reviewed pediatric poisoning case specifically attributed to Namman Muay appears in PubMed as of April 2026. The safest framing: Namman’s 31% MS sits in the concentration band where case-reported salicylism has occurred, so it deserves the same precautions as any high-MS topical (Bengay Ultra, Salonpas Gel, Wong To Yick Wood Lock imports).

5. Counterpain — The Bangkok Green Tube

Counterpain (ยาคั่วเคาน์เตอร์เพน) is manufactured by Taisho Pharmaceutical (Thailand), the Thai subsidiary of Japan’s Taisho. Active ingredients:

• Menthol (cooling via TRPM8)
• Eugenol (clove oil component; weak COX-2 inhibition)
• Methyl salicylate (analgesic)

Counterpain Cool (blue) is mentholated for post-exercise cooling; Counterpain (red/green) is warming. The brand is widely distributed across Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan (taisho-th.com).

6. Thai Regulatory Framework — Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 (2019)

6.1 From “Traditional Drug” to “Herbal Product”

Until 2019, medicated balms were registered as ยาแผนโบราณ (“traditional drugs”) under the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967). The Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 (2019) consolidated the regime under the Thai Food and Drug Administration (อย., under the Ministry of Public Health), creating three tiers:

1. Notification (Listed) Herbal Products — low-risk products based on official pharmacopoeial formulations. Certificate valid 5 years, renewable.
2. Detailed Notification — moderate-risk, adapted formulations requiring specification dossier.
3. Licensed Herbal Products — higher-risk, full dossier including stability and safety data.

Source: en.fda.moph.go.th/entrepreneurs-herbal-products/types-of-herbal-products/.

6.2 Accepted traditional texts

Thai FDA recognises formulations drawn from named royal manuscripts as acceptable references for traditional-drug registration:

• Tamra Phra Osot Phra Narai — King Narai era (1656–1688)
• Tamra Paetsart Songkhro / Chabap Luang — Rama V (King Chulalongkorn)
• Tamra Vejasuksa — classical medical text

6.3 DTAM — the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Established 3 October 2002, DTAM administers the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act and oversees the national register of Thai traditional-medicine practitioners. Source: dtam.moph.go.th.

6.4 ASEAN harmonisation

Thailand participates actively in the ASEAN Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Product Working Group (TMHS PWG) and its Scientific Committee, which are drafting the ASEAN Agreement on a harmonised Regulatory Framework for Traditional Medicines. Thailand has positioned itself as the “ASEAN herbal hub” (see PMC9476802 for full overview).

7. Brand Comparison for Travellers and Online Buyers

Authenticity tip: A portion of Tiger Balm SKUs sold in Thailand are legitimately contract-manufactured by OLIC Limited; this is not counterfeit. Genuine Tiger Balm carries gold lid, embossed tiger relief, Mandarin inscription, and ships in standard 4 g / 10 g / 19.4 g / 30 g sizes. Chatuchak Market is primarily a variety/handicraft market, not a dedicated counterfeit hub — MBK Center and Patpong carry higher counterfeit risk.

8. Ingredient Sourcing — What Thailand Actually Supplies

Thailand hosts manufacturing facilities that process menthol crystals, peppermint oil, clove oil, and camphor, including Indian-owned operations (Silverline, Arora Aromatics). However, Thailand is a regional processor and finished-product exporter, not a top-tier global origin for raw aromatics:

• Mentha arvensis (natural menthol): India dominates global supply.
• Clove oil (eugenol): Indonesia dominates.
• Cajuput oil (Melaleuca cajuputi): Indonesia + Vietnam dominate.
• Borneol (from Dryobalanops aromatica / synthetic): China + Indonesia.

Thailand’s distinctive contribution is formulated finished products — Siang Pure, Poy-Sian, Namman Muay, Counterpain — exported across ASEAN and into Middle East and Chinese-diaspora markets.

9. Cross-Border Trade and Diaspora Use

Thai medicated oils travel three main corridors:

1. ASEAN overland: Siang Pure and Poy-Sian are staples in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar markets, often carried informally across land borders.
2. Chinese-diaspora retail: Siang Pure maintains Shantou manufacturing to serve mainland Chinese consumers directly; Taobao/Tmall cross-border flagship stores list Siang Pure (สยามเภสัช 泰国青草药油) and Poy-Sian (泰国鼻通 / 八仙鼻通).
3. Middle East + Gulf: expanded since 2015 via Bertram’s halal certification tracks.

In Hong Kong and Singapore, Thai balms coexist on the same shelf as Wong To Yick, Tiger Balm, and White Flower — typically priced 20–40% below equivalent Hong Kong/Singapore brands for similar potency.

10. Safety Warnings — The Non-Negotiables

10.1 Children under 2 (MANDATORY)

Do not apply Siang Pure Oil, Poy-Sian Mark II, Namman Muay, Counterpain, or any camphor/menthol/methyl-salicylate product to children under 2 years of age. Thai tradition includes applying diluted balm to infants’ abdomens for “wind” (lom), a practice that conflicts with modern toxicology:

• FDA 21 CFR 310.545 — camphor above 11% is not GRASE; AAP 1994 Pediatrics 94:127 documents pediatric camphor seizures.
• Tibballs 1995 (Med J Aust; PMID 7565236) — 109-case Australian series of pediatric eucalyptus oil toxicity.
• Love 2004 (Clin Toxicol; PMID 15219304) — 818 camphor exposures, 1985–2002.
• Paul 2010 (Pediatrics, VapoRub RCT) — vapour rubs can irritate infant airways.

10.2 Pregnancy

Avoid high-methyl-salicylate products (Namman Muay 31% MS, Counterpain, high-MS Siang Pure) in pregnancy, particularly third trimester, due to fetal ductus arteriosus constriction risk (Torloni 2006, Reprod Toxicol; PMID 16355417). Low-dose menthol-only formulations in small areas are generally acceptable in the second trimester but should be discussed with an obstetrician.

10.3 G6PD deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency)

Thailand has a national G6PD prevalence of approximately 3–18% among various ethnic groups (Nuchprayoon 2002; Charoenkwan 2014). Menthol and camphor can precipitate hemolysis in G6PD-deficient neonates (Olowe & Ransome-Kuti 1980, Acta Paediatr Scand; PMID 7376859). Parents of confirmed G6PD-deficient infants should avoid Poy-Sian Mark II (menthol 42%), Siang Pure (menthol + camphor), and any camphor-containing balm.

10.4 Warfarin / anticoagulants

Topical methyl salicylate can dramatically potentiate warfarin. Joss & LeBlond 2000 (Ann Pharmacother; PMID 10860133) documented INR 12.2 in a patient using high-MS topical. Namman Muay’s 31% MS places it firmly in this interaction class. Warn any patient on warfarin, DOACs, or antiplatelet therapy against daily Namman Muay or Counterpain application.

10.5 Broken skin, eyes, and mucous membranes

All Thai balms and inhalers are for intact skin and open-nose inhalation only. Never apply inside the nostrils (despite social-media trends recommending this for Poy-Sian), on broken skin, under occlusive dressings, or near eyes. Hospital reports from Thailand’s Ramathibodi Poison Center document menthol/camphor chemical burns from prolonged occluded application.

10.6 Muay Thai camps and adolescents

Muay Thai training at Thai camps often involves liberal Namman Muay application to large body areas, sometimes multiple times daily. Parents of adolescent athletes training in Thailand should:

1. Limit Namman to single-session, small-area (palm-sized) application.
2. Never apply to groin, inner thighs (high absorption), or broken skin.
3. Watch for salicylism symptoms: tinnitus, hyperventilation, nausea, confusion — these were the Arielle Newman warning signs missed in 2007.

11. Emergency Contacts (Thailand)

12. FAQ

Q1. Can I bring Siang Pure Oil back to the US / UK / EU in my luggage? A. Yes, for personal use in checked baggage; limit to <100 mL per container in carry-on per TSA/EU rules. Declare if asked. Commercial quantities may require herbal-product import paperwork.

Q2. Is Poy-Sian safe for daily office use? A. Occasional sniffing is generally safe for adults. Chronic all-day use has been associated with nasal mucosal irritation; alternate with unmedicated saline. Not for children under 2.

Q3. Muay Thai students keep rubbing Namman Muay on each other’s backs after sparring. Safe? A. Single small-area application is fine. Whole-back daily application for weeks is the Arielle Newman risk profile — don’t do it.

Q4. Is Siang Pure genuinely “traditional Chinese medicine” or Thai? A. The formula lineage is Shantou Chinese; the commercialisation, GMP manufacturing, regulation, and brand identity are Thai. Bertram explicitly cites Master Tang’s Shantou TCM heritage.

Q5. The Thai FDA certificate on my balm shows a 5-year renewal date. Is that normal? A. Yes — Listed Herbal Products receive 5-year renewable certificates under the Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 (2019).

Q6. Counterpain vs Counterpain Cool — which do I want after the gym? A. Cool (blue) for immediately after exercise — menthol cooling via TRPM8 is comfort-oriented and avoids vasodilation. Warm (red/green) for chronic tight muscles the next day.

Q7. Are Thai-made balms cheaper because of lower quality? A. No. Bertram holds PIC/S GMP certification equal to the highest regulatory tier; price differences reflect labour, distribution, and branding, not manufacturing quality.

⚠️ Mandatory Safety Warnings

🔴 Absolute contraindications

• Infants under 2 years: no camphor, menthol, eucalyptus, or methyl-salicylate product on skin, face, or airway.
• G6PD-deficient neonates / infants: avoid all menthol-containing balms and inhalers (Olowe 1980 PMID 7376859).
• Third-trimester pregnancy: avoid high-MS products (Namman Muay 31%, Counterpain) — fetal DA constriction risk (Torloni 2006 PMID 16355417).
• Warfarin / anticoagulant users: avoid daily topical methyl salicylate (Joss & LeBlond 2000 PMID 10860133).

🟡 Use with caution

• Adolescent Muay Thai students — small-area only.
• Broken skin, eczema, burns — wait for healing.
• Occluded application under plastic wrap or tight wraps.

🚨 Seek emergency care if you observe

• Tinnitus, hyperventilation, confusion, nausea (salicylism).
• Drowsiness, seizures (camphor toxicity).
• Cola-coloured urine, jaundice, pallor (hemolysis — suspect G6PD).
• Dial 1669 (Thailand EMS) or +66 2 201 1083 (Ramathibodi Poison Center).

Primary Sources

1. Bertram (1958) Co., Ltd. — Siang Pure corporate history. https://bertram1958.com/en/siang-pure/
2. WIPO IP Advantage Case #2684 — Bertram/Siang Pure export case study. https://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=2684
3. Poy-Sian 1936 official site — Mark II composition. https://poysian1936.com/aboutus.html
4. Namman Muay official history — 1937/1960 timeline. https://nammanmuay.eu/history/
5. US DailyMed — Namman Muay labeling. Setid a5f00371-5d1e-4a6b-b167-72c6eba8e4ef. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
6. Taisho Pharmaceutical (Thailand) — Counterpain. https://taisho-th.com/en/our-products/pharmaceutic/counterpain/
7. Thai FDA — Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 (2019) types. https://en.fda.moph.go.th/entrepreneurs-herbal-products/types-of-herbal-products/
8. DTAM (Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine). https://www.dtam.moph.go.th/index.php/en/about-us.html
9. PMC9476802 — Overview on development of ASEAN traditional and herbal medicines. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9476802/
10. PMC3794403 — Yahom Tultavai pharmacology review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3794403/
11. Olowe SA, Ransome-Kuti O. Acta Paediatr Scand 1980;69(3):341–345. PMID: 7376859.
12. AAP Committee on Drugs. Camphor revisited. Pediatrics 1994;94(1):127–128.
13. Joss JD, LeBlond RF. Potentiation of warfarin by topical methyl salicylate. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34(6):729–733. PMID: 10860133.
14. Torloni MR et al. Safety of topical analgesics in pregnancy. Reprod Toxicol 2006;22(4):553–559. PMID: 16355417.
15. Tibballs J. Eucalyptus oil ingestion in infants. Med J Aust 1995;163(4):177–180. PMID: 7565236.
16. Love JN et al. Camphor toxicity: 818 cases. Clin Toxicol 2004;42(7):867–872. PMID: 15219304.
17. McKemy DD et al. TRPM8 cold receptor. Nature 2002;416(6876):52–58. PMID: 11882888.
18. Charoenkwan P et al. G6PD deficiency prevalence in Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2014.
19. Thailand Foundation — Ya-hom: Thailand’s Former Panacea and Ya-dom Inhalers cultural articles. https://thailandfoundation.or.th/
20. PMC4786239 — Methyl salicylate systemic toxicity review.

📩 Commercial Disclosure / Editorial Firewall

This site is independently written and operated by the CompanyForge AI operator team.

• Editorial firewall: the body above is fully brand-neutral. Siang Pure, Poy-Sian, Namman Muay, Counterpain, Tiger Balm, and all other brand names are discussed as pharmaceutical facts with primary-source citations. We accept correction PRs from any brand (GitHub: yaoyou-seo-team).
• License: CC BY 4.0 — reuse with source attribution.
• Commercial disclosure: the operator owns the forthcoming brand “Kang-Le-Ling Huoluoyou” (康楽齢 活絡油) by Baisi Technology Shenzhen. This did not influence any editorial judgement in the article above.

Last updated: 2026-04-20 · Maintained by CompanyForge AI editorial team · Please cite yaoyoudaquan.com when referencing this article.