Thai and Chinese medicated oil differ in the main ingredient. The best-known Chinese-style oils sold in Singapore, such as Eagle Brand and Kwan Loong, are built on methyl salicylate, which smells of wintergreen and gives a deep, warming heat for muscles and joints. Thai oils such as Siang Pure are built on peppermint, menthol, camphor, clove and cinnamon, which smell spicier and are used as much for headaches, dizziness and bites as for aches.
"Medicated oil" is searched around 480 times a month in Singapore, and most households have at least one bottle. Most people buy the brand their parents used without ever reading the label. This guide puts the labels side by side so you can see what you are actually rubbing on.
The labels compared
| Oil | Main actives on the label | Smells of |
|---|---|---|
| Siang Pure Formula 1 (Thai) | 86% active: peppermint, camphor, cinnamon, clove | Clove and cinnamon |
| Siang Pure Formula 2 (Thai) | 82.5% active: peppermint oil, clove oil, menthol | Mint, lighter |
| Eagle Brand (Singapore) | Methyl salicylate 30%, menthol 14.5% | Wintergreen |
| Eagle Brand Aromatic | Methyl salicylate 35%, menthol 16%, camphor 7% | Wintergreen, sharper |
| Kwan Loong (Singapore) | Methyl salicylate 35%, menthol 16%, with eucalyptus and spike lavender | Wintergreen and eucalyptus |
Eagle Brand and Kwan Loong are Singapore brands with Chinese medicated oil heritage, and they share a family resemblance: a large dose of methyl salicylate with menthol on top. Siang Pure's oils, by contrast, do not list methyl salicylate among their key components at all. Their warmth, where they have it, comes from cinnamon and clove.
What each main ingredient does
Methyl salicylate
The compound that gives wintergreen its smell. Rubbed on the skin it produces a deep, spreading warmth, and it is related to aspirin. It is the backbone of most "muscle rub" style oils and of the hot balms. People with an aspirin allergy should ask a pharmacist before using oils high in it.
Menthol and peppermint
The cooling ingredients. They trigger the skin's cold receptors, which is why a menthol-led oil feels icy on the temples. Almost every oil here has some; the Thai oils lean on it more.
Camphor
The sharp, medicinal note in many oils and inhalers. Traditionally used for congestion and aches. Not for children under two.
Clove and cinnamon
The signature of Thai oils. They add warmth and the sweet, spicy smell that makes Siang Pure Formula 1 recognisable from across a room.
Which kind of oil for which job
- Stiff shoulder, back or knee: a methyl salicylate oil such as Eagle Brand or Kwan Loong, or a hot balm. This is what those products are labelled for.
- Headache or dizzy spell: a menthol-forward oil such as Siang Pure Formula 2, a drop on the temples.
- Mosquito bite or stomach ache rubbed on the belly: Siang Pure Formula 1 is the traditional Thai choice, and both are on the maker's list of uses.
- Blocked nose: an inhaler rather than an oil. See our guide to Thai inhalers.
- Before training: Namman Muay, the Thai boxing liniment, which fighters rub in to warm up before a session rather than to treat pain afterwards.
The other Thai oils on the shelf
Siang Pure is the best known, but it is not alone.
- Cheng Cheng is a 5 cc herbal roll-on sold by the colour of the box: blue is eucalyptus, red is menthol and peppermint, white is a yellow herbal oil. It is the Thai-Chinese alternative at the same size and price as a Siang Pure ball tip.
- Pim Saen makes a liquid balm oil and a roller alongside its inhaler jar.
- Namman Muay, as above, is a sports liniment rather than a household oil.
For the two Siang Pure formulas in detail, see Siang Pure Formula 1 vs Formula 2. For the same hot-and-cool split in balms, see red vs white balm.
Using any medicated oil safely
- A few drops is enough. More oil is not more relief, and it is more irritation.
- Keep oils away from the eyes and mouth, and wash your hands after use.
- Do not use on broken skin, or under a tight bandage or heat pack.
- Keep every bottle out of reach of children; camphor and methyl salicylate are harmful if swallowed.
- For pain that lasts more than a few days, see a doctor rather than a bottle.
Stocking medicated oils
If you run a shop and want Thai oils alongside the Chinese brands you already carry, our Thai medicated oil range lists every line we import from Hat Yai, with trade minimums. Siang Pure alone covers four price points, from the 3 cc oil to the 12 g balm.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Thai and Chinese medicated oil?
Chinese-style oils such as Eagle Brand and Kwan Loong are built on methyl salicylate with menthol, giving a wintergreen smell and deep warmth. Thai oils such as Siang Pure are built on peppermint, menthol, camphor, clove and cinnamon, and smell spicier.
What is in Eagle Brand medicated oil?
Its US label lists methyl salicylate 30% and menthol 14.5%. The Aromatic version lists methyl salicylate 35%, menthol 16% and camphor 7%.
What is in Kwan Loong oil?
Its US label lists methyl salicylate 35% and menthol 16%, with eucalyptus oil and spike lavender oil.
Which medicated oil is best for headache?
A menthol-forward, cooling oil such as Siang Pure Formula 2, applied sparingly to the temples and kept away from the eyes.
Which medicated oil is best for muscle pain?
A methyl salicylate oil such as Eagle Brand or Kwan Loong, or a hot balm, rubbed into the muscle.