What comes to mind when being asked to recommend souvenir for friends who visited Singapore?
Some of the popular recommendations would include food items such as bak-kwa and pandan cake; or thematic ornamental items such as merlion and orchids. Another item that has been quite popular is medicated oil (风油). It may be because of Singapore’s Chinese-majority population and its good healthcare governance.
Medicated Oil
You can see various kinds and brands of medicated oils in the market. Have you wondered what are they made of, and what are they useful for?
I had the opportunity to study a few types of medicated oils and analyse the effects with respect to the known ingredients. They may not be comprehensive, but would be quite representative because they targeted at common types of ailments such as muscles stiffness and pain, circulation, joint arthristis and rheumatism issues.
4 types of medicated oils from Heng Foh Tong (杏和堂) were studied. They are:
1. Muscle and Tendon medicated oil
– relax muscles and tendons, muscle sore and pain , carsick and seasick, block nose
(舒筋活络油) – 舒筋活络，肌肉酸痛，运动后按摩，晕车晕船，鼻塞,
2. Arthritis and Joint medicated oil
– relief arthritis and joint pain. It is suitable to dispelling bruises and swelling, joint and bone pain, insect bites and itch.
(金狮子油 – 关节) – 缓解关节炎和关节痛。适用于消除跌打和肿胀、关节和骨骼疼痛、昆虫叮咬 和瘙痒
3. Rheumatism medicated oil
– stimulate blood circulation, dissipate blood statis and expel wind pathogens. Relief muscle pain, bone, joint and tendon caused by rheumatism.
(千里追风油 – 风湿刺痛) – 活血化瘀，祛风散结。用于缓解风湿引起的肌肉疼痛，骨关节，筋骨疼痛
4. Red Flower medicated oil
– for relief neck and shoulder stiffness. It is suitable to expell and relieve “wind” and promote blood circulation during confinement period.
红花油 – 缓解颈部和肩部僵硬, 改善血液循环和 产后驱风。
Common Base
A closer look at the ingredients showed that they all used a common base of medicated oil (风油精), menthol (薄荷), turpentine oil (松节油) and camphor (樟腦). The combination established a good foundation of therapeutic properties for topical usage in treating common ailments, including:
– Analgesic 止痛
– Respiratory irritation 呼吸不畅
– Muscle and joint injury 肌肉与关节伤病
– Headache and dizziness 头痛头晕
Reinforcements
Each of the 4 types of medicated oil was reinforced with specific herbs that correspond to the type of therapeutic property claimed in the packaging.
1. Muscle and Tendon medicated oil (舒筋活络油)
2 additional herbs were added. The are listed with their properties below:
a. Rhizoma Curcumae
– valued for its ability to remove blood stasis, promote circulation, and relieve pain.
莪术 – 主治“气血凝滞，心腹胀痛，宿食不消，妇女血瘀经闭，跌打损伤作痛;
b. Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis
– used to treat conditions like rheumatic arthralgia, limb numbness, and tendon constriction,
威靈仙 – 能祛风湿、镇痛，治风寒湿热、偏头疼、黄疸浮肿、腰膝腿脚冷痛。
2. Arthritis and Joint medicated oil (金狮子油 – 关节)
4 additional herbs were added. The are listed with their properties below:
a. Cassia oil
– with a rich profile of health benefits that range from supporting immune function to easing digestive discomfort, as well as improving blood circulation. It can help treat diarrhoea, combat stress, fight bacteria, work as an astringent. It is a natural bug repellent and may aid blood sugar levels, relieve menstrual and arthritis symptoms.
肉桂 – 《本草纲目》：肉桂具有温中补肾、散寒止痛的功效，主治腰膝冷痛，虚寒胃痛，慢性消化不良，腹痛吐泻，受寒经闭等疾病
b. Radix Dipsaci
– strengthens tendons and bones, its health benefits include, treat bone fractures and promote bone regeneration, stops uterine bleeding and prevent miscarriage, alleviates pain, particularly from injuries and muscle weakness, reduce swelling, and sores.
续断 – 《滇南本草》：“补肝，强筋骨，定经络，止经中（筋骨）酸痛，
安胎，治妇人白带，生新血，破瘀血，落死胎，止咳嗽咳血，治赤白便浊。活血、续筋骨；补肝肾；安胎止漏
c. Radix Flemingiae Philippinensis
– popularly used to treat rheumatism, menopausal syndrome, chronic nephritis, and osteoporosis in TCM. A study showed that Flemingia Philippinensis Flavonoids(FPF) has good potential in the treatment of Rheutoid Arthritis (RA) with its antiinflammation, immunosuppressive and anti-oxidation properties.
千斤拔 – 《植物名实图考》载其功效“补气血、助阳道”，《岭南采药录》载其“祛风祛湿，治手足痹痛，腰部风湿作痛，理跌打伤，能舒筋活络” 。千斤拔目前被广泛应用于妇科、风湿痹痛等类疾病的治疗，并制成中成药，其疗效得到广泛认可
d. Panax notoginseng
– is the main ingredient in Yunnan Bai Yao, a popular hemostatic proprietary herbal remedy to deal with wounds, stop bleeding, decrease inflammation and relieve pain
三七 – 有补血抗炎、活血化瘀的功效，能够抗氧化，抗衰老。三七能扩张血管，降低冠脉阻力，增加冠脉流量，加强和改善冠脉微循环，增加营养性心肌血流量，还能够降低动脉压，略减心率，从而明显减少心肌的耗氧量
3. Rheumatism medicated oil (千里追风油 – 风湿刺痛)
2 additional herbs were added. The are listed with their properties below:
a. Cassia oil
– with a rich profile of health benefits that range from supporting immune function to easing digestive discomfort, as well as improving blood circulation. It can help treat diarrhoea, combat stress, fight bacteria, work as an astringent. It is a natural bug repellent and may aid blood sugar levels, relieve menstrual and arthritis symptoms.
肉桂 – 《本草纲目》：肉桂具有温中补肾、散寒止痛的功效，主治腰膝冷痛，虚寒胃痛，慢性消化不良，腹痛吐泻，受寒经闭等疾病
b. Eucalyptus oil
– appears in many cough and cold products to relieve congestion. It is also used in creams and ointments to relieve muscle and joint pain. It may help decrease pain, promote relaxation, and relieve cold symptoms. Many over-the-counter products also use eucalyptus extract to freshen your breath, soothe irritated skin, and repel insects
按叶油 – 是桉树叶油腺细胞分泌的芳香精油，为无色油状液体. 清热解毒，祛风杀火。用于感冒、流感、鼻炎、喉炎、咽喉干痛等
c. Radix Saphohnikoviae
– it’s a widely used herb in TCM with various therapeutic properties, including expelling wind, resolving dampness, relieving pain, and stopping spasms. It’s also used to relieve diarrhea, stop bleeding, and is sometimes used in treating rubella and pruritus.
防风 – 祛风解表；胜湿止痛；解痉
d. Elettaria cardamomum
– aiding digestion, improving oral health, and acting as an antioxidant.
豆蔻 – 行气、化湿、健脾；温胃止呕
4. Red Flower medicated oil for neck & shoulder relief – (红花油)
1 additional herbs were added. It is listed with its properties below:
a. Safflower
– it can be used in a variety of applications due to laxative effects. Also, it was recommended as treatment for rheumatism and paralysis, numb limbs and vitiligo. Safflower oil can offer several benefits for confinement ladies, particularly related to skin health and overall well-being. It acts as a moisturizer, aiding in skin hydration and preventing dryness. It can also be used to treat black spots, psoriasis, and the like. Safflower oil has been linked to potential benefits for bone health, particularly for postmenopausal women who are at higher risk of osteoporosis. Other effects linked to Safflower oil include cholesterol and blood sugar level control.
红花 – 善于活血通经，多用于产后调理、风湿痹痛以及心血管疾病。红花入血分，祛瘀力强、孕妇忌用。
红花油的祛风消炎功效对皮肤健康与关节疾病都有不错的效果；它也可用来控制胆固醇及血糖。
In Summary
The creation and use of medication oil reflected not only the wisdom of choosing the right mix of ingredients to treat common issues faced by many men and women on the street, but also the resilience a people who is always ready to find solutions from available methods and resources. Its popularity and continued used can be attributed by its efficacy.
By Edward Ho, certified TCM physician. September 2025
This article is contributed by Edward Ho. TCM Physician Edward Ho Sze Leung is registered with TCM Practitioners Board under Ministry of Health. He volunteered as a TCM Physician at Chung Hwa Medical Institution, Singapore for more than 10 years, received Outstanding Physician Award multiple times during this period.
