Tongluo Analgesic Cream

Tongluo Analgesic Cream is a topical herbal medicated product used for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints due to conditions such as simple backache, arthritis, strains, bruises, and sprains. It contains active ingredients camphor (5%) and menthol (3.4%), which act as counterirritants by causing cooling followed by warming sensations on the skin to distract from deeper musculoskeletal pain. The formulation also includes traditional Chinese herbal components such as Chinese rhubarb root, cinnamon bark, clove, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dong-quai root, ginger rhizome, greater galangal rhizome, green peppercorns, lanolin, long pepper fruit (Piper longum), paraffin, petrolatum, rosin, safflower flowers, Sichuan lovage rhizome and Sichuan pepper peel. The cream is applied externally on affected areas with plasters or patches typically worn up to 12 hours. Mechanism of action primarily involves topical counterirritation via camphor and menthol that stimulate sensory receptors producing analgesia through distraction from pain signals; additional analgesic effects may be contributed by anti-inflammatory properties of some herbal ingredients. Some studies suggest related formulations like Tong-Luo-San-Jie gel inhibit osteoclastic activity reducing bone cancer pain in animal models.

Brand names

Tong Luo Gu Tong Gao

Other names

Tongluo Qutong Anti-Inflammatory Analgesic Pain Relief Cream