Tin for Amrutanjan pain balm

Tin for pain balm, made by Amrutanjan, India, 1950

Amrutanjan pain balm is an Ayurvedic formulation containing a blend of herbs and essential oils that has becomes a staple in many Indian homes. This tin of Pain balm dates back to the 1950s and advertises the product as a ‘magic cure’ for a variety of ailments, including sprains, colds and ‘all other aches and pains’.

It was first manufactured in Mumbai in 1893 and the balm was initially given away for free to increase interest in the product. However Amrutanjan has since become a major pharmaceutical manufacturer specialising in a range of pain relief products. Ayurveda is one of the oldest and most widely practiced of the many traditional medical systems in India. The term Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge) and it looks holistically at both physical and mental health.