Chandanalepa Giniraja Pain Relieving Herbal Balm is a Sri Lankan herbal Ayurvedic balm, sold in a black and yellow carton printed in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Giniraja, written ගිනිරාජ on the box, reads as king of fire in Sinhala, and the carton carries a leaping flame-streaked cat to match.
The balm belongs to the Giniraja range of Chandanalepa, an Ayurvedic cosmetics maker based at Veyangoda in Gampaha District whose flagship is a sandalwood cream. The same Giniraja name appears on a herbal oil and a spray from the range.
Its ingredient list names endaru (Ricinus communis), mangul karanda (Pongamia pinnata), murunga (Moringa oleifera), beli (Aegle marmelos), thippili (Piper longum), kaladuru (Nigella sativa) and garlic (Allium sativum), set in sesame seed oil with the essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus, clove and citronella.
The balm is applied to the skin and massaged in gently until it is absorbed. It is offered as a traditional preparation, not as a medicine.
