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Valley Health Clinic, Acupuncture Clinic in Albany, Oregon
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12 minutes read

Which Is Better: Zheng Gu Shui, Evil Bone Water, or Biofreeze?

Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
Willard Sheppy Dipl. OM, LAc, BS

Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

Table of Contents

When It Comes to Topical Pain Relief, the Details Matter

As an acupuncturist, I use topical sprays every single day in the clinic. They’re not all the same. 

When it comes to topical pain relief, choosing the right topical matters. Zheng Gu Shui is a traditional Chinese herbal liniment with centuries of use. Evil Bone Water is a contemporary, handcrafted version of Zheng Gu Shui, made with high-grade herbs. Biofreeze gel is a widely used menthol-based analgesic. .

Below is a clear, experience-based comparison written for patients based on what I actually use, what I don’t, and why.

Key Takeaways

  • Biofreeze is useful for quick cooling, lubrication, and clean application, but it’s not a tissue-healing formula.
  • Zheng Gu Shui is a powerful traditional trauma liniment best suited for acute injuries, bruises, and short-term use.
  • Evil Bone Water builds on Zheng Gu Shui by adding herbs that support inflammation control, circulation, and long-term tissue repair.

Video Comparison: Side-by-Side Spray Test

Video: Biofreeze vs Evil Bone Water: Side-by-Side Spray Test & Residue Comparison

https://youtube.com/shorts/o9-y46R47JQ?feature=share

In this video, I spray Biofreeze and Evil Bone Water side by side and let them dry.

What stood out immediately: Biofreeze dried into a crusty, filmy residue, while Evil Bone Water evaporated cleanly with no tacky film

Comparison Chart: Biofreeze vs Zheng Gu Shui vs Evil Bone Water

Feature

Biofreeze Gel

Zheng Gu Shui

Evil Bone Water

Typical Price (3–4 oz)

$11–$15+

$20–$35+

$40–$42+

Active Ingredients

Menthol 4%

Camphor 5.6%, Menthol 5.6%

Natural camphor, natural menthol

Herbal Components

Aloe, arnica, burdock (supporting extracts)

Blood-moving trauma herbs: knotweed, swallowwort, prickly ash, zedoary

Chronic injury & healing herbs: San-Qi, Gui Pi, E Zhu, Bai Zhu, Hu Zhang, Huang Qin, more

Alcohol Base

Yes (isopropyl alcohol)

Yes (alcohol + water)

Yes (high-proof alcohol)

Residue / Sensation

Cooling; can leave a tacky film; won’t stain

Cooling; dries clean; may stain

Warming + cooling; dries clean; may stain

Healing Support

Short-term symptom relief

Traditional support for acute injury

Enhanced support for inflammation & chronic pain

If you’re dealing with lingering pain or an injury that just won’t fully resolve, this is the topical I reach for in my clinic.

Evil Bone Water goes beyond surface cooling and is designed to support circulation, inflammation, and tissue recovery.

Try Evil Bone Water and feel the difference.

https://shop.valleyhealthclinic.com/products/evil-bone-water-zheng-gu-shui

How I Use These in Practice

I use Biofreeze and Evil Bone Water in my clinic—but for very different reasons.

Why I Use Biofreeze

Biofreeze is useful because it’s:
  • Affordable in bulk
  • Packaged in durable plastic bottles
  • Clear, non-greasy, and non-staining
  • Fast and consistent
I use Biofreeze when I’m not trying to heal tissue, but when I need:
  • A quick-drying lubricant
  • Light cooling feedback
  • Something patients won’t feel on their clothes
Specifically, I use it:
  • At the end of acupuncture treatments during gua sha
  • During short silicone cupping sessions
  • When comfort and cleanliness matter more than depth
In those moments, Biofreeze does its job.

What I Don’t Like About Biofreeze

I recently ran a simple test in the clinic: Biofreeze on one surface, Evil Bone Water on another, camera rolling, then wait.

What I saw surprised me.

Biofreeze dried into a visible, grimy film.

That matters because:
  • If it leaves residue on surfaces, it’s likely doing the same on skin
  • There are plenty of user reviews mentioning irritation
  • I’m not comfortable with repeated, long-term use of something that leaves a film
So while Biofreeze is a helpful tool, I don’t see it as something that supports long-term healing.

Why I Don’t Use Solstice Zheng Gu Shui in the Clinic

I don’t use the Solstice Med version of Zheng Gu Shui not because the formula is bad historically, but because it doesn’t work for a busy clinic.
My reasons are straightforward:
  • Bottles are too small for high-volume use
  • Added dyes aren’t something I want on skin or clothing
For occasional personal use? Fine.
For consistent clinical work? It doesn’t fit.

Why I Use Evil Bone Water

When I’m actually trying to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and help tissue recover, this is what I reach for.

I use Evil Bone Water when:

  • Pain is persistent or chronic
  • Cheaper sprays helped but plateaued
  • There’s real tissue injury or strain
  • I want more than surface-level cooling

What I Like:

  • High-quality, clinic-grade herbs
  • Natural menthol and camphor
  • A higher-grade alcohol extraction
  • Gentler feel for sensitive skin

What I don’t like:

  • Glass bottle isn’t great for travel
  • It can stain white clothing (usually washes out)
  • Some people dislike the herbal smell
Even with those downsides, I still choose it because healing, not convenience, is the goal.

Ingredient Philosophy

Biofreeze: Modern Pharmaceutical Logic

Biofreeze’s inactive ingredients come from:
  1. Pharmaceutical formulation science (delivery, texture, stability)
  2. Cosmetic dermatology (skin feel, irritation reduction)
  3. Wellness signaling (plant extracts that look natural but aren’t part of a true herbal system)
These ingredients help the product feel good—but they’re not working together as a medicinal formula.

Zheng Gu Shui: Acute Trauma Logic

Zheng Gu Shui is designed to:

  • Move blood aggressively
  • Break stagnation
  • Reduce pain and bruising fast
It’s intentionally strong and simple—ideal for fresh sprains, bruises, and impact injuries, but not built for long-term tissue repair.

Evil Bone Water: Chronic Injury & Repair Logic

Evil Bone Water keeps the trauma-clearing foundation but expands it:

  • Moves blood and controls inflammation
  • Warms channels and relaxes tight tissue
  • Supports tendons, joints, and bone
  • Helps old injuries finally resolve
That shift from “stop pain now” to “help tissue heal” is why it performs differently.

The Bottom Line

  • Biofreeze → quick, clean, affordable, light cooling, functional lubricant
  • Solstice Zheng Gu Shui → traditional formula, but not practical for clinic use
  • Evil Bone Water → when healing, circulation, and long-term pain resolution actually matter

Evil Bone Water

Evil Bone Water (Zheng Gu Shui) is a Chinese topical medicinal hand-crafted with only empirical grade herbal ingredients in an approved facility, by Saint Apothecary
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Ingredient Lists

Biofreeze — Ingredients

Active Ingredient
  • Menthol (4%)
Inactive Ingredients
  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
  • Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract
  • Arnica Montana Flower Extract
  • Blue 1 (synthetic dye)
  • Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract
  • Calendula Officinalis Extract
  • Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
  • Camphor
  • Carbomer
  • Glycerin
  • Ilex Paraguariensis (Yerba Mate) Leaf Extract
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Isopropyl Myristate
  • Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract
  • Silica
  • Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
  • Triethanolamine
  • Water
  • Yellow 5 (synthetic dye)

Zheng Gu Shui — Ingredients

Active Ingredients
  • Camphor (5.6%)
  • Menthol (5.6%)
Other Ingredients
  • Alcohol
  • Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) Rhizome
  • Paniculate Swallowwort Root
  • Shin-leaf Prickly Ash Root
  • Zedoary Rhizome
  • Water

Evil Bone Water — Ingredients

Active Ingredients
  • Zhang Nao (Natural Camphor)
  • Bo He Nao (Natural Menthol)
Medicinal Ingredients
  • San / Tian Qi (Notoginseng)
  • Gui Pi (Cinnamon Bark)
  • E Zhu (Zedoary Rhizome)
  • Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome)
  • Hu Zhang (Knotweed Rhizome)
  • Bai Niu Dan (Inula cappa)
  • Qian Jin Ba (Flemingia Root)
  • Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root)
Base
  • High-grade alcohol (traditional extraction medium)

Testimonials

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Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
Willard Sheppy Dipl. OM, LAc, BS
Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

FAQ's

About Microgard
What is Zheng Gu Shui used for?
Zheng Gu Shui is a traditional Chinese liniment most commonly used for acute injuries, such as sprains, bruises, contusions, and impact trauma. Its formula strongly moves blood and helps reduce pain and swelling shortly after injury.

They are related but not the same. Evil Bone Water is inspired by Zheng Gu Shui–style formulas but expands on them by adding herbs that:

  • Reduce ongoing inflammation
  • Support tendons, joints, and connective tissue
  • Address chronic or unresolved injuries

Think of Zheng Gu Shui as acute trauma support, and Evil Bone Water as trauma + healing.

Biofreeze relies on menthol as a counter-irritant, which creates a cooling sensation that temporarily interrupts pain signals. Its inactive ingredients are designed for:

  • Texture
  • Fast drying
  • Skin feel
  • Shelf stability

It’s engineered more like a pharmaceutical gel than a medicinal herbal formula.

Biofreeze can mask pain temporarily, but it does not biologically address inflammation or tissue repair in the way herbal formulas are designed to. That’s why I use it as a tool not as a healing strategy.
  • Biofreeze: Does not stain
  • Zheng Gu Shui: Can stain due to dyes and herbal pigments
  • Evil Bone Water: May stain light or white clothing, but typically washes out

I recommend applying herbal liniments before dressing or covering the area if needed.

  • Biofreeze: Generally well tolerated, but some users report irritation with frequent use
  • Zheng Gu Shui: Strong; best for short-term use
  • Evil Bone Water: Uses natural menthol and camphor and is often gentler, but still strong. The natural ingredients makes it safe for many people sensitive skin.

References

Yang, X., Wang, Y., Bai, L., Miao, T., & Wen, X. (2023). Mechanism of action of Baohe pills in improving functional dyspepsia. MEDS Chinese Medicine, 5(7), 48–55. Clausius Scientific Press. https://doi.org/10.23977/medcm.2023.050707

Maideen N. M. P. (2023). Adverse Effects Associated with Long-Term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors. Chonnam medical journal, 59(2), 115–127. https://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2023.59.2.115

Tu, Y., Luo, X., Liu, D., Li, H., Xia, H., Ma, C., Zhang, D., Yang, Y., Pan, X., Wang, T., Xia, Y., Dan, H., You, P., & Ye, X. (2022). Extracts of Poria cocos improve functional dyspepsia via regulating brain-gut peptides, immunity and repairing of gastrointestinal mucosa. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 95, 153875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153875

Chen, X. Y., Chen, H. M., Liu, Y. H., Zhang, Z. B., Zheng, Y. F., Su, Z. Q., Zhang, X., Xie, J. H., Liang, Y. Z., Fu, L. D., Lai, X. P., Su, Z. R., & Huang, X. Q. (2016). The gastroprotective effect of pogostone from Pogostemonis Herba against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.), 241(2), 193–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370215600099

Zhen, B. X., Cai, Q., & Li, F. (2023). Chemical components and protective effects of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. ex Kitam against acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats. World journal of gastroenterology, 29(43), 5848–5864. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v29.i43.5848

Lee, H.-A., Yoo, J.-H., Chung, Y., & Kim, O. (2017). Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation in human gastric epithelial AGS cells by the fruits of Tribulus terrestris L. extracts. Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research, 18(3), 121–124. https://doi.org/10.12729/jbtr.2017.18.3.121

Wang, Q., Shen, Z. N., Zhang, S. J., Sun, Y., Zheng, F. J., & Li, Y. H. (2022). Protective effects and mechanism of puerarin targeting PI3K/Akt signal pathway on neurological diseases. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 1022053. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1022053

Zhao, H., Feng, Y. L., Wang, M., Wang, J. J., Liu, T., & Yu, J. (2022). The Angelica dahurica: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 896637. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.896637

Feng, L., A, L., Li, H., Mu, X., Ta, N., Bai, L., Fu, M., & Chen, Y. (2023). Pharmacological Mechanism of Aucklandiae Radix against Gastric Ulcer Based on Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Experiment. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 59(4), 666. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59040666

Fu, X., Wang, Q., Kuang, H., & Pinghui, J. (2020). Mechanism of Chinese medicinal-medicated leaven for preventing and treating gastrointestinal tract diseases. Digestion, 101(6), 659–666. https://doi.org/10.1159/000493424

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That’s why, in my clinic, Evil Bone Water is what I use when the goal is healing, not just temporary relief.

It’s built on the traditional Zheng Gu Shui framework, upgraded with higher-grade herbs, natural camphor and menthol, and a formulation designed to support circulation, calm inflammation, and help damaged tissue recover over time.

It’s not the cheapest option

But it’s the one I trust when results actually matter.

If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level relief, try Evil Bone Water the same topical I use in clinical practice

Shop Now