What Mayinglong actually is

Mayinglong (麝香痔疮膏) is a traditional Chinese over-the-counter hemorrhoid ointment made by Ma Ying Long Pharmaceutical Group, a company with roots going back centuries. In China it's essentially a household name for hemorrhoid relief and has been used for decades. In the US, it's imported and sold online (Amazon, some pharmacies, and specialty retailers) as an OTC topical.

It comes in small tubes with either a nozzle applicator (for internal application per the package directions) or as an external cream. Two things to know up front: the smell is strong and distinctive — kind of medicinal-herbal, a lot of people describe it as "cooling menthol crossed with something earthy" — and the tube is small, so a single tube tends to last a while unless you're using it frequently.

The ingredients, in plain English

The classic Mayinglong formula includes a handful of traditional ingredients. Here's what each is and what it's traditionally used for. I'm intentionally not making medical claims — this is context so you know what you're putting on your body.

• Synthetic musk (人工麝香) — a laboratory-made replacement for natural musk. Traditionally used to reduce swelling and pain. The synthetic version avoids the animal-welfare concerns of the original.
• Synthetic bezoar (人工牛黄) — a synthetic version of a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient. Traditionally used for its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Pearl (珍珠) — powdered pearl, long used in TCM topicals. Traditionally credited with promoting skin healing and cooling irritation.
• Borneol (冰片) — a naturally-occurring compound that gives that distinctive cool, penetrating sensation. Traditionally used for pain and itch relief.
• Calamine (炉甘石) — a mineral compound used in many mainstream Western products too. Soothes itching and helps dry weepy irritation.
• Amber (琥珀) — used in TCM for centuries, traditionally for calming inflammation.

There are minor formulation variations between the tubes sold in different markets and by different resellers. Read the actual box you get. Follow the package directions for how to apply and how much — I'm not going to publish a dosage in an article.

My experience — what it actually does for me

The way I use Mayinglong is as a rescue tool, not a daily preventive. When I feel a flare starting — that specific tender, swollen, sitting-is-getting-worse feeling — I apply it per the package directions. For me, within about one to two hours, the sharpness of the pain and the peak of the swelling calm down noticeably. It's not a "and then it was gone" moment; it's more of a "okay, this is manageable now" moment.

The sensation on application is distinctly cool. That's the borneol working. Some people find that cooling feel really pleasant during a flare; a small number find it too intense on very inflamed tissue. Both reactions are normal.

In my routine, I usually pair it with a warm sitz bath about an hour before, extra water for the rest of the day, and avoiding anything that would provoke a difficult next-morning bowel movement (spicy food, alcohol). The combined effect gets me through most single-day flares. For longer or worse flares, I use it once a day for a few days, always per the package guidance on how long to use it.

Bottom line for me: it's the most consistently helpful topical I've tried, which is why it earned a permanent spot in my cabinet.

The honest cons and caveats

A review that's all positives isn't useful. Here's what you should know before you buy.

The smell is a thing

It's a strong, distinctive, medicinal-herbal smell that stays on your skin for a while. It's not offensive, exactly, but it's noticeable. If you're sensitive to strong smells, this can be a real dealbreaker.

It isn't FDA-approved in the US

Mayinglong is sold in the US as an imported OTC product. It is not an FDA-approved drug and it hasn't gone through the US regulatory approval pathway that domestic pharmaceuticals go through. That doesn't mean it's unsafe — it means the specific US regulatory review most people assume is there for OTC drugs has not happened. Adjust your comfort level accordingly.

The clinical evidence is mostly from China

There are Chinese-language clinical studies on Mayinglong, some of which report favorable results. There is comparatively little Western peer-reviewed research. If "has this been studied in randomized controlled trials published in Lancet" is a threshold for you, the answer is no. The evidence base is real but geographically concentrated.

Counterfeits exist — buy from a reputable seller

Because it's popular and imported, counterfeit or repackaged tubes show up occasionally, especially through third-party marketplace sellers. Buy from established retailers, look for holographic authenticity stickers on the box, and check that the packaging is intact and clearly labeled. If a listing looks suspiciously cheap or the packaging looks off, skip it.

Not for everyone without a doctor

If you're pregnant or nursing, on blood thinners, dealing with heavy or persistent bleeding, or have any condition where you're already coordinating care with a clinician, talk to a doctor before using this or any similar product. Same goes for children. My experience is my experience — it isn't guidance for anyone else's specific medical situation.

Verdict

For me, Mayinglong is the best rescue cream I've found. When a flare hits despite everything I do to prevent them, it's the product I reach for, and it consistently takes the edge off within one to two hours. The smell and the imported-OTC status are real caveats worth knowing about, but neither has been enough to make me switch.

That said — and this matters — the cream is a rescue tool. It doesn't prevent flare-ups. If you're relying on any topical (Mayinglong, Preparation H, or otherwise) as your primary hemorrhoid strategy, you're going to end up using it a lot. Prevention is fiber, water, gentle cleansing, and not sitting for hours without breaks. If you fix those, the rescue cream becomes an occasional bad-day tool instead of a weekly one.

The routine I actually live by — including how I settled on this cream after years of trial and error — is in my personal story guide. And the full ranked breakdown of what home relief measures actually work is in the at-home pain relief guide. Both are linked below.

Frequently asked questions