Ho Family Dit Da Jow — Warming Herbal Liniment for Muscle Pain & Athletic Recovery
Ho Family Dit Da Jow is Plum Dragon's #1 best-selling herbal liniment — a strongly warming traditional Chinese herbal formula trusted by martial artists, athletes, and active individuals for powerful topical relief from muscle pain, pulled muscles, and deep muscular tension.
✔ Relief for muscle pain, soreness, and chronic muscular tightness
✔ Support for pulled muscles and deep muscular strains
✔ Strongly warming circulation support — contains capsaicin and traditional heat-activating herbs
✔ Recovery after training, workouts, contact sports, and physical labor
✔ Traditional Chinese herbal formula — no synthetic fragrances, dyes, or chemical additives
Not sure if this is the right formula for your situation? Take the quiz to find out.
The Simple Rule for Ho Family: If You Would Apply Heat, Ho Family Can Help
Ho Family Dit Da Jow is one of the most strongly warming formulas in our lineup — in traditional Chinese medicine terms, it approaches what would be classified as "hot." This is its greatest strength and the reason it works so well for the right conditions.
The straightforward guide to whether Ho Family is right for you:
If heat helps your pain — a heating pad, hot shower, or warm compress makes it better — Ho Family is likely a good fit.
If there is any active bruising, redness, or swelling, do not use Ho Family. As a strongly warming formula, it is contraindicated for any condition involving active inflammation. Applying it to bruised, red, or swollen tissue could exacerbate all of those conditions. For acute injuries with any of those signs, Bruise Juice is the appropriate formula — it is a cooling formula designed for exactly that phase of injury.
This warming nature also means Ho Family is particularly effective for muscle pain that lingers, tightens up in cold weather, or worsens with inactivity and rest.
What Is Dit Da Jow?
Dit Da Jow (跌打酒) is a traditional Chinese herbal liniment with centuries of use in martial arts and traditional medicine. Applied externally, it supports circulation, reduces pain, and helps the body recover from physical training and injury.
Ho Family represents the strongly warming end of the Dit Da Jow spectrum — the formula martial artists reach for after hard training sessions when muscles are tight, sore, and need deep circulation support.
Learn more in our Complete Guide to Dit Da Jow.
Best Uses
Ho Family Dit Da Jow is commonly used for:
• Muscle pain and soreness after training or physical labor
• Pulled muscles and deep muscular strains
• Chronic muscular tension and tightness that benefits from heat
• Joint pain and stiffness that improves with warmth and movement
• Recovery after martial arts, contact sports, and heavy workouts
• Iron Palm conditioning and traditional martial arts recovery
• Any pain or stiffness where you would typically apply a heating pad
(For fresh injuries with active bruising, redness, or swelling, Ho Family is contraindicated — use Bruise Juice instead. For arthritis, chronic joint degeneration, or long-standing structural injuries, see Ancestors Advanced. For tendonitis specifically, see our dedicated Tendonitis Liniment, Tendonitis Tincture, and Tendonitis Recovery Kit.)
Why This Formula Is Different
Many conventional pain creams rely primarily on menthol or camphor to create a temporary sensation on the skin. Ho Family Dit Da Jow uses a complex blend of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs — including capsaicin — that work at a deeper level to genuinely promote circulation and support tissue recovery.
These herbs are traditionally valued for their ability to:
• Strongly promote blood circulation to sore and injured tissue
• Penetrate deep into muscle and fascia with warming relief
• Temporarily relieve muscle and joint pain
• Support recovery from repeated physical stress and training load
• Activate the same physiological response as therapeutic heat application
The capsaicin in this formula contributes to its strong warming effect and its ability to support circulation — this is a formula that generates real therapeutic warmth, not just a surface sensation.
Curious about the science behind how these herbs work? Read The Science Behind Dit Da Jow — how traditional Chinese herbs relieve pain without the risks of NSAIDs.
For Martial Artists & Athletes
Ho Family Dit Da Jow has long been a staple in martial arts training rooms and athletic recovery routines. Its strongly warming and circulation-driving properties make it ideal for the daily demands of hard training.
It is commonly applied after:
• Martial arts training and sparring sessions
• Heavy strength or conditioning workouts
• Contact sport practices — MMA, boxing, wrestling, rugby
• Iron Palm conditioning and striking practice
• Any training session where muscles are tight, worked, and need deep recovery support
Its warming nature helps relax tight muscles, drive circulation to worked tissue, and support overnight recovery — making it a natural fit for pre-bed application after demanding training days when there is no active bruising or swelling present.
Who Uses Ho Family Dit Da Jow
• Martial artists and combat athletes — the original audience for this formula
• Strength athletes, gym enthusiasts, and CrossFit athletes
• Active adults with chronic muscle soreness or recurring muscular tightness
• Anyone recovering from a pulled muscle or deep muscular strain
• People whose muscle or joint pain consistently responds well to heat
• Physical therapists, bodyworkers, and sports medicine practitioners
• Anyone seeking a natural topical alternative for heat-responsive muscle pain
Make Your Own — 1 Gallon Herb Pack
You can brew your own gallon of Ho Family at home using our 1 gallon herb pack. Mix the herbs with vodka in a 1 gallon amber glass jug and age for a minimum of 6 months to reach full potency.
We carry both the herb pack and the jug. Vodka must be supplied by the purchaser. Complete brewing instructions are included with your purchase.
Choosing the Right Formula
Different formulas are designed for different conditions and injury phases.
Bruise Juice Dit Da Jow
Best for bruises, swelling, redness, and fresh acute injuries. Cooling formula — use when Ho Family is contraindicated.
Ho Family Dit Da Jow
Best for muscle pain, pulled muscles, and heat-responsive pain. Strongly warming — do not use on active bruising or swelling.
Ancestors Advanced Dit Da Jow
Best for arthritis pain, chronic joint degeneration, and long-term structural conditioning.
Tendonitis Liniment · Tendonitis Tincture · Tendonitis Recovery Kit
Dedicated tendon support for overuse injuries, tendon strain, and tendon strength recovery.
Not sure which formula fits your situation?
Take our Dit Da Jow Quiz — a few quick questions and we'll point you to the right formula.
Product Features
• Powerful strongly warming herbal topical analgesic
• Contains capsaicin and traditional heat-activating Chinese herbs
• Available as a ready-to-use bottle or 1 gallon herb pack for home brewing
• Free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, and chemical additives
• Packaged in glass bottles to maintain product purity
• Manufactured in the USA by Plum Dragon Herbs
Directions
Adults and children 12 years and older:
Apply generously and massage gently into affected muscles and joints up to six times daily for optimal results.
Wash hands thoroughly after application. Residue from this product may cause irritation if it comes into contact with the eyes or nose.
For external use only.
Do not apply to open wounds, cuts, broken skin, eyes, or mouth.
Cautions
• Do not use on any area with active bruising, redness, or swelling — this formula's strongly warming nature may exacerbate these conditions
• Do not use if pregnant or nursing
• For external use only
• Wash hands thoroughly after application — capsaicin and other active ingredients may irritate eyes and nose
• If skin irritation occurs, discontinue use
Traditional Herbal Support for Muscle Pain & Recovery
Ho Family Dit Da Jow provides powerful topical support for muscle pain, pulled muscles, and heat-responsive pain, using traditional Chinese herbal methods trusted by martial artists for generations.
Learn More
Complete Guide to Dit Da Jow — history, tradition, and how to use it
The Science Behind Dit Da Jow — peer-reviewed research on the herbs
Dit Da Jow vs Tiger Balm — what's really inside each formula