6 Uses for Vicks VapoRub That'll Help (and 4 That Won't
6 Uses for Vicks VapoRub That'll Help (and 4 That Won't
Vicks VapoRub is something that most people have in their medicine cabinet, ready and waiting to fly into action when a cough or a cold is threatening to strike. But what else can it be used for?
Let’s take a look at five ways you can use Vicks VapoRub to make yourself feel better, and four uses that definitely won’t.
Three key takeaways
Vicks VapoRub is mainly used to ease the symptoms of a cold or chesty cough.
VapoRub can also be used to help with headaches and muscle pain.
There’s no evidence to suggest Vicks VapoRub can help with acne, stretch marks and earache.
6 ways to use Vicks VapoRub
1. Use Vicks VapoRub for a cold
It might sound obvious, but easing cold symptoms is what Vicks VapoRub does best!
What you may not know that Vicks has another product that can help to stop a cold in its tracks before it even begins.
Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray stops the cold virus from spreading when it’s in its early stages. So, if you use it early enough you can avoid having a cold altogether!
Don’t worry if you’ve missed your cold prevention window, though. Vicks VapoRub will still be there to soothe your blocked nose and move that catarrh.
Your chest isn’t the only place you can apply Vicks VapoRub. Nope, the latest trend is to rub it onto your feet, pop on a pair of socks, and then go to bed.
Many people believe that sleeping with it on your feet at night can help to soften the dry skin on your feet, so it can be buffed away with a pumice stone for soft, smooth feet.
3. Vicks VapoRub for a cough
VapoRub can be used to ease coughs that are caused by colds, relieving the catarrh and phlegm that give you a chesty cough.
Not only that, but Vicks lozenges can be used to help to soothe a sore throat, which can happen when you’ve been coughing up a storm for a few days!
Although VapoRub isn’t exactly known for its ability to ease a headache, it contains the ingredient levomenthol, which is used in other headache treatments to soothe a sore head.
"Levomenthol works on the forehead by creating cooling and soothing sensations, which is followed by a painkilling effect. While VapoRub contains lower amounts of levomenthol than treatments designed specifically for headaches, that cooling sensation can help ease your discomfort.”
One of the other most common uses of VapoRub is to relieve muscle pain.
It may help to ease minor muscular pain, providing a cooling, soothing sensation in the area that can make your muscles and joints seem less sore.
Bear in mind, however, that this may not be the most effective way to ease muscle pain, especially when compared to all of the very effective medicated treatments that are readily available from your pharmacist.
6. Vicks VapoRub for fungal nail infections
Vicks VapoRub contains camphor and eucalyptus oil, which have been shown to be mildly antifungal in lab tests. One small study looked at the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub in fungal nail infections, but due to the small numbers of participants the results are not conclusive.
But you can still try Vicks as a home remedy for a fungal nail infection. Applying a thin coat of VapoRub on the infected nail once a day may help slow the progress of your infection. However, you’ll need to get a proven treatment to make sure you fully fix your problem.
4 myths about Vicks VapoRub use
It can be used as an insect repellent
Some people insist that VapoRub repels insects like nothing else, whereas others say it just doesn’t work. Since there’s no evidence that it works, it’s best to use a proper insect repellent instead.
While some of the ingredients in VapoRub could help to ease your spots, there are other ingredients that could make them even worse!
If you’re suffering from acne and want to treat it properly, we’d recommend that you visit your GP or speak to a clinician and get your hands on a treatment that’s actually going to do some good.
It can reduce the appearance of stretch marks
There are a few treatments which have been proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, like retinoid creams or hyaluronic acid, but unfortunately Vicks VapoRub isn’t one of them.
It can relieve an earache
Don’t believe anyone that tells you putting Vicks on a cotton wool ball and sticking it in your ear can help ease an earache. You won’t feel any better, and you could accidentally cause damage to the delicate organs in your ear if that cotton wool gets into places it shouldn’t.
Frequently asked questions about Vicks VapoRub
What is Vicks VapoRub good for?
Vicks VapoRub works best for relieving cold symptoms, like nasal congestion, and helping ease your discomfort when you have a chesty cough.
Can you use Vicks VapoRub when pregnant?
Yes, it is generally safe to use Vicks VapoRub during pregnancy, as long as you use the product as directed.
Where should you not rub Vicks VapoRub?
Regardless of how congested you are, you shouldn’t put Vicks VapoRub in or around your nostrils. Similarly, you should avoid using it around your eyes, mouth, or face, or applied onto broken skin. It also can’t be used on children under the age of two.
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