Why put Vicks VapoRub on your feet?
Vicks VapoRub is a common home remedy used to alleviate certain foot conditions, including athlete’s foot. The standout antimicrobial ingredients of the rub, plus the inclusion of petroleum jelly, help to lock in moisture while killing off bacteria. "Vicks VapoRub has three major oils in its ingredients.
Does Vick's vapor rub really work?
In fact, putting Vicks VapoRub directly under the nose, as opposed to rubbing it on the chest, may actually make it harder to breathe, according to results from a study published in the journal Chest.
Can you use too much Vicks Vapor Rub?
WebMD reveals that Vicks VapoRub can be dangerous when too much is applied or if it is applied to broken or injured skin or ingested by mouth. Camphor, the active ingredient in Vicks VapoRub, can lead to severe side effects, including death, when used inappropriately. When applied to broken skin or ingested by mouth, the camphor in Vicks VapoRub is quickly and easily absorbed, leading to toxic levels in the body, states WebMD.
Can you use Vicks VapoRub on your feet?
Vicks VapoRub is an ointment that you can use on your skin. The manufacturer recommends rubbing it on your chest or throat to relieve congestion from colds. While medical studies have tested this use of Vicks VapoRub for colds, there are no studies about using it on your feet to relieve cold symptoms.
Is it good to put Vicks on the bottom of your feet?
Vicks VapoRub is a popular product for helping with the symptoms of a cold. Applying Vicks to the throat and chest can help with symptoms such as a blocked nose. Applying Vicks to the feet, however, is unlikely to have any effect.
What are the benefits of putting Vicks on your feet?
Menthol and camphor, two of the active ingredients in VapoRub, may help soothe your muscles by acting as a topic anesthetic, according to the NIH. Applying Vicks to your feet may help soothe sore muscles.
What does putting Vicks on your feet with socks do?
People swear it works: putting Vicks VapoRub on the souls of your feet and covering them with a towel or socks can get rid of your cough overnight.
Does Vicks VapoRub on soles of feet relieve coughing?
There is no evidence that using Vicks VapoRub on your feet will help ease a cough. This product may seem to help because menthol vapors make you feel as if you are breathing more easily.
Can you put Vicks on your chest with Covid?
Long story short, the petrolatum base of VapoRub, when inhaled, can travel to the lungs, where it collects and causes ground-glass opacities — a type of damage also associated with COVID-19. If you're feeling ill from any respiratory ailment, using VapoRub on your chest or in a vaporizer may soothe your symptoms.
Why we should not use Vicks?
Dr. Rubin says the ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway, and infants and young children have airways that are much narrower than those of adults, so any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely.
Where do you put Vicks VapoRub for congestion?
VapoRub has drawbacks in addition to its ineffectiveness as a nasal decongestant. It's unsafe for any use in children under 2 years old. In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest.
What else can Vicks VapoRub be used for?
A: Vicks VapoRub temporarily relieves cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation associated with the common cold. It can also be used to temporarily relieve minor aches and pains of muscles and joints.
Can Vicks hurt your lungs?
Vicks has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, mental status changes, lung inflammation, liver damage, constriction of airways and allergic reactions.
How do you get rid of a cough overnight?
Calming a wet coughElevate your head and neck. Sleeping flat on your back or on your side can cause mucus to accumulate in your throat, which can trigger a cough. ... Try an expectorant. ... Swallow a little honey. ... Drink a warm beverage. ... Take a hot shower.
How do you cure a cold in 5 minutes?
Cold remedies that workStay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. ... Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.Soothe a sore throat. ... Combat stuffiness. ... Relieve pain. ... Sip warm liquids. ... Try honey. ... Add moisture to the air.More items...
Is it OK to put Vicks under your nose?
The short answer is no. It's not safe to use VVR inside or around your nose. If you do, it could be absorbed into your body through the mucus membranes lining your nostrils. VVR contains camphor, which can have toxic effects inside your body.
How does Vicks Vaporub work?
It works by creating menthol vapors that feel cooling to your nasal passages when you inhale them, which tricks your brain into thinking you're breathing more easily . It does not actually relieve congestion or a cough—your brain just thinks ...
What is Vicks aporub?
Even if someday VapoRub on the feet is studied and shown to alleviate a cough, it's important to be aware of the following: 1 It contains a poisonous ingredient: Vicks VapoRub is made of camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. Camphor is poisonous when ingested. 2 It can cause seizures, coma, or death even when a small amount is swallowed or when too much is inhaled or absorbed through the skin. 2 It's not for small children: The Vicks VapoRub packaging clearly states that the product shouldn't be used on children under 2 years of age, but many people ignore the warning. (This goes for anywhere on the body.) 3 It shouldn't be put under the nose: In adults and children older than 2, the product should only be used on the chest.
Does Vicks Vaporub help with cough?
No scientific studies have been performed on whether Vicks VapoRub on your feet eases a cough. As such, it's not certain whether it does or doesn't, despite what some proponents of this home remedy may say.
Is Vicks vaporub safe for kids?
While the product has been available and popular for many years, you should know that Vicks is not completely safe for kids.
Does Vicks cough medicine calm the nervous system?
If that's true, they say it's possible that the Vicks product might have a similar impact on the nervous system that's completely separate from its aromatherapy properties. Therefore, it might be able to calm a cough, even though it is applied so far away from the nose. It's important to remember, though, that a popular idea ...
Does Vicks Vaporub cause breathing problems?
It's proven, through studies and real-world incidents, that putting Vicks VapoRub directly under the nose can lead to respiratory distress or difficulty breathing. 2 . Vicks VapoRub for Muscle Aches.
What is Vicks oil?
Vicks contains three active ingredients that are responsible for its effects: camphor 4.7%. eucalyptus oil 1.2%. menthol 2.6%. Camphor comes from the wood of Cinnamomum camphora trees, and it is an ingredient in many oils and ointments. One of its main properties is to relieve congestion and coughing.
What are the ingredients in Vicks?
Several inactive ingredients make up the rest of Vicks. These include: cedarleaf oil. lemon fragrance. nutmeg oil. special petrolatum. thymol.
How to get rid of colds?
taking honey-based drinks. using a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer. Several over-the-counter (OTC) medications are also available for reducing cold symptoms. For example, decongestants can relieve stuffy and blocked noses. They can come in the form of a tablet, a nasal spray, nasal droplets, or a syrup.
Can you use Vicks to treat a cold?
For babies. Alternatives. Summary. Vicks VapoR ub is a popular product for helping with the symptoms of a cold. Applying Vicks to the throat and chest can help with symptoms such as a blocked nose. Applying Vicks to the feet, however, is unlikely to have any effect. It is possible to apply Vicks to other areas of the body, such as the feet, ...
Can you use Vicks rub on babies?
Vicks for babies. Vicks recommend not using their rub products on children under 2 years of age. Some of the ingredients in Vicks could be harmful. For example, menthol can cause skin irritation. It is best to keep this product out of reach of any younger children. If a child swallows Vicks, it can have toxic effects.
Does Vicks work on feet?
Does it work? Share on Pinterest. There is no clear evidence that applying Vicks to the feet will help with symptoms of a cold. It is unlikely that applying Vicks to the feet would have any effect on cold symptoms . However, there has been no direct research into this.
Does Vicks lower body temperature?
Vicks can also create a cooling sensation, which may help with hot flushes from a cold. However, Vicks does not actually lower body temperature.
What is Vicks Vaporub?
Vicks VapoRub is a common home remedy used to alleviate certain foot conditions, including athlete’s foot. The standout antimicrobial ingredients of the rub, plus the inclusion of petroleum jelly, help to lock in moisture while killing off bacteria. "Vicks VapoRub has three major oils in its ingredients.
Does Vicks help with dry skin?
While Vick's is great at soothing cracked heels, it also is soothing for other patches of extremely dry skin. The petroleum jelly helps to lock in moisture while the menthol is anti-bacterial. Apply a thin layer over any areas that need a little bit of extra moisture.
Does Vicks Vaporub help with bruises?
For minor bruises, you may consider using Vicks VapoRub. This is due in large part to menthol, which helps to lessen the pain associated with the bruise by providing a cooling sensation, which helps alleviate inflammation. "The product is very cooling, so it can certainly help with minor bruises to calm the skin," confirms Sobel.
Does Vicks Vaporub hurt?
If you're looking to fade the appearance of stretch marks , this is one of the most surprising uses for Vicks VapoRub. "It definitely won’t hurt," says Sobel. Again, the anti-inflammatory properties of the product have been known to reduce scarring (including stretch marks). While it is not proven to be an effective way to diminish the appearance of stretch marks, it may be worth giving it a shot.
Does Vicks help with headaches?
It's a potential quick fix to clear your head and alleviate cranial pain. "The third major ingredient of Vicks is menthol, which when derived from peppermint helps with headaches," confirms Jose . Apply a bit to your chest, or check out these shower tablets that turn your shower into a full-on spa experience. 08 of 12.
Is Vicks gel effective?
But in addition to this marketed use, Vicks has a handful of other, les ser-known uses that are far more interesting (and no less effective). From alleviating headaches to so many different skin uses– we wanted to get the inside scoop on all of the magical ways to use this affordable gel.
Is Vicks made of petroleum jelly?
says Sobel. Vicks is made with petroleum jelly, and while it's great for keeping wounds moist (and acne lesions are technically wounds), it could actually be the cause of breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology .
The Cough Center
The part of the brain that controls coughing is down at the bottom of the brainstem in an area called the medulla oblongata. It is that part of the brain that manages automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, vomiting, swallowing and sneezing. The medulla borders on the spinal column.
Feet to Brain
We initially wondered whether there could be absorption of the active and or inactive ingredients in Vicks VapoRub through the skin.
Not by Menthol Alone
Menthol is not the only ingredient in Vicks VapoRub that may be working through transient receptor potential channels. We mentioned eucalyptol, which also triggers TRPM8 ( British Journal of Pharmacology, May 2017 ).
Learn More About Vicks
Share your own Vicks VapoRub story below in the comment section. You may also want to read our eGuide to Colds, Coughs & the Flu. It contains information on many other approaches for easing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.
Who makes Vicks Vaporub?
Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated ointment made by American household and personal care manufacturer Procter & Gamble. Originally formulated by North Carolina pharmacist Lunsford Richardson to treat his son’s croup, the salve has been around more than 125 years.
What is the menthol scent in a salve?
menthol (2.6 percent) eucalyptus oil (1.2 percent) It also contains several inactive ingredients that may be responsible for some of its popular uses: cedarleaf oil. nutmeg oil. petrolatum. thymol. turpentine oil. The salve has a strong menthol scent and a petroleum jelly–like texture.
Does Vicks Vaporub work?
It’s been tried as an acne treatment, but other products may work just as well without risking the irritation some of its ingredients can cause.
Can you heat Vicks Vaporub?
Don’t heat Vicks VapoRub before you use it, as it can cause burns. Never eat or swallow Vicks VapoRub. The ingredients are toxic when ingested. There have been cases when Vicks VapoRub caused the skin under the nose to lighten.
Does Vicks Vaporub cause acne?
Several of the ingredients in Vicks VapoRub have been found to be effective at healing blemishes, but other ingredients may actually worsen acne. For example, dermatologists have recommended camphor essential oil as an acne treatment. But another ingredient in Vicks VapoRub — petroleum jelly — may cause breakouts.
Can Vicks Vaporub be used on pets?
Training pets. Some people believe the strong scent of Vicks VapoRub can keep pets from urinating on or scratching up furniture in your home. Dabbing a small amount of the product on the area you want to protect may keep your pet at bay, but make sure your pet can’t lick or chew the ointment off the surface.
Is Vicks Vaporub good for cough?
A word of caution, though: Vicks VapoRub isn’t recommended if your cough has lots of phlegm or if it’s chronic, such as with asthma or emphysema.
Does putting Vicks on your feet stop coughing?
No scientific studies have been performed on whether Vicks VapoRub on your feet eases a cough. As such, it’s not certain whether it does or doesn’t, despite what some proponents of this home remedy may say.
Is Vick good for your feet?
Vicks VapoRub will likely not work to help ease cold symptoms when used on the feet. Adults can safely use this vapor rub on the feet to ease muscle aches or pain.
Can Vicks cure toenail fungus?
Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus.
Does Vicks Vapor Rub help tighten skin?
Vicks is a fabulous skin tightening dynamo. That’s right, the famous vapor rub has been shown to smooth away face and neck wrinkles as well as stretch marks on the belly and tighten the skin there.
Where do you rub Vicks for a cough?
Vicks VapoRub is an ointment that you can use on your skin. The manufacturer recommends rubbing it on your chest or throat to relieve congestion from colds.
What happens if you put Vicks in your nose?
It’s not safe to use Vicks VapoRub inside your nose as it can be absorbed into your body through the mucus membranes lining your nostrils. VVR contains camphor, which can have toxic effects if absorbed into your body. It can be especially dangerous for children if it’s used inside their nasal passages.
Can Vicks hurt your lungs?
Vicks has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, mental status changes, lung inflammation, liver damage, constriction of airways and allergic reactions.
What is Vicks Vaporub?
In short: Vicks VapoRub is a #1 selling branded children and adult cough cold product. Well... That is the main use of it anyhow. However, this Proctor & Gamble Company product is a very versatile and also is commonly used for pain relief when applied topically to aching muscles and joints.
What essential oils are inactive in Vicks?
For example: Cedarleaf oil is listed as inactive but has been shown to have antimicrobial properties. And of course you have menthol, which we all love the feel of.
How much does a tub of toenail fungus cost?
and the price here is pretty darn good fortunately. A 1.76 oz (50g) little tub usually costs somewhere around $5-6 and you can pick it up at any Walmart, Walgreen's, CVS, and plenty other stores.
How to get rid of a toenail infection?
Get it on your toenail, underneath it really good, and all around the area. It works best to apply a little, rub it in and let it absorb, and then apply a bit more . Gloves should be worn so that you don't touch the infected area with your hands and a q-tip can be used to help get around the nail.
Does Eucalyptus oil help with fungus?
It has been shown to inhibit growth of fungi better than other essential oils. Eucalyptus oil (1.2%) C ommonly used for coughs, clearing the chest, as a disinfectant, helping control blood sugar, joint pain, against infections and more. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Is vicks vaporub safe?
VICKS VapoRub contains many good ingredients that have the potential to fight off fungal infections... and they are all ingredients that are overall healthy and pose no big health risks.