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why rub vicks on feet at night

by Mr. Rasheed Jacobi DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

So, rubbing Vicks

Vicks

Vicks is an American brand of over-the-counter medications owned by the American company Procter & Gamble. Vicks manufactures NyQuil and its sister medication, DayQuil. The Vicks brand also produces Formula 44 cough medicines, cough drops, Vicks VapoRub, and a number of in…

Vaporub onto your feet may not ease a cold, but could it have another use? 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.

Camphor and menthol produce a cooling sensation
Using Vicks VapoRub on your feet or other areas of your body has a cooling effect. This is mainly because of the camphor and menthol. The cooling sensation of the vapor rub may be pleasing and temporarily help you feel better.
Oct 16, 2019

Full Answer

Why rub VapoRub on feet at night?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend:

  • resting as much as possible
  • getting plenty of fluids
  • using saline nasal sprays
  • breathing steam from hot water
  • using lozenges
  • taking honey-based drinks
  • using a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer

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 Vicks VapoRub work on 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. Don’t use Vicks VapoRub on...

Is it safe to eat Vicks Vapor Rub?

  • Stomach pain, vomiting, nausea
  • Burning sensation in the mouth or throat
  • Seizures and perhaps muscles in spasm
  • Being thirsty
  • Speedy pulse
  • Restlessness or agitation
  • Losing consciousness
  • Difficulty breathing

What are the benefits of putting Vicks VapoRub 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.

Is it good to put Vicks on the bottom of your feet?

You may have heard that putting Vicks VapoRub (camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol) on your feet or your child's feet will help with a cough. So far, though, there is no evidence that this is effective.

Why does putting Vicks on your feet stop coughing?

Given that feet contains lots of nerves, Graedon speculates that sensory nerves in the soles of the feet may respond to stimulation with Vicks VapoRub: The [brain's] cough center is right next to the spinal cord.

Does putting Vicks on your feet help you sleep?

One study in the journal Pediatrics examined the effects of Vicks in 138 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years. The researchers found that in comparison with petroleum jelly or no treatment at all, Vicks helped relieve symptoms at night and, thus, improved sleep quality.

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.

Where do you put Vicks for a cough?

A: For cough suppression, rub a thick layer of Vicks VapoRub on your chest and throat. Cover with a warm, dry cloth, if desired. Keep clothing loose about your throat and chest to help the vapors to reach the nose and mouth.

Does putting Vicks under your nose help with congestion?

Hoecker, M.D. Vicks VapoRub — a topical ointment made of ingredients including camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol that you rub on your throat and chest — doesn't relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol odor of VapoRub may trick your brain, so you feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose.

Where do you rub Vicks for stuffy nose?

For example, place your index fingers on both sides of your nose where the nose and cheek meet (with one finger on each side), and apply moderate pressure for 2 to 3 minutes. You can also use your index fingers to apply pressure on the bridge of your nose, right between your eyebrows; hold for 2 to 3 minutes.

What is Vicks vapor rub?

Vicks VapoRub is the brand name for a vapor rub made by the U.S. company Procter & Gamble. It’s marketed to relieve cold and cough symptoms. The manufacturer also claims that Vicks VapoRub helps to ease minor muscle aches and joint pain.

How long before bedtime to use Vicks vapor rub?

The researchers tested the vapor rub on 138 children ages 2 to 11. Parents were asked to apply Vicks VapoRub on their child’s chest and throat 30 minutes before bedtime. According to surveys filled out by the parents, Vicks VapoRub helped reduce their child’s cold symptoms and let them sleep better.

How long does it take for Vicks to burn?

Some people may have a burning sensation when using Vicks VapoRub. Test a tiny amount of Vicks VapoRub on your skin before using it. Wait 24 hours and check the area for any sign of an allergic reaction. Also check your child’s skin before you treat them with Vicks VapoRub.

Does Vicks Vaporub work?

Limited research shows that Vicks VapoRub may help with cold symptoms. When applied to the chest and throat, it may help ease cold symptoms like nose and sinus congestion. Vicks VapoRub will likely not work to help ease cold symptoms when used on the feet.

Can Vicks vaporrub cause dermatitis?

Some ingredients in Vicks VapoRub, especially eucalyptus oil, can cause an allergic reaction. In some cases, using Vicks VapoRub on the skin might cause contact dermatitis. This is a skin rash, redness, or irritation triggered by a chemical. Do not use Vicks VapoRub if you have any open or healing scratches, cuts, or sores on your skin.

Can you use Vicks Vaporub on your nose?

Don’t use Vicks VapoRub on your face, under your nose, or in your nostrils. A child — or adult — might accidentally ingest Vicks VapoRub if it’s put in or near the nostrils.

Does Vicks Vaporub help with sinus congestion?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Vicks VapoRub doesn’t relieve a stuffed up nose or sinus congestion. Instead, the menthol smell is so overpowering that it tricks your brain into thinking that you’re breathing better.

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 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.

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.

Does Vicks grow hair?

The Vicks VapoRub ingredients that stimulate hair growth are camphor, lavender, eucalyptus and menthol. Eucalyptus also improves hair elasticity and keeps it strong. Menthol – Gets rid of irritants thus giving room for hair to grow easily.

Why do the bottoms of my feet hurt so bad?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis can cause intense heel pain. Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain.

Is it OK to 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.

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.

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.

What is Vicks used for?

Vicks for muscle pain. One of the other most common uses of Vaporub is to ease muscle pain. Vaporub may help to ease minor muscular pain, providing a cooling, soothing sensation in the area that might make your muscles and joints seem less sore.

What is Vicks Vaporub?

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.

Does Vicks Vaporub work for acne?

Vicks Vaporub for acne. If you’ve had a spot break out just before a big night out, then someone may have recommended Vaporub as a sure-fire spot treatment . Honestly though, those people may not be giving you the best advice, and it may backfire on you!

Does Vicks Vaporub help with coughs?

Vicks Vaporub for a cough. If you’ve got a cough and you’re wondering whether you should reach for Vaporub, then you’ll be glad to know that you’re onto a winner this time! Vaporub can help to ease coughs that are caused by colds, relieving the catarrh and phlegm that give you a chesty cough.

Can you rub Vicks Vaporub on your feet?

Vicks Vaporub on your feet. Lots of people swear by Vick’s Vaporub for a cold, but many of these people aren’t rubbing it on to their chest for all of its decongestive benefits. Nope, the latest trend is to rub Vaporub onto your feet, pop on a pair of socks, and then go to bed.

Does Vicks first defence spray help with cold?

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 all together! Don’t worry if you’ve missed your cold prevention window, though, Vicks Vaporub will still be there to soothe that blocked nose and move that catarrh.

Does Vicks help with earaches?

One of the more unusual of the old wives’ tales we’ve heard, some people believe that putting Vicks on a cotton wool ball and sticking it into your ear will help to ease an earache.

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.

How to walk back the negative sensations of an intense workout?

stocksy. To walk back the negative sensations of an intense workout, apply a bit of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area. While studies still need to be done on how effective the product is for this use, the cooling sensation works to soothe irritated or tired muscles.

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.

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.

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