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One of the other most common uses of Vaporub is to ease muscle pain. However, there’s no evidence that rubbing it on someone’s feet will help ensure a good night’s rest. This product should only be used on the chest, and only by adults and children over the age of 2. Some people use Vicks VapoRub on their feet for cracked heels. This may be because Vicks has a base of petroleum jelly.

As with any health decision, readers should be aware that there are risks involved and consult with a doctor before using any of these methods. Cough & Congestion (Ages 4+) has Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, to reduce the cough reflex so your child has less urge to cough. Aside from cough, it also relieves chest congestion with Guaifenesin and stuffy nose with Phenylephrine HCI . Calming chamomile is a favorite herbal tea among adults and children alike. Heat up a warm tea with chamomile for your little one to help soothe and calm them when cough symptoms have them feeling under the weather. If you would like to learn about some other approaches to calming a cough or easing cold symptoms, we suggest our Guide to Colds, Coughs & the Flu.
Does Vicks Vapor Rub help with a stuffy nose?
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Vicks VapoRub includes 2.6 percent menthol, which might help you stop coughing quickly. Vicks VapoDrops are also an effective cough treatment. Allow 2 drops to dissolve slowly in your mouth to assist relieve chronic coughing. Although Vicks products will not cure a cough, they will help you stop coughing.
Vicks and Milk
Always check each label, use as directed and keep medicine out of reach of children. There is no evidence that using Vicks VapoRub on your feet will help ease a cough. This product may seem to help when rubbed on your chest because menthol vapors make you feel as if you are breathing more easily. However, those aromatherapy benefits are hard to get if the product is far away from your nose.
Home Remedies for Colds and Flu Vicks Vaporub is a commercial product that comprises camphor , menthol , and eucalyptus. Camphor is FDA-approved for coughs because it is thought to be effective. However, other ingredients in VapoRub may also be responsible for its activity against colds and flu. The benefits from using VapoRub as home remedy for the flu should be used with caution because of the potential side effects.
Does Vicks VapoRub help with breathing?
The jury’s still out on whether this actually works, but as there are so many amazing moisturisers and foot care products out there, we’re not entirely sure why this one caught on. Ingesting a small taste will probably not be harmful to children or adults. But the camphor in Vicks is toxic and can cause vomiting, seizures, respiratory distress, coma, or even death, depending on how much is consumed. In one small study, Vicks VaporRub helped to ease onychomycosis symptoms in 83% of study participants.

Flu activity has been very high this year, even though it is just the start of flu season. There have been cases when Vicks VapoRub caused the skin under the nose to lighten. So far, there aren’t any studies that support the use of Vicks VapoRub for treating headaches. Beauty bloggers have promoted the use of Vicks VapoRub as an overnight spot treatment to shrink pimples.
Ask your doctor what effects the Vaporub spray has on people with asthma before using it yourself at home. Asthma is a chronic disease that makes it hard for the lungs to breathe properly. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing. Asthma can be controlled with medications and self-management plans but it cannot be cured. Some things such as smoking, allergens, exercise, and stress can trigger an attack of asthma. Efficacy of a topical aromatic rub (Vicks VapoRub® ) on effects on self-reported and actigraphically assessed aspects of sleep in common cold patients.
A cough can either be dry or chesty, and either productive or nonproductive . Chesty coughs are usually productive while dry coughs are usually unproductive. If you’ve had a spot break out just before a big night out, then someone may have recommended using Vaporub as a sure-fire spot treatment. Lots of people swear by Vick’s Vaporub for a cold, but many of these people aren’t rubbing it onto their chest for all of its decongestive benefits. Putting Vicks VapoRub under the nose can lead to respiratory distress or difficulty breathing. Vicks VapoRub also has other popular off-label uses—and these have more support than use of the product on the feet to improve a cough.
These medications included those containing diphenhydramine , a type of antihistamine, and salbutamol , a prescription bronchodilator. There's no actual scientific evidence that slathering the cough suppressant on your soles can stop your hacking, but there is plenty of anecdotal proof. Individuals suffering from dandruff, chapped lips, cracked heels and a variety of other dermatological problems have found Vicks to soothe discomfort and help skin to heal.
When you're congested, putting VapoRub on your chest can help you feel like your breathing has improved. It does this by releasing menthol vapors that feel cooling once they hit your nasal passages. This tricks your brain into thinking you are breathing more easily. This article discusses the practice of using Vicks VapoRub on the feet as a cough and cold remedy. It also reviews the research on other uses for the product and the potential dangers of using it in ways that are not recommended by the manufacturer. Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals.