10 Uses for Vicks VapoRub and What Science Says About Them

Doctors, researchers, and the product’s manufacturer have recommended Vicks VapoRub for the following purposes.

Relieving congestion

Vicks VapoRub isn’t a decongestant.

However, strong menthol and camphor vapors create a cooling sensation in your nasal passages, triggering receptors in your brain to feel that you’re breathing more openly.

In a 2017 study, adults with a cold reported that using Vicks VapoRub helped improve subjective sleep quality.

Easing cough

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) lists camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol as cough suppressants.

That said, Vicks VapoRub isn’t recommended if your cough has lots of phlegm or if it’s chronic, such as with asthma or emphysema.

The manufacturer recommends following these steps to maximize effectiveness for cold symptoms:

1. Rub a layer of Vicks VapoRub on your chest and neck only. Don’t use it near your mouth or in your nostrils.
2. Drape a warm, dry cloth over your head while you’re sitting upright or standing.
3. Loosen any clothing around your chest and throat so vapors can rise to your nose area.
4. Repeat, if needed, up to three times in 24 hours.

Not on your noseAvoid putting Vicks VapoRub on, in, or around your nose.

A 2018 reviewTrusted Source suggests camphor may be absorbed through your mucous membranes and is toxic, especially to toddlers and babies.

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