Vicks VapoRub may help relieve cough and soothe sore muscles. Some anecdotal uses include relieving headaches, getting rid of acne, and repelling mosquitos, but no research supports these.
Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated ointment made by the United States 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 for more than 125 years.
People are still inventing uses for it — some of which are backed by science and others that are (so far) unstudied.
Procter & Gamble lists the following active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub:
- camphor (4.8%)
- menthol (2.6%)
- eucalyptus oil (1.2%)
It also contains several inactive ingredients that may be responsible for some of its popular uses, including:
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