How does vicks work

Menthol and methyl salicylate are known as counterirritants. They work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm, which then distracts you from feeling aches or pains deeper in your muscles, joints, and tendons. Massage a bit into the tender area, cover with a warm towel and relax. Do this on Sunday Runday, or any other time you tackle more than 5KM. If you suffer from eczema, Vicks VapoRub can help to soothe inflamed areas of skin, thanks to its antimicrobial ingredients like menthol.

This VapoRub hack went viral on Pinterest, after users reported a reduced appearance of their stretch marks. Yep, really. Vicks Vaporub is seriously effective at reducing minor bruises thanks to its ability to lessen swelling and inflammation.

This works best if you apply the VapoRub as soon as you feel a bruise coming on - rather than waiting for it to fully develop. Of course, heading to your pharmacist or GP is the first port of call if you've got an ear infection - but, if you're looking for a home remedy for your earache in the meantime, this is it.

Place a small cotton ball with Vicks VapoRub in your ear and leave it there for a few hours. This will help to reduce pain until you see your doctor. It's the obvious one - but Vicks VapoRub is great for easing coughs that are caused by colds. The chest rub is perfect for relieving the catarrh and phlegm that give you a chesty cough. Similarly to DIY hacks like popping toothpaste on a spot, some people believe Vicks VapoRub helps to dry up pimples overnight.

Whilst some of the ingredients in Vaporub might help to nix spots, other ingredients might actually block pores more. We'd recommend using one of the best spot treatments , rather than Vicks.

Camphor has long been used in combination with menthol in a variety of preparations that are promoted as chest rubs to fight colds by soothing coughing and opening stuffy noses. However, camphor is also highly toxic: Eating or drinking as little as five milliliters of camphor oil can kill a child. As a result, in , the U. Food and Drug Administration decided that camphor-containing products such as Vicks VapoRub could not contain more than an 11 percent concentration of the substance.

Vicks VapoRub contains less than 4. Camphor concerns aside, researchers say there is no science to back up the claim that Vicks VapoRub makes it easier to breathe. Missouri Poison Center. Updated May 25, Vapor rub, petrolatum, and no treatment for children with nocturnal cough and cold symptoms. Camphor overdose. Updated January 1, Your Privacy Rights.

To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Recap There have been no scientific studies into VapoRub's effectiveness when used on the feet.

Vicks VapoRub for Muscle Aches. Frequently Asked Questions Can Vicks make your hair grow? What happens if you swallow Vicks VapoRub? Learn More: Common Household Poisons. Can putting Vicks on your feet help you sleep better? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Doctors recommend that you avoid putting Vicks VapoRub on, in, or around your nose.

The camphor can be absorbed through your mucous membranes and is toxic, especially to toddlers and babies. The NIH describes both camphor and menthol as topical analgesics, or pain relievers you rub on your skin. Doctors at Mayo Clinic say that products containing camphor and menthol can create a powerful cooling sensation that may temporarily override your ability to feel the pain of sore muscles and joints.

Similar products like Biofreeze, which contains 4 percent active menthol, have helped reduce pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, according to research. A study tested the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub against toenail fungus. A total of 18 people applied the ointment to their toenails over a period of 48 weeks. Five participants were totally cured of the fungal infection at the end of the treatment period. Ten saw a distinct improvement, and five saw no change at all.

Not sure about using Vicks VapoRub on toenail fungus? Here are some other remedies to try. Stretch marks are purplish, red, or white lines that appear on the skin after a period of quick growth.

They most often appear around puberty and pregnancy. Nevertheless, some people report success in fading stretch marks using Vicks VapoRub.

If you want a surefire remedy , you may want to try one of these three treatments:. Some people believe the strong scent of Vicks VapoRub can keep pets from urinating on or scratching up furniture in your home.