What Is Vicks Vapor Rub Good for as a Home Remedy?
Vicks VapoRub is a topical cough suppressant and mild pain reliever that has been a staple of household medicine cabinets since the 1890s. As with many over-the-counter medications, people have found a variety of other uses for Vicks VapoRub, from treating toenail fungus to hemorrhoids.
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Warnings
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Vicks VapoRub contains menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, special petrolatum, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, thymol and turpentine oil. Camphor is poisonous if swallowed, so Vicks VapoRub should never be taken internally. Exercise caution when using any home remedy.
Toenail Fungus
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The most researched off-label use of Vicks VapoRub is for treatment of toenail fungus. A 2006 study conducted by Michigan State University found that Vicks VapoRub cleared 32 out of 85 toenail fungus cases, a rate comparable to that of prescription topical medication.
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Skin Conditions
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Dandruff & seborrheic dermatitis sufferers have found that Vicks VapoRub relieves itching and scaling. It is also helpful for healing chapped lips.
Hemorrhoids
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Vicks' petroleum jelly base is soothing to some hemorrhoid patients. Other patients have had mixed results, including one man who used it and then guessed incorrectly that the ingredients included napalm, according to an account published in a guide from PeoplesPharmacy.org.
Aches and Pains
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Vicks VapoRub is approved for treatment of mild pain. Vicks is often used to treat bee stings and mosquito bites, as well as joint pain. Others have found it effective in treating headache pain when applied to the forehead and temples.
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