Most Popular Uses of Vicks VapoRub | 22 Effective Uses of Vicks VapoRub

Vicks VapoRub is a popular common cold remedy with medicated vapors. Vicks VapoRub is a topical cough suppressant designed to clear the sinuses. The active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub are camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. It also contains other inactive ingredients include cedar leaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum, thymol, and turpentine oil. This ointment is used on the chest, back, and throat to treat nasal congestion and coughs. But Vicks VapoRub has many other uses, besides treating nasal congestion and coughs.

Here are some unconventional but amazing uses for Vicks VapoRub.

1. Soothes Insect Bites
Whether you suffer from chigger, ant, mosquito or any other insect bites, Vicks VapoRub can provide instant relief from the itchiness and burning sensation. The cooling menthol in Vicks soothes the itching sensation. It also reduces the risk of blisters and infections.

Direction:

• Wash the affected area with cool water.
• Take some Vicks VapoRub, add a little table salt to it and mix thoroughly.
• Apply it to the affected area.
• Repeat it again if required.

2. Treats Toenail Fungus
To keep your feet happy and free from toenail fungus, you can use a jar of Vicks VapoRub as an effective remedy. The ingredient thymol in Vicks aids in inhibiting growth of the fungus, possibly due to its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

Direction:

• Apply Vicks on the infected toenail, cover with a gauze and put on your socks.
• Repeat 2 or 3 times daily until your nail turns dark and the toenail grows out.
• Finally, cut off the dark part.

Keep applying Vicks for another couple of weeks in order to get rid of any remaining fungus and bacteria.

Note: Make sure your toenail is completely dry before putting Vicks on it.

3. Treats Headaches
For quick relief from tension or sinus headaches, you simply need to take out your bottle of Vicks VapoRub. It can even help treat a migraine headache. The basic ingredients in it – camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol – all help in treating headaches. For tension headaches, rub some Vicks VapoRub on your temples and forehead, and massage gently for quick pain relief.

4. Relives Achy Muscles
To soothe sore, overworked and achy muscles, Vicks VapoRub is a quick solution. The menthol in it increases blood circulation and provides quick relief to achy muscles.

Direction:

• Rub a generous amount of Vicks VapoRub over the muscles that are causing pain.
• Massage gently for 5 minutes.
• Wrap the area with a dry, warm towel.
• Lie down for some time to allow the balm to do its work.
• Repeat this remedy 2 or 3 times a day.

This should provide relief and comfort to any painful areas.

5. Treats Cracked Heels
To keep your heels healthy, smooth and free from unsightly cracks, Vicks VapoRub is just the right ingredient to consider. Due to its menthol, camphor and turpentine oil content, this ointment helps trap in moisture and heal cracked heels.

Direction:

• Before going to bed, soak your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes.
• Scrub the cracked areas with a pumice stone for a couple of minutes to get rid of dead skin cells.
• Wash the area with clean water and pat dry thoroughly.
• Rub some Vicks on your feet and heels, and massage gently.
• Put on your socks and wear them overnight.
• The next morning, wash your feet with warm water.
• Repeat this every night until your cracked heels are completely healed.

6. Treats Warts
Vicks is also great for treating warts, especially periungual warts. The menthol, thymol and eucalyptus oil in it helps kill the virus that causes warts. They also help shrink and dry out warts.

Direction:

• Apply a generous amount of Vicks VapoRub on the affected area.
• Then cover it with a gauze, and wear socks, or cover it with duct tape.
• Leave it on for few hours, or even overnight.
• Do this for about a week or until the warts fall off.

Note: Make sure your feet are fully dry, before you put on Vicks VapoRub.

7. Treat Acne
The menthol in Vicks acts as a natural antiseptic and makes it an effective treatment for acne flare ups. You can put some VapoRub on your pimples, acne, or other blemishes and leave it on overnight. When you wash it off in the morning your blemish should be gone.

8. Get Rid of Stretch Marks
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. To reduce visibility of ugly stretch marks, instead of spending money on expensive creams and lotions, try using Vicks VapoRub. Its methanol and eucalyptus oil content helps fade stretch marks naturally. The cedar leaf oil, petrolatum, camphor and turpentine oil aid in reducing skin dryness that makes stretch marks stand out. Also, it has the anti-inflammatory property of eucalyptus, which helps lighten stretch marks as well as other minor scars. Rub a small amount of VapoRub on the skin where you have visible stretch marks. Massage in circular motions for a minute. Do it twice daily for a few weeks to get noticeable results.

9. Relieve Joint Pain
Vicks VapoRub is said to provide relief when your joints ache from overuse, injury or arthritis. The camphor does the hard work here as an analgesic that soothes nerve endings and relieves joint pain. You simply massage it directly into the skin around the joints that are causing discomfort. This is an affordable remedy that works best for occasional, mild pain. If your joint pain persists or is extremely painful, talk with your doctor about other treatments.

10. Treats Psoriasis and Eczema
Eczema and psoriasis can be itchy and painful. Get relief by rubbing a small amount onto the affected area. Vicks will help reduce inflammation and itchiness, thanks to its antimicrobial ingredients like menthol.

11. Aids in Pet Training
If you have a mischievous cat or dog who scratches your doors, couch and other furniture, you can use Vicks VapoRub to prevent them from scratching. Pets do not like the odor of Vicks VapoRub and they will avoid it. Simply apply a small amount of VapoRub to areas where your pets have a tendency to scratch a lot. The smell will discourage them from scratching the item. You can also use Vicks VapoRub to help potty train your pet. Put an open bottle of Vicks on the areas that your pet likes to mark as their territory and they will steer clear of it.

12. Burn Excess Body Fat
Apply some VapoRub mixed with camphor, baking soda, and a little bit of alcohol. Rub this mixture in circular motion on the area you want to slim down and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 30 minutes or, for gaining the best possible results, leave it throughout the night.

13. Treat Athlete’s Foot
Vicks VapoRub can also help relieve foot problems like athlete’s foot. Menthol has strong anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that make it effective at killing fungus, and preventing new fungus from growing. Camphor is also a natural nail fungus fighter, as is cedar leaf oil and thymol, both of which are contained in the Vicks VapoRub formula.

14. Relieve Bruises
Gently rub some Vicks VapoRub on your bruise, and observe the healing process. The ointment will reduce all the swelling, and the bruise itself will disappear faster.

15. Silence a squeaky door
Squeaky doors can lead to headaches. If you have a door that squeaks when it opens or closes, try using Vick’s VapoRub. It acts as a good emergency replacement for oil.

16. Heal Minor Cuts
Another reason to always keep Vicks VapoRub in your medical kit, it can help to heal minor scratch and scrapes. The thick, waxy formula helps to create a barrier over your cut – warding off infection. Apply a thick layer to clean skin once or twice daily until the affected area is healed.

Note: Don’t use Vicks on an open wound, and if you notice any type of sting or burning sensation, take the product off immediately and rinse with water.

17. Treat a Dry Scalp
Treat the affected area by taking a thin layer of Vick’s and rubbing it onto the dry parts of your scalp. Try doing this home remedy right before you go to bed or after you take a shower. The oil from the eucalyptus and the petroleum work together as a salve for your scalp.

18. Remove Stubborn Lipstick
If you’ve ever applied matte, red or other bold colored lipstick before you’ll know how hard it is to take off. Apply a thin layer of VapoRub on your stained lip and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it off completely.

19. Stop Earaches
An achy ear can be extremely unpleasant, and make even the smallest everyday task impossible. Vicks can also be used to solve this problem. While it won’t cure an ear infection, it will reduce pain and discomfort to help you get on with the task in hand. To try it, place a dab of Vicks on a cotton ball in your ear for several hours.

20. Cool a Sunburn
Suffering through a painful sunburn puts a damper on summer fun. Fortunately, Vicks VapoRub can be used for that too. Aloe vera used to be the go-to for burn relief, but Vicks will also do the trick. Massage it into your reddest areas for cooling pain relief and reduced inflammation. You can even blend it with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, so it goes on more smoothly for all-day cooling effects.

21. Apply as Skin Moisturizer
VapoRub works a fantastic skin moisturizer, especially on chapped skin. VapoRub will restore the moisture to dry, cracked skin.

22. Remove Your Eye Makeup
If you’re all out of makeup remover you can use VapoRub in a pinch. Use a cotton ball to wipe the tops of your eyelids and around your eye. Make sure you avoid wiping it directly on your eye or eyelashes.

Try these recipes and let us know if you receive relief or not by visiting our comment section.