When I had a cold as a child, my mother put a little Vicks VapoRub under my nose to help me breathe more easily. Does this really work?
Answer From Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
No. Vicks VapoRub doesn't clear up congestion in the nose. But its strong menthol odor may trick your brain. So you might feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose.
Vicks VapoRub is an ointment that's rubbed on the throat and chest to relieve a cough.
It's unsafe for any use in children under 2 years old. In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest to ease coughing during a cold.
Vicks VapoRub is made of ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. Camphor also is one of the main ingredients in other medicines used on the skin, such as Campho-Phenique and Bengay.
Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers.
When placed on the skin, camphor can be absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin. This also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — especially a small child's nostrils.
And if VapoRub gets in the eyes, it can injure the clear outer layer, called the cornea.
You can try other treatments to relieve a stuffy nose during a cold.
Decongestant tablets sold without a prescription can be used in people age 12 and older. These medicines narrow blood vessels in the tissue that lines the inside of the nose. That can lead to less swelling in the nasal passages.
Children under 12 may get relief from remedies such as:
- Saline nose drops, sprays or rinses — such as with a neti pot — to thin mucus.
- A rubber-bulb syringe to remove mucus.
- A cool-mist humidifier to ease congestion.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Dec. 02, 2023
- Pappas DE. The common cold in children: Management and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 6, 2019.
- Camphor. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed June 7, 2019.
- Micromedex. Camphor. IBM Micromedex. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com. Accessed June 7, 2019.
- Vicks VapoRub (prescribing information). Proctor & Gamble; 2023. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e69a7c9b-fd04-4109-a7c8-6edfd83855fc. Accessed June 22, 2023.
See more Expert Answers
.
FAQs
No. Vicks VapoRub doesn't clear up congestion in the nose. But its strong menthol odor may trick your brain. So you might feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose.
Where to put Vicks for nasal congestion? ›
If you have a stuffy nose, using VVR may make you feel as though you can breathe better. However, it does not relieve nasal congestion. You can apply VVR to the chest and throat area in a thick layer. But to relieve a stuffy nose, you may find more success with other remedies.
Does Vicks nasal spray clear sinuses? ›
This medication is used for temporary relief of congestion in the nose caused by various conditions including the common cold, sinusitis, hay fever, and allergies.
What is the best medicine for sinus congestion? ›
5 medicines that help relieve sinus congestion
- Privine (naphazoline)
- Afrin, Dristan, Nostrilla, and Vicks Sinus Nasal Spray (oxymetazoline)
- Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, and Rhinall (phenylephrine)
- Sudafed PE (phenylephrine)
- Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
(Adults and children over 6 years) Vicks Inhaler is used by inserting the inhaler into each nostril, holding the other nostril closed and inhaling deeply. It can be used as frequently as needed. Not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
How to stop a blocked nose at night? ›
Up-to-Date
- Avoid Congestion-Causing Triggers Before Bed.
- Elevate Your Head.
- Try Nasal Irrigation.
- Wear Adhesive Strips.
- Try Steam or a Humidifier.
- Drink Enough Fluids During the Day.
- Consider Medications.
- When to Talk to Your Doctor About Congestion.
In fact, one of the most effective actually contains phenylephrine. “The FDA has only declared that pills containing phenylephrine are ineffective,” says Dr. Daiza. “But there are nasal sprays for congestion that contain phenylephrine, and those are still considered safe and effective.”
What is a safe nasal decongestant? ›
In the drug realm, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and loratadine (Claritin) can help with a stuffy nose are safe for the heart.
Why has Vicks Sinex been discontinued? ›
The Vicks Sinex nasal spray recall was announced on Thursday after Procter & Gamble discovered the presence of B. cepacia bacteria in some bottles of nasal spray at the company's production plant in Gross Gerau, Germany. There have been no reported illnesses connected to the contamination. Bukholderia cepacia (B.
Why Vicks on feet with socks? ›
Advocates of this remedy suggest that applying Vicks to the feet allows the active ingredients to be absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly than if applied to other areas. Additionally, the warmth created by wearing socks may enhance the absorption process.
If a nasal decongestant spray is a fixture in your medication lineup, it's important to know that using these sprays for more than three consecutive days can actually worsen your congestion. "This side effect of nasal decongestant sprays is called rebound congestion," says Dr.
How to relieve sinus pressure immediately? ›
How to relieve sinus pressure
- Sinus rinse. Whether the pressure is due to a sinus infection, allergies or something else, Dr. Takashima recommends starting with a saline rinse kit. ...
- Keep your head elevated. ...
- Warm compress. ...
- Drink plenty of water. ...
- Try a decongestant. ...
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. ...
- Sinus massage.
There's no treatment for viral sinus infections. But you can manage symptoms with over-the-counter medications. When an antibiotic is needed to treat a sinus infection, amoxicillin is usually the first choice.
Should I take mucinex or Sudafed? ›
Sudafed and Mucinex are both effective at treating different cold and allergy symptoms. If you are experiencing nasal congestion and need fast relief, Sudafed may be your better option. However, if you have chest congestion and need to loosen and thin mucus, Mucinex may be the more effective choice.
What pressure points drain sinuses? ›
Acupresssure Point LI 20: Located at the base of your nose, this pressure point can help relieve sinus pressure. Acupresssure Point SI18: Located where your cheekbones meet your nose, this pressure point can relieve sinus congestion.
How to massage your sinuses to drain them? ›
Feel around for the area right between the corners of your eyes and your nasal bone. Put slightly firm pressure on that spot with your index fingers for around 15 seconds. Next, make a slow downward stroke down the side of your nose bridge. Repeat steps three and four once or twice.
How to unblock sinuses? ›
You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:
- getting plenty of rest.
- drinking plenty of fluids.
- taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
- avoiding things that trigger your allergies.
- not smoking.
- cleaning your nose with a salt water solution.
Other than blowing your nose, you can try stuffing it too! Roll up a wad of tissue and stuff it into one nostril at a time. The tissues can soak up and absorb the excess mucus around the nostril. This method is a much gentler approach to clearing mucus and phlegm than blowing your nose.
