Vicks VapoRub is an old-fashioned approach for easing coughs and congestion. How well does it work? A researcher at Penn State has found that the 100-year old remedy actually is helpful for coughs and congestion. Both children and parents slept better when the children had Vicks applied to their chests before bed. This investigative team had previously found no benefit from children’s cough medicine, so it is notable that their double-blind study found benefit from this traditional treatment.

[Pediatrics, online November 8, 2010]

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  1. Jim
    Etters, Penna.
    Reply

    I don’t really know what Vicks is capable of doing but my mother, God rest her soul, used Vicks for just about everything that ailed her. If she had an upset stomach, she would rub a little Vicks on her tummy and all went well. Sinus congestion, no problems, she would rub a little under he eyes, being careful not to get any into her eyes, and she would tell me he nose was clear all night long. I miss my mom and he Vicks stories and I have used it for year for sinus and chest relief as well as a sore throat, and it works. It really does. The only thing you must so is wash the area with soap and water the next morning or you will smell like Vicks all day long. I almost forgot. If you have a sore throat, put Vicks on your throat and then take a white sock and wrap it around your neck. Sleep that way and you will feel much better in the morning, I promise it works.

  2. Patricia
    Wirtz, VA
    Reply

    Stumbled across your website…read your articles in the paper. I like the wisdom you share with your readers. Thanks

  3. RLB
    Reply

    Cough medicine not working?? My mother and all the mothers of my childhood made a mixture of butter, sugar and cider vinegar. It worked well and tasted good.

  4. RLB
    Reply

    Well duh!! Mothers have known about this for a hundred years or more. My mother used to slather it on and cover it with a cloth when we had a cold. How much money did these brilliant minds spend on research when they could have bought a jar and tried it themselves. No wonder modern medicine is so expensive. They have laid off all the mothers and grandmas.

  5. Palma
    Reply

    I am glad to know this about Vicks, but the REAL treasure of Vicks Vaporub is the application to the bottom of your feet, that I first heard of on PP. At the time I had a very bad cough from allergy related bronchitus. I tried this remedy and it releived my cough almost immediately. Thanks.

  6. Carolyn
    Reply

    We put it on the bottoms of our feet when going to bed and wear socks for the night. Somehow it can be felt in the lungs as soothing and eases congestion … Helps stop coughing during the night too..

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