topic Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post) in Beauty

Vicks VapoRub (long post)

beach-mom — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 06:44:00 GMT

Everyone who knows me knows I love this product! I've been using it since my mom rubbed it on my chest when I was sick as a little girl. When DH and I were married he had a mild form of pneumonia (according to the doctor we visited). After a short honeymoon to the beach, we visited our families. I had met his family one time before we were married. When we visited them, I wanted to show him I would be a good wife. Our first night there I spread Vicks on his chest, microwaved a damp towel, and put the towel on him until it got cool, and repeated this process for a number of times. The next morning his mom wanted to know why her microwave smelled like Vicks! OOPS! I was so embarrassed, but she laughed about it. At least she knew I would take good care of her only son!

Anyway - I found this and thought it was interesting. I have only tried it for softening my heels, and it works. I can't tell you if any of these other suggestions DO work, so please don't hold me accountable! And of course you don't have to mind the smell of the eucalyptus, camphor, and methol. If you try any of them, let me know!

Other uses for Vicks:

1. Keep bugs at bay. Bugs hate the smell of eucalyptus. Dabbing some Vicks behind your ears will keep them away.

2. Keep pets from using the bathroom in places you don't want them to. Put some Vicks on the spot they're using, and they'll stay away. They don't like the powerful smell.

3. Heal your stretch marks by rubbing Vicks on them.

4. Ease migraines by applying Vicks on your temples.

5. Soothe aching muscles by rubbing some Vicks on them. The cooling sensation will feel good.

6. Dry up acne breakouts. A dab of Vicks on a blemish will eliminate it overnight.

7. Heal foot and nail fungus and soften calluses by applying Vicks nightly.

8. Keep your cat from scratching your sofa. Wipe a bit of Vicks on his favorite scratching place and he will stop.

9. Cure earaches. Saturate a cotton ball with Vicks and leave it in the infected ear. This will reduce pain and inflammation.

10. Safely remove ticks without breaking them apart and risking infection. Wipe some Vicks over the tick and it will release on its own.

11. Spread some Vicks on your feet overnight to banish cold symptoms. Your feet will absorb the medicinal properties of Vicks and you should wake up feeling totally restored.

12. Use Vicks to help heal bruises. It reduces the appearance of bruising by driving blood away from the surface of the skin.

13. Vicks can be used as an antiseptic for cuts. Dabbing them with Vicks will help heal them fast and prevent infection.

14. Clear up sinus headaches.

15. Treat eczema.

16. Heal tennis elbow by rubbing Vicks onto the area that hurts.

17. You can even use Vicks to help reduce belly fat. Mix one tablespoon baking soda, one tablespoon crushed camphor, one tablespoon alcohol, and half a regular jar of Vicks. Stir it until it becomes a paste. Apply to your belly, wrap it with saran wrap, and do your exercises. Once you are finished rinse it off. Continue this for several weeks.

18. Master tears on command. Rub a small amount of Vicks under your eyes and you will start to cry.

19. If you have a splinter, rub a small amount of Vicks on the affected area before you use tweezers to remove it. The Vicks will help cool and ease the pain you feel when the tweezers pinch the nerve endings on your skin.

(There must have been #20, but I missed it!)

Now everyone go find your jar of Vicks!

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

panda1234 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:41:38 GMT

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

bonnielu — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:51:20 GMT

Thanks for sharing this. Going crazy with my dog taking liberties in the wrong place. I am going to try it.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

Ms Nixie — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:07:10 GMT

@beach-mom - thanks for posing this. Next trip to store will purchase this..

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

kitty45 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:10:12 GMT

I use it on my joints to ease arthitis pain.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

CelticCrafter — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:11:19 GMT

My mom was the Vicks Queen!

If she thought it would heal a broken bone, she would have told you to rub Vicks on it.

According to her, it healed just about everything.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

Harpa — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:49:35 GMT

Thanks so much for your post, @beach-mom! In spite of any essential oil naysayers, there are healing properties in them! I simply don't know why I don't have a jar of Vicks on hand! That will definitely be corrected!

Thank you again!

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

apple1964 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:52:12 GMT

Thank you! Very interesting about all the things vicks can do. I am going to try these things. Have a blessed Sunday.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

KathyPet — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 12:40:34 GMT

REduces belly fat??? OH Please!!! ALso there are warnings about putting this anywhere near your eyes. SErious damage can result.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

just bee — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 12:55:54 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
My mom was the Vicks Queen!

If she thought it would heal a broken bone, she would have told you to rub Vicks on it.

According to her, it healed just about everything.

@CelticCrafter

Separated at birth! My mother had two cures for everything: Vicks VapoRub and garlic.

When I was little she'd put a glob of Vicks on my eyes and tell me I'd have long eyelashes.

I'm blind as a bat, but she was right. At 57 I still have long eyelashes.

It took years, but I finally realized that the Vicks on my eyes was supposed to keep me from getting out of bed at night. It worked for that, too.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

violann — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 00:56:01 GMT

My sweet mom lived 'till 95 on Vicks, Bayer Aspirin, Bengue and Gelusil.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

scruffsmom — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:57:59 GMT

I worked with an MD who had a really bad cold. I suggested the Vicks on the feet. He thought i was nuts, and wouldn't try it on himself, but he did on his daughter. Guess which one sleot through the night.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

lulu2 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:18:59 GMT

I've used it on my heels and had the same results as using Vaseline. I used it on the bottom of my feet once when I had a cold and felt my feet tingling throughout the night but it didn't seem to help my cold.

I had a mild (corner) case of toe nail fungus and used it faithfully twice a day for about 4 months. The nail had grown out by then so who knows if the Vicks helped.

Most of the suggestions may work, but who wants to smell like (I still remember the nuns saying who had colds based on the smell of Vicks) or have their house smell like Vicks?

It does clear my sinuses when I'm congested.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

just bee — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:29:24 GMT

@lulu2

Oh, I love the scent of Vicks. It's a stress-buster for me. One whiff and I'm totally relaxed. Always have a jar on hand (embarrassingly enough I'm looking at one right now -- the Equate version -- on my desk).

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

Snowpuppy — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:30:39 GMT

@Harpa wrote:
Thanks so much for your post, @beach-mom! In spite of any essential oil naysayers, there are healing properties in them! I simply don't know why I don't have a jar of Vicks on hand! That will definitely be corrected!

Thank you again!

For those that use Vicks Vapo Rub, check the jar for their ingredient stack.

I loved, loved Vicks Vapo Steam, the liquid for your vaporizer. The main ingredient is now turpentine. Not menthol, camphor or eucalyptus oils.

I tossed the Vapo Steam and now buy pure eucalyptus oil.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

Roni18 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:37:09 GMT

I've got the VapoRub on my shopping list right now. I have suffered my whole life from sinus/allergy/breathing problems and keep a bottle by my bedside. Love it!

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

Roni18 — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:38:28 GMT

@Snowpuppy Yikes, turpentine! I will check the ingrediants out when I buy the VapoRub - hope it has not changed. Not sure what I would do if it has!

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

just bee — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:50:40 GMT

My jar of Equate Vaporizing Rub also includes turpentine oil. But before you toss yours in the trash, here's an article from Gaia.com.

Turpentine: The Healing Oil?

If you can find a better, holistic solution to your aches and pains, would you try it? Skip the Advil, because you’re in luck! Turpentine oil has been used as healing medicine for generations to remedy soreness and muscle pains.

Turpentine oil has been largely used as a paint thinner and brush cleaner. It's used as a raw material in the synthesis of resins, oil additives, synthetic pine oil and campor, according to Britannica. The oil can be obtained through cooking wood pulp, steam distillation of shredded pine, or from the distillation of the exudates of tapped pine trees.

Turpentine oil is colorless, oily, odorous and flammable and creates a warming sensation when applied to the skin. Many notice an immediate effect after applying, and their pain is reduced within hours. Use a small amount to either massage or swab on the affected area. For best results, apply the oil 3-4 times daily until pain or soreness improves.

Turpentine oil can be used for many ailments:

Muscle Pain
Toothaches
Lung Congestion
Joint and Nerve Pain
Cold Sores
Sprains
Cramps

Cautions

Please use this oil at your own caution, consult a physician to be sure this the right product for you. Be sure not to apply turpentine oil to any open wounds or swallow in excess amounts. You can use it on cold sores only before they erupt. You can add the turpentine oil to a humidifier or vaporizer to inhale and clear lung congestion.

Make sure to wrap or cover the areas of the body where the oil has been applied for better penetration and avoid staining clothes or furniture. Turpentine oil is flammable, so be sure to wash your hands after each application.

Turpentine oil's smell is intense, and to some, unpleasant. You can mix it with your favorite essential oils to create a better smelling remedy. Other essential oils have their own valuable uses; find out which oils are best for you.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 17:26:15 GMT

Remember the dad in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", the way he was with the Windex? I had an uncle who was like that with the Vick's. He's in his 80's now so maybe he was onto something.

Re: Vicks VapoRub (long post)

HappyDaze — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 17:50:49 GMT

@Roni18 wrote:
@Snowpuppy Yikes, turpentine! I will check the ingrediants out when I buy the VapoRub - hope it has not changed. Not sure what I would do if it has!

The original Vicks Vaporub contains it and probably always has. It is listed under the "inactive" ingredients.

From Vick's website:

Q: What ingredients are in Vicks VapoRub?

A: The active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub are camphor (a cough suppressant and topical analgesic), eucalyptus oil (a cough suppressant) and methol (a cough suppressant and topical analgesic). The inactive ingredients in Vicks VapoRub include cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum, thymol and turpentine oil.