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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,783
Registered: ‎07-21-2020

My Grandmother did the same thing for me when I stayed summers with her as a young girl and had bronchitis. She would rub it on my chest and neck then place a washcloth over it and safety pin it to my PJ's. To this day, I still love the smell of Vick's because it reminds me of her and her  nuturing, care, and love for me. I loved her just as much. Not to mention, it always worked! 

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." Charles Dickens
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,783
Registered: ‎07-21-2020

@Tori3569  I have never heard of using it for pain, I'm going to have to try that. 

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." Charles Dickens
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,888
Registered: ‎09-02-2022

@CJC wrote:

That stuff was strong. When I was a new bride back in prehistoric times I opened a jar of Vaporub and placed on my bedside table in hopes the fumes would help my congestion. I set the lid down next to jar. Next morning I found that the fumes in the lid had removed the finish from my cherry table, all the way down to the bare wood. It was just a sticky goopy mess. Still have the table with its vaporub scar. 


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OMGosh  @CJC

 

That's horrible!   I'm sad that happened to you.

 

Having said that, its kind of giggling, yet truly, truly believable!  Hope not offended.

 

As a child, our family had a metal jar of Vicks that was so old, & hardly used, I swear it was wearing thru the metal of the jar, with time!

 

Hardly used, Im guessing because it was the Family cry -  "anything but the Vicks!" - esp, among the kids!    And the men in the family,  "poo, I dont need Vicks, I'll be OK. It's nothing" ('cause im a man, I can handle anything)  heh

 

My Mom wld melt Vicks in hot water in a bowl, and wld hover her head over the bowl, while under a towel tent over her head, thus, locking in the Vicks fumes, breathing it in!      Seemed to work for her, esp since ALL in her family, historically, had Lung problems that ultimately was part of what buried them in the end. 

 

I inherited those same maternal family lungs, plus I've had pneumonia a few times. Perhaps I should give this a try myself!  Constant allergies & stuffed up now.

 

   Since I have uber sensitive skin, as a pale white, blonde gal, so I need to be very judicious with this stuff, hurts like heck on my skin.  BUT, Vicks VaporRub does indeed work!

 

(As does the big Salonpas patches that say **HOT* on the cover of their envelope.)

"Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" TLB
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,888
Registered: ‎09-02-2022

@sugarbee wrote:

We must of had the same mother, except mine did the same as well as rubbing it on the bottom of my feet and puttingi socks on me.  I hated it all but it did work wonders.  I still rub it on my neck when I first feel the sign of a cold and most of the time the next morning my symptoms are gone.


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Hi @sugarbee  Woman Happy

 

Curious.  What was the benefit gained with rubbing VaporRub on bottom of your feet, then socks?  Was this to provide same benefits as rubbing on chest, or other parts of the body?  Congestion?  or otherwise?  My otherwise skin is soo darn sensitive! 

"Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" TLB
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,735
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@sugarbee,

I heard about putting it on your feet but never did. Did she also put it on your chest at the same time or just your feet? That must have felt cold but maybe not with socks.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Super Contributor
Posts: 275
Registered: ‎03-24-2018

@Bonkers1  I put some Vicks and Mentholatum in a small tin and keep in personal bag when traveling.  One use is to rub under my nose when on airplane to mask undesirable odors. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,888
Registered: ‎09-02-2022

@Tori3569 wrote:

I love Vicks and have it in many different versions!  I use it for pain sometimes too and it also calms me down when anxious.  


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Okay, @Tori3569 

 

 

Didnt know that.

Then definitely, I'm going to make sure I have some on hand. 

Definitely need it, esp now  Thx  Woman Very Happy

"Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" TLB
Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,537
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

We did the Vick's thing too, only my mom would fold one of my dad's undershirts to wrap around my neck and pin with a safety pin.  Hot steam vaporizers were a thing too.  No one used cold steam then.  If I hadn't eaten for a day or two, she'd make me drink a homemade egg nog to rebuild my strength.  No one worried about consuming raw eggs back then either.  

I had an uncle who was like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Vick's vapo rub was his cure all for everything.  🤦‍♀️😄

Super Contributor
Posts: 362
Registered: ‎05-02-2011

Here's a new use for Vicks.  My dermatologist said that rubbing it on your toenails will help prevent toenail fungus!  It won't cure a moderate case, but it can ward off the problem.  

And, my mother used Vicks on my throat and chest, too, adding a sock pinned around my neck.  I do the same thing when I have a sore throat.  A doctor said that it likely promotes circulation, in addition to emitting the fumes that relieve congestion.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,222
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

My mother did the same and I still do, too. Nothing works for opening a stopped up head like Vicks. Since it seems to get worse during the night when I'm prone, I've gotten up during the night to gargle with salt water, then put on Vicks and cover the neck with a towel.