Helping tots (and dads) everywhere to breathe easily (Vicks Vapor Rub)

Member Name: lulu2004

Product:	Vicks Vapor Rub
Date:	03/12/08 (288 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It seems to really work and also seems better than giving young children medicines.

Disadvantages: It is very strong smelling, but needs to be

Firstly, the DooYoo heading says Vapour Rub but this is actually called Vapo rub.

I currently have two little sicklings at home, they both have a very heavy head cold although my little girl who is only an infant is battling through it graciously, and my toddler boy has taken a case of Man-Flu very early in life. He keeps telling me "I am sick mummy" and is putting on little fake coughs between his real ones as he is getting spoiled through his cold. It's been a diet of custard, jelly, Ice Cream... anything he likes really. He isn't ill very often and I'm happy to spoil him while he is under the weather although it will come to an end soon enough as he is already on the mend.

I am one for just getting on with things when I have a cold but my other half will dose himself in Olbas Oil, Vapo-Rub while downing Lemsips. So due to him getting the occasional cold we do have a box of Vapo Rub in the medicine cabinet and I have dipped in to it occasionally as my little boy has had colds like children do (apparently they average 11 colds in their first year)

If you are not familiar with Vapo Rub, it comes in a little blue tub with a green lid, it is very distinctive in appearance, and I think it has looked like this for years! It is a thick translucent white ointment and is designed to be scooped out with your fingers and spread onto your chest. The heat of the body helps the decongestant filter up through your nostril and clears the passages of a blocked nose. It can also be used on muscles if they are hurting. The menthol has a calming effect.

When you open the Vapo Rub you immediately sense the decongestant, even if you do not have a cold it still seems to open the passages. Over the past few days I have put some n my little boy's chest just before bedtime and when I go in to check on him the smell is very distinctive and stays around all night. Before I started using this on his chest he was waking up with a blocked nose so it is working on him.

I have heard of people using Vicks under their nose to help breathe, but this is certainly not recommended as Vapo Rub contains Camphor which is toxic when ingested so it really should not be used around the mouth area. However there is another place that you can use Vicks which is an old wives tale, but it has worked for us- the feet! When you spread a layer of Vapo Rub on the feet of a coughing child and put on socks it does seem to stop the cough.

So what other old wives tales are out there?

Use Vicks on your piles!?
Use on the temples to alleviate a headache
Use Vicks on Toenail fungus

I can't vouch for any of these... I don't have piles or toenail fungus but for us the Vicks Vapo Rub has been effective in both reducing a cough and allowing my family to breathe easier through colds and flu.

Summary: Really aids a good sleep when you are bunged up.