By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
jbcurio/flickr
I was born around the same time that the ad on the right was printed. If you were sick, the doctor came to your house, took your temperature, and told mom to make chicken soup. Get plenty of rest and try not to worry. Beyond that, we used Vicks VapoRub.
Seems almost everyone has a jar of Vicks VapoRub in a hall closet or bathroom cabinet, waiting patiently ’til someone has such a bad cold that they relent to rubbing the sticky, smelly goo on their chest in hopes of feeling better. Guess what?
This overlooked product has additional uses that rarely get talked about, and at $3 a jar, why not try it? Of course, neither I nor anyone else can say that VapoRub can cure anything. And it goes without saying that VapoRub is for external use only and I am not a medical practitioner. Just a mom. But success stories from MakeupAlley.com shed light on six conditions that Vicks VapoRub allegedly alleviates.
- Minor ache and pains. This is an “approved” use for the rub.
- Toe Nail Fungus remover. I am blessed with NOT having this condition, but I have heard from friends that it is a bear to get rid of. Supposedly, rubbing VapoRub on the effected area twice a day helps clear up the fungus. The essential oils in the goo contain anti-fungal properties and have worked work miracles for some. Note: this link takes you to HealthCentral.com, a site that does not disclose how it is funded.
- Chapped lip healer. Dab a bit on the split or use like lip balm. Expect stinging if placed on an open piece of skin.
- Headache reliever. Rub a bit on the painful area.
- Scaling and itchy skin controller. Rub on effected area. May sting, see No. 3.
- Racehorse focuser. Vicks slathered under the nose of a stallion prior to racing will keep him from smelling the alluring she-horses, thus keeping their attention on the race.
Have you used Vicks VapoRub for off-label uses?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Bobbi, I’m from an earlier generation when Mentholatum predated Vick’s VapoRub, and I still use it. Sad to report that it does not do anything to get rid of toenail fungus. The latest home remedy is to make a paste of cornmeal and water, and apply it in the a.m. and again at night. There is some kind of fungus in the cornmeal that destroys the bad fungus. I haven’t tried it, because I don’t have the problem. But it was in the pharmacists’ column in the Health section of the newspaper, so there’s probably some credibility to it.
Hope you’re having a good summer, and managing to beat the heat! HUGS!!!
Well, I LOVE good ‘ol Vicks! At age 4, when I broke my arm, I asked to have Vicks rubbed on it! Vicks was my “cure-all”! To this very day (I’m 54), I rub it under my nose every night before I go to bed. It is such a comfort and I adore the smell! And, my hubby has gotten used to it after 35 years! I, too, am from the Mentholatum generation, but for some reason, Vicks is my personal preference. I did find some Cherry Mentholatum one time that I loved, but can’t seem to find it anymore. Now – on the toe nail fungus – I had some on my pinky toe and used Tea Tree Oil on it. The treatment was a complete success – my doctor couldn’t believe it. So – there’s my two cents worth! 🙂
The excerpts of the researches made by New York Times about the affect of Thyme as herbal treatment of nail fungus are worth quoting in support of nail fungus Vicks.
Did not work on toenail fungus for me. I’ve tried everything.
It did actually work on both my mom and I. Although mine was fairly bad my mom’s was a lot worse and it cleared it up for both of us. We used it every morning and night under socks and gradually over a few months it disapeared. It did take time but both of us are now clear. I also suffer with bad dandruff so am weirdly trying it on that.
That’s great! Apparently there’s some real science behind it now:
https://www.futurederm.com/does-vicks-vaporub-cure-toenail-fungus/
Any chance that the “Racehorse focuser” properties might work on straying husbands? 😉
Tamara,
I’ve found the cherry version in the kids’/baby care section of the Dollar Tree stores.
Vicks heals burns! I’m clumsy, so I always keep Vicks on-hand. It takes the sting away and minimizes the damage of burns. I’ve used it after battles with hot glue guns, waffle irons and cigarrettes (not at the same time).