Wednesday 21 August 2013

Top 10 Surprising Vicks Vapor Rub Uses


Vicks Vapor Rub is something that almost every person can associate with their childhood memories of being sick. A little bit of rain, Vicks. Kick-start of winter, Vicks. Weather change in summer, Vicks to the rescue. This little blue bottle of ointment which is a mentholated topical cream has saved many people from many a sleepless nights. Vicks Vapor Rub is most moms’ to-go remedy for colds and throat-ache. It is intended to relieve head, throat, and chest stuffiness. It uses menthol to elicit a response from receptors in the nose and chest and can work wonders on children with colds or chronic bronchitis. Its usage is not limited to children. Adults too use this ointment extensively for colds, throat aches, headaches and stuffiness in the chest.
Although some might say that over-use of Vicks Vapor Rub is not good for the health of an individual, others argue that when is the over-use of anything good? Yet, one must be careful while using this ointment on little babies and infants. But, what has created the buzz around Vicks Vapor Rub is the recent discovery of the other uses of it in our daily lives. A lot of them are surprising but, they’re believable as each one has a scientific reason and a theory behind it. Here are the top 10 surprising uses of Vicks Vapor Rub:

10. De-congest Your Chest

chest decongestion
The most common use of Vicks Vapor Rub is to de-congest your chest. Applying it to your chest will make sure that you breathe in the vapors of it all night long and thus it will clear your chest. Although this is not surprising, one must know that instead of just inhaling Vicks Vapor Rub directly or through a steam, one can also apply it on the chest while sleeping, The odour of it will be taken in through the nose and it will unclog it. The blockages in the throat are also unblocked in this way....


9. On Your Tootsies

on your footsies
As you can see in the picture, our toes are directly related to our sinus, nose and throat. Applying Vicks Vapor Rub to your feet, with special attention to the toes, provides night-time cough relief. Apply Vicks Vapor Rub to your feet over-night and cover them with socks or other warm materials. The next morning, you will see that your cold will have disappeared without having to go through any trouble over steams or medicines.

 

8. Mosquito Repellent

mosquito replellent
Vicks Vapor Rub was found to have been useful in keeping the mosquitoes at bay. Apply Vicks Vapor Rub on your arms and legs and the mosquitoes are most likely to stay away. In case these little pests do bite, even if you apply Vicks Vapor Rub on the bite, it will stop itching you. Just to make sure that you do not scratch your bites, it is best to apply band-aids over mosquito bites. Studies have shown that the ingredients that go into the making of Vicks Vapor Rub, like eucalyptus, camphor and menthol have mosquito repelling qualities. The smell of these ingredients mixed into Vicks wards off mosquitoes and other small bugs. Also, like any other ointment, application of Vicks Vapor Rub on a mosquito bite will reduce the itching significantly. Yet, one must know that Vicks Vapor Rub does not work as effectively as other proper repellents as this is just another side use of it.

7. Paper Cuts and Splinters

550px-Treat-a-Paper-Cut-Step-4

It is very surprising but applying dabs of Vicks Vapor Rub on paper cuts or splinters on your hands will fasten the healing process. The ingredients of it will fasten the healing process drastically and at the same time, it will prevent any fungal infection. Although, due to the very same ingredients, the skin burns a little when you apply Vicks on a cut or a splinter but a little bit of pain is bearable than a long-lasting scab.

6. Humidify your sleep

humidify your sleep
Humidifiers and vaporizers are a common thing in foreign countries when it is cold during the winters. Adding Vicks Vapor Rub into your humidifier or vaporizer will make sure that the environment around you is warm. It also unblocks any nasal congestion. Just like we take steams, sometimes even with Vicks Vapor Rub if our nose is blocked, humidifiers make sure that hot steam with the ointment keeps your nose unblocked even during cold temperatures at night. Ensure your humidifier has an aromatherapy compartment before using. The humidifier will circulate Vicks Vapor Rub throughout the air and keep you breathing easy all night long. One should be careful that if they are using Vicks Vapor Rub in a humidifier, they should not switch on the air conditioner and leave the windows open for some ventilation or it may cause the room to be stuffy and cause uneasiness.

5. Headaches Be Gone

hadache
We all have pain-reliefs and pain-killers for headaches. But what if one day you find out that you have suddenly run out of them? Easy, just apply Vicks Vapor Rub to your forehead or temples. The mentholated scent will release pressure in your head and instantly relieve pain. Rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on your temples and forehead has immediate reactions and you will see that your head-ache will be gone or reduced within a matter of minutes.

4. Pet Pee-Pee Deterrent

pet pee deterrent
Pets are loved by everyone but these very pets can turn into pests by littering all over the place if they’re not potty trained. Applying Vicks Vapor Rub on areas where you don’t want your pet to mark as their territory will make sure that they stay away from it. This is a very inexpensive but a useful way to make sure that your costly rugs and floors stay clean and free of pet pee. Though one must know that this trick is only useful till the time the pets actually get used to the smell of Vicks Vapor Rub after which potty-training is the only real solution.

3. Stop Your Cat from Scratching

Cat scratching
Anyone who has ever had a pet cat will know what it is like to live in a house where every hard surface has scratches on them. Cats are known for scratching every hard surface around with their sharp paws and ruin them. To avoid this from happening, just apply some Vicks Vapor Rub on the surfaces of these hard surfaces. Cats detest the smell and will steer clear of these things. But again, this applies till the time your cat eventually gets used to the stench of Vicks and then again it will have no use. Vicks Vapor Rub can also be applied to your arms and legs if your kitty is prone to scratching you.

2. Get Rid of Nasty Nail Fungus

fingernailsfungus
Nail fungus can be a pain, literally. This, especially for those people who have in-growing nails, where nail fungus is a common thing. Applying Vicks Vapor Rub over your nails will kill the bacteria and keep your nails free from any fungal growth or infection. After applying Vicks Vapor Rub, the area where there is fungal growth will turn dark and eventually frow out, cleansing your nails. Keep applying the ointment over a period of two weeks to fully cleanse nail beds of any remaining bacteria. This is a useful and an inexpensive way to manage your nails without shelling out a lot of money on manicures and pedicures.

1. Achy and Sore Muscles

Rear view of a young man holding his neck in pain, isolated on w

Vicks Vapor Rub relieves sore, overworked muscles. It increases circulation and provides almost instant aid. The ingredients of Vicks helps in faster circulation just like balms and other ointments do. The key ingredient is eucalyptus oil, which relaxes the sore muscles. Use a generous portion and apply it all over the aching area. Though Vicks Vapor Rub is good alternative, using pain-reliefs is always better suggested for sore muscles.These are the small tricks and hacks into life that can be gone around with this little blue bottle of multipurpose functions. So next time when you go to the chemist to buy some Vicks, do remember to stack in some extra bottles for other purposes.

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