Benefits of Vicks on The Bottom of Feet
As many of you know that Vicks is a well-known brand for Vaporub which helps in getting rid of cough, cold and nasal congestion.
What most people do not know is that there are other uses of Vicks Vaporub. If applied on the bottom of your feet before sleeping it works wonders.
Check out some amazing benefits of Vicks on the bottom of feet here.
Relieves Aches And Pains Of Muscles:
Vicks vaporub acts as a mini-massage when applied to the bottom of your feet. It helps in relieving pain in the muscles and also aids in improving blood circulation in them. People have reported being relieved from cramps, tired muscles, etc., after using this method for just one night.
Relieves Tired Feet:
Vicks vaporub, when applied on the soles of your feet, helps in relaxing tired feet and makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a tiring day at work. It is also helpful for those people who stand on their feet all day long.
Treats Toenail Fungus:
The menthol present in Vicks vaporub kills fungus and cures toenail fungus within a few days. Just apply it directly onto the affected nail twice daily (in the morning and evening) until you see positive results. Some users have reported that they were relieved from this problem with regular use of the remedy without any side effects.
Relieves Foot Odor:
The menthol in Vicks vaporub helps in killing fungus and bacteria that cause foot odor. When applied to the feet, it breaks down the sweat and also eliminates foul smell from them. Menthol has anti-bacterial properties which help in stopping the formation of bacteria that causes smelly feet.
Relieves Cold Sores And Fever Blisters:
Application of Vicks vaporub to cold sores and fever blisters provides relief from pain and discomfort caused due to these problems. The menthol present in it acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) and reduces swelling, redness, etc., around these sores. It also speeds up the healing process.
Treats Head Lice:
Vicks vaporub is one of the ways to get rid of head lice. Just apply it on your scalp and massage gently for a few minutes before washing your hair with shampoo. Repeat this method once every 8-10 days for 3 times to completely remove all lice from your hair.
Helps In Getting Rid Of Ticks:
The eucalyptus oil present in Vicks vaporub is an effective way to remove ticks that are stuck onto the skin. When applied, it helps in softening the tick’s body which enables you to pull them out easily when they come out naturally after some time.
Clear Up Athlete’s Foot:
Vicks vaporub has antifungal properties making it a good remedy against athlete’s foot. The ingredients present in it helps in reducing itching, burning sensation, cracking, etc., caused due to fungal infection. Just apply it 2-3 times daily until you get relief from symptoms completely. Repeat this method for one week after symptoms disappear to prevent recurrence of the infection.
Relieves Earaches:
Application of Vicks vaporub to the ear canal helps in relieving pain created due to an earache or congestion. It provides relief from earache by acting as a local anesthetic and soothing it down. Menthol also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which reduces swelling around the ear, making you feel better instantly.
Treats Toothache:
The menthol present in Vicks vaporub is effective against toothache. The analgesic properties help in reducing pain and discomfort caused due to this problem and ease the procedure of removing the tooth completely. To use this remedy for toothache: Just put some Vicks on your finger and apply them near the affected tooth.
Hold your breath for a few seconds and blow out. Repeat this method until you get relief from pain completely.
Relieves Insect Bites:
The menthol present in Vicks vaporub helps in relieving itching, burning sensation caused by insect bites. When applied to the area of the bite, it provides quick relief from irritation and forms a temporary layer that protects that part from further infection or swelling.
Helps In Getting Rid Of Nail Fungus:
Vicks vaporub contains antifungal properties which help in getting rid of nail fungus when applied regularly twice daily (in the morning and evening). The ingredients present in it kill fungal infection from inside breaking down the skin and nails.
Relieves Muscle And Joint Pains:
Vicks vaporub provides relief from muscle aches and joint pains by acting as a counter-irritant. The menthol present in it helps in stimulating the cold-sensitive nerve endings thereby distracting you from the source of pain completely. It also eases muscle soreness and swelling, making your muscles feel relaxed instantly.
Treats Hemorrhoids:
Vicks vaporub helps in relieving pain caused due to hemorrhoids along with reducing itchiness, irritation, burning sensation. It is recommended that you apply it externally to the affected area with a cotton ball or Q-tip 2 times daily until the problem gets relieved completely.
Reduces Blackheads On Face:
The salicylic acid present in Vicks vaporub acts as an effective exfoliator that helps in getting rid of blackheads on the face by peeling off the upper layer of skin cells. Just massage some amount onto your face and wash after some time for smooth, shiny skin without any blemishes.
Prevents Acne Scars:
Due to its exfoliating properties, Vicks vaporub also helps in getting rid of acne scars that appear on the face. It should be applied to the affected area once daily before going to bed at night for 2-3 months regularly for best results.
Treats Dry Skin:
Vicks vaporub contains ingredients like camphor and lanolin which act as an efficient moisturizer when applied regularly. The emollient properties present in it keep your skin hydrated by acting as a protective barrier against moisture loss. This prevents dryness and the formation of scaly patches on your skin making you feel better instantly.
Provides Instant Relief From Poison Ivy Or Poison Oak:
The menthol present in Vicks vaporub is useful against rashes caused due to poison ivy or poison oak as it acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. When applied topically, it forms a protective layer that protects the affected area from further itching and irritation.
Treats Ear Infections:
Vicks vaporub is known to be beneficial for treating ear infections caused due to bacterial and fungal infections. It contains ingredients like eucalyptus oil, menthol, camphor etc which act as decongestants removing the excess fluid from the ears making you feel better instantly.
How does Vicks work:
The topical decongestant and analgesic menthol present in Vicks vaporub helps in providing instant relief from pain and congestion caused due to cold and flu. It also acts as an expectorant, making you breathe easy by opening up your air passages and loosening mucus accumulated in the chest.
When applied to the skin, it exhibits analgesic properties that allow you to breathe with ease easing out tightness caused due to respiratory problems like asthma.
The anti-inflammatory ingredients eucalyptus oil and camphor present in Vicks vaporub help in decongesting ear infections by reducing inflammation and swelling of the Eustachian tube (connecting ear to the throat). They provide quick relief from pain, fever, and excessive coughing for a good sleep.
The antiseptic thymol present in Vicks vaporub helps in curing fungal and bacterial infections of the skin and nails by destroying harmful microorganisms. The cineole present in it exhibits properties that help in killing the pathogens causing ear, nose, and throat infections.
Just rubbing some amount onto your chest and back or applying it on your feet with socks instantly gives you relief from congestion. The antiviral proprieties of eucalyptus oil even fight against flu viruses making you feel better soon.
Vicks vaporub dosage:
The beneficial ingredients like camphor, menthol, etc provide quick relief from congestion caused due to common cold, flu, and sinusitis while treating headache, muscle pain, arthritic pain, and arthritis.
It can be even applied to the skin for treating acne, insect bites, cuts, and wounds as well as used in steam inhalation for treating respiratory problems like cough and cold.
Foot powder or medicated powder contains ingredients like talc (soap) boric acid (antiseptic), salicylic acid (exfoliant), eucalyptus oil (decongestant), menthol (analgesic), camphor (analgesic). The unique smell of Vicks vaporub is due to these ingredients which also help in revitalizing your sense of smell instantly making you breathe easy again.
Vicks vaporub rub on feet danger:
You should not apply Vicks vaporub on cuts, wounds, and mucus membranes. If the skin irritation caused due to its regular use worsens consult your doctor immediately.
Do not use camphor-based medicines for children below 3 years of age. Camphor is known to cause damage to their sensitive nervous system causing serious health problems like seizures and tremors leading to convulsions and respiratory paralysis causing death in some cases.
It causes nausea and vomiting when ingested by small kids. So make sure to keep it out of their reach and consult your doctor if they accidentally swallow it or suffer from symptoms like breathing difficulty, seizures, etc.
How does Vicks work:
Vicks vaporub is known for its potent decongestant and expectorant properties. It helps in opening up the congested respiratory passages by acting as a warm massage oil vaporizing at room temperature.
The topical analgesic eucalyptus oil helps in relieving severe nasal congestion, cough, headache, fever, muscle pain, etc due to its decongestant and counter-irritant properties.
The antiseptic thymol present in it exhibits antibacterial and fungicidal properties that help in treating infections caused due to fungal organisms especially of the feet and nails as well as bacterial skin infections containing MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) strains.
It also reduces excess water secretion skin pores making you breathe easier. The antiseptic properties of phenol help in disinfecting minor cuts, wounds, and abrasions caused due to injuries.
Cineole present in it acts as an expectorant helping in loosening thick mucus making you cough it out better clearing the respiratory passages.
You should not use vaporub more than 3 times a day on your feet or chest for treating congestion; otherwise, its extended use may cause serious health problems like tremors and seizures.
Vicks vaporub safety:
Taking camphor orally affects the central nervous system causing symptoms like nausea vomiting, seizures, etc. Also, applying Vicks vaporub to the skin causes irritation on prolonged usage leading to redness rashes, itchiness, dermatitis, etc.
in some individuals especially in case of broken skin, sensitive skin types, etc. This irritation is caused due to the counter-irritant property of Vicks vaporub acting like a warm massage oil which increases blood flow to the area by shrinking the surrounding blood vessels.
Vaporizing can cause serious health problems for asthmatics and others suffering from cardiac chest pain, nasal congestions, etc which are worsened by inhaling camphor vapors (due to their irritant properties).
Pregnant women should avoid using any kind of camphor-based products like Vicks vaporub because it may affect their babies causing abnormalities during development thus affecting normal growth. So consult your doctor if suffering from respiratory disorders before applying any such topical products.
Vicks vaporub for athletes foot:
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the feet caused due to dermatophytes (fungal organisms) growing on and beneath the foreskin folds, skin pores, and toe webs resulting in severe itching and inflammation of the affected area.
Topical antifungal creams like clotrimazole or terbinafine gel are effective remedies for treating athlete’s foot but Vicks vaporub also effectively treats it by unclogging the infected pores thus relieving your symptoms as well as preventing its spread to other body parts as it possesses antifungal properties that inhibit the growth of dermatophytes causing athlete’s foot.