It may also help ease mild muscle or joint pain.
As with any medication, its important to follow safety guidelines and precautions when using Vicks VapoRub.
The is the part of your brain that regulates coughs.
Verywell / Tim Liedtke
To date, there’s no evidence that stimulating the foot affects the cough reflex.
When it comes to pain relief, the ingredients desensitize pain receptors in the skin calledepidermal nociceptors.
While people often use Vicks VapoRub to ease congestion, it has none of the properties of adecongestant.
Potential Benefits
Vicks VapoRub has other popular off-label uses.
Some of these have actual benefits based on research.
Topical Pain Relief
Camphor and menthol are topical analgesics that may help easeperipheral neuropathy.
This is nerve pain in the feet and hands that causes “pins and needles” or burning sensations.
A 2017 study found topical menthol was able to provide modest relief in people with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
While camphor works to soothe muscles, menthol provides a relaxing, cooling sensation.
In a small study, Vicks VaporRub helped to ease onychomycosis symptoms in 83% of study participants.
More than one-quarter experienced complete clearance after 48 weeks of Vicks VapoRub applied daily.
Smooth Cracked Heels
Some people use Vicks VapoRub on their feet for cracked heels.
The fact that the product has a petroleum jelly base is key.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends petroleum jelly for softeningcalluseson your feet and heels.
Petroleum jelly also has excellent occlusive properties (meaning it locks in skin moisture).
Summary
There is no evidence that applying Vicks VapoRub to your feet helps ease a cough.
Some studies suggest that Vicks VapoRub may help with nerve-related foot pain, cracked heels, and toenail fungus.
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