New Study Confirms Old Treatment
Reporting in the journal Pediatrics this month Ian M. Paul, MD and colleagues confirmed what mothers have known for years…Vicks Vaporub actually works. Vicks Vaporub is a topical aromatic compound containing camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oils, which has been a popular remedy since it first became available almost one hundred years ago. Although not quite that long ago, I can remember as a kid how my mother would apply Vicks to my neck and chest when I had a cold and how the soothing action relieved my stuffy nose. Thanks, Mom. You knew all along!
The study set out to determine whether a single application of vapor rub or petrolatum is superior to no treatment for nocturnal cough, congestion and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection in children. There were 138 children between the ages of 2 to 11 years of age in the study. Parents were surveyed the day before treatment and the day after either vapor rub, petrolatum ointment or no treatment had been applied to their child’s chest and neck before bedtime.
Vapor rub scored the best in the survey, although some irritant effects were reported. The study concluded that parents rated vapor rub best for symptomatic relief of their child’s nocturnal cough, congestion and sleep difficulty caused by cold symptoms. By relieving symptoms, both children and parents were able to get a better night’s sleep. As with all treatment products, it is important to follow instructions for use of Vicks Vaporub, which is not approved for children under two years of age.