When I had a cold as a child, my mother put a little Vicks VapoRub under my nose to help me breathe more easily. Does this really work?

Answer From Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.

Vicks VapoRub — a topical ointment made of ingredients including camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol that you rub on your throat and chest — doesn't relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol odor of VapoRub may trick your brain, so you feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose. By contrast, decongestant tablets and nasal sprays sold over-the-counter may narrow blood vessels in your nose's lining, leading to reduced swelling in your nasal passages.

VapoRub has drawbacks in addition to its ineffectiveness as a nasal decongestant. It's unsafe for any use in children under 2 years old. In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest.

Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor — one of the main ingredients in VapoRub and other topical medications, such as Campho-Phenique and Bengay — can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers. Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — especially a small child's nostrils. And if VapoRub gets in your eye, it can injure your cornea.

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Dec. 07, 2021 See more Expert Answers

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  12. Cough
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  14. Does zinc work for colds?
  15. Exercise and illness
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  17. Hand-washing tips
  18. Have a cold? Common sense rules
  19. Have a cold? Fight back with humidity
  20. Have a cold? Fight it with fluids
  21. Headache
  22. Honey: An effective cough remedy?
  23. How well do you wash your hands?
  24. Humidifier care 101
  25. Humidifiers
  26. Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't?
  27. Nasal Cleaning
  28. Nasal congestion
  29. Neti pot: Can it clear your nose?
  30. Plugged ears: What is the remedy?
  31. Runny nose
  32. Stuffy nose? Try saline spray
  33. Symptom Checker
  34. Vitamin C: Can it prevent colds?
  35. Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold?
  36. Watery eyes
  37. What is MERS-CoV?
  38. When to Take Your Child to the E.D.
  39. Do zinc supplements shorten colds?