Vicks VapoRub

History

The product can be traced to Jules Bengué, a French pharmacist, who created Ben-Gay, a menthol-based treatment for arthritis, gout and neuralgia. Lunsford Richardson, a pharmacist in Selma, North Carolina, sold Ben-Gay and heard from his customers that it cleared their sinuses. Richardson formulated Vicks to cure his son’s croup. He blended menthol into petroleum jelly, at first calling it Richardson's Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve, later changing the name to Vicks VapoRub. It was named after Richardson's brother-in-law, Joshua Vick, a physician who had arranged for Richardson to have access to a laboratory to create the product. Richardson began selling it in 1905, renaming it VapoRub in 1912. In 2019, Vicks re-introduced VapoCream, a cream version of VapoRub - which was previously discontinued in the early 2000s.

Usage

While VapoRub has in the past been marketed for hot steam inhalation, this can potentially present a risk of burns due to splattering or fire, and should never be heated or added to hot water. VapoRub is labeled only for external use, with care to avoid eyes, nostrils and mouth. Application directly under the nose is not generally recommended as both camphor and petroleum can cause health problems if absorbed.

In pre-clinical animal studies, the application of Vicks VapoRub directly onto the tracheae of ferrets caused an increase in mucus production compared to a water-based lubricant.{{cite journal

A Penn State study showed Vicks VapoRub to be more effective than placebo petroleum rub for helping cough and congestion with regard to helping children and adults sleep.{{cite journal

A study conducted in 1994 suggests menthol and camphor are effective cough suppressants for guinea pigs.{{cite journal

Ingredients

The ingredients, as listed on older product labels, are: camphor, menthol, spirits of turpentine, oil of eucalyptus, cedarwood , nutmeg, and thymol, all "in a specially balanced Vick formula".

United States

Active ingredients: Label reads: Active Ingredients (Purpose)

Regular:

Lemon:

Inactive ingredients

Regular & Lemon:

• cedarleaf oil
• nutmeg oil
• petrolatum
• thymol
• turpentine oil Lemon:
• lemon fragrance

India

In India, Vicks VapoRub is made by Procter & Gamble (P&G). The formulation is almost the same as the one stated above. P&G claims Vicks Vaporub to be an Ayurvedic medicine, as indicated on the package. The ingredients (per 100 g of product) are stated as follows:

References

References

1. (2016-01-02). "WICK Vaporub Erkältungssalbe: gegen Erkältung". Wick.de.
2. (2003). "Dr. Joe and what You Didn't Know". ECW Press.
3. Dotzel, M. M. (2000). ''Human drugs: Antitussive products containing camphor or menthol; final monograph''. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. https://regulations.vlex.com/vid/antitussive-camphor-menthol-monograph-23095125
4. "Vicks VapoRub: An EffectiveNasal Decongestant?".
5. "Vicks VapoRub Topical Ointment Children's Cough Medicine". vicks.com.
6. (July 10, 2009). "Popular Cold and Cough Treatment May Create Respiratory Distress in Young Children". Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
7. (February 18, 2014). "Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence". Canadian Medical Association Journal.
8. Paul, Ian M.. (August 2009). "Vicks VapoRub Study". Chest.
9. O'Connor, Anahad. (15 October 2009). "Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Thyme for Toenails". The New York Times.
10. (July 12, 2024). "What is this substance that footballers apply on their chest". [[The Times of India]].
11. (2013). "Oxford handbook of psychiatry". Oxford University Press.