The other day, I had to call out sick from work. A sore throat, pounding headache, and body aches had me down.
I called my mother, who always shares my grandmother's reliable home remedies passed down through generations.
This time, she recommended rubbing Vicks VapoRub on my throat and wrapping it with my husband's clean sock.
Odd? Sure. But it's just one of many traditional Vicks VapoRub uses she swears by!
Ever since I was little, Vicks VapoRub has been a staple in our family medicine cabinet.
I called my mother for the full list of remedies my grandmother used for everyday ailments.
To my delight, she rattled off a dozen more uses rooted in real family experience.
And yes, the Vicks-and-sock method cleared up my sore throat overnight!
It's remarkable what this trusty jar can accomplish.
That said, use it wisely—some applications aren't suitable for everyone. I've shared the key remedies below:
Apply Vicks VapoRub to your throat and wrap with a clean sock. Leave on for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Rub Vicks VapoRub on your chest and under your nostrils to ease bronchial congestion and clear a stuffy nose.
To soothe a cough, massage your feet generously with Vicks VapoRub before bed, then wear socks. Check out the trick here.
Massage sore muscles with a generous amount of Vicks VapoRub. Feel the tension melt away in minutes.
Apply Vicks VapoRub to your temples and forehead. Gently massage with eyes closed for quick relief.
Apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to cotton and place gently in the ear. Leave for a few hours.
Apply Vicks VapoRub to infected nails daily. The nail may darken as the fungus dies, fading as it regrows.
Apply Vicks VapoRub to exposed skin to deter mosquitoes and prevent bites.
Dab Vicks VapoRub on the bite, cover with a bandage, and let it stop the itch in minutes.
Apply Vicks VapoRub to dry areas morning and night. Your heels will soften in days.
Dab Vicks VapoRub on pimples to dry them out and speed healing.
At the first tingle, apply Vicks VapoRub to prevent or minimize cold sores.
Apply Vicks VapoRub to the splinter at bedtime, cover with a bandage. It often lifts out by morning.
Available at pharmacies and drugstores. Online, you can find it here.
