Vicks VapoRub: Snake Oil, or Malarkey?

[OGC]

Hey Dr Steve,

Is there any evidence that rubbing Vick's Vaporub on your feet and then putting on socks will stop coughing ?

It's considered undetermined on snopes (http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/vaporub.asp) but it seems too ridiculous to be true

[Dr Steve]

Hey Dr Steve,

Is there any evidence that rubbing Vick's Vaporub on your feet and then putting on socks will stop coughing ?

It's considered undetermined on snopes (http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/vaporub.asp) but it seems too ridiculous to be true

I believe it's undetermined on Snopes because they actually have criteria for proving and disproving stuff (or saying it's been proven or disproven). Because there are no studies out there saying that it's worthless, Snopes isn't willing to say anything other than "undetermined".

Here's a study from 2009, though (I'm including just the title...it says it all): Vicks VapoRub induces mucin secretion, decreases ciliary beat frequency, and increases tracheal mucus transport in the ferret trachea. The authors stated that Vicks VapoRub induces an inflammatory reaction that in theory could cause small airway obstruction.

One study indicated that VapoRub decreases agitation in kids with bronchitis. Another said it induced seizures in someone after using it. The "data" if you can call it that, is all over the place.

Not a single study on putting it on your feet. And why would anyone fund such a study? That's the "rub" (har har)...no one has the money to just piss away on some vicks vaporub study to disprove every loony idea people have had about this stuff. Therefore, the myths will continue because no one cares enough to falsify them. Oh well, that's modern medicine.

your pal,



steve

[jauble]

Based on the previous post I will say Malarkey.

[Coach]

We use it if we have really smelly homeless patients in the bus or on calls that have ripe dead people.