Every day it seems there's a new-fangled wonder cure introduced to help rid us of our coughs and colds (and I should know, I've tried most of 'em over the last few days!)
Some things, however, have stood the test of time, and Vicks Vaporub has got to be one of them.
I've been laid low with a nasty cold and horrible chesty cough for almost a week now. At the weekend I sent my beloved out to the chemist on a re-supply mission; vitamin C tablets, cough linctus, throat lozengers, etc etc. One of the things she brought back was a tub of Vicks Vaporub. I don't know the exact cost but from memory she tells me approx £2-£3 for a 50g tub.
What a blast from the past! I remember my mum using this on me when I was a nipper. And by jingo it still works.
It says on that it's a 'decongestant for colds' and I know that this is stealing someone else's line, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.
You can use the rub one of two ways - first method is to melt two teaspoons of it in very hot water and inhale the vaours. Hmm, sounds ok, but I'd already been doing that with Olbas Oil. Method two - rub it all over your chest, neck and back. That sounds more like it. Beloved got to work. Within ten minutes or so I could feel the magic start to happen. My chest and back kinda felt tingly and cold and I could feel my chest easing slightly. And the pepperminty vapours are just heavenly.
Ok, it isn't a wonder cure, it wears off after a reasonably short while, and I've still got the chesty cough and the cold (I'm off to the doctor later today), but this little tub of gooey magic has certainly eased my weekend. Top tip - DEFINITELY get someone to put in your back as well as your chest and neck - seems to make a helluva difference. Slapping it on just before I went to bed seemed to help me get to sleep, too.
So, if you haven't got any of this stuff in your medicine cabinet, get yourself some. Another thing I just noticed in it's favour - it's got a long life too. The tub I got at the weekend doesn't expire until Sep '04. None of this 'Do not use more than six weeks after opening' rubbish, so it's definitely good value for money.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Vicks VapoRub provides relief from nasal catarrh, sore throats, congestion and coughs due ... more
to colds. Occasionally Vicks VapoRub can cause a temporay reddening of the skin in the region where the product has been rubbed in. This skin reddening fades and ...
Postage & Packaging: £2.00 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Jan 27th, 2003
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