Vicks VapoRub Uses for Male Enhancement
You’ve probably come across Vicks VapoRub® in your local pharmacy’s cold and flu section. This over-the-counter product is commonly used to relieve coughing, congestion, and muscle aches. But can Vicks VapoRub be used to get harder erections, too?
Unfortunately, no. Despite the rumours that you can use Vicks VapoRub for male enhancement, there is no scientific evidence that its active ingredients can help treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or help you last longer in bed.
Below, we’ve explained how Vicks VapoRub works as a decongestant, the risks of misuse, and alternatives to consider.
Vicks VapoRub Uses: What Does VapoRub Do?
Vicks VapoRub is an over-the-counter (OTC) topical product containing the active ingredients camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. Inactive ingredients include cedar leaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum (petroleum jelly), thymol, and turpentine oil.
Officially, Vicks VapoRub is a topical analgesic — a pain reliever — and cough suppressant. According to the manufacturer, the product relieves common cold symptoms like coughing from minor airway irritation, stuffy nose, minor aches, and joint pain.
To use it, you rub a thick layer onto the chest and throat (or other affected areas), then cover with a dry cloth and breathe deeply. This allows VapoRub’s medicated vapours to enter the nose and mouth to loosen phlegm, open sinuses, and make breathing easier.
Off-Label Uses for Vicks VapoRub
While clearing congestion and relieving pain are the primary uses, there are also off-label uses of Vicks VapoRub. These Vaporub uses — which are not what the product is intended for and aren’t scientifically backed — include relief from:
Athlete’s foot
Toenail fungus
Stretch marks
Mosquito bites
Rough skin
Acne spots
Headaches
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Using Vicks VapoRub for Erectile Dysfunction: Does It Work?
Unfortunately, for all the guys out there searching their medicine cabinets for erectile dysfunction home remedies, Vicks VapoRub is also not much of an alternative to prescription ED medication and other proven treatments.
We’ve read the same rumours online, and from our research, the only semi-legitimate explanation involves research into the topical benefits of some compounds found in Vicks VapoRub, specifically menthol.
Menthol for ED
One study, for example, found that topical menthol could be a vasodilator. Vasodilators help blood vessels relax, and medications prescribed to treat ED fall into this class of drugs.
The problem is that this study looked at cutaneous vasodilation, which is the dilation of the small blood vessels in the skin, not of the larger blood vessels deeper underneath.
As you might guess, the small blood vessels in the skin aren’t the ones that help you get an erection.
Even the most optimistic research — a study of topical menthol for ED — only found that the area was “underexplored” and that more studies are needed.
So, there is no scientific evidence (let alone medical guidance) that suggests Vicks VapoRub benefits your penis.
Does the Cooling Sensation of Vicks VapoRub Help ED?
Recently, the FDA authorised a non-medicated, non-prescription topical gel called Eroxon® StimGel for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. You rub Eroxon StimGel onto your penis, and it creates cooling and warming sensations that stimulate penile nerve endings. These sensations lead to more blood flow and better erections.
Could Vicks VapoRub have some similar effect? Maybe, but there’s not enough research to know for sure. Eroxon StimGel and Vicks VapoRub are very different products intended for different purposes.
Side Effects of Using Vicks VapoRub
While Vicks VapoRub is a commonly used cold remedy, it can have some side effects. As a topical treatment, it can cause skin irritation if you’re sensitive to any of its ingredients. And like any medication, it can cause an allergic reaction if you’re allergic to any of its ingredients.
Additionally, Vicks VapoRub is only intended for external use. You shouldn't use it in your mouth, eyes, or near mucous membranes (like inside your nostrils) or on broken skin.
You shouldn’t put Vicks VapoRub on your penis and then have your penis touch other people’s mucous membranes — like the inside of their vagina, mouth, or anus. Camphor, one of the ingredients, can be toxic.
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Alternatives to Vicks VapoRub for Male Enhancement
If you’ve been having erectile function problems for a while, you may have considered supplements and other non-prescription products for a quick fix. While prescription ED pills are certainly effective treatments, that weird stuff at gas stations isn’t going to help.
Understanding the underlying cause of your ED is essential for treatment — and there’s a long list of potential causes. Stress, obesity, anxiety, blood flow issues, illicit and prescribed medications, and their side effects can all make it hard to get hard. So can smoking, poor diet, hormone imbalances, and more.
Luckily, real treatment options are available, and a healthcare provider can help you figure out the best one for your needs. These proven treatments include:
Lifestyle changes
Therapy
Prescription ED Medication
There are a variety of effective prescription ED medications on the market, including:
Stendra® (avanafil)
Chewable ED meds
These drugs are in a class of medication called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They relax blood vessels in your penis to increase blood flow, making it easier to get an erection.
Another prescription medication is alprostadil, an injectable that can also help you get an erection by increasing blood flow to the penis.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes may also help improve ED. Potential changes you can make include:
Quitting smoking
Exercising
Getting more sleep
Eating a nutritious diet
Cutting back on alcohol
Lowering your stress levels
Therapy
Therapy is another proven treatment option for ED. With a bit of vulnerability in front of a professional, men with performance anxiety and unaddressed intimacy issues can see their game turn around.
Convenient approaches like online therapy can help you address anxiety, depression, and whatever else might be causing psychological ED.
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What Is Vicks Good For? A Final Word
If you’re reading this in the first place, we’re guessing you were searching for Vicks VapoRub as an ED treatment because it’s easier than asking your doctor.
But there’s nothing to be ashamed about. An estimated 30 million to 50 million men nationwide experience ED, making it a relatively common condition. Remember, you’re not alone.
Guys tend to avoid talking to doctors (or anyone) about problems with their sex life, so home remedies and non-prescription options are at the top of a lot of treatment lists. But here’s the thing:
Vicks VapoRub is a common cold remedy. The product is used for pain relief and to ease coughing and congestion.
Vicks VapoRub is not the solution for ED. No studies have demonstrated any beneficial uses of Vicks VapoRub for ED, and you should avoid any sort of internal application.
If you’re experiencing ED, don’t use Google as your healthcare provider. Talk to an actual healthcare professional to see if you qualify for prescription ED medication and get to the root of what’s causing your ED issues.
Ready to do something to improve your sexual wellness? Check out these 14 natural tips to maintain an erection and find out how to deal with erectile dysfunction in a relationship.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.