Mama, I Can't Breathe!

Foofoogal · Jan 14, 2009

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090113/hl_hsn/vicksvaporublinkedtoinfantbreathingproblems

Ok, I understand this for small babies and toddlers but I saw this and remembered my mama would slap that stuff on our chest, under our nose. Tie a rag around our neck and cover us up with about a ton of blankets to make us sweat to break a fever.
Anyone else remember this? I don't recommend it but I am still here. lol

imoldfashioned · Jan 14, 2009

My grandmother pretty much believed she could cure anything with Vicks VapoRub and/or Epsom Salt. I remember having a summer cold and being slathered with Vicks, enduring a (clean!) old woolen sock around my neck while a vaporizer with more Vicks in the water steamed away. I can't breathe indeed!

Incidentially, when I looked up the correct spelling of Vicks I found this: Vicks VapoRub linked to infant breathing problems!

RondoHatton · Jan 14, 2009

You just brought back the sound of a DeVilbliss vaporizer, along with that eucalyptus, camphor & menthol smell - might as well as given a kid a carton of Kool cigarettes to smoke - horrible, greasy stuff.

Foofoogal · Jan 14, 2009

You just brought back the sound of a DeVilbliss vaporizer, along with that eucalyptus, camphor & menthol smell - might as well as given a kid a carton of Kool cigarettes to smoke - horrible, greasy stuff.

lol

Kind of went along with the kerosene or sugar for cuts. lol
or the Cod liver oil in the Spring. How did I survive.

ortega76 · Jan 14, 2009

imoldfashioned said:
My grandmother pretty much believed she could cure anything with Vicks VapoRub and/or Epsom Salt. I remember having a summer cold and being slathered with Vicks, enduring a (clean!) old woolen sock around my neck while a vaporizer with more Vicks in the water steamed away. I can't breathe indeed!

Incidentially, when I looked up the correct spelling of Vicks I found this: Vicks VapoRub linked to infant breathing problems!

By all accounts, my grandfather used to EAT the stuff to cure a cold.

Cricket · Jan 14, 2009

My grandmother soaked me in this stuff when I was a child. I got a heaping helping on my chest then a small amount right under my nose. Then it was off to bed with a humidifer in my face. I had a fake rainforest in my small room by the time the sun came up.
And now our son is getting the same treatment.
After reading the article, I thought, "great"
I just lubed my son up in it all last week for his cold. Funny thing though, I think it helped because he cleared right up.

LizzieMaine · Jan 14, 2009

Vapo-Rub was a lot better than mustard plasters, let's put it that way.

RondoHatton · Jan 14, 2009

LizzieMaine said:
Vapo-Rub was a lot better than mustard plasters, let's put it that way.

In the way that the belt was better than the switch?

Foofoogal · Jan 14, 2009

By all accounts, my grandfather used to EAT the stuff to cure a cold.

To be honest I have done that before. Actually melted it with honey in a teaspoon. lol
Maybe Kitty will think this may explain things.

lol

Mustard plasters

My dad had to take black draught as a kid.

No wonder they were tough back then.

David Conwill · Jan 14, 2009

So Vicks VapoRub can hurt you if you don't use it right? Gosh, next you'll tell me I shouldn't be using my belt sander to trim my toenails! :rage:

Vicks works well for its intended purpose, and it makes me mad to see a headline that appears to give it a bad rap for what the parents did to their poor daughter.

Okay, exiting irate father mode, one nice alternative (and safe) use for Vicks is to use it on the bottoms of your feet under socks to allieviate coughing.

-Dave

imoldfashioned · Jan 14, 2009

Ugh! Just the thought of that makes me gag!

Apropos of nothing I don't like the new packaging. But that would make sense, since I'm on this board wouldn't it?

Foofoogal said:
To be honest I have done that before. Actually melted it with honey in a teaspoon. lol
Maybe Kitty will think this may explain things. lol

Mustard plasters My dad had to take black draught as a kid.
No wonder they were tough back then.

VintageRed · Jan 14, 2009

Hmmm...

Well, I guess I'll be the odd woman out, cuz I love Vicks.

My grandmother used it, my mom used it and I have the BABY version of it for my kids. They all love it too.

I was a bit distressed when I saw that on the news last nite, since no where did they mention they make a gentler formula for wee ones. I made the mistake of putting the high octane one on my daughter one night and she broke out in a rash (she has sensitive skin however). So when I was at the drugstore the next time, the pharmacist was good enough to point out the baby version.

I absolutely hate having a stuffy head/nose. I can tolerate anything else, but if I feel like I can't breathe comfortably, it's all over. I'm a firm Vicks supporter.

Anyone remember the old jingle? My mom used to sing it when she put it on us:

"Rub a dub dub
Three Men in a Tub
All Stuffed up with colds where they,
Rub a dub dub
with Vicks VapoRub
and they rubbed their colds away."

I admit it, I'm good at Trivial Pursuit.

~Red

Foofoogal · Jan 14, 2009

Well, I guess I'll be the odd woman out, cuz I love Vicks.

I love it also. Not so much like mom did but still. I cannot believe there is a baby version. Wow.

MEDIUMMYND · Jan 14, 2009

Vick was the cure all for colds to some extent it has now been usurped by olbas oil.:rage:

Sunny · Jan 14, 2009

Never used Vicks. Is it anything like Metholatum?

ortega76 · Jan 14, 2009

Foofoogal said:
To be honest I have done that before. Actually melted it with honey in a teaspoon. lol
Maybe Kitty will think this may explain things. lol

Yuck! I always said my grandfather's eccentricities might be explained by his consumption of Vick's.

Foofoogal · Jan 14, 2009

Yes Sunny. Basically the same.

Kind of tasty if I remember right. I was a kid so it had to be. Maybe it was the honey. Sort of minty fresh is how I remember. It may be petroleum based though so not sure I would not.

maggiethespy · Jan 15, 2009

My Grandmother believes a good slathering of Vick's can cure anyone-- her mother did, too. I remember staying the night at my grandparents' house while her mother was in town-- I was about seven or eight. I came down with a little sniffle, and the next thing I knew, Grandma and Grandmother had me stripped down to my underwear and my chest slathered in Vicks. They topped that off with a HOT washcloth, then wrapped me in a towel and a few blankets and sent me to bed. I was miserable, especially the next morning when they had to PEEL the cloth off of me. It stuck to my skin and was as stiff as a board. But, I didn't sniffle again after that (either out of fear or actually being cured, I don't know).

My mother always put it in the humidifier, and rubbed a bit under my nose. She, too, had the hot-towel treatment as a child, and didn't want us to suffer the same fate. Too late for me

Granddaddy, on the other hand, believes that Metholatum cures everything-- sore throat, cold, cut, burn, skin discoloration, achey joint. You name it, he insists it will be cured by a dab of good ol' Metholatum. He sort of reminds me of the father from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" in that respect... he's a big fan of Windex, too

I'mSuzyParker · Jan 15, 2009

I love Vicks. When I have a migraine, I even put a little at the base of my skull behind my ears - when I have a cold, a little on the soles of my feet with white socks.. when my sinuses feel stuff.. a little bit under my nose..

Next to Nyquil, I think Vicks is my favorite cold/icky day need a good night of sleep cure

Lenah · Jan 15, 2009

I love Vicks too. My Mom did that for me when I was a kid, slathered it on my chest... but my Gramma actually used to make me chamomile inhalations...she said it was more soothing than vicks. No fancy inhalation systems though, big pot of hot water, chamomile, towel over my head as I bent over the pot to inhale. The steam made great, soft skin! Actually, I should do that again, great pore cleanser.

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