vapor rub
Menthol chest balm
Vapor rub is a medicated ointment applied to the chest or throat to relieve congestion from colds.
The greasy balm contains menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oil, which produce strong vapors when warmed by body heat.
Parents commonly rub it on children's chests at bedtime: Mom slathered vapor rub on me whenever I had a cold.
Vicks VapoRub is the dominant brand.
- mentholCooling agent from plants
- eucalyptusAromatic Australian timber tree
- chestRibcage region or strongbox
- chest coldUpper respiratory infection
- coldLow temperature state
congestion · stuffy nose · cough · sore throat · soothing · camphor · ointment · balm · stuffy · nose · breathe · medicine · home remedy · greasy · jar · nightstand · bedside table · sick
- chest rubsVicks VapoRub
- home remedieshoney, lemon, ginger, garlic, turmeric
- salvessalve, ointment, balm, unguent, healing balm
- topicalsointment, lotion, cream, balm, salve
- mucus reliefmucolytics, expectorants, guaifenesin, NAC, cough syrup
- old remediescalomel, laudanum, tartar emetic, nostrum, patent medicines