Does Vicks Vapor Rub help with sleep apnea?

Author: Howell Rippin  |  Last update: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Some people use a humidifier in their bedroom to encourage their sinuses to drain. This makes it easier to breathe through your nose. Applying a product like Vicks VapoRub to your chest before bedtime also will help open your airway.

Where do you put Vicks to stop snoring?

Smearing some Vicks VapoRub on your chest at night will help open your nasal passages too, easing your snoring. More home remedies that will help keep you healthy. If you snore but don't have underlying sinus problems or coughing, you can relieve some of the snoring by wearing an OTC nasal strip, such as Breathe Right.

What is the best natural remedy for sleep apnea?

To help treat your sleep apnea, healthy lifestyle changes can be very effective. These include getting regular physical activity, maintaining healthy sleeping habits and a healthy weight, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and quitting smoking.

Does Vicks VapoRub help with sleep?

Vicks VapoRub® when applied before retiring to bed can reduce subjective sleep disturbances during a common cold. The results of this exploratory study support the belief among patients that the use of VapoRub improves subjective sleep quality during common cold which was associated with more refreshing sleep.

Does VapoRub help with trouble breathing?

Vicks VapoRub doesn't clear up congestion in the nose. But its strong menthol odor may trick your brain. So you might feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose. Vicks VapoRub is an ointment that's rubbed on the throat and chest to relieve a cough.

People with severe sleep apnea have a new way of getting relief

What does putting Vicks on your feet do?

Vicks VapoRub works best when used on the chest. There's no evidence that it helps cold symptoms if you put it on your feet. But Vicks VapoRub on the bottom of your feet may help relieve mild muscle aches, neuropathic foot pain, and moisturize dry skin.

Where do you put Vicks for good sleep?

Other uses of Vicks VapoRub may include the following, although research is limited: Ease carpal tunnel syndrome5. Improve sleep in people with severe cold symptoms when rubbed on the chest or back6.

Where not to put Vicks?

It contains camphor which is toxic if swallowed or absorbed into the body and the manufacturers do in fact warn that VapoRub should not be applied in or near the nostrils and not used on children under 2 years of age.

Can you use Vicks vapor rub every night?

Q: How often can I use Vicks VapoRub? A: For cough suppression, Vicks VapoRub may be used up to 3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Simply rub a thick layer on your chest and throat.

How I cured my sleep apnea?

Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea
  1. Weight Management. Losing weight by doing regular exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce the obesity that causes sleep apnea. ...
  2. Changing Sleep Positions. ...
  3. Exercise. ...
  4. Airway and Throat Exercises. ...
  5. Honey Intake. ...
  6. Acupuncture. ...
  7. Sleep With a Comfortable Room Temperature. ...
  8. Add Humidifiers to Your Room.

How to fix sleep apnea without CPAP?

Can't Get Used To A CPAP? Here Are 6 Alternative Options For Sleep Apnea
  1. Oral appliances. ...
  2. Positional therapy. ...
  3. Physical therapy. ...
  4. Soft tissue surgery or oral-maxillofacial surgery. ...
  5. Weight loss. ...
  6. Inspire nerve stimulator.

What is the new remedy for sleep apnea?

The Inspire® implant

The Inspire implant keeps your airway open while you sleep, so you can breathe regularly and sleep soundly.

Does Vicks vapor rub help sleep apnea?

Keep Your Nose Clear

Some people use a humidifier in their bedroom to encourage their sinuses to drain. This makes it easier to breathe through your nose. Applying a product like Vicks VapoRub to your chest before bedtime also will help open your airway.

What's the fastest way to stop snoring?

To prevent or quiet snoring, try these tips:
  1. If you're overweight, lose weight. ...
  2. Sleep on your side. ...
  3. Raise the head of your bed. ...
  4. Nasal strips or an external nasal dilator. ...
  5. Treat nasal congestion or obstruction. ...
  6. Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives. ...
  7. Quit smoking. ...
  8. Get enough sleep.

Can you put Vicks VapoRub in a CPAP?

“Petroleum Jelly Products like Vaseline + Vicks Should Not Be Used with CPAP, NIV + Oxygen Masks.” hope2sleep.co.uk, February 16, 2017.

What does Vicks do for your lungs?

Vicks products cannot cure the cold or flu, but they can help relieve chest congestion symptoms so you can feel better while your body heals from the cold or flu virus. When you have chest congestion symptoms, the mucus build-up in your lungs can become very thick and dense.

Are there any side effects to using Vicks VapoRub?

While Vicks VapoRub is safe when used on the skin and for short durations of time, using too much or eating it can lead to severe toxicity. Application to the face and around the eye can result in eyelid swelling, blisters, and damage to the cornea (the outer layer of the eyeball).

Is ZzzQuil better than Melatonin?

Comparing Melatonin vs ZzzQuil

Melatonin has an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from a total of 239 ratings on Drugs.com. 45% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 36% reported a negative effect. ZzzQuil has an average rating of 2.9 out of 10 from a total of 67 ratings on Drugs.com.

Why Vicks on feet with socks?

Advocates of this remedy suggest that applying Vicks to the feet allows the active ingredients to be absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly than if applied to other areas. Additionally, the warmth created by wearing socks may enhance the absorption process.

Is it safe to put Vicks VapoRub in your eyes?

For eye exposures, rinse eyes for at least 15 minutes with lukewarm water. Call the Poison Centre for further advice.

Why aren't you supposed to put Vicks in your nostrils?

Never put it in your nose, because this could cause irritation. This could also cause you to absorb more medication, which can lead to side effects. Vicks VapoRub works best if you can breathe in the vapors from the ointment, which is why it is recommended to rub it on your throat or chest.

How to unclog nasal passages?

You can also consider these 3 tips on unblocking a clogged nose.
  1. Three Tips for Sinus Congestion Relief. Avoid common irritants. ...
  2. Drink water. ...
  3. Take a decongestant as directed. ...
  4. Home Remedies for Stuffy Nose. ...
  5. Use a humidifier. ...
  6. Relax with a warm compress.

How do you put Vicks on your throat?

(Adults) Rub VapoRub liberally on the chest, throat and back. Rub in well over the whole area and leave nightclothes loose for easy inhalation. (Children over 2 years) Apply lightly to chest and back. Rub gently and leave clothes loose for easy inhalation.

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