The People's Perspective on Medicine

Vicks against Chest Congestion

3.8 - 16 ratings

Terry Graedon

January 27, 2017

6 Comments

Terry Graedon

January 27, 2017

6 Comments

Vicks VapoRub is an old-fashioned approach for easing coughs and congestion. How well does it work? A researcher at Penn State has found that the 100-year old remedy actually is helpful for coughs and congestion. Both children and parents slept better when the children had Vicks applied to their chests before bed. This investigative team had previously found no benefit from children’s cough medicine, so it is notable that their double-blind study found benefit from this traditional treatment.

[Pediatrics, online November 8, 2010]

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3.8- 16 ratings

About the Author

Terry Graedon

Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies.Read Terry's full bio.

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The People's Perspective on Medicine

Vicks against Chest Congestion

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