Did you know that Vicks VapoRub has been around for more than a century? It can be found all over the world. We have been collecting Unique Uses for Vicks for decades. Here is one that we never heard before: Vicks against poison ivy itch. At first blush we thought it was odd. On further reflection, we think we have an explanation for why Vicks VapoRub might ease a variety of itching problems including poison ivy itch.
You can learn more about the history of Vicks at this link.
A Hard to Calm Itch:
Q. I have suffered for years from itching on my back, where it is hard to reach. Four dermatologists all said it was dry skin. Another dermatologist thought it was a nerve problem
After reading about Vicks on the feet for cough, I figured I had nothing to lose trying it for the itching. It wasn’t perfect, but the itching was greatly reduced. The Vicks worked as well as any of the skin creams, and it is a lot easier to apply. Plus it is far cheaper.
A. What an innovative solution! Doctors have a term for the nerve problem causing back itching:
notalgia paresthetica
The Australasian College of Dermatologists offers this description:
“Notalgia paraesthetica is a disorder where an often intense localised itch occurs without a rash on the mid to upper back between the shoulder blades. It is thought to be due to sensory nerve irritation rather than a primary skin condition. It tends to run a chronic course. There is currently no cure but there are treatments that can help control the itch.”
It was first described in 1934 by a Russian with a tongue twister name: Michail Astwazaturow. Despite almost a century, dermatologists do not really understand the cause of this extremely itchy condition.
Here is the technical terminology according to StatPearls, June 5, 2023:
“Notalgia paresthetica is a chronic neuropathic dysesthesia of unknown etiology characterized by pruritus located on the medial border of the inferior scapula.”
Whenever you see the words “unknown etiology” you know that doctors do not know what’s happening. In such a situation, Vicks might be one of the better choices for treatment, though it doesn’t seem to be in the doctors’ armamentarium. Read on to learn how it might be helping.
A New Use for an Old Remedy:
Q. I’d like to tell you about a new use for Vicks VapoRub. I got some poison ivy on my legs when I was mowing the lawn, and I just couldn’t get it to stop itching.
When I slapped some Vicks on it, the rash stopped itching. The next morning the redness had diminished.
How Could Vicks Relieve a Poison Ivy Itch?
A. Skin cells that encounter a stimulus like a mosquito bite or a poison ivy reaction use nerves to send the message (“it itches!”) to the brain. These nerves contain transient receptor potential (TRP) channels that are sensitive to itch (Neuron, May 2, 2018).
TRP channels respond to certain chemicals in addition to temperature and itch. Overwhelming them can shut down the sensation of itch for a while. That is why a short blast of hot water works so well to stop an itch.
Capsaicin, the hot stuff in hot peppers, can do the same thing (Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, online Feb. 10, 2018). Other TRP channels respond to menthol and camphor, key ingredients in Vicks VapoRub (Neuropeptides, Feb. 2010).
We suspect this might help explain why Vicks eases a poison ivy itch. We have been embracing the TRP channel hypothesis for a number of home remedies. If you find this interesting, check out these TRP-related remedies.
Hot Water for Itches: TRP explanation?
HotShot for Muscle Cramps: TRP!
Find out how we learned about the TRP connection with leg cramps at this link:
Show 1054: The Scientific Explanation for a Weird Remedy (Archive)
If you’ve ever wondered about a weird remedy such as swallowing vinegar or mustard for muscle cramps, we now have an explanation.
Hiccups and TRP?
Will Your Hiccups Go Away If You Reach and Sip?
Do you have a remedy to make hiccups go away? Drinking water plays a role in many remedies, but others call for a sharp flavor to do the trick.
How Could a Cold Mouth Stop Your Migraine? TRP perchance?
How Could a Cold Mouth Stop Your Migraine?
The key to stopping a migraine as soon as it starts could be a cold mouth. Ice, ice cream, icy drinks like iced tea or iced coffee and milk shakes have all provided relief.
There are lots more possibilities for the TRP hypothesis of home remedies. They include soap for nerve pain and leg cramps.
Skeptic Discovers Benefit of Soap for Neuropathy
A reader reports good results using soap for neuropathy and RLS. Putting soap with essential oils near the legs may activate TRP channels to reduce nerve pain.
and aromatherapy: Can a Sniff of Alcohol Relieve Nausea?
Aromatherapy | Can a Sniff of Alcohol Relieve Nausea?
Feeling nauseated is awful. OTC drugs are not very helpful and even Rx meds may not work. Could a sniff of alcohol ease symptoms of nausea?
It’s entirely possible that TRP channels may explain other mysterious home remedies, including Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to halt a cough. Anyone who would like to know more about the science behind alternative therapies may find our eGuide of interest: Graedons’ Favorite Home Remedies. It is available under the health eGuides tab at this link.
Perhaps the idea that Vicks VapoRub might help ease a poison ivy itch isn’t so strange after all.
