Natural hair remedies: Vicks vaporub for hair growth

Vicks VapoRub is a medicated ointment specifically formulated to relieve cold and flu symptoms such as a blocked nose and cough. There is some anecdotal evidence that the ointment can also boost hair growth, but there are no scientific studies to back this up. 

• What is Vicks VapoRub? Vicks VapoRub is a medicated ointment to be placed on your chest, throat, and back to relieve cold and flu symptoms. 
• Can Vicks VapoRub Boost Hair Growth? While some ingredients may be effective at boosting growth, there is no scientific evidence that the medicated ointment can regrow hair. 
• What is Vicks VapoRub Used For? Vicks VapoRub is used to treat cold and flu symptoms. It can lessen symptoms such as a cough, a stuffy nose, and a sore throat. 
• What Ingredients Are in Vicks VapoRub? Vicks VapoRub contains ingredients such as lavender, camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, and petroleum jelly.
• Are There Risks of Using Vicks VapoRub on the Scalp? Yes, there are some minor risks. If you use Vicks VapoRub on the skin, you may experience irritation and redness. The petroleum jelly can also clog the hair follicles.

Vicks vaporub, commonly used for cough suppression or on muscles and joints for minor aches and pains might actually have more uses than you once thought. A popular natural hair remedy that you’ll see all over the internet is using Vicks vaporub to boost hair growth.

As part of our ongoing natural hair remedies series, today we’re focusing on Vicks vaporub and if it can actually help with hair loss.

Vicks Vaporub is a mentholated topical ointment owed by the American pharmaceutical company Procter & Gamble. The intended use is for use on the chest, back and throat for cough suppression or to be used on micro aches and pains on muscles and joints. It has also been used to treat mosquito bites and should be applied immediately before sleep.

Some people believe that Vicks Vaporub has some alternative uses, including boosting hair growth. It is thought that four of the ingredients in the rub work to stimulate hair growth.

Lavender: Thought to be a good treatment for hair loss and improves blood circulation around hair follicles.

Camphor: Improves blood circulation in the hair follicles which is thought to boost the growth of stronger hair

Eucalyptus: Soothes an itchy scalp, prevents dandruff and is thought again to stimulate hair follicles.

Menthol: Thought to get rid of irritants allowing room for the hair to grow.

Although some of the above ingredients do help issues such as blood circulation which can, in turn, help hair grow it is very unlikely that the application of Vicks Vaporub on the scalp can actually help new hair grow. The hair growth cycle will not change due to the application of treatment on the scalp, and because of this, it is unlikely for Vaporub to promote new hair growth.

Treatments such as Vaporub might be able to alter the appearance of the hair you already have or make the hair appear thicker and help with issues such as dandruff. However, there is no scientific evidence of it stimulating the hair follicles and resulting in new hair growth.

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