I Used to Love Vick's

I admit it, I am one of the crazy people who actually enjoyed the smell of Vick's. That cool sensation when you put the rub on your chest. That slight tingling in your nose as you inhale the aroma. Then, all of a sudden, your sinuses open up, and you can breathe once again!

I don't know why, but it seems to bring back surprisingly good childhood memories. Oddly though, because I don't remember having that around growing up. However, I have memories dating way back into my childhood enjoying the aroma whenever I smelled it.

And I never really bought it as an adult either, but just know that when I smelled it, I used to think it was something I really enjoyed. Turns out a few years down the road, I found out what it was that I actually really liked, and it wasn't what's in the vaporub.

When I was in college, I had a bad case of bronchitis that developed into what I've been told is spasming bronchioles. Basically, imagine a muscle twitching, how it hurts just a little bit, but is really annoying, and you can't figure out what's causing it do that. That is basically what happens inside my respiratory system.

Except in my case, whenever I start coughing, it causes my bronchioles to spasm. So even when I get over whatever ailment may cause the coughing, I keep on coughing. In desperation, I turned to some of the Vick's products, including the Vick's inhaler, Vick's vapor bath crystals, and even the Vick's vapor rub.

Unfortunately, while those gave some mild relief, the effects never lasted, and it took months on end to get over that cough. I even remember one year it was so bad that I had someone ask me if I had been tested for tuberculosis. While this was ridiculous, it shows the seriousness of the problem I faced.

What I've learned as an adult is that there are problems with many popular over the counter medications. I found myself in my early childhood assuming that if I could buy it at the store, then it must be safe, no questions asked.

However, that is far from the truth. There are side effects to nearly every medication, including those that you can purchase over the counter. Unfortunately, many of us don't read those warnings, and then wonder why we have problems with chronic health problems in our homes.

For Vick's there are some very potent ingredients you should be aware of and what they do. First, understand the vapor rub is primarily composed of petrolatum, otherwise known as mineral oil jelly. This is a petroleum product, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which on its own has several potential hazards. One of the most concerning is that it has been associated with cancers due to repeated skin and lung exposure, including skin, lung, bladder, liver, and stomach cancers. Don't take my word for it, but check out what the CDC reports about PAHs.

In addition, there are anecdotal problems reported with breathing problems. This is usually associated with improper application of the product, but is a problem nonetheless. It's funny that a product that should help open your respiratory system actually may inhibit it.

I have found that the aroma I am so fond of in Vick's is actually a variety of eucalyptus. I had no idea there are several varieties of this particular plant, and each have their own distinct oil. The one that smells like Vick's is eucalyptus globulus, and is one of the essential oils I personally love over the winter.

There are several other products I commonly use over the winter to help keep my lungs open and coughs at bay. You can check them out by following this link (I'll earn a few bucks when you do, but you'll also get to ask me questions directly for additional support). I personally try to find products from companies I can trust, who's ingredients are transparent so that I know what I'm using with myself and my family.

If you choose to use essential oils, be cautious in what you're using. Not all oils are the same, and quality does matter when you're trying to get therapeutic benefits rather than just an aroma. Many of the cheaper oils on the market are either made from the waste water from distilling oil, or are cut with various chemicals or synthetic oils to increase the profitability of the company. Be sure you use a company who controls the entire process, from cultivation to distillation and bottling. Also, find a company who uses third-party testing to validate the oils are in fact what they claim.