Are Menthol Rubs Good For Cold Symptoms?

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My mother is old school in that I grew up slathered in Vicks and put to bed at the first sign of sniffles or a cough. The rub would allow me to breathe easier when she spread it on my chest and under my nose, but boy, did I smell bad!

Well, I’m now grown with a family of my own and can‘t believe how history repeats itself or that I am actually asking this question. Is it safe to use this same treatment on my own children?

DEAR READER:
It depends on the age of your children. All menthol products, including Vicks, have the capability of causing breathing problems, eye and lung inflammation, liver damage, airway constriction and allergic reactions in some infants and children. [Read more...]

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
Regarding your menthol rubs, name brand or generic, I submit the following information. The efficacy appears to be dependent on whether or not the product contains thymol. The ingredient has been moved to the “inactive” list on the panel, so you have to look carefully for it. And, they do not list a percentage.

DEAR READER:
Thank you for the information. Those individuals with nail fungus now know what ingredient to look for. I do know Miranel, Vicks and Wal-Mart’s methol rub contain thymol. Miranel’s active ingredient is miconazole nitrate that penetrates the nail to get to the site of the fungal infection. Vicks lists camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. And, you’re right. The thymol is listed as an inactive ingredient. Good pickup!

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 68-year-old female and about midsummer I developed psoriasis on my scalp. I treated it with T-gel shampoo but it just got worse with large thick patches over most of my scalp. I then started losing my hair. I made an appointment with my family physician to see if he thought I should see a dermatologist. He said yes and made an appointment, but it was nearly a month a way.

The next day while reading your column I saw something about using Vicks to treat psoriasis. I figured I had nothing to lose so I tried it on a small section of my scalp. I massaged it in and wore a shower cap for a few hours. The buildup disappeared so I then applied it to my entire scalp, massaged it in and put the shower cap back on. About five hours later the psoriasis seemed to have dissolved! [Read more...]

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have an unsightly nail fungus. I’ve heard that Vicks VapoRub will cure it. Is that true and if so, how much and how often should I use it?

DEAR READER:
According to my readers, Vicks or a comparable mentholatum rub does work. Simply rub the product over the top around the sides of the nail twice daily.

Other products include Miranel, an anti-fungal that contains miconazole nitrate to penetrate the nail faster, tea tree oil, and vinegar poured over the affected nails. Check with your local pharmacist for his or her suggestions.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
A while ago you had a letter from a reader who said Vicks didn’t work for nail fungus. I, too, was having hard time getting rid of a nail fungus with it but then discovered it was more effective if I got the Vicks under the nail. I used a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently massage the salve into the skin under the affected nail. Within two weeks I started to notice the nail and skin were less yellow and flaky. Since then the fungus has completely gone and my new nail has grown in healthy and strong.

DEAR READER:
I believe that part of the problem with Vicks for nail fungus lies with how people are using it. I have repeatedly told my readers to trim the nail as much as possible without causing pain before applying the Vicks to the skin surrounding (and under) the nail. [Read more...]

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have had ringworm on my leg, arm and back for about a year. My family doctor scraped the one on my back and sent it to a lab where ringworm was confirmed. He gave me a prescription for two pills. I took one and had to wait one or two weeks when I took the second. It seemed to help, but didn’t completely clear all the lesions. They get itchy when I am warm or stressed and I am tired of this. I’m 47, in good health, weigh about 140 pounds and take herbs but no medication.

I do have cats and one dog. I’ve tried several things at home and even bought something at the drug store for athlete’s foot. Please give me some advice.

DEAR READER:
This contagious fungal infection is difficult to prevent. It can be contracted through skin-to-skin contact of an infected person or pet or contact with an object or surface either has touched. [Read more...]

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
My husband is suffering from nerve damage caused by knee surgery. He is currently using Lidoderm patches and Neurontin to help control the pain. The patches cause him to have a bad taste in mouth and the Neurontin makes him very drowsy. He would rather use something natural and stop the prescription medications. Do you have any suggestions?

DEAR READER:
Nerve damage is a common consequence of joint surgery. In most instances it is minor and short-lived. Your husband, however, appears to have severe damage with resulting pain. His doctor has taken appropriate steps to help him but nerve pain can be very difficult to treat. Also, your husband needs to return to his physician to report the side effects of the medications.

I have received many letters from individuals with nerve pain in their feet due to diabetes who want to know what they can do. I often recommend Neurontin. However, your husband is currently taking it and would prefer a non-prescription. Therefore, I recommend Vicks VapoRub rubbed onto the affected area as often as needed. Many patients have had stunning success but as I always say, it doesn’t work for everyone. If this is the case, I recommend you return to the surgeon for further advice.

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a problem that baffles all of the internists, family physicians, dermatologists and alternative health experts I have consulted over the years.

I stopped using acrylic nails about 15 years ago. I now do my own manicures with tools that are sterilized weekly. Despite these precautions, I have nail fungus on at least 5 of my nails. I understand that until I treat the skin under the nail, the fungus will continue. A year ago, a black/green mold appeared on my right thumbnail. The nail than fell off. When it started to grow back, so did the fungus.

This black/green mold concerns me. It is slowly spreading to more nails and is very unsightly. What is causing this to happen? How can I get rid of it?

I don’t have my hands in water excessively and when I do, I wear rubber gloves. I have tried every over-the-counter product including tea tree oil.

DEAR READER:
Nail fungus is a common disorder that leads to thick, yellow misshapen nails.

I tell most of my readers with this condition to try Vicks VapoRub. However, you may have more success using a new product, called Miranel. This product was introduced after the date of your letter. Miranel is specially designed to penetrate the skin and nail. This allows the product to work faster and more effectively than does Vicks.

Black/green “mold” is not typical for nail fungus. While you may wish to try to treat it yourself, I urge you to consider seeing your primary care physician. Ask for a nail culture. This involves taking a scraping of the nail fungus and “mold”, then analyzing it in the laboratory. The lab technicians can then determine what type of organism or organisms are present and the best way to treat them. You may have two or more types of fungus necessitating the use of prescription medication.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Sunday Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have had toenail fungus for 15 or 20 years. It has spread to all my toes despite my attempts to cure it. I used tea tree oil for about six months with no change, iodine for about four weeks with little change and soaking my nails in Listerine nightly for six or eight weeks with no change. I have used Vicks VapoRub twice now, the first time for six months with change only in one toe but it didn’t last. My most recent experience with it has not shown any results, despite using it twice a day for one year. I put it on liberally and then put on socks.

Can you please advise me about what else I can do? Do I still have non-medication options? Should I now consider using those expensive anti-fungal pills?

I am a 60-year-old female, 50 pounds overweight and take metoprolol, simvastatin, Wellbutrin, L-tryptophan (for my depression, it works great), and several vitamin supplements. I try to eat healthfully and exercise by walking, meditating and doing Tai Chi. I have a stent but a recent stress test and echocardiogram show no blockages. I used to smoke a pack a day for 25 years but quit (which is when the extra weight came on).

I would appreciate any suggestions you can give me.

DEAR READER:
Toenail fungus can be especially difficult to treat. You appear to have unsuccessfully tried several home remedies.

Only one of your medications, simvastatin, lists changes to hair or nails as a side effect but I doubt that this is the cause of your nail problems. Interestingly, both simvastatin and metoprolol list depression as a side effect. With your history, I wonder if these medications are appropriate choices for you. Another fact to consider is that Wellbutrin can cause cardiac problems. Because you have a stent, perhaps this is also not the best choice. L-typtophan is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body. It is a precursor to serotonin, which may be why you have had success using it for treatment of your depression.

Now to your nail fungus, there is a new over-the-counter ointment that you may wish to try called Miranel. It works similarly to Vicks but has the added benefit of being able to penetrate the skin and nails more easily, allowing it to work more effectively. Remember to keep your nails trimmed short for faster results. The kit which contains a nail file for easy nail trimming, a brush for a less messy application and the ointment is available at Wal-Mart and most pharmacies. You can also purchase it online at www.MiranelBrands.com.

In my opinion, however, now is the time to consult a podiatrist. This specialist will be able to take samples of your nail fungus and determine what type it is. This will also then allow him or her to give you treatment options. Not all nail fungus is the same. You may have a particularly resistant or uncommon type. That being said, a pharmacist recently wrote to me saying that those “expensive anti-fungal pills” were available as a generic at Wal-Mart for $4. So while the medication may not be as expensive as it once was (if you live near a Wal-Mart, at least), it still is not my top choice. You must have blood work before starting the treatment to ensure there are no problems with your liver, and both during and after treatment to ensure that your liver was not adversely affected by the pills. Nail fungus is not harmful, it is simply ugly. I recommend you avoid medication until you have exhausted every other option.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”, “A Strategy for Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Consumer Tips on Medicine”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

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DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read in your articles that Vicks VapoRub is good for many problems. I agree. I would like to know if store brand mentholatum would work as well. The ingredients are practically the same.

DEAR READER:
Absolutely. It works just as well and it is cheaper. Go ahead and use the store brand.