The Most Soothing Chest Rubs

Vicks VapoRub

Refresh your respiration

This chest rub has a robust and long-lasting formula that makes restless nights much more tolerable.

Best Overall

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If you want to go straight to the source, Vicks VapoRub is the latest edition of the world-renowned topical cough suppressant from the brand that started it all. This product utilizes lavender in conjunction with the invigorating properties of menthol to great effect. VapoRub’s primary additives work to ease common cold and flu symptoms by encouraging more productive breathing. While the intended use is as a sleep aid, you can use Vicks throughout the day if you find yourself blowing your nose frequently. The combination of soothing natural ingredients with tried-and-tested medicine makes this ointment essential whenever the change of seasons gets the better of us.

Pros:

• Up to eight hours of relief
• Instant activation upon application
• Lavender fragrance

Cons:

• Can lead to irritation on sensitive skin

Mentholatum Original Ointment

Rapid rubbing relief

This natural chest rub makes application incredibly safe and soothing.

Most Natural Ingredients

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Mentholatum’s Original Ointment is a powerful medicinal salve that can save your throat from the brunt of a cold. While this recipe has comparably less menthol than its flagship competitors, the composition is entirely organic. Utilizing natural sources of menthol and camphor, this ointment is ideal for delicate skin and rarely causes adverse reactions. If your ailments are more along the lines of inflammation, Mentholatum can help with that as well. Chest rubs are surprisingly effective as a local anesthetic throughout the body, helping to ease muscle aches or sore spots. Overall, this product promises a more holistic approach to a tried and true pharmaceutical wonder.

Pros:

• Made in the USA
• Fantastic value for the price
• Pleasant smell

Cons:

• Thinner salve requires a more thorough application to stay on

Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Soothing Chest Rub

Keep congested kids content

This rub allows little ones to find some relief when nasty colds pop up unexpectedly.

Best For Babies

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Finding relief for your young ones in their time of need can be difficult. Zarbee’s Naturals is known for its child-friendly medicines, and their Baby Soothing Chest Rub is no exception. While most chest rubs use petroleum as a base to hold the compound together and menthol to deliver a refreshing smell and pain relief, Zarbees goes a different route. This recipe is free of all inorganic or volatile ingredients and favors wholesome ingredients like castor oil and shea butter. Not only does this product aid in breathing comfort, but the included vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant and skin-boosting addition.

Pros:

• Ideal for infants and small children
• Top-notch customer support team
• The essential oils are diluted to prevent rashes

Cons:

• This product can stain clothes easily

Puriya Chest Rub Cream

Alternative allergy alleviation

This option uses essential oils to create a soothing rub that's free of harsh ingredients.

Best Menthol-Free Option

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Puriya is challenging the definition of a traditional chest rub with its holistic ingredient list and one-of-a-kind scent suitable for all ages. This chest cream only boasts six total ingredients, but they’re powerful enough to make a difference in your daily life. Instead of menthol, Puriya uses peppermint oil that sports an equally powerful aroma and feel. Lavender is added liberally and works to blunt the peppermint’s intensity, while olive oil and beeswax bind everything together. Lastly, Puriya abides by the most stringent manufacturing practices, sourcing global ingredients responsibly and mixing the end result proudly in the United States of America.

Pros:

• Shelf life of over three years
• No animal testing
• It only requires small applications to feel results

Cons:

• Quite expensive product, but well worth it for an effective, ethical option

Vicks Portable VapoInhaler

Rub on the run

If your jet-setting lifestyle has you feeling run down, this option can deliver restful sleep countless miles from home.

Best For Travel

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When you have to travel while under the weather, choosing a medicine can be tricky. If you don’t want to mess around with antihistamines that can cause drowsiness, check out the refreshing relief provided by Vicks VapoInhaler. The VapoInhaler is an ingenious portable option that’s about the size of a stick of lip balm. While this device’s convenience is the main draw, the harsher components are not particularly useful for pre-teens and younger kids. But if you have a long history of suffering from seasonal allergies, few products can keep up with a hectic life like Vicks VapoInhaler. Application is as easy as uncapping the device and taking a deep breath through both nostrils for an instant pick-me-up that clears the passages for confident, unobstructed breathing.

Pros:

• Two sticks included with purchase
• A top pick for restless sleepers and employees on the go

Cons:

• It contains acetaminophen and cannot be used too frequently

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the history of menthol as a decongestant?

Menthol has a storied history that isn’t strictly tied to the chemical or pharmaceutical advancement of medicine. The first mentions of menthol in the annals of history come from the 17th century in India. Around that time, locals began to pick wild mint, or Mentha Arvensis, as a standalone medicine. The leaves of this versatile plant can be crushed into tea form to aid in digestion. As scientific expertise expanded decades later, the extraction of menthol from this leave allowed for even wider application, resulting in the more concentrated form we use today.

What other steps can I take to eliminate phlegm?

Combating the flu and the common cold symptoms, notably congestion, can be done in several ways. Aside from topical chest rubs or over-the-counter consumables, humidifiers and saline solutions work wonders. As colds run through our system or while antihistamines take effect, our sinuses are prone to drying out. Humidifiers provide a warm, soft mist of moisture for relief, while saline can slow down mucus production and flush our irritants which cause colds in the first place.