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Experimenting with things is just a part of being human, sometimes it has lead to fascinating discoveries and other-times a mishap.
Putting Vicks vapo rub on your bum and whether or not it can be safe is a common question, particularly for pregnant mums and mums who have recently given birth who may have haemorrhoids in the anus area. Since pregnancy and giving birth puts a lot of pressure in that area they can make the veins work harder than they can handle making them inflamed.
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins – haemo meaning “blood” and rrhoids meaning “protrusion”. Some people call them Piles.
Haemorrhoids can be uncomfortable all of the time; sometimes the feeling can be described as hot or ‘angry’ and Vicks ingredients often makes the skin it’s in contact with feel cooler and airy. It makes a lot of sense why people could turn to putting Vicks on your bum in desperation to be freed from the discomfort of haemorrhoids.
But,
What do the Vicks VapoRub ingredients do to your bum?
Look online and you’ll see a lot of positive results of putting Vicks on but equally you’ll find some horror stories, too.
The positive stories of the use of vapour rub on haemorrhoids claim it gave them instant relief, cooling sensation and no pain (from the Vicks). Many victims of Haemorrhoids have also said they’ve noticed the inflammation going down and the vein shrinking back in. This indeed is what could happen if you put the stuff on the bum with a light dabbing. But, this is really not recommended because if it goes wrong and it can make a bad situation worse.
The main ingredients of Vicks VapoRub and how they can affect your derriere are as follows:
- Camphor – An organic compound extracted from a tree which has antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This is the likely ingredient which can soothe your itchy and sore bum area and give you temporary relief as your body heals the area. However, in some cases it can cause redness and irritation on the skin, too. Every body is different which is why some people have shared positive stories and others have reported their Haemorrhoids getting worse.
- Menthol – Menthol is another organic compound which we are all familiar with. This is the stuff that gives the feeling of cooling and will make you tingle a little if you apply it to the bum. Like camphor, menthol can cause skin irritation especially if the anus area is sore with some open wounds as well as the anus itself and the inside of the colon. Menthol can be hit or miss on your bum, it will either cool you down or make things worse.
- Eucalyptus oil – Eucalyptus is derived from the plant and used to relieve breathing problems, dry skin and some muscle pain. This is unlikely to do anything for your booty problem (Vicks is designed for breathing problems after all). Eucalyptus is generally safe when applied to the skin in reasonable doses but can cause problems if ingested – it is not advised to apply this if your anal area has an open wound and certainly not into the back passage. Side effects can include diarrhoea, vomiting and dizziness when abused or over used.
What could happen if you put Vicks on your bum?
Based on the ingredients and possible side effects, putting Vicks on your bum can have one or two effects – it will either sting a little before giving you relief or it will start to feel hot and make things worse very quickly.
No medical professional recommends or prescribes Vicks as relief for Haemorrhoids/Piles based on this. Instead, they will give you topical creams for the itching and swelling and treatment if you are struggling with bowel movements. Cold packs and ice can also be used as a home remedy with little risk as it’s just water.
Should you put Vicks on your bum if you’re struggling?
It is very risky and it could go wrong, so we wouldn’t advise on their use. Even if Vicks does provide relief it will not cure your Piles.
