Efficacy of a Topical Aromatic Rub (Vicks VapoRub®)-Speed of Action of Subjective Nasal Cooling and Relief from Nasal Congestion
Affiliation(s)
1 Common Cold and Nasal Research Centre, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. 2 The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason Business Centre, Mason, OH, USA. 3 Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Ltd., Whitehall Lane, Egham, Surrey, UK.
1 Common Cold and Nasal Research Centre, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. 2 The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason Business Centre, Mason, OH, USA. 3 Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Ltd., Whitehall Lane, Egham, Surrey, UK.
ABSTRACT
Vicks VapoRub® (VVR) is a pharmaceutical preparation containing a combination of levomenthol, eucalyptus oil, turpentine oil and camphor as active ingredients, and thymol, cedarwood oil, and white soft paraffin as excipients. VVR is a petrolatum-based ointment to be either applied topically to the chest, throat, and back or added to hot water and the aromatic vapours inhaled. When used topically, the actives are evaporated by body temperature and inspired. The main therapeutic effects are the feeling of relief from nasal congestion and relief from cough. These were primarily experienced by patients as the trigeminal and olfactory impact of the aromatics and were hypothesized to be experienced within minutes. This was a randomized, single-(Investigator) blind, controlled, 2-arm (VVR vs. petrolatum), parallel design pilot study in 50 otherwise healthy adult patients suffering from common cold and experiencing nasal congestion. Speed to detection of a sensation of nasal cooling and nasal decongestion was assessed following application of the recommended amount of product. The time to first experience of a sensation of nasal cooling was significantly (p < 0.001) faster for patients who received VVR compared to control (median times of 23 and 99 seconds respectively). VVR delivered a statistically significant sensation of nasal cooling at all times from 12 seconds to 15 minutes after product application. The time to first experience of a sensation of nasal decongestion was significantly (p = 0.0102) faster for patients who received VVR compared to control (median times of 62 and 126 seconds respectively). VVR delivered a statistically significant sensation of nasal decongestion at all times from 62 seconds to 15 minutes after product application. No adverse events were reported during the study. Conclusion: Patients using Vicks VapoRub® as directed experienced significant differences from control for sensation of nasal cooling in 12 seconds and the sensation of nasal decongestion in 62 seconds.
Vicks VapoRub® (VVR) is a pharmaceutical preparation containing a combination of levomenthol, eucalyptus oil, turpentine oil and camphor as active ingredients, and thymol, cedarwood oil, and white soft paraffin as excipients. VVR is a petrolatum-based ointment to be either applied topically to the chest, throat, and back or added to hot water and the aromatic vapours inhaled. When used topically, the actives are evaporated by body temperature and inspired. The main therapeutic effects are the feeling of relief from nasal congestion and relief from cough. These were primarily experienced by patients as the trigeminal and olfactory impact of the aromatics and were hypothesized to be experienced within minutes. This was a randomized, single-(Investigator) blind, controlled, 2-arm (VVR vs. petrolatum), parallel design pilot study in 50 otherwise healthy adult patients suffering from common cold and experiencing nasal congestion. Speed to detection of a sensation of nasal cooling and nasal decongestion was assessed following application of the recommended amount of product. The time to first experience of a sensation of nasal cooling was significantly (p < 0.001) faster for patients who received VVR compared to control (median times of 23 and 99 seconds respectively). VVR delivered a statistically significant sensation of nasal cooling at all times from 12 seconds to 15 minutes after product application. The time to first experience of a sensation of nasal decongestion was significantly (p = 0.0102) faster for patients who received VVR compared to control (median times of 62 and 126 seconds respectively). VVR delivered a statistically significant sensation of nasal decongestion at all times from 62 seconds to 15 minutes after product application. No adverse events were reported during the study. Conclusion: Patients using Vicks VapoRub® as directed experienced significant differences from control for sensation of nasal cooling in 12 seconds and the sensation of nasal decongestion in 62 seconds.
Cite this paper
Eccles, R. , Jawad, M. , Ramsey, D. and Hull, J. (2015) Efficacy of a Topical Aromatic Rub (Vicks VapoRub®)-Speed of Action of Subjective Nasal Cooling and Relief from Nasal Congestion. Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases, 5, 10-18. doi: 10.4236/ojrd.2015.51002.
Eccles, R. , Jawad, M. , Ramsey, D. and Hull, J. (2015) Efficacy of a Topical Aromatic Rub (Vicks VapoRub®)-Speed of Action of Subjective Nasal Cooling and Relief from Nasal Congestion. Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases, 5, 10-18. doi: 10.4236/ojrd.2015.51002.
References
[1] Wat, D. (2004) The Common Cold: A Review of the Literature. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 15, 79-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2004.01.006 [2] Heikkinen, T. and Jarvinen, A. (2003) The Common Cold. Lancet, 361, 51-59.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12162-9 [3] Eccles, R. (2005) Understanding the Symptoms of the Common Cold and Influenza. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5, 718-725.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70270-X [4] Naclerio, et al. (2010) Pathophysiology of Nasal Congestion. International Journal of General Medicine, 3, 47-57.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S8088 [5] McKemy, D.D., et al. (2002) Identification of a Cold Receptor Reveals a General Role for TRP Channels in Thermosensation. Nature, 416, 52-58.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature719 [6] Bautista, D.M., et al. (2007) The Menthol Receptor TRPM8 is the Principal Detector of Environmental Cold. Nature, 448, 204-208.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature05910 [7] Moller, et al. (2000) Time to Onset of Analgesia and Analgesic Efficacy of Effervescent Acetaminophen 1000 mg Compared to Tablet Acetaminophen 1000 mg in Postoperative Dental Pain: A Single-Dose, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 40, 370-378.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00912700022009071 [8] Paul, I.M., et al. (2010) Vapor Rub, Petrolatum, and No Treatment for Children with Nocturnal Cough and Cold Symptoms. Pediatrics, 126, 1092-1099.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1601
[1] Wat, D. (2004) The Common Cold: A Review of the Literature. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 15, 79-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2004.01.006 [2] Heikkinen, T. and Jarvinen, A. (2003) The Common Cold. Lancet, 361, 51-59.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12162-9 [3] Eccles, R. (2005) Understanding the Symptoms of the Common Cold and Influenza. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5, 718-725.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70270-X [4] Naclerio, et al. (2010) Pathophysiology of Nasal Congestion. International Journal of General Medicine, 3, 47-57.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S8088 [5] McKemy, D.D., et al. (2002) Identification of a Cold Receptor Reveals a General Role for TRP Channels in Thermosensation. Nature, 416, 52-58.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature719 [6] Bautista, D.M., et al. (2007) The Menthol Receptor TRPM8 is the Principal Detector of Environmental Cold. Nature, 448, 204-208.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature05910 [7] Moller, et al. (2000) Time to Onset of Analgesia and Analgesic Efficacy of Effervescent Acetaminophen 1000 mg Compared to Tablet Acetaminophen 1000 mg in Postoperative Dental Pain: A Single-Dose, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 40, 370-378.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00912700022009071 [8] Paul, I.M., et al. (2010) Vapor Rub, Petrolatum, and No Treatment for Children with Nocturnal Cough and Cold Symptoms. Pediatrics, 126, 1092-1099.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1601