Vicks VapoRub for ED: does it work?

Let’s get straight to the point: Vicks VapoRub does not work for erectile dysfunction (ED), and using it on your penis poses risks, such as skin irritation. There are safer, more evidence-backed ED treatments that you can try, along with lifestyle changes, to improve your erectile function. Read on to learn more.

No, it does not. There is no evidence to suggest Vicks VapoRub is an effective or safe treatment for erectile dysfunction. 

Where did this myth come from? It’s hard to trace it to a singular source, but one explanation might be related to the idea that menthol can have minor effects on blood flow.

Quick reminder: When someone gets an erection, smooth muscle in the penis relaxes, allowing blood to flow in and fill the penis. Meanwhile, the veins that drain blood from the penis trap blood within the penis, hopefully resulting in an erection.  

When someone has erectile dysfunction, that process doesn’t go quite so smoothly. Proven treatments for ED (which we’ll discuss below) work by enhancing blood flow into the penis and allowing better muscle relaxation within the penis, as described above. Since menthol has minor effects on blood flow, the mistaken assumption has arisen that it may be a good option for ED as well.

A 2020 review on the vascular effects of menthol concluded that when menthol is applied directly to the skin, it can increase blood flow to that area by triggering a response that involves the body’s nitric oxide, endothelial factors, and nerve signaling. Given that blood flow is a crucial part of getting and maintaining an erection, it’s easy to see how someone might conclude that applying a topical menthol product could result in an erection (no matter how bad an idea that actually is). 

There is also an animal study that suggests TRPM8 channels, which regulate blood flow, exist in a key artery that supplies blood to erectile tissue. These channels are activated by cold or chemicals like menthol.

 In rats with hypertension, these channels were more sensitive, leading researchers to believe that targeting these channels in humans with menthol may be useful for treating ED that’s specifically linked to high blood pressure. 

However, these findings are preliminary and don’t necessarily mean that Vicks VapoRub can be used to treat erectile dysfunction. It’s still not recommended to apply Vicks VapoRub directly to your penis. Let’s see why.

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There are a few reasons you shouldn’t use Vicks VapoRub on your penis. A 2010 case report found that some of the active and inactive ingredients in Vicks VapoRub, including turpentine oil, eucalyptus oil, and cedar leaf oil, can potentially irritate the skin. Given that the skin on the penis is generally sensitive, it may be more prone to irritation. 

Additionally, Vicks VapoRub is only intended for external use. Putting it on your penis and then in someone else’s mouth, vagina, anus, or any other body part with mucous membranes is unsafe. Not only might it cause irritation, but absorption of camphor — one of the active ingredients in the product — into the body can be dangerous because it is possible to overdose on camphor. Symptoms of camphor poisoning include nausea, vomiting, seizures, unconsciousness, hallucinations, and slowed breathing, among other possible symptoms. 

It’s also worth noting that the concentration of menthol in Vicks VapoRub is 2.6%, while the topical gel studies included in the 2020 review on menthol had a higher concentration of menthol. So, besides being potentially irritating or dangerous, using Vicks VapoRub on surface-level penile tissue likely wouldn’t make a significant impact.  

If you’re looking to treat erectile dysfunction, there are plenty of options that don’t involve Vicks VapoRub. Keep it in the medicine cabinet for treating cold symptoms and sore muscles, but consider one of these alternatives if you’re looking to treat ED. 

Try oral prescription medications

There are several oral ED medications on the market, mostly belonging to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (aka PDE5 inhibitors). These drugs help strengthen erections in part by increasing blood flow to the penis. Some options to explore with your healthcare provider are: 

• Viagra. One of the most well-known ED drugs on the market, Viagra is the branded version of sildenafil. It usually takes effect within 30 to 60 minutes. (If you’re looking to save money, sildenafil is also available as a non-branded medication.)

• Cialis. Cialis is the branded version of tadalafil, which can be taken as-needed or daily, depending on the dosage. Effects can last up to 36 hours, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get spontaneous or continuous erections during that time — just that you’re more likely to be able to get hard when you want to. It’s also available as a lower-cost generic pill.

• Vardenafil. This fast-acting medication can begin to have effects in as little as 10 minutes (though it can take longer in some people). It’s available as an oral tablet or a dissolvable tablet. As is the case with Viagra and Cialis, it won’t give you spontaneous erections, but will help you get and maintain one if you’re turned on. 

• Daily Rise Gummies*. These gummies from Ro contain tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis. They’re designed to be taken every day and allow you to get erections whenever, wherever. 

• Ro Sparks*. This powerful little medication that dissolves under your tongue combines sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectively. It’s designed to get you hard, on average, 15 minutes after dissolving, and keep you ready for up to 36 hours. 

These last two options are compounded medications. While they have not been specifically FDA-approved for the treatment of ED, their active ingredients have been individually FDA-approved for ED. 

Make lifestyle changes 

Erectile dysfunction can have many different causes, including health conditions, side effects from medications, and emotional factors. 

ED can also be caused by lifestyle factors like excessive alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, and a poor diet. If you suspect your ED is lifestyle-related, consider making changes to your diet and cutting back on smoking, excess alcohol, and recreational drugs to see if there’s any improvement. 

In addition to making it easier to get an erection in the first place, making these changes could also lead to better erections and increase your sexual confidence, improving the sexual experience for you and your partner.

Try devices or implants

Another option, if medications and lifestyle changes aren’t working, is a penis pump. These devices typically work by having the user place their penis inside a chamber. Using a vacuum or hand pump to create suction in the chamber has the effect of drawing blood flow into the penis. A constriction ring then placed at the base of the penis traps the blood in place, which can help keep the erection. 

A small study on men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction found that 75% were able to achieve an erection sufficient for satisfactory sex when using a penis pump. Of note, you shouldn’t keep the ring in place for longer than 30 minutes at a time due to the possibility of penile injury. 

Another non-medication option is a penile implant, which involves a device being surgically implanted under the skin of the penis. They’re typically either flexible silicone implants or inflatable implants that fill with a saline solution from a small pump the user squeezes. 

Penile implant options are considered after almost all other treatments have been attempted and are usually not something your healthcare provider will recommend upfront since they require surgery.   

Ask your provider about shockwave therapy

 While this likely won’t be a provider’s first recommendation for ED, low-intensity shockwave therapy is worth exploring if you haven’t responded to other treatments. It’s thought to work by stimulating blood flow to the penis, though more research is needed. 

A scientific review of existing studies found the most significant effects of shockwave therapy were seen in people with vasculogenic ED (as opposed to other types of ED). 

Another small study found that shockwave therapy was effective in 60% of participants on average who did not respond to PDE5 inhibitors, the class of medications to which Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) belong. 

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Vicks VapoRub may make you feel better when you’ve got a cold or minor muscle aches after a hard workout, but it should not be used to treat erectile dysfunction. There are some other potential ways you can use the product, but there’s no evidence that it’s a safe or effective way to treat ED. 

• According to the FDA, Vicks VapoRub can be used as a cough suppressant and a topical pain reliever for minor aches and pains. 

• There is no scientific evidence that Vicks VapoRub is an effective or safe treatment for erectile dysfunction, and it’s not recommended to apply Vicks VapoRub directly to your penis. 

• If you’re looking to treat ED, consider prescription medications, lifestyle changes, devices, or implants designed specifically to treat erectile dysfunction. A healthcare provider can help you find the option that’s right for you.