Shocked Woman Finally Realizes She's Been Using Vicks VapoRub Wrong

Flu season is in full swing, and one woman has just realized that she has been using Vicks VapoRub wrong for over two decades.

A clip by Iveth Resendiz, 25, from San Francisco Bay Area, California, has racked up more than 945,000 views on TikTok. The video shows the woman rubbing a cotton bud up around her nostrils after dipping it into the tub of cold and flu remedy.

The text layered over the footage reads: "POV [Point of view] - you're 25 and find out this isn't supposed to go in your nose to help you breath and take your [mucus] out" like your grandparent said.

After following her usual procedure, the woman reads the instructions on the back of the pot that state: "do not take by mouth or place in nostrils." Despite doing it wrong, Resendiz, who uses the handle @ivethresendiz_, says her method still "does the job though."

Vicks VapoRub is a family favorite that has been in stores since 1894. It was initially made by a man called Lunsford Richardson, who was desperate to cure his sick son who had a severe case of croup. The common childhood infection that causes a barking cough disappeared after his dad combined ingredients into a salve that released soothing vapors when heated.

Today, the brand is still popular and used by people suffering from a cold or flu. It is likely Resendiz was trying to relieve sinus and nasal congestion by using the mentholated ointment. The Vicks website encourages people to follow these four tips to relieve the symptoms:

• Flush out your sinuses using salt water.
• Buy a decongestant, medication to relieve a blocked or stuffy nose.
• Use a nasal spray.
• Massage your sinuses by placing your index fingers on both sides of your nose and apply moderate pressure for two to three minutes.

The CDC says that flu has resulted in around 9 million to 41 million illnesses, 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020.

So far, the video has received more than 52,000 likes and over 380 comments, with many people sharing how they use the product.

One user wrote: "I was always told to put it directly under." Resendiz responded: "It don't hit the same as when it's closer to your brain."

"My gramp used to eat a spoonful of Vicks when he was sick. He grew up on a farm nothing phased him," posted another user.

One user commented on the TikTok post: "It's so relieving though."

"I knew someone who put a little Vicks in their tea when they were sick," posted another.

Newsweek reached out to @ivethresendiz_ for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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