Fact Check: Can Rubbing Lemon with Vicks and Sugar Permanently Cure Knee Pain?
An Instagram post claims that Rubbing Lemon with Vicks and Sugar Permanently Cures Knee Pain. The claim is FALSE.
Claim
In an Instagram post it is claimed that Rubbing Lemon with Vicks and Sugar Permanently Cures Knee Pain. In the reel by vikashc_ it is said, "This is something every child should know. Back pain and knee pain of 100 years will disappear for the next 100 years. What you have to do is take one lemon, cut it in half, apply Vicks on it, and sprinkle sugar over it. After that, rub it on your knee. After 5 minutes, you will see that your knee pain has disappeared for 100 years."
The claim can be seen here.
Fact Check
The claim is FALSE. This is a viral home remedy without any backing from clinical studies or medical guidelines. The components may offer temporary comfort but do not provide a cure, let alone a permanent one.
What is Knee Pain?
Knee pain refers to discomfort, stiffness, or soreness in or around the knee joint, which may result from injuries, overuse, arthritis, or underlying medical conditions. While some causes of knee pain are temporary and treatable, in many cases it can become chronic, persisting for months or even years. Chronic knee pain may not fully heal despite treatment, often requiring long-term management to control symptoms and maintain mobility.
What causes knee pain?
The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Arthritis: Knee arthritis is very common. Several types can cause knee pain, with osteoarthritis being the most common.
- Injuries: Any injury that damages the knee joint can cause pain, including sprains, ligament injuries, hyperextension, fractures, and meniscus tears.
- Overuse: Repeated stress on the knee from activities such as running, jumping, kneeling, or squatting can lead to repetitive strain injuries and knee joint pain.
- Muscle or tendon strain (muscle pull): Straining or pulling the muscles or tendons around the knee, such as the quadriceps or hamstrings, can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving the joint.
- Ligament problems: Injuries to ligaments like the ACL, PCL, MCL, or LCL can result in pain, swelling, and instability of the knee.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) around the knee can cause pain and swelling, often due to prolonged kneeling or pressure.
- Cartilage problems: Damage or wear to the cartilage, including conditions like chondromalacia, can lead to knee pain and discomfort.
- Alignment or posture issues: Poor posture, flat feet, or abnormal walking patterns can put extra stress on the knee joints and cause pain over time.
Many conditions can cause knee pain, and it can be difficult to identify the exact reason on your own. The location of the pain, along with symptoms like swelling or stiffness, can often give important clues about the underlying cause.
What is Vicks VapoRub?
Vicks VapoRub (VVR) is a medicated ointment formulated with active ingredients such as levomenthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and turpentine oil, along with thymol, cedarwood oil, and soft paraffin. It has a petroleum jelly base and is applied to the chest, throat, or back, or sometimes dissolved in hot water for inhalation. Once applied, the ingredients evaporate with body heat, and their vapours are inhaled. VVR is primarily used to relieve nasal congestion and help reduce coughing.
What are the Health Benefits of Lemon?
Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C and a staple in Indian households. Widely appreciated for its medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary uses, it is known for therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-ulcer benefits.
Can Rubbing Lemon with Vicks and Sugar Permanently Cure Knee Pain?
There is no scientific evidence that rubbing lemon mixed with Vicks and sugar can permanently cure knee pain. While such a mixture may provide temporary relief due to its cooling or soothing sensation, it does not address the underlying causes of knee pain, such as arthritis, injury, or inflammation.
The reviewed studies provide no direct evidence for Vicks VapoRub in knee pain, focusing instead on topical analgesics as treatment options. According to Sheena Derry et. al., agents like diclofenac and ketoprofen are effective for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, including knee pain.
Similarly, Jillian Maloney et. al. notes that topical NSAIDs may help with acute musculoskeletal pain and show some benefit in hand and knee osteoarthritis.
However, Vicks VapoRub itself is not specifically studied for this purpose.
Dr Muhammed Nazeer, Senior Consultant & Group Coordinator, Department of Orthopedics & Trauma, KIMSHEALTH, Thiruvananthapuram, in a conversation,n said, "Home remedies can sometimes reduce discomfort, especially in mild or transient knee pain (e.g., after overuse). Products like Vicks (menthol/camphor) may help by creating a cooling/warming sensation, distracting the nerves from pain. Lemon might have some antioxidant effects. Sugar is unlikely to add benefit.
But to claim a permanent cure is misleading. If the knee pain arises from arthritis, cartilage loss, ligament tear, meniscal injury, or alignment problems, you need proper medical evaluation—physiotherapy, possibly injections, or in some cases surgery. The home remedy may provide temporary relief of symptoms, but it won’t reverse structural damage or halt progression."
Medical Dialogues Final Take
The viral claim that rubbing lemon with Vicks and sugar can permanently cure knee pain is false and misleading. At best, this mixture may provide temporary symptomatic relief due to the menthol and massage effect—but it is not a cure and cannot address underlying joint or tissue problems.
Hence, the claim is FALSE.
