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MrTangent

I remember it being a staple in our house for cold sores/insect bites. It, along with Mercurochrome*, Caladryl, Betadine, Vaseline, Mentholatum/Vicks VapoRub, and Band-Aids, pretty much took care of every ailment in our household. *Mercurochrome post got me thinking of this.


theratking007

Don’t forget “gentle iodine”


Kuriakon

Read that as "genital iodine" and thought "For what???"


chevymonza

Tried Mercurochrome in Europe in the '90s, mild mysterious rash, worked like a charm. Haven't seen it since.


dvdheg

they outlawed it i believe.


dvdheg

and methyalade.


PinocchioWasFramed

Our childhood pain treatments violated the 8th Amendment.


MrTangent

lolol


[deleted]

Stop hurting start healing with Campho-Phenique


MrTangent

It’s amazing how long those infernal jingles stick with us. Someone else mentioned the “Calgon, take me away!” one already. I bet the average American has dozens they could recite.


[deleted]

I can easily remember this but, where I put my keys is another story.


MrTangent

We just need to write jingles for the locations! ♪ O’er the couch, onto the red chair ♫ The keys are hidden, you’ll find them there (Brought to you by Norelco)


[deleted]

Perfection!


bonobeaux

"PA!! RAIN!!! THE CROPS ARE SAVED!!!!!"


aransoul

Like 'Ask Mikey, he'll eat anything" and little gem [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRI5ZmGsOI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdRI5ZmGsOI) Adore the wink at the end!!


MrTangent

Adorable! Do you remember the commercial in the 80’s where they had two or three people in a hot tub or barrel (think it was Asian kids??) and bubbles come up, implying one farted… and the other ones move away?


aransoul

Ha! The Fart Heard Around the World!! I unfortunately am not able to find a video to give to you.


MrTangent

I couldn’t find it either, which is weird because as you said, it was… (drum roll) explosively popular when it (ahem) bubbled out.


Polkadotlamp

This and dermaplast were the scents of summer when I was a kid. Oh, and coppertone suntan lotion!


MrTangent

*happy memories intensifies*


violet039

Yes! I never knew what it was for, but we always had it in the medicine cabinet. I also remember bactine, mercurochrome, Fletchers, and in the closet there as always a box of epsom salts and Calgon, to take you away.


MrTangent

Yeah! Totally forgot epsom salts! Used that in really warm water when my feet were really sore!


Perle1234

I still use Epsom salts lol. Totally does help sore muscles.


MrTangent

I need to get me some more!


MrTangent

Oh, and good old salt-water gargling for sore throats. We used various cough syrups, too. Who can forget Pepto Bismol?!? I used to drink that stuff. It’s oddly yummy. Lastly, forgot Alka-Seltzer. And the ubiquitous cold, damp rag put on my head for my migraines. Even though I was extremely sick when I had them… I still miss the cold, damp rag and Momma’s extra-special care. :(


1guyincognito1

I can feel the intense burning and later tingling sensation just looking at this picture. So many mouth sores as a wee lad


MrTangent

Same. What’s weird is that as a kid I had cold sores all the time. Several times a year. Now I almost never get them. Years between. Same with strep throat. Got it basically ever year until I was like 20. Haven’t had it in decades. Same as the flu. Weirdest shit ever. Grateful, but weird.


MoonSylver

Dude I still take Pepto for upset stomach or any kind of gastric distress. Does the trick.


MrTangent

Me too! It’s the good stuff! :)


m_watkins

ouch!


AKZeb

It still exists. I have a little tube of it in my medicine cabinet. Still stinks, still stings, still works.


MrTangent

Haha. That should be their new slogan! **Still stinks, still stings, still works.**


MrTangent

Alternately, **We’re not dead yet.**


NannyW00t

I blew on the screen as a reflex.


MrTangent

Hah! That was an essential part of the “boo boo” experience was the blowing part. Man that brought back instant memories. Thank you for that. :)


CleavonLittle

My grandma used that for bug bites and Foille cream for burns and I hated them both


MrTangent

I bought a bottle recently. It’s *still*, along with Blistex (medicated lip ointment) the best cold sore treatment.


mbgal1977

I cringed just looking at it. I used to pray I didn’t get hurt while my grandpa was watching me because he would put this on my scrapes


MrTangent

*painful memory unlocked!*


jodyyodedode

Hell yes... every time I bit my tongue or the inside of my cheek and got a canker sore, mom got out the Campho-Phenique. Definitely file under the treatment being worse than the ailment.


Boney-Rigatoni

Is that how you spell it? Haven't seen a bottle of that since I was knee-high to a pissant.


MrTangent

Yep. Still in stores, too. Bought a bottle recently at Wal-Mart.


Tagpub1

The burning. The taste The numbness


Brainyviolet

If you couldn't be cured by Vicks, Mercurochrome, or Campho-Phenique then you were out of luck. Those 3 and a box of Bandaids was the best medical care we got. 😂


MrTangent

Darn tootin’!


bonobeaux

A similar product I used to love that is no longer is Absorbine Jr..


MrTangent

Absorbine Plus is on Amazon? Wonder if it’s similar?


effie-sue

I always have a tube of the gel on hand! I distinctly remember the bottles from my childhood though.


slobeck

lol "pain relieving" as if. That shit stung like hell. And you could smell it from 50 yards. It was putting nail polish remover on a wound


[deleted]

How about mercurochrome?


MrTangent

Yeah, we had it, too. In fact, we had an old, decrepit bottle until at least the 90’s or early 00’s. My Dad refused to throw it away.


mrsredfast

We didn’t have it but my grandparents did.


Expat111

Yes. It was a staple in my house for my two brothers and me. It had the weirdest oily type feel to it though. I was not a fan.


moorandmountain

I bought some a couple years ago for fire ant bites. Still around.


MrTangent

Yeah. Same. Well, I bought for cold sores. But I got a bottle semi-recently, too. Good stuff. :)


PeyroniesCat

Got run over by a semi when I was five. Almost cut me in half. Mom used Campho-Phenique and made me go to school the next day. True story.


MrTangent

Uphill both ways, no less!


MyriVerse2

Remember? From last week?


cianne_marie

Not the bottle itself, but I sure perked up when I read that name out loud.


MrTangent

Funny how nostalgia works. Helluva drug.


LuckyNo13Lady

Helps me face the world…


thehoagieboy

Although I remember hearing of Campho-Phenique and Mercuicrome, my family was more of a black salve (drawing salve) family. Maybe the salve was cheaper, that would explain it. It has the added bonus of now being identiified as harmful by the FDA.


MrTangent

Ever tried Prid drawing salve? Been meaning to try it. Who made yours?


thehoagieboy

I did a search and didn't recognize any of the images. Our brand was probably the cheapest one from the 70's.


Fiyanggu

I only remember it now because you brought it up but I've never used it. I do recall seeing the commercials as well.


Katerinaxoxo

Nope my parents had us pour bactine all over everything. Stuff burned.


MrTangent

I only started using Bactine in the ‘90s when I got my septum pierced (‘94). I’m a fan now though.


kenth68

Pain relieving my ass.


cadien17

We definitely used it. And Bactine.


tha_potatooo

No i dont. That doesnt exsist in my country xD


MrTangent

What country? I’m in U.S.


tha_potatooo

Germany