Vicks Vapor Rub for Coughing????

[drz]

I got this in one of those spam emails that gets forwarded to everyone. I have no idea if this would work or not but wonder if anyone else had tried it or checked it out to see if it has any validity.

I did after posting this check it on Snopes and Truth or Fiction and found it is a hoax started back in 2007. it also says it could dangerous for young children because of camphor ingredient in Vicks. This is another example of why we need to be careful of alternative health procedures that are hyped by internet or endorsed by friends which could be dangerous.

VICKS VapoRub - INTERESTING

During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils.

Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why.

To stop night time coughing in an adult as we found out personally, put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time. More effective than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemicals in them. This method of using Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet was found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bed time. In addition it seems to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100% !! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes. So she went from every few seconds uncontrollable coughing, she slept cough-free for hours every night she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.

DON'T SHUN THIS ONE..

TRY IT THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH.

THE ONLY THING YOU CAN LOSE IS YOUR COUGH.

[KimH]

My mom gave me an article she found in a local paper about putting Vicks on the soles of the feet. She also heard it on the radio. I have not yet needed to try it.

[mishb]

I cannot use it because I am allergic to Vicks or the menthol, however, I did put it on my kids feet when they were younger, as does nearly everyone I know.
My kids even put it on their own feet, when they remember, and they are now in their 20's.

Another person I know, advised a lady just a couple of days ago, to put it on the soles of her feet to stop her coughing at night time - it worked for her.

I can't believe that it is a hoax since we have been doing it for many many years.

It does work to keep the cough at bay, on your children at night time - but only at night time.

[ingemlb]

Interesting. I heard about this some time ago but never tried it. Will go look for the vicks and give it a shot as my cough has been bugging me again today :(

[Rose]

Never used it myself but family members have commented on using it on themselves.kids etc. and say it really works. Surprised to hear it is on that site.

Rose

[ingemlb]

Well I smeared it on the soles of both feet last night and put on some socks (lol still wearing them) and I do think the coughing was less. Hard to tell after one attempt as it is not as severe every night. I also did a nasal rinse before going to bed. Will keep it up for a few days and see how I go. So far ... seems like it's good :) Inge

[Debbie C]

I remember when I was a child my parents would put it on our chest or throat and wrap a big sock around our neck to help us breathe better. The thing was they always had to fasten the sock with a safety pin and I was always afraid the pin would unsnapped in the middle of the night and jab my neck !!!! It does help the breathing that way though. Never tried it on my feet either.Let us know how that works for you Inge.

[drz]

I read that Vicks doesn't recommend it be used on feet. They could sell a lot more of it if they did but they must be concerned about their credibility or law suits if it is dangerous for children if used in this manner. It might not be safe for us adult Weggies either.

I too had Vicks used on me as a child but haven't used any for decades now.

[ingemlb]

I read that Vicks doesn't recommend it be used on feet. They could sell a lot more of it if they did but they must be concerned about their credibility or law suits if it is dangerous for children if used in this manner. It might not be safe for us adult Weggies either.I too had Vicks used on me as a child but haven't used any for decades now.
Thanks drz but I think I am going to risk it. I can hardly assume a product you inhale or lather your chest and back with can cause anywhere near the side effects when put on your feet all the toxic junk I am swallowing right now can which comes with pages of known side effects lol.

So ... reporting back after night 2 ... I slept the most I have in ages. So the coughing must have been a lot better. I will continue even if just for a week or so to get some decent sleep. Despite the Melatonin I wake up ever 30 to 40 minutes each night with either coughing fits or running to the loo but usually coughing fits that make me need to run to the loo. Then all day it's hard to keep my eyes open and I doze here and there.

Sometimes these companies don't want to spend the money on research to find out what their product does used in another way and maybe they think it sounds simply too weird putting it on the soles of the feet. That's what I thought when I first heard it but did a fair bit of googling and found it is quite common knowledge. Maybe they are ULTRA ULTRA conventional like my Rheumatologist told me when I tried to explain a medication I had been taking was shown to have organ protecting properties :) I just wanted him to keep an open mind in case now that I am off that stuff my organs start getting attacked by the Wegener's. Or I should say my vital organs as I have enough damage already in the NOT SO vital stuff like the entire gastrointestinal area the eyes the knows the mouth and the feet (neuropathy).

[mishb]

The law suits was the fact the children wont keep socks on their feet or they come off during the night.......then they will slip on the floor.
I'm not sure it was because of the vicks itself being on your feet instead of your chest.

My kids can vouch that it works.

[ingemlb]

Thanks Michelle. I will now continue the trial with more confidence :)

[mishb]

I am thinking though, that if you are suppressing the cough for too long (too many nights), you could possibly make things worse in the long run :sad:
I don't recall that we ever used it for more than a few days.

If you are not coughing the mucus (nasal drip) out, then it will be staying in your lungs, or wherever, and could therefore have the potential of causing an infection.

I'm not sure if this is the case - it's just what I'm thinking at the moment :unsure:

[ingemlb]

That was one worry I had too Michelle. I keep thinking it has to come out. Well I don't need to worry too much as it comes out all day long. Just nice to have a peaceful night. Last night before sleep I coughed so much I lost my breath and freaked out for a moment thinking I may not be able to breathe again. I must get an inhaler I guess. Seeing the doc tomorrow. Better add that to the list :( It was so bad I was exhausted for ages and could hardly talk.

Anyway as to the Vicks under the feet experiment it let me down badly last night and was back to my normal coughing my head off running to the loo and in-between not being able to shut up my mind. I was supposed to stop the Melatonin after a week but I am still taking them but looks like not a great deal of help right now. Will make a new appointment with the Psychiatrist and see what he can recommend. The drug he wanted to try me on to calm me down doesn't work with Tramadol and even though I am weaning off Tramadol it is one pain killer I would hate to have to exclude as most things I can't take due to the stomach ulcers :( so it's good to have on standby for when things flare up again. Also use it when my eye ulcers strike or I get really bad bowel pains.

But ... this is the Vicks thread. Jury still out if it actually helps. And now the added issue should we suppress the coughing. Maybe I need to go back to the ENT specialist to get a spray to stop the mucous from the nose because I still believe that's the source of it. I am not flushing a great deal out when I do the sinus rinses however in-between rinses blowing out a lot of yellow phlegm so it's quite over productive.

[ingemlb]

Last night had another great night of sleep. no coughing and no visit to the loo. so far the good nights are outnumbering the bad nights so the trial will continue :)

[mishb]

Last night had another great night of sleep. no coughing and no visit to the loo. so far the good nights are outnumbering the bad nights so the trial will continue :)

Maybe it needs a couple nights on and then a night off, before another few nights on ?? :unsure:

I'm glad it's helping you to have some sleep

[drz]

I found thinning the mucous with a generic Muccinex was helpful to reduce coughing.

[HopeinTN]

My mother just told me about this today. It works for her.

[ingemlb]

My coughing definitely has improved :thumbup: but so has the sinus situation :thumbup: :thumbup: I am blowing my nose much less frequently and when I rinse very little comes out.

So last night for the first time I slept without the vicks under my feet and things still seem ok.

So .... Jury still out ... did the vicks help? :unsure: Or has the pred and Mtx combo finally started to fix the sinus issues? I will see what happens after a few days.

If the problem recurs then I would have to think that the Vicks Vaporub under feet does more than just stop the cough ... it stops the phlegm in the sinus too?

:thumbsup:

Sounds all too good to be true but I am glad i am not coughing and spluttering as much at least for now.