I've always loved the pleasant and comforting smell of Vicks Vapor rub as a child when my mother rubbed it on my chest and throat to ease the common cold or flu, aid breathing or made me inhale it to relieve a stuffy nose. We use it for sore muscles, chapped lips and as an air freshener so I'm a big believer in Vicks VapoRub as a home remedy. It's even used to treat toenail fungus due to its antiseptic properties.

As it turns out, the active ingredients consists of camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil. Camphor cools the skin upon contact, menthol acts as a local anesthetic and relieves minor aches and pains, and eucalyptus oil helps to provide nasal congestion relief. I've learned that the soles of your feet absorb essential oils. For example, if you put garlic on your feet, within 20 minutes, you will be "tasting" it.

Anyway, scientists at the Canada Research Council have found applying Vicks Vapor Rub to the soles of the feet and putting socks on afterwards, will stop nighttime coughing in a child 100% of the time, although they aren't sure why.

To stop nighttime coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to alternative therapies like acupressure. I 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 chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, and in addition, to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly. A friend, Polly, 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 and believe me, this was a deep, ( incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough free for hours every night that she used it. So, if you have grandchildren, pass it on to their parents. And if you end up sick with the cold bug of flu virus, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed by the effect.

Now if you're like me, why bother deal with the misery of the catching a cold and and fighting it off? I've figured out there's are simple remedies for preventing the cold here and here.

Source:  Canada Research Council