Twins Demonstrate the Benefits of Vicks VapoRub on the Feet

When we first heard about putting Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet to calm a cough, we thought it was a little odd. In fact, the nurse who told us about it described this remedy as “wacky.” Nonetheless, over the years we have tried this tactic ourselves and found it helpful. Many other also have written about the benefits of smearing Vicks VapoRub on the feet. One mother recently told us about her natural experiment.

Does Vicks VapoRub on the Feet Really Help a Nighttime Cough?

Q. I have twin daughters who both had bad coughs for over a week. I put Vicks VapoRub on the feet of one, and she slept like a log!

I had run out of Vicks, so I couldn’t treat her sister. That one carried on coughing for another two hours. I headed to our late-night convenience store and bought some more Vicks for the other twin’s feet. Bingo!

I tried this experiment the other way around the following evening, with the same result. The twin who got the Vicks on her feet stopped coughing but the other twin carried on coughing until I finally smeared Vicks on her feet. What a joy to have twins for a sort of controlled experiment!

Why Does Vicks VapoRub on the Feet Quell a Cough?

A. Skeptics find this home remedy ridiculous. They may not understand the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in stimulating sensory nerves. When such channels are activated, they initiate a cascade of impulses that could reach the spinal column. These may suppress the nerve input in the cough center of the brain that triggers a cough.

Nerves in the airways have TRP channels (specifically TRPV1 and TRPA1) that respond to triggers such as capsaicin, the hot stuff in hot peppers (Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Oct. 2013). That’s why a whiff of hot chili peppers will make most people cough. On the other hand, TRPM8 channels appear to counteract the cough reflex (Pharmaceuticals, Sep. 2016).

Vicks VapoRub contains menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil and thymol, among other ingredients. All of these compounds can activate TRP channels. Menthol specifically triggers TRPM8 (Pain, Oct. 2013), which might help explain why Vicks VapoRub on the feet can help cool a cough.

Does Vicks Help Open Airways?

Q. I recently had a terrible upper respiratory tract infection. It came with bronchitis and a cough. Two days after the diagnosis, my cough was much worse, and I had a sore throat.

The PA gave me a Z-Pak and told me to use Vicks VapoRub on my chest and on the soles of my feet. I replied that I had used Vicks for years but never on my feet and inquired what it did. She said it helps open the breathing passages.

A. We are intrigued that a health professional adopted a remedy we have been writing about in The People’s Pharmacy for years. We first heard about this approach from a nurse who had learned about the remedy when her young children had a bad nighttime cough.

We suspect that the menthol in Vicks actually makes you feel better without opening the airways very much. As we described above, menthol activates a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel called TRPM8. This channel helps to perceive cold, which is why menthol feels cooling.

Scientists tested the impact of menthol on upper airway resistance and found it does not have an effect (Canadian Respiratory Journal, Jan-Feb. 2013). On the other hand, feeling cooler makes breathing easier. In addition, camphor and eucalyptus in Vicks also activate TRPM8 (Respiratory Research, Feb. 8, 2023). There are TRPM8 channels in the skin of the feet, which might explain why putting Vicks on your soles can help.

Learn More:

You’ll find more information about Vicks and other remedies in our eGuide to Colds, Coughs & the Flu.