Q. Long ago I heard about using Vicks VapoRub at bedtime on the soles of the feet to calm a nighttime cough. Recently my hubby developed a horrible deep cough that made him choke and gasp for breath. No cough suppressant he tried helped at all.
Out of desperation we dug out the Vicks, applied it to his soles and he put on socks. In less than an hour his cough completely subsided. It didn’t begin again until late morning the next day.
We followed this routine for 12 days until I finally convinced him to see the doctor. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. After 10 days of antibiotics and a week of prednisone he is okay again. The doctor was surprised and maybe amused when I mentioned this home remedy.
A. We are impressed that Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet actually helped a serious cough that signaled pneumonia. We do NOT recommend toughing it out with a home remedy as long as your hubby did.
Vicks can be very helpful if a child with a cold is keeping the entire family awake. A decade or more ago, we heard from a nurse that applying Vicks VapoRub to the soles of her child’s feet worked like a miracle. Many other parents have since found it helpful. So have spouses, like you and Dan, who offered this:
“I tried this remedy on my wife today after not sleeping for two days. Prescription cough syrup didn’t work and within a very short period she was sleeping like a baby.”
