Vicks on your FEET for a cough?

luvrulz · #21 03/26/10, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kung

My son has had the NASTIEST cough in the last 3 days; so bad that it kept him up, made him gag, etc. We gave him some kids' Claritin, a bunch of homeopathic remedies, and so on and so forth.

I ran across reports of putting Vicks on a child's feet (covered with socks) and my first thought was "Right...gimme a freaking break.' But then I thought "Hey...worst that can happen is he gets menthol feet."

So 10 p.m. last night, after hacking continuously for HOURS, we put some on his feet and put socks on him.

Between 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. he coughed exactly TWO times.

You could knock me over with a feather. I have no clue WHY this works, but it worked wonders for Ethan.

Better than Vicks is the salve you can buy at the Amish bulk store called Unker's Salve. It is amazing stuff and at the first hint, grease your self up and put some socks on - 90% of the time it'll be gone by morning!

FarmboyBill · #22 03/26/10, 08:14 PM

Well, maybe youve seen the commercials where they got something oriental u put on your feet, and take it off in the morning, and its black from asorbing stuff outa your body, Maybe it would asorb sickness also. Cant see why not. Thought it was BS, but think ill give it a try.

ajaxlucy · #23 03/26/10, 10:57 PM

It worked for me, too. Side bonus: it moisturizes, too.

laughaha · #24 03/26/10, 11:22 PM

Unker's Salve works for the person whose sick, but that person can sleep in the barn at my house!! That stuff is HORRIBLE smelling!!! The smell lingers forever like a dogs venison toots. WAY BAD! DH LOVES the stuff.

Joshie · #25 03/26/10, 11:44 PM

I think your son would have improved even without the Vicks. A relationship does not necessarily show cause and effect.

Vicks can cure nail fungus according to my hubby's doctor. It has to be the brand name stuff.

Big Dave · #26 03/27/10, 03:52 AM

At the first sign of colds my mom would rub us boys down with that stuff and wrap us up in an old wool army blanket.It was miserable but we only had to do it one night and it worked.The socks on the feet thing was also done.
Your skin absorbs what it is in contact with. Try this : rub an onion on your foot bottom. Wait a small while and you will taste it. I learned this from an aunt who sold make up.
Hope your boy is doing better.

Tricky Grama · #27 03/27/10, 04:53 AM

I read that remedy in a pharmacist's column in our newspaper. Sounds better to me than my G'Gma's remedy of a mustard plaster on the chest. Can burn your skin off!

Glad Ethan's better, Kung.

Patty

SueMc · #28 03/27/10, 06:52 AM

I'm another skeptic turned believer. It has worked for me and the grandkids, plus is one of the best rough feet cures I've used.

Jenn · #29 03/27/10, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky Grama

I read that remedy in a pharmacist's column in our newspaper. Sounds better to me than my G'Gma's remedy of a mustard plaster on the chest. Can burn your skin off!

Glad Ethan's better, Kung.

Patty

I use covers but the Vicks on my feet did not work. But I am also I expect taller than Ethan this year anyway. Mustard on my chest or in a bath or steam facial works great for me but I messed up the first time and had a very vicious chemical burn on my chest. Thank goodness healed up without a scar- about 1&1/2 palms of my hand in size! And 2nd degree with blisters and plenty of pain.

chickenista · #30 03/27/10, 11:00 AM

[QUOTE=blooba;4354267]You skin is alot more permeable than we believe. Especially the palms ,pits, and arches of your feet.
QUOTE]

This is the very reason that I am picky about what lotions etc.. I use.
The thought of rubbing things with long chemical names into the largest organ of my body is one step farther than I can take it.
I try to only get the lotion etc... where I can pronounce and understand every ingredient.

**Kung** · #31 03/27/10, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshie

I think your son would have improved even without the Vicks. A relationship does not necessarily show cause and effect.

Bluntly put, I think you're mistaken in this case. He had had the cough nonstop all night for the previous four nights - and by nonstop I mean NONSTOP. 4 or 5 bouts of coughing a minute, with several coughs a bout; ALL NIGHT LONG.

He was in the middle of a coughing bout when we put the stuff on his feet. He quieted immediately, and stayed quiet the entire night.

As a sort of 'test' we didn't put it on his feet till about 10 p.m. last night. He coughed like crazy. We then put it on his feet. No more coughing.

Is it possible that 'cause and effect' aren't related here? Sure it's possible. Probable, however? I doubt it. Since posting this I've had a LOT of nurses and a doctor or two tell me the same thing - they've no clue how it works, but it obviously does work.

**Kung** · #32 03/27/10, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn

I use covers but the Vicks on my feet did not work. But I am also I expect taller than Ethan this year anyway.

Yeah, I've heard that it works not as good (or not at all) with some of the older people. I have since gotten a small cough, and my wife got a larger cough last night (and once my wife starts coughing almost NOTHING stops her). Both of us tried Vicks. It worked almost immediately for her, and not so well for me.

But then again my feet are fairly rough and calloused, and hers are smooth as a baby's butt, so I think there IS a correlation between size and skin roughness, and how effective it is.

Kelly · #33 03/27/10, 06:24 PM

For those interested, might want to try out this site. I bought one of their books to give my SIL when he graduated with his pharmacy degree. I love listening to their weekly radio program and reading their newspaper columns. They've discussed vicks on the feet for coughs numerous times.
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/

Momto5 · #34 03/27/10, 06:46 PM

Works for us too. No placebo effect, no power of suggestion (since half the time we do it kiddos are sleeping).Dont know how it works, but it does!!!!

okgoatgal2 · #35 03/27/10, 07:14 PM

worked for me too for the last 5 months, but it didn't make the cough go away permanently-just at nite so i could sleep.

**Kung** · #36 03/27/10, 07:18 PM

Yeah, I SHOULD note that for some reason it doesn't really do much during the day. Beats me as to why. But that's ok - it's not as bad during the day, only at night.

And that's fine - getting more sleep helps the body heal and that's what we needed.

Toads tool · #37 03/27/10, 07:24 PM

To test the permeability of someones feet, sprikle a little garlic powder in there shoes.
They will taste it and smell it all day.

stanb999 · #38 03/28/10, 07:56 AM

It works, don't know why! But it does.