the best cough medicine...

20 November 2008


Okay, kind of a random post I know, but as we're heading into cough and cold season, I had to share something that works for us! My oldest daughter is a magnet for coughs. If she gets any type of a cold, a cough comes along with it. She had RSV when she was 9 months old, and her lungs have always seemed to struggle a bit more than my other kids. Cough medicines just don't cut it and she coughs all night long. I heard of this trick somewhere last year, and it has been one of my favorite tips of all time because it works! If you or your kids have a cough, generously rub some Vicks Vaporub on their feet before bedtime, cover with socks, and it just opens their airways through the night and there is no coughing. I couldn't believe it. I don't know all of the medical reasoning behind it, but it has worked for us and I used it again last week when 2 of my kiddos had the dreaded night-time coughs. Worked again~all night.
Aren't most of your nerve endings in your feet, including your lungs?? Hopefully someone can explain it to me. I wouldn't use it on babies under 1 or 2~I know they make Baby Vaporub, and I'm assuming you could use that for them. And, kids like it SO much more than yucky cough medicine. Anyway, just wanted to pass it on to all of you wonderful blog buddies. Here's to a season of no night-time coughing! (hopefully!) Let me know if you try it and it works! Do you have any other great tips you use for winter coughs?
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29 comments

  1. Hey there! This is hilarious because my mother-in-law told me about this little home remedy last winter when my kids were getting cold after cold. I'm an RN and really doubted that this would work, but I tried it out of desperation. And you know what? I think it really does work. Now, I do it anytime my kids have a bad cough.

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  2. Wow, great tip and just in time! My daughter has broncitis as we speak. Will try the vicks tonight!

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  3. I have a good friend who is into natural healing... when my kids are sick she gives me eucalyptus drops to put on the bottom of my kids' feet... same principle I think. She also tells me to put it on the top of their ears. I'll have to try the vaporub!

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  4. I love Vicks too, I put a little under my nose right before bed... breathing is always a good thing! I will have to try the foot trick next cold... Thanks for sharing!

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  5. My youngest sounds like your daughter, any kind of cold and she develops the nasty cough. Nighttime is the worst! She had it again about a month ago and I tried it but I was using the leftover Baby Vicks and it didn't work. Thanks for the reminder that I need to get the regular kind;) Glad to hear it worked for you!

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  6. I had heard that via an e-mail last year and had forgotten about it until my mother tried it earlier this week...it definitely works! And I had forgotten further until your reminder...I will try it on my 6-yr old son who is home from school for the third day with croup. It works!

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  7. yes, this works! Glad you reminded me. I do seem to forget about it until someone around here has a terrible cough and I'm scrambling around trying to find something to help them sleep.

    Tree cheers for Vicks!

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  8. Ok I have heard of this but just thought another fuddy. Well since several have said it works I plan on trying it. I do use it under my nose at night and I love it.

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  9. That is a great tip. I always forget about it and my husband reminds me all the time. He is a big fan of the vapor rub. I do have to say my two boys are a little different because they love all kinds of liquid medicine. My daughter on the other hand pinches her nose so she doesn't have to smell it. It was always a battle trying to get her to take anything.

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  10. I have heard of this before; I'll have to give it a try next time the kids have a cough. I just rediscovered Vicks earlier this year. My mom always used it on us as kids, but for some reason as an adult I never did until recently. I love the scent...to me it means comfort.

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  11. This is the BEST BLOG!! I need to remember this tip, my kids are all on the verge of colds, so the cough is waiting in the wings I am sure! I will never forget going through that RSV time with Lauren, lots of memories. I am glad you have found something to help~

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  12. What a great tip! I have always loved Vicks---it just makes me feel so much better when I am sick! My youngest gets coughs all the time, so I will have to try it on her! The Baby Vicks is heavenly...it has ingredients that help little ones to sleep! Always a plus when they are sick! Have a good day!

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  13. I've only done the VaporRub on their chests before bed. I'll have to try the feet!

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  14. I have heard this before but wasn't sure if it worked or not - now I will know for future reference. By the way, those socks from B&B works are my favorite! I got a pair last year and wear them all the time. Now the little round things are falling off on the bottom and I find them in Mckenna's diaper! Kind of gross, but they are the best, most comfy socks in the world.

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  15. Wow, I would never have thought of that! Definitely will try it next time.

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  16. I've never heard of this but now I am definately going to try it out.

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  17. I heard this last year too -- my son also had a very mild case of RSV around one year and after that had some major coughing episodes for a while. I asked our doc about it and she didn't think it would work, so I never tried it. Thank goodness he hasn't had a cough in a LONG time, but next time, I am doing this. Hearing them cough all night is one of the worst feelings as a parent, knowing there's so little you can do to help!!

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  18. I adore your blog. So many great ideas and the type of blog I have been searching for. I have read your entire blog this morning. (I was up at 4am with thoughts of a project) I have to say I watched your little guy dancing to the washing machine more than once this morning. So adorable and just what I needed to put a big smile on my face and make my heart melt. I can remember my two dancing when they were that age.

    Have a blessed day.

    Cece

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  19. Thanks! We will try that one for sure!

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  20. I'm a grandma now, and my mama would rub vick on my back, my chest, put on my PJ, then my feet, put on my socks, tuck me in, put some on my upper lip/nose. It always kinda soothed and calmed me. My kids love it too, minus putting it on the nose. It always helped.
    **Another tip with Vicks, Have a cold sore or chapped lips? Use a litte like carmex, however use vicks, and the next day it's gone and healed. For Reals, try it.
    PS. Love your blog.

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  21. I FOUND IT!! I should have remembered it was this blog not your personal one! I am calling Michael right now to pick some up on his way home...
    Loves!

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  22. I found you on pinterest, I have a daughter that gets coughs easily and she was up quite a bit last night. I saw this on Pinterest about a week ago and remembered it tonight. I didn't have any vicks but I did have mentholatum ointment, it has more camphor, less menthol and no eucalyptus, but it seems to have worked. I put it on her feet just after 9:00 and by a little after 9:30 she stopped coughing. She is snoring pretty good, but not coughing. Thank you for putting this out there. I will try it myself when I get my next cough, which is sure to be soon with fall already in the air here in Michigan :-)

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  23. I wish I would have seen this blog about 8 hours ago! Woulda been helpful! Must try!

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  24. Weird, I subscribe to your blog but must have missed this. I saw this pinned on Pinterest.  The body is amazing. My acupuncturist actually uses the feet to heal migraines, shoulder pain, breathing problems, etc... there is a correlation between the feet and the upper body. Another interesting thing is there is a correlation between the entire body and the ear. Our ears actually look like a fetus and it corresponds to the body for needling as well.  He can take care of back pain with a needle in the ear! The human body is amazing. 

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  25. My grandmother used to do this to me in the 60's.  Have done with my kids....Wonderful

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  26. look at a foot reflexology diagram and concentrate on those areas (lungs, sinus) -- i've used essential oils when i didn't have vapor rub on hand (as long as you don't react poorly to it -- lavender, peppermint)

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  27. I have used this for about 5 years and yes it works everytime. Thanks for posting this

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  28. This absolutely works! I tell people this all the time and they snicker, but it works! A friend told me to do this several years ago when I developed bronchitis while on chemo.. I figured I had nothing to lose, and it certainly couldn't hurt me. The first night I tried it, I slept through the night and my hubby was amazed that I didn't cough. I've been a "Vicks on the feet with socks" advocate ever since!

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  29. Tex_champs051/18/14, 9:23 AM

    My mom would do this every single time we would get sick growing up we had an unlimited supply of Vicks so it seemed lol my mother loved it. And till this day I use it on all my babies.

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