Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Menthol Vapor Rub for Coughs

5 star (13)		87%
1 star (2)		13%

Showing 5 Star Reviews

harphealer (Mount Laguna, CA) on 01/31/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Been using Vicks on the bottom of the feet, cover with socks, for 30 years. Works like a charm.

Rach (San Antonio, Texas) on 12/10/2012
5 out of 5 stars

I tried a menthol vapor rub and it worked for me. Thanks for all the great tips!!!

Kristi (Papillion, Ne) on 05/13/2012
5 out of 5 stars

My son had a terrible cough that over the counter meds were not helping, so I came to your site and saw the vick's remedy, but I didn't have any vicks. I was thinking of going to the store and then remembered the Burt's Bees hand salve in the bottom of my purse. I don't like to use it on my hands because of the "menthol-ish" smell. Just put it on the soles of my son's feet and covered them with socks. So far so good, hopefully he will rest peacefully tonight.

Anna (Kaneohe, Hawaii) on 05/04/2012
5 out of 5 stars

Take some vicks and rub it on each foot before bed. Put on some socks and wear that through the night for about 4 days and that should help. (when I say four days I mean every night for four nights not four days straight)

Jenny (Perth, Western Australia) on 11/29/2011
5 out of 5 stars

I'm on the back-end of a cold and, as always, have got a tickly cough both night and day that sends me off in coughing fits. Three nights ago I slathered Vicks on the soles of my feet, covered them with socks and went straight to bed. I also elevated my head with a second pillow. Worked brilliantly. I've done it every night since - it lasts around 6-8 hours for me. Last night I removed the pillow as it gave me a headache - same great results! Now to try it during the day... :)

Maria (Newmarket, Ontario, Canada) on 08/02/2011
5 out of 5 stars

whenever I get cough, I put vicks vaporub under my feet and then put on the socks it works wonderfully, and the cough stops.

Emilyr (Portland, Or) on 03/29/2011
5 out of 5 stars

Wow Vick's on my feet gave me a night of peace after 2 weeks of a nagging, horrible cough - and very little sleep for my husband and myself. I am 36 and pregnant, and want to avoid medications... But had resorted to using Robetussin which did not help one bit. I had high hopes for ACV honey but so far that has not helped. Still looking for a way to deal with the day-time coughing, but at least I have found a way to get much needed rest! Thanks for this tip!

Ken McClelland (Mims, FL / USA) on 01/02/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I'd heard that to get rid of a cough, rub a vigorous amount of Menthol Vapor Rub (Vicks) onto the bottoms of your feet before bedtime, and then cover with a pair of socks. Sounds weird I know, but anything is worth a try if you can't stop coughing. So I passed this on to my email list (I didn't have a cough myself or I'd have tried it), and within a week I heard back from two family members who'd had a constant coughing issue due to colds. The results were 100% in support of its effectiveness. A grandchild who could not get any rest due to coughing slept without a sound after her parents applied the Vicks. And one older relative who had not gotten any rest in days said they slept like a little baby after applying Vicks Vapor Rub to their feet bottoms before bedtime. I'm sold.

Maryann (Morton, Illinois) on 11/11/2008
5 out of 5 stars

During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it. Some of us have used Vicks Vaporub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why.

To stop night time 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.

Vicki (Durban, South Africa) on 07/10/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Don't laugh, it really works! Found in an old herbal etc remedy book.

If you have a child or adult that keeps coughing at night, rub the underneath of the feet with the vicks vapour rub, put on socks to avoid messy bedding, and hey presto!...Knowledge is power, deep hunting for it.....regards from South Africa

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