Vicks VapoRub on Soles of Feet

Received the following forwarded email sometime ago:

Don't laugh, it works 100% of the time although the scientists at the Canada Research council (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.

I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to alternative therapies like accupressure. Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened.

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It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

An adult friend tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, ( incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it.

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So, if you have young children or grand-children, pass it on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed by the effect.

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What do you have to lose?

(Comments can be found from http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/vaporub.asp and yet another from http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/vicks_for_cough.htm that suggest that the above claim "is of undetermined status" or "has neither been scientifically tested nor proven". But there is really no harm in trying.)

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Footnote: I personally tried this on my youngest 13-year-old son Wai Kei the other night when he started coughing. Well, it worked on him! Hence, I decided to post it here for the record.