Well, I just had to post about a 'home remedy' that has worked wonders for us.
2nd Man and I caught a cold a few weeks ago. We always try to start taking Vitamin C and Zinc at the first sign and we did. But then we stopped when it felt like it was gone but alas, it wasn't completely gone. It came back in the form of a lingering cough. You know, that cough that is worse when you lay down and keeps you up all night? You have coughing fits so bad that they give you a headache or hurt your ribcage? Well it's been keeping us up so we broke down and got some cough medicine. That didn't really help. Sure it probably relieved some of the congestion but the cough was still there
(so much for "truth in advertising")
(so much for "truth in advertising")
 |
| Vicks VapoRub |
Flash forward to the other day when my dear friend Dawn suggested a home remedy: Vicks Vaporub...on your feet before bed...and socks. HUH? For a cough? Sounds crazy but hey, we had the Vicks, we have the socks and we definitely have feet, LOL.
Now growing up of course, my Mom always put Vicks on my chest when I was sick. I even asked her to put it on Tommy the Tiger, my constant stuffed animal companion as a child. But I had never heard of the feet thing.
 |
| *Not my feet |
So the other night, I got home and decided to do it. I slathered it on while I was up watching TV and then put my socks on over it. Sure I was a sight to see in red and green plaid flannel pajama pants (hey, don't judge, it's been below 30 here at night, ha), white socks and black Crocs. I figured that was the best way to a) not get Vicks all over the hardwood floor, and b) not mess up my regular shoes. 2nd Man waited until bedtime to put his on. Apparently, there is something about being horizontal that helps as well. I coughed a bit while I was up but then before bed, I put it on again and let me tell you, we both slept like a baby. No coughing in the night, and slept right up until the alarm went off to get up and go to work.
I've also noticed today that my cough is different, it's somehow released the congestion in my chest and broken it up. I didn't even take the cough syrup last night and I slept without needing it and without coughing. I will be doing this again tonight and every night until it's gone.
A nice side effect is that my feet are soft and smooth too, ha. I'm not sure how it works. Power of suggestion? Some sort of aromatherapy-ish thing? The essential oils being absorbed into the body? Something like reflexology since the feet connect to other parts of our system? I've still coughed during the day but that's just because there is no real way to put this on and go to work, but for sleeping through the night, it's wonderful.
I have never heard of this home remedy before but wow, I have to say,
"color me impressed!"
I wonder what ELSE Vicks can do??
Good old fashioned home remedies :) Have also heard about it, but never tried it.
ReplyDeleteGlad it's helping you both.
Isn't it nice to hear something old fashioned that's been around for years works? Something so simple? Pretty cool!
Deletei have heard of this! good to know it works!
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one who had heard of it, ha. It's weird when you are doing it, but then you go, "hey, it can't HURT so why not?" and then the next day you go, "wow, it DID work", LOL!
DeleteBy the way, I've also heard that leaving a n onion which has been sliced i half next to your bedside also helps. Or so I've heard... :)
ReplyDeleteThe onion remedy is an urban legend.
Deletehttp://www.snopes.com/medical/swineflu/onion.asp
Tonya the reality doser aside (I kid Tonya, you know we luv ya!), I had heard of the onion thing but haven't ever tried it. Hey, once again, it can't hurt. I'm out of onions at the moment but I might just give it whirl. Of course to do a valid test, i'd have to go without the vicks, ha.
DeleteWe use the socks and vicks treatment. I am living proof that it works. It also makes your feet feel nice and smooth!
ReplyDelete(I just realised that you have discovered this side effect as well)
My father used to dilute a little vicks in hot water and inhale it to help with a cold.
Finally, and apropos of the onion: if he had a bad cold, my grandfather would take an onion, thread a string through the middle of it, hang it from the middle of the room and - so he said - in the morning it would be black because it attracted all the cold and flu germs to fly into it.
Yay, someone else!! And yes, the smooth feet side effect is great, it's like an overnight pedi, ha. I have heard of vicks in a vaporizer, I would think a cup of hot water would accomplish the same thing. Thanks. And as for the onion, not sure I'll put string through it and hang it above me, ha, but I'm ok with one on the bedside table. Like someone said, it can't hurt! Thanks for sharing!! I love stories like this.
DeleteIt will also kill any fungal nail infections! It's not a quick remedy but it does work. If you find any brown or black patches on your toe nails that's where it's attacking the infection. Doesn't work if you have nail polish on them though - just saying :-)
ReplyDeleteReally? Wow! I love it! Don't have that (fungus OR painted nails, LOL) but I will keep that in mind. Heck by putting them all over my feet, I suppose it could be preventative too. Awesome, thanks!
DeleteI have used this Vicks remedy--it DOES work, and yet, rarely does anyone believe me when I tell them. lol It's especially good for little ones...that croupy cough.
ReplyDeleteWe have had the same thing you guys have and the same lingering cough. I still put Vicks on my chest and throat when I'm sick...old remedies are often the best. The Irishman hates the smell of it, but we have a queen sized bed, so...I sleep like a baby, while he coughs. HA.
Feel better, Boyos...
Oh, I'm with you on the vicks on the chest, I actually am weird and like the smell of it, ha. Reminds me of my childhood and there's something comforting about it. Hey whatever works, right? Off to buy some more tomorrow! Thanks for the well wishes, this 'croupy cough' as you so well put it, sucks. We feel totally fine otherwise, just this dang lingering cough. It's becoming less during the day but still, not much we can do with the vicks at work. Darn it. :0)
DeleteMy theory is that the needed ingredients are absorbed through your soles. Ever see the commercial for the detox foot pads? Same thing.
ReplyDeleteThat makes perfect sense! And many of the ingredients are just essential oils aren't they? Sounds logical to me too! Thanks!
DeleteI have heard of this but haven't tried it. I'm not HOPING to get a cough but next time I do, I'll try it out. Thank you for sharing first hand. I'm thinking it's like ladyhawthornes said, something is absorbed into your feet and gets into your system. I might be a weird one but I LOVE the smell of vicks. :-P
ReplyDeleteHa, I just posted a reply a few comments up that I love the smell too! There are those of us out there. I've been known in the middle of summer when I'm all well to just open the jar and take a smell. :-)
Deleteyes - it DOES work and my mother used to put the vicks on our feet with socks when we were children and it is something that i still do whenever i have a bad cough (which is very rare over the past several years). the onion thing also works. if you are sick, cut a few onions in half and place them on a plate in every room of the house - the onion will draw in all of the bad ickiness and will eventually turn black. when it turns black, replace it with a new half onion. this will prevent others in the house from getting sick. it is especially important to place a half onion as close to your head as possible, on your night table when you sleep. don't be surprised if the onion is black the very next morning. the onion will try and draw as much sickness from you when you sleep. keep placing onions at the head of your bed and in every room of the house until you are better. i swear - it really works!
ReplyDeletei hope you guys feel better soon. warm thoughts and prayers being sent your way! your friend,
kymber
Awww, thank you. OK, now you contradict what Tonya found (still luv ya Tonya, ha)...I guess we're going to have to do some non scientific research on this. Hey, I'm all for something that might work that we always have around (though for some reason, I have none here tonight. Off to the market tomorrow. I wonder if I could do that at work? Probably not, ha.
Deletethanks again (and happy anniversary!!!)
1st Man,
ReplyDeleteThis is something I need to add to my medical note book.
THanks for the information!
Oooh, do share your notebook tips sometime! I love hearing of these kinds of remedies. And hey, we can always be prepared by having some basic, simple, multi use things around the house than can help us out in unexpected times.
DeleteMy family has done this for years also. It does work and so does the onion....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the confirmation. I am definitely intrigued now about the onions!!! Thanks for stopping by too!
DeleteMy grandma used to put Vicks on me, too. Hubby does Oranges and Chicken broth.
ReplyDeleteI will remember this if I can find my Vicks again. So much is still lost after the move.
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Yep, I think many of us grew up with the vicks chest/throat rub but as we grew up and moved on, we may have forgotten of this remedy. I do vitamin C pills but 2nd Man stocks up on oranges too! Thanks for the tip!
DeleteI have used this for years and it always worked for us. As a child my mother used to put Vicks or methylated oil on our chest at night, making sure you wash it off with warm water and soap first thing in the a.m. tho I am not sure why. I heard about the Vicks on the bottom of the feet with WHITE COTTON socks from an old warhorse of a nurse when I was in nursing school and started using it when I got married. It worked! I have been lucky enough to only use it on myself once but lots of times for my family. Glad it worked for you.
ReplyDeleteOld home remedies do work......some better than others. I can tell you from working in an E.R that anything with menthol added to the "nether regions" does not work! Although it does provide comic relief for the staff. LOL
Huh! We used to get Vicks on our chests if we caught colds as kids and it certainly worked. I'll have to give the socks idea a try next time one of us is sick. BTW, Vicks or Vaseline will also cure athlete's foot.
ReplyDeletei'll have to remember this feet/sock trick. :)
ReplyDelete