Vicks on soles of feet

Grannyqueenie has it right. It was called Vick's Vapour Rub in former times.

It works brilliantly if you have a cough you have noting to lose give it a go

I think the theory behind putting Vick/Vicks on the soles of your feet is that during the night the helpful fumes come up towards your nose as you move around. I use it and have found it helpful as have several of my friends.

My daughter puts Vick ( there are other brands too, this shouldn't be a free advertising site!)on her children's feet when they have a cold. I'm not convinced it works but doesn't do any harm. She was also told by her doctor to squirt breast milk into the baby's eye when she had conjunctivitis. Something I hadn't heard of and that did work!

As a child I remember my Mum making a bowl of steaming Vick and getting me to breath it in (under a tea towel to keep the steam in). I hated it because my eyes streamed, ditto my nose but in the end it did help unblock the old sinuses. Fast forward 60 years and I thought it was off to the chiropodists for me but as a last resort I plastered my 'ingrowing toenail" with Vick and after a couple of days the pain went away and I am back to normal. Not sure my friend believed me about the Vick ?

Not sure about the onion in the bed BB! It's on the bedside table where it will absorb the germs, next morning you throw it away. The same principal as not using up half a peeled onion which has been uncovered, as it's taken up all the germs in the kitchen/fridge.

An old Spanish remedy is to stick a few cloves in the onion and leave it by the bed overnight. Again, dispose of it the next day.

Hope you're feeling even better this morning JenRen.

I don't put socks on! Still works, but must try the sock thing as well.

I use this remedy to reduce nighttime coughing and it works. Vital point is that socks must be worn once ointment is applied to soles of feet. Cannot explain why.

However, there was a recent report on the dangers of rubbing Vicks on children and babies, particularly around and near the airways( so foot area seems ok). Must look into this further but cannot find the link at the moment.

Well, I had a bad coughing night last night, ( poor DH) so I sat up and rubbed some
Vicks Vapour Rub ( still called that on the tub!) on my feet.Soon stopped coughing and got to sleep.It's a bit like a mild anaesthetic!

It was always Vick in my childhood but now is Vicks like 'armonds' became 'al monds' and Nestles became nes lays and Porsche became porcha

Isn't the foot thing the same as when you have reflexology and certain points on the foot relate to other parts of the body
Aren't you also suppose to put an onion or cake of soap at your feet in bed at night probably the modern version of old wives tales

Wasn't it called Vick's Vapour Rub ?

Thanks everyone. I have been using it on my neck, chest, around my nose and on my feet for the past couple of nights. I'm not sure it's helping by being on my feet but they are softer in the mornings, so a bonus and I keep my slippers close by for the nightly loo trip.

I am starting to feel better, thankfully. 5 days without food and drink in hospital wasn't great except I did loose 4 kilos!

It works on a baby's feet. I thought it was because the baby was unlikely to get it on his hands and then rub his eyes and get Vick in his eyes. An adults feet are rather a long way from an adults nose!

Anno I've always called it 'Vick' and still do, probably because that's what my mum and gran called it. I'm pretty sure that's what it said on the label when I was a child. My gran was a pharmacist so think she would get it right! Think it must have been rebranded somewhere along the way.

was supposed to be this emoji.

POGS you made me laugh out loud ?

Putting Vick or essential oils on the soles of the feet works because a) the soles of the feet are less sensitive than other areas of skin b) the oils are absorbed better c) the oils are absorbed more quickly.

It is Vicks isn't it.

Although if the OP said

"Can anyone tell me why it's beneficial to put ' VICK' on the sole of your feet at night when you heave a cold?"

We could all answer 'No idea but when your done with him pass him on'.

I thought it was always Vicks, anno, but could be wrong...

My DD was told to put Snuffles (baby Vick) on DGD feet, it did seem to help. I remember putting it on DS chest, he blistered as if he'd been burned, I felt awful, Since then I've always put some on a tissue in a pillowcase, or the bed head, never on any body part!

I do the same as merlotgran rubbing it in my neck and it really helps with my breathing. My mum used to put it on her her forehead when she had a migraine, she said it was the only thing that worked. Tried it myself a few times and it does seem to work. About putting it on your feet, I think it's worth a try, I have read it in a few places now. Hope you feel better soon jenren56

It's also helpful in getting rid of fungal infection of the toenails. And while I'm on the subject: when and why did Vick become Vicks?

Yes, a pair of all cotton socks was suggested but being a lazything forgetting that, I didn't do it, but haven't noticed a smell of menthol following me about, it must have all soaked into the feet!

I have seen that it is good for colds and coughs if you do that but assumed you popped a pair of socks on!

The sheets and your slippers would stink of Vicks!