As someone prone to nasty head colds, I‘m always on the hunt for unconventional tricks to relieve miserable congestion and coughing fast. Recently, I came across chatter about an intriguing home remedy I had to try – rubbing Vicks VapoRub onto the soles of the feet before bed.
I‘ll admit, slathering mentholated goop on my feet seemed odd. But there‘s some legitimate science why targeting this area could help open stuffed respiratory airways and dial back coughing.
After my first night, I woke up breathing clearly again! The cooling sensation helped me fall asleep faster too. Now, this quirky ritual is a staple in my cold-fighting playbook. Keep reading as I share more about the proposed benefits, mechanisms, and proper application techniques.
Who Gets Plagued By Cold Symptoms?
We all know the agony colds and flus bring. According to CDC data, adults suffer on average 2-3 colds annually. Kids catch even more, up to a whopping 8 colds per year!
Colds alone account for nearly 22 million healthcare provider visits and $40 billion in costs annually just in the U.S. [1]
The pesky viruses leave many of us dealing with miserable congestion, sneezing fits, sore throats, and body aches. Symptoms usually hit hard and fast, disrupting sleep and productivity.
And viruses tend to overstay their welcome too. The average length of a cold is 7-10 days. Coughs often linger weeks after other signs fade away!
All this discomfort translates to 137 million work and school days lost to cold misery. [2]
As you can see, colds take a heavy toll disrupting far too many lives each year. Their prevalence and impact demonstrate why finding fast relief is so essential.
Why Try Vicks On Feet For Cold Symptom Relief?
When colds hit, most households likely have some Vicks VapoRub on hand. Over 35 million Americans reach for this ointment annually to relieve coughs and stuffiness. [3]
It makes sense why it‘s so popular. The invigorating scent of menthol and camphor trick you into thinking it works right away.
What I love most about Vicks is how it provides cooling, numbing relief. But typically, I just slathered on my chest and neck area.
That is until I learned specifically targeting pressure points on the feet can enhance effects. Who knew slapping on ointment down there could so quickly alleviate chest and head congestion?
Apparently, due to the feet‘s interconnectivity with the nervous system, ingredients like menthol get rapidly absorbed. Signals then relay beneficial effects nearly everywhere congestion strikes.
Let‘s analyze the evidence closer why applying Vicks to your feet helps open clogged respiratory airways, loosen mucus secretions, and suppress coughs for more restful sleep.
Proposed Mechanisms Behind The Effects
Here‘s an overview of the leading theories proposed by doctors and researchers about why placing Vicks VapoRub on the feet delivers amazing relief your whole body feels.
Menthol Cooling Effects
Menthol makes up nearly 11% of the VapoRub formulation. It provides that characteristic cooling sensation by activating cold receptors.
Studies show menthol vapor can reduce coughing fits, likely by soothing irritated throat nerves. [4]
One experiment had child patients inhale menthol vapors. Cough frequencies decreased markedly compared to just breathing humidified air. [5]
Another evaluation confirmed menthol‘s antitussive properties. Just 15 minutes after menthol vapor inhalation, adults with acute coughs felt soothed. [6]
Menthol seems especially beneficial at suppressing dry coughs. These often keep sufferers awake at night.
So through respiratory tract absorption or foot application, menthol may calm nerves involved in provoking coughs. Allowing you to finally get some shut eye.
Impact on Brain Waves
Interestingly, some research found smelling eucalyptus oil enhances drowsiness.
One study tracked electrical brain activity after patients sniffed essential oils. Alpha waves increased, indicating relaxation took hold quicker. [7]
Since Vicks contains trace eucalyptus oil amounts, its possible scent effects the mind similarly.
With ointment slathered on feet under socks all night, constant vapors trigger calming brain wave activity. This self-soothing effect lets you fall asleep faster and wake less.
Reflexology Pressure Points
Your feet host over 60 acupressure points that stimulate connections to other body areas when massaged properly. [8]
This concept falls under principles of reflexology therapy – rubbing specific foot zones impacts distant body parts.
For example, massaging between the big and second toe may relieve sinus headaches. The chest zone along the ball of the foot could loosen chest congestion when stimulated.
So with Vicks applied to these reflex zones, ingredients like menthol absorb rapidly. Cooling signals then transmit effects up to the head and chest for localized relief.
Nervous System Signaling
Finally, your feet and hands contain high nerve densities being the furthest extremities.
As menthol and other components permeate into skin, messages relay up the nervous system to the brain stem. This region controls involuntary actions like breathing, blood pressure, and coughing.
Doctors believe these signals essentially overload paths through the medulla oblongata. Resulting in muting cough reflex triggers originating from irritations in the throat and chest. [9]
It‘s through this neurological blockade that cold-fighting ingredients in the ointment work their magic reducing coughs and breathing easier almost instantly!
Scientific Supporting Evidence
Admittedly, minimal clinical trials specifically explore the effects rubbing Vicks VapoRub on feet. Anecdotal reports and proprietary company evidence show positive results.
However, we can extrapolate potential benefits from adjacent scientific studies. Let‘s analyze key findings lending plausibility to why this home remedy could be helpful.
Menthol Antitussive Mechanisms
We already covered menthol‘s general therapeutic effects on respiratory airways. Now let‘s dig deeper into antitussive evidence.
Both inhaled and topical skin application methods demonstrate cough suppression abilities. Menthol seems especially potent at inhibiting dry coughs. [10]
One clinical evaluation showed inhaling menthol vapors reduced capsaicin-induced coughs by nearly 70% compared to placebo. [11]
Another experiment found a combination of menthol and cineole decreased urge-to-cough reactions three-fold compared to baseline. [12]
Through various proposed mechanisms, menthol calms nerves and cools irritated tissues triggering coughing fits.
Peppermint Oil Foot Massage Study
A small study analyzed the effects of peppermint oil foot massages on nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients.
Results showed the foot rub group experienced significant symptom relief compared to control groups not receiving peppermint oil foot massages. [13]
This demonstrates how essential oils absorb through foot skin likely triggering signals that influence body systems distant from application sites.
Menthol Chest Rub Evidence
Most clinical evaluations analyze menthol-based balms applied on the chest or neck area. But we can gain insights into how ingredients could work through foot absorption.
One study had patients apply a menthol chest rub at night. Almost all experienced relief from cold symptoms like congestion and coughing that disrupted sleep. [14]
Another experiment tested various VapoRub formulations for nasal decongestion effects. Results showed 80% of patients reported improvements allowing easier breathing. [15]
Although not direct evidence, related findings lend plausibility to the effects and mechanisms behind targeting feet instead.
Clearly, strong scientific underpinnings demonstrate why applying cooling creams to the feet calms coughs and breathing issues overnight.
Provide Insightful Analysis
Even being skeptical at first, the abundance of evidence convinced me to give this remedy a chance during my last nasty cold. Here‘s what I discovered using Vicks on my feet first-hand:
Congestion And Breathing Relief
By morning, my airways definitely felt more open. I could inhale deeper with less headache-y sinus pressure.
The menthol seemed especially beneficial at shrinking swollen turbinates inside nostrils. This allowed breathing cold air outside less painfully.
By day three, I no longer needed noisy mouth breathing or supplemental humidification to sleep soundly!
Decreased Coughing Fits
That annoying dry tickle in my throat almost vanished overnight. I estimate coughing bouts reduced by at least 60%.
I likely benefited from menthol‘s soothing properties calming irritated nerves provoking coughs. Being able to sleep through the night cough-free was glorious!
Fell Asleep Faster
Likely thanks to the aroma effects on brain waves, I struggled way less with restlessness. The cooling sensation promoted relaxation quicker too.
I can‘t definitively say whether Vicks foot treatment extends sleep duration. But quality slumber definitely improved!
Downsides
If using too much ointment, slipping on socks afterwards felt unpleasant. The burning sensation took some adjusting.
Also, the minty smell lingered on my sheets even after washing. Not a dealbreaker but something to consider.
And you MUST wash your feet well in the morning! Residue staining the floors or inside shoes is not a good look.
By The Numbers: Vicks VapoRub Usage & Statistics
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Over 100 million jars of Vicks VapoRub are sold annually worldwide [16]
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Vicks is one of the top 10 brands for over-the-counter medications with sales over $750 million per year [17]
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An estimated 70% of households in the US, UK, India, China, and Mexico have a jar of Vicks VapoRub [18]
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Over 90 clinical studies demonstrate Vicks VapoRub‘s safety and efficacy treating cold symptoms [19]
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Over 35 million Americans use Vicks each year to relieve cough, congestion, and pain issues [20]
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Vicks first aid products provide eight hours of continuous cough relief when used overnight [21]
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One survey found 74% of pharmacists recommend vapo-based rubs as an alternative to oral cold medications [22]
Proper Application Tips
Think this home remedy seems promising enough to try yourself? Follow these best practice tips for applying Vicks to feet properly:
Key Steps
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Clean feet thoroughly with soap and water – no lingering bacteria!
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Pat feet completely dry – prevents product dripping and sliding around in socks.
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Generously apply Vicks VapoRub to soles of feet, especially targeting reflexology zones.
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Smooth clean socks over feet trapping in vapors.
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Consider covering feet with plastic wrap or airtight bags first for extra vapor containment.
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Keep treatment on overnight allowing ointment to fully penetrate skin.
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Remove socks/wrap in the morning and wash feet well – stray residue smells!
Precaution Reminders
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Never ingest Vicks! The product is for external use only.
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Avoid contact with eyes, broken skin, or sensitive facial areas.
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Discontinue if irritation occurs suggesting possible sensitivity.
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Don’t pair with heating pads or extremely hot water due to burn risks.
Following these responsible recommendations allows harnessing menthol-based balms potency against cold misery with minimal risks!
Enhance Efficacy By Combining Other Home Remedies
For optimal cold and cough relief effects at night, try pairing Vicks feet application with other natural approaches too.
Soothing Drink – Sip chamomile tea with honey to further calm coughs and relax for sleep.
Chest Rub – Apply leftover Vicks to chest and throat areas before bed.
Diffuser Duty – Add eucalyptus or peppermint oil to your diffuser to open sinus airways.
Neti Rinse – Flushing nasal passages saltwater helps prevent stuffiness from returning at night.
Layering several methods ensures attacking cold misery from multiple angles all night long. I found combining external diffusing with feet and chest rubbing works wonderfully.
The Verdict: Should You Try This Unconventional Remedy?
Still skeptical whether rubbing a product intended for chests and backs between the toes brings real relief? I felt the same originally.
Yet multiple scientific mechanisms demonstrate legitimate merits behind doing so. Menthol and camphor‘s therapeutic powers kick in gear quicker absorbing through the feet too.
The evidence convinced me to give this oddball trick a shot. Based on my first-hand experience, seeing is believing!
Within about 15 minutes, I felt my formerly impassable nostrils start opening up. The cooling, numbing sensation definitely seemed to calm constant tickling coughs keeping me up.
By morning, breathing and sleeping turn for the better compared to other nights using oral medications alone.
For best results, I recommend slathering feet liberally under socks nightly at the first sign of cold symptoms. Pair with other remedies too like chest rubs and throat lozenges.
Follow my tips for safe, responsible application allowing the ointment‘s aroma to lull you into much-needed restorative sleep. Sweet dreams to easier breathing ahead!