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Several Vicks VapoRub fans are claiming that the ointment is more effective when applied to your feet.
Millions of people the world over have the proven the magical power of Vicks VapoRub, an ointment first concocted by Lunsford Richardson from North Carolina in the 1890s. It has been long used to soothe flu and common cold symptoms worldwide.
Procter and Gamble, its manufacturer, recommends that the ointment be applied lightly on the back and chest areas of children and applied liberally for adults. But according to some Vicks fans, the ointment works better when applied on the feet instead of the chest.
A woman named Julie wrote on the Netmums website: “Yes have done this… it really does work. I put some on my feet last night as I have a cough and had a great night’s sleep.”
“Within a few minutes of putting on my feet, putting socks on and lying in bed, I can feel the vapours reach my throat! This only works when going to bed and never works for me during the day,” she added.
According to Dr. Lynne Jordan, a chartered psychologist, applying Vicks in an unconventional way may work because it reduces stress and in turn, reduces the cough. People tend to breathe in more shallowly which irritates the cough further when they are stressed.
On the other hand, TV doctor Dr. Ranj Singh believes this method could just be rendering a placebo effect.
“There is no evidence to suggest it is more effective to put it on your feet so it could just be a placebo effect,” Dr. Singh explained.
Meanwhile, Procter and Gamble does not recommend it being used in that way since it is not in line with what the product is for.
