During my recent cold, I remembered an old home remedy I’d heard of, but never tried. I had a persistent, croupy cough and folklore has it that Vick’s VapoRub® slathered on the soles of the feet is an effective cough suppressant.
I was desperate.
I sacrificed an old pair of heavy knit socks and dug the VapoRub out of the bathroom cabinet. Taking a glance at the label, I notice the expiration date. July 2006.
Did I mention I was desperate?
Well, I reasoned, petroleum jelly is all but eternal. I removed the cap and took a deep whiff. No detectable loss in the camphor concentration. It’s the soles of my feet. What harm could it do? What the heck.
Within 10 minutes of application, I could feel the cough easing. Within an hour, suppression was complete. And it lasted for six hours. Bliss.
It didn’t actually make my cough any better. When the effect wore off, the cough came right back. But the added comfort of being able to sleep or just rest quietly, without wracking coughs, for hours at a stretch—that was truly wonderful.
I’m sold. I’m a believer. But I think I’ll feel better about it if I buy a new jar of salve.