Rubbing Vicks VapoRub on your feet won't cure your cough 'permanently'

Hyderabad: A post claiming that Vicks VapoRub can be effective in keeping cough at bay is doing the rounds of social media.

The viral post reads, "Cough keeping You up at night? Rub Vicks VapoRub on your feet and put on socks.

The cough will stop permanently."

A cough is your body's way of responding when something irritates your throat or airways. An irritant stimulates nerves that send a message to your brain. The brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of your lungs to force out the irritant.

Can cough be cured permanently?

Let's find out.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that VapoRub contains menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oils. Menthol and camphor are cooling agents. Eucalyptus oil can not only silence a cough, but it can also help you get the mucus out of your chest, says Healthline.

According to one study, there is very little evidence to prove that Vicks VapoRub can cure a cough. "According to a study done at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center by Dr. Bruce Rubin, M.D., the ingredients found in vapor rub can be irritants to the airways, causing an increase in mucus production (ScienceDaily). Since the goal is to clear any mucus that may be trapped in the airways, this is counterproductive and ultimately not providing any relief to someone trying to stop coughing," it found.

As per Medical News Today, applying Vicks to one's feet is unlikely to have any effect.

"There is little research into how well Vicks actually treats cold symptoms," it said.

Healthline, on the other hand, has clearly refuted the claim and said Vicks VapoRub will likely not work to help ease cold symptoms when used on the feet.

It is evident that Vicks VapoRub has no effect on cough when applied on one's feet. There is no overnight cure for cough.

Hence, the claim is false.