Putting Vicks VapoRub on your feet can help stop coughing because the Vicks VapoRub helps stimulates your nerves in your feet which then helps stop coughing.
Adding some Vicks VapoRub under your nose or chin or putting some Vicks VapoRub on your chest can also help you stop coughing.
Given that feet contains lots of nerves, your sensory nerves in the soles of the feet can respond to stimulation with Vicks VapoRub: The [brain's] cough center is right next to the spinal cord.
Most coughs are nothing to worry about unless the coughing last for longer than a few week and or the coughing gets worse.
Another time you should be worried about a cough is if you're coughing up a lot of blood.
If you happen to cough up just a bit of blood and it goes away then it's usually nothing to worry about but if the blood continues or gets worse when you're coughing then seek medical attention.
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.
An occasional cough is normal and healthy.
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.
See a doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms accompanying a cough because it may be serious:
Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath.
Shallow, rapid breathing.
Wheezing.
Chest pain.
Fever.
Coughing up blood or yellow or green phlegm.
Coughing so hard you vomit.
Unexplained weight loss.