Saturday, February 28, 2009

By jove it worked...it actually worked!

Many of you may know that the Deibel Crew has been somewhat plagued with illness since arriving in Ireland. The doctors here are saying that this flu season has been "diabolical" and "unlike any they've every seen before." So, when you combine the flu season from Hades with the fact that our bodies are completely unfamiliar with the germs here, we've been prime targets for some "germ warfare."

Well, today, Cailyn came down with a random cough. Granted, she's cutting at least 2 of her 2-year molars, plus at least one other tooth that we can see. Several others that we can't see, so they may or may not be making their move as well. The first 2 year molar that started to move caused an ear infection (extremely common in teething kids). So, she's got a lot of drainage from that. The cough sounds like the kind of cough that comes from a tickle in your throat. There's not rattle, no phelgm, no barking seal. But, it comes about every 15-30 seconds. So, when it came time for bed tonight, the poor thing just couldn't fall asleep.

We tried everything we knew of. We gave her the natural rememdy honey-based cough syrup we picked up at the local pharmacy last time one of the girls had a cough. No good. We elevated her mattress on one side. No good. We rubbed VapoRub on her chest and back. No good. We took her in the bathroom and ran the shower for 10-15 minutes. No good. [side note: we do not have a humidifier/vaporizer. It's times like these you miss those 24-hour mega stores. You can bet the first item on our shopping list next trip is one of these babies!!]

So, it was while I was swaying back and forth with Cailyn wrapped in her favorite blankie in a dark bathroom with the hot water running as hot as it would go that I remembered something. I couldn't tell you where or when I read it. It was sometime in the last 4 years. I've heard/read several people rave about it and swear by it; but I've never tried it. I think maybe it was the Lord whispering in my ear, as I had been praying pretty well non-stop for our sweet little Boo-boo all evening. But He brought to my mind that I had read that if you put VapoRub on the soles of the feet, then cover them up with socks or footie-jammies (or stuck-hole jammies, as Hannah calls them hehehe), it will quiet coughs. So, since we had tried everything else I could think of, to no avail, I decided to give it a try.

Within minutes, her cough was gone!! Now, maybe it was the fact that all the other remedies we had tried had had time to set in and work. Maybe. All I know is that within 5 minutes of slathering that stuff on her feet, her cough was gone! I laid with her in the bed in the extra room for 20 more minutes or so just to be sure. But so far, no cough! So, it seems there's more to some of these old wives tales than just folk lore.

Though, I don't know how old this wives' tale could be...I don't think VapoRub has been around THAT long...

5 comments:

Marc and Charity said...

It does work, you are right...I read it in a reflexology book- the soles of your feet correspond with the lungs somehow. I have tried it many times this winter and you are right, it does work! I put socks on my girls feet if they are in long pj's too just keep the stuff on and not to get it everywhere.

Hope she feels better soon!

Morgan said...

I have heard of this (on BBC, actually!) but always thought it sounded ridiculous. :) I will have to give it a try next time we have a round of coughs here! Glad it worked for you.

Basha's Mama said...

I did this to Sami last night to help with his lingering cough. He seemed a little bit better this morning... Maybe Amanda will get "rubbed" tonight. :)

Amy said...

I've heard it works... but I've never tried it!! Glad she was able to get some relief!

Chad & Marcy Leedy said...

Hey guys! Chad read your blog and we tried this with Olivia last week when her cough wouldn't allow her to sleep. Wow did it work! Within 15 minutes she was able to fall asleep and stay asleep! We love you all and pray for you!