Vapour rub for sore throat

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

DS almost 1yo has an horrendous cough and cold and this morning the pharmacist advised seeing the doctor, which we did. She told me to rub vapour rub (Vicks, Snufflebabe, etc) onto his throat "because the skin is thin and it will melt into his body and soothe his sore throat". I was of the understanding that vapour rub cleared the nose when you inhale the vapour, otherwise wouldn't we all be rubbing it on our throats instead of popping Strepsils?
Can someone advise as to whether she's talking bollocks? If this is a thing then I'm happy to have learnt something new!
She's also advised me to make him gag with his toothbrush before bed and to whack his back, to make him "vomit up his cough". I'm struggling with the logic of feeding him milk before his bath and then forcing it back up!

[SapientPearwood]

That all sounds like a load of bollocks to me! This was a doctor??

The rub can be soothing but if it penetrated the skin to have a physiological effect I'm fairly sure it would be a drug!

[SapientPearwood]

Oh and coughs come up a different pipe than vomit

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

I'm strongly leaning towards bollocks but need to gather more opinions!

[MNerAnon]

Poor advice. Making anyone vomit is bad on every level, causing trauma and acid environment in the gastric tract, let alone unpleasant for the poor child! If the child needs to clear the lungs vomiting will not help. If the cough is vital then so long as the airways are not compromised (needing inhalers or steroids) then time is your friend. If it's bacterial you're likely to spike a temperature and need antibiotics. But not vomiting!

As for Vick vapour rub being absorbed right through to the throat: never heard of that and can't see how it's likely. The clue is in its name (vapour). But then again I can't see how it works on the feet and most of mumsnet swear by it. However the tub says to rub it in on chest and neck, so throat seems reasonable too.

[MNerAnon]

Viral not vital

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

Anon I have heard of the feet trick but I can't bring myself to try it without hard scientific evidence to back it up!
She did diagnose an ear infection and a wheezy chest but we have to monitor his temperature before she'll prescribe ABs, which is fine. The pharmacist suggested an inhaler.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

Absolute tosh!

What you need is glycerine sugar linctus for the throat or a spoonful of honey mixed with warm boiled water.

Saline nasal spray to loosen nasal secretions to help with post-nasal drip.

Raise bed head.

Steam in bathroom for half hour before bed, either leave shower running on hot or run a small hot bath and shut the door.

Vapour rub on back, chest and soles of feet. If you put it on the throat they can get it on their fingers and rub it in their eyes, not great for soothing an already fractious toddler.

Socks on.

[AugustRose]

I have never heard that before. I always put it on the chest and back and since reading it on here, on the soles of feet - it definitely worked for us.

The only way it will help a sore throat is by allowing the child to breathe through their nose and not their mouth which can irritate the throat and increase coughing.

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

Thank you all for the resounding vote for "bollocks".
I've had a bad experience with this doctor before, which has affected my trust in her, but it was the only appointment available today, and my past experience was unrelated. I won't be seeing her again.

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

OOH doctor gave DS an inhaler and antibiotics this morning and pulled both those faces when I told her what the GP had advised.