home remedy "cure" for coughs

The sore throat thread got me thinking about this and i wonder if anyone else has heard of it. Apply Vick's Vaporub or similar balm to a child's feet to alleviate nighttime coughing.

A pharmacist friend suggested it to me for my son's persistent coughing. I had heard of this years ago and tried it, with uncertain results.

Is this found in Chinese pharmacology? An herb poultice containing menthol, camphor or whatever placed on the feet instead of the chest? And what is the rationale? Is it an irritant to nerve endings/ acupoints? Rubefaction for vascular dilation? Histamine response? Skin absorbtion of the chemicals?

Just curious.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/vaporub.asp