Reader stops cough by rubbing Vicks on soles of her feet

Q. I’ve been battling a cold this week. One night, in desperation, I coated the soles of my feet with Vicks, and the cough subsided. I have no idea how that could work, but I don’t care. I slept!

A. We are as mystified as you are about this remedy. We have heard from scores of other readers that this is helpful. Anyone who tries this strategy should be sure to put on socks over the Vicks to protect the sheets.

Q. Why are doctors so determined that menopausal patients should take estrogen?

When I told my doctor that I am reluctant to take Premarin for fear of cancer, she actually said that cancer is no big deal. It is just a way of life now: Get cancer, get treatment and get over it, is pretty much what she said. I was appalled and have found a new doctor.

A. We share your indignation. Cancer is a big deal, even when treated successfully.

The controversy over hormone replacement therapy (Premarin, Prempro, Estrace and others) has raged for decades.

A combination of black cohosh and St. John’s wort might ease menopausal symptoms. One study found that French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) may also be helpful.

Q. A friend and I were both recently diagnosed with perleche or angular cheilitis. Although the prescribed medicine (ciclopirox and fluticasone creams) clears it up, the irritation comes right back.

I have very dry lips, and use lanolin to moisturize them. Could this exacerbate the condition? Are there any effective home remedies or nutritional improvements I could try?

A. In angular cheilitis (perleche), sore, red cracks appear at the corners of the mouth. This painful condition goes hand in hand with dry, chapped lips because the cracks offer a foothold for fungus. That’s why the antifungal medicine ciclopirox helps clear it up, together with the strong steroid fluticasone that fights inflammation.

Licking dry lips contributes to the problem. This is a Catch-22, because when lips are dry, there is a temptation to lick them.

Although lanolin can be an effective moisturizer, some people react badly to it. You might try switching to a different chapped-lip treatment.

Other lip-balm ingredients to watch out for are sunscreens and peppermint. Both can trigger sensitivity reactions.

Iron or zinc deficiency or an inadequacy of B vitamins might contribute to the cracks in the corners of your mouth. Your doctor could test to see if you are low on these nutrients.