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{Note from Jessica: Today’s post is shared by my fellow food blogger, Kelsey Rae Steffen, author of the Full of Days website. Kelsey created her site to find “fullness” in the everyday grind in many areas of her life: parenting, homeschooling, health and wellness, cooking, and cleaning. Stop by her site, Full of Days, to learn more and get helpful tips and yummy recipes.}
A Soothing Decongestant for the Cold and Flu Season
As a mama to four littles, confidence is one of the hardest things to find when choosing natural remedies for illness. If you’re like me, it’s been ingrained in your head that OTC meds are the best and safest option…but deep down, I know this isn’t always true. Today, I’m sharing our DIY Vapor Chest Rub recipe to help soothe you or your littles when you’re down and out with the cold or flu.
My old medicine cabinet contained a well-loved jar of a commonly known VapoRub that smelled of soothing menthol. The scent alone would make me instantly feel better! What I don’t love is rubbing synthetic menthol, petroleum, and turpentine oil on my skin. But having a well-stocked medicine cabinet with alternative natural remedies for a wide variety of ailments helps build my confidence when the sickies come calling.
Today’s recipe is a DIY Vapor Chest Rub that will help open up nasal passageways and give your body a good healthy dose of bacteria-fighting essential oils. I’ve included recipe alterations for babies and children under five as well, so rest easy mama…this is one remedy you can be confident in!
To Use
At first signs of illness, rub on chest, neck, back, and bottoms of feet. The antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of the essential oils will get right to work and the vapors will help act as a decongestant. (It’s my suggestion to wear socks if applying this on the bottoms of your feet…unless you like greasy footprints all over the house and on your bedsheets!)
Coupons and Freebies for DIY Vapor Chest Rub Ingredients
I am always asked about my favorite ingredients and what I use in my own kitchen. I have linked to the products from my affiliate partners that I personally use and recommend. And now, here are the special coupon offers that select affiliate partners are currently offering:
- Thrive Market: If you sign up through this link, you will get 15% OFF your first order.
- Amazon, of course, has everything you need for this recipe. Their prices are often very good, though I love to shop around and sometimes find that Thrive Market has better deals. If you like saving money, it’s good to shop around! 🙂
I get asked all the time about what essential oils I use. For more information about the essential oils, I use for myself and my family, click here or on the image below.
DIY Vapor Chest Rub
Today’s DIY Vapor Chest Rub recipe will help open up nasal passageways and give your body a good healthy dose of bacteria-fighting essential oils. We've also included recipe alterations for babies and children under five.
Ingredients
Adults (ages 6+) Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons beeswax pastilles or 1/2 cup unrefined shea butter
- 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops cinnamon or clove essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Kids/Babies (ages 0-5) Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons beeswax pastilles or 1/2 cup unrefined shea butter
- 4 drops frankincense essential oil
- 4 drops fir essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions
- On the stovetop, add an inch or two of water to a shallow pan and bring to a simmer. Gently place a glass pint jar into the water and add coconut oil and beeswax or shea butter.
- Stir occasionally until all ingredients are melted.
- At this time, you can use an immersion blender (*see note below) to whip your vapor rub, but do be careful as the oils may be hot. (This step isn't necessary, but prevents separation as the rub cools.)
- Allow vapor rub to cool slightly, and then stir in essential oils.
- Let vapor rub cool completely. If you didn't whip your rub, you'll need to stir occasionally to keep the oils from separating. (You can utilize the refrigerator to speed this up a bit.)
Notes
It's recommended to use an immersion blender that's solely used for beauty products. The ingredients used in this recipe can be difficult to remove from the blender.
Additional Cold & Flu Remedies
Some of our favorite go-to remedies when the sickies hit our house:
- Bone Broth – This “doctor in a cup” not only helps fight colds and flu, but it inhibits infection, reduces inflammation, increases mineral absorption, promotes strong bones and reduces joint pain. Not only that but it could improve the health of your hair and nails as well!
- Probiotics – We typically like to get our probiotics from fermented foods such as kombucha, milk kefir or kimchi, but when our bodies are under attack from the cold and flu, taking a probiotic supplement can really speed up the recovery time.
- Get Plenty of Rest – The importance of rest goes beyond simply healing from the cold and flu, sleep is something we all should strive to improve. If not the amount we get, at least the quality of it! Here are 8 ways to promote better sleep.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! – Staying hydrated while sick is crucial as our bodies work overtime to get rid of the bacteria or virus. Sipping on this “Better Than Water” health tonic is a great solution while we’re feeling crummy.