That stuffy congested feeling is one of the most annoying, yet most common conditions during the cold winter days. The main ingredients in this natural vapor rub are eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils, which not only that will open up your sinuses, but will clear your head and make you’re breathing a lot easier.
Vicks Vapor Rub- Not So Natural?
The first thing that most people reach when a stuffy nose hits, is the well-known Vicks Vapor Rub.
Although it’s generally natural, containing ingredients like nutmeg, cedar leaf, and eucalyptus essential oil, it also contains some pretty nasty chemicals like synthetic camphor, turpentine, and petrolatum.
Vicks vapor rub contains the same turpentine you buy to help with a house remodel. Petroleum is classified as probably harmful and toxic. The camphor on the other hand is synthetic and produced from turpentine which is distilled to provide pinene. Then, the pinene is treated with other chemicals to give the final synthetic camphor.
Vicks vapor rub no longer looks natural, right? If you are looking for something really natural, safe, and effective, here’s a recipe for a simple homemade vapor rub. However, don’t use it on kids under the age of 3, as they shouldn’t use eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil.
Peppermint Essential Oil
At first, peppermint gives a cooling sensation, but later, its menthol content stimulates and warms. Mint promotes clear breathing by activating the cold receptors in the nasal passages.
It also helps the body relieve congestion and heal faster by boosting the flow of fluids in the lymphatic system. It has a regenerative and restorative effect on the immune system and moves the fluids into the connective tissue.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This oil is great for everything related to sinusitis. It’s used for bronchitis, asthma, and even tuberculosis. It increases the oxygen amount absorbed by the respiratory system. This in turn boosts circulation and oxygen that goes to every cell in your body. Moreover, being an expectorant, eucalyptus essential oil helps relieve congestion.
Coconut oil and Beeswax
Besides peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil, this homemade vapor rub also includes beeswax and coconut oil. They give the rub a thick, salve consistency to make sure it stays longer on the chest so you can inhale it for lasting relief.
Providing mild anti-microbial effects, coconut oil gives additional support to the immunity when applied to the chest.
Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe
Ingredients:
- 30 drops of peppermint essential oil,
- 2 tablespoons of beeswax, grated or in pellets,
- 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil,
- 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil,
- 12 drops of vitamin e oil (optional).
Preparation:
Put the beeswax and coconut oil in a small saucepan, over very low heat just to let them combine. Remove from heat and let it cool for around a minute. Then, add the oils and stir well. Pour the mixture into a 4-oz metal tin or a glass jar, and cover with a lid.
Via 104 Homestead