Cold and flu season are no fun, especially if you are experiencing bad congestion that makes it difficult to sleep, breathe and go about your daily business. Vick’s is the classic remedy for terrible congestion, but it’s actually petrolium-based, which is pretty much as bad as it sounds. Who wants to add carcongens to an over-the-counter cold remedy?
This natrual and homemade alternative is not only much safer and healtier, it also smells even better and is more effecive. Also, if you make the initial purchase of these basic ingredients, the essential oils will probably last for years of many recipes. A little bit of this healing rub goes a long way, too!
Here’s how you make it:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive, coconut or almond oil
2 tablespoons beeswax (pellets are easiest to measure and use)
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
30 drops camphor essential oil
Small jar with lid (an old baby food container or something similar works really well)
How to Make It:
- Fill a shallow, small skillet with about half an inch of water and place on the stove.
- Measure out your oil and beeswax into your jar. Put the lid aside for now
- Place the jar in the skillet and put your stove to low
- Keep an eye on it as the water heats up; the beeswax will begin to melt
- Once the oil-beeswax mixture is totally melted, carefully remove the jar from the skillet
- Add all of your essential oils to the jar and blend, using a popsickle stick or some other disposable utensile, as beeswax can be very hard to clean off regular metal spoons or forks
- Place the lid on the container and set the jar aside to cool
- Once it has cooled, it’s ready to use!
How to Use:
You can keep your jar of vapor rub in the cabinet just as you would any other balm or ointment. It will last virtually indefinitately. When you are sick, apply a modest amount to chest, back and feet. It can cause a bit of a hot/cold sensation though, so you might want to try just a little bit at first to see how much you can handle and then apply more accordingly.
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