**This post has been linked to Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist!**
When your family gets a cold, especially kids, something something like Vapo-Rub can be just what you need to help everyone get much-needed rest at night. Except that store-bought Vapo-Rub is full of junk! It’s petroleum-based, first of all, and why do we want to be rubbing that on our skin? Second, the adult version contains menthol, which has been shown to cause lung problems in some babies and children (and, I wouldn’t be surprised, adults too). Not really a good option. There has to be a better way!
When my kids came down with minor colds recently, I decided to mix some up and see if it helped. It did. My daughter, who had coughed quite a bit the night before, slept soundly. My son…didn’t, but if you’ve read my posts on sleeping babies, then you know he never sleeps through the night anyway. But every time I went in his room he was breathing freely, so there’s that! (And the following night he did give me a good 7-hour stretch, so…that’s something too!)
Best of all, this is completely natural and safe for people of all ages. Here’s what you need:
- 5 tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil (a natural anti-viral)
- 1 tbsp. evening primrose oil (could use sweet almond, olive, etc. if you want)
- 2 tbsp. beeswax
- 8 – 10 drops tea tree essential oil (also a natural anti-viral)
- 15 – 20 drops rosemary essential oil (aids breathing)
In a small pan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and evening primrose oil. Add the beeswax, chopped up or in granules (mine was in a large chunk, so I chopped) and stir until melted. Add the essential oils and stir to combine. Pour into a 4-oz. glass jar and allow to cool. This mix is not completely solid even when cool, so be careful of that when you open the jar.
Before bed, put this mixture on the feet and then put socks over it. When it’s put on the feet, it’s absorbed quickly into the body and it goes through the whole system. That’s why it works. You could follow this up with a spoonful of raw honey, and the same essential oils in a humidifier (which I did). Worked great, and we all got sleep!
Don’t forget all the other tricks for recovering from colds and flu, and ways to prevent future colds! Got a sinus headache? Try natural methods to help! And of course, your first aid kit should be well stocked, just in case!
Still struggling? Check out Michele of Frugal Granola’s Herbal Nurturing!
I wish I had read this two weeks ago. My daughter just got over a cold and I wanted to use vapo-rub but refused to but the stuff from the store. This is going straight in my recipe folder.
Oh, I just love this! What a great alternative to the petroleum based vapor rubs on the market. Thank you for sharing this creative idea at Monday Mania!
Just made this last night and used on my son who has a cold. He slept great and I had no worries of chemicals. Thanks for posting….LOVE your blog!
Can this recipe be applied to the chest?
This was so helpful! Thank you! Printing this for future reference.
How long is the recipe effective for once made? Should it be refrigerated or can it be kept in the cabinet?
Hi Mimi, it should be good for several months, and no, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
would eucalyptus oil work? I don’t have rosemary, but use eucalyptus frequently.
Hi Tracy, yes, it should work. They are similar in the way they work in this case.
Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe! I made some up for my sick 10 month old yesterday. I put it on his feet before laying him down for the night and he slept through the night (from 8:30-4:30, nursed, then slept again until 7:30!) for the first time EVER! Now I think I will have to put this on his feet every night, sick or not
I have a cold at the moment but I’m pregnant and read not to use rosemary oil during pregnancy. I have two babies under two though and was interested in using this with them. I don’t have the evening primrose oil or beeswax and was wondering if you thought it would still be effective without them.