All Natural EASY Homemade Vapor Rub

Anyone else avid vapor rub users?  Have you been thinking about giving up your love for the store bought kind and opting instead for a more natural option?  If you are on the hunt for a homemade all-natural vapor rub, you’ve come to the right place.

‘Tis the season…. 

you know what season I’m talking about.

Congestion season.  

The time of year when seasonal threats abound.  Where we wash our hands extra and tell the kids that no, you can NOT play in the ball pit at McDonald’s.

However, let’s be honest.  You can avoid all the ball pits, eat all the right foods, arm yourself with all the immune boosting natural remedies and you can STILL get sick.

You may not get hit as hard as if you weren’t doing those things, but truth be told, there’s no sure fire way to avoid getting sick.

Unless maybe you avoid people for the entirety of your life.  And that’s not really an option.  Nor is it recommended.

I mean, I like my alone time, but eventually I want to see another face out there.

So, what’s a girl to do when you’ve been hit by a cold?  When congestion takes over?  Well, may a homemade vapor rub obviously.

And make some honey and lemon tea of course.  Any excuse for tea.

I wanted to make a homemade version of vapor rub because it meant less toxins in the products we are putting on our body.  I never really cared too much about that stuff before, but the longer we live out on our homestead, the more I am realizing that what we put in or on our bodies, or even what we use in our home, can play a huge part in our health and well-being.

Of course, I’m still a HUGE work in progress. I have a LONG way to go. But little steps all added together can make a big difference.

So, I’ve given up my store bought vapor rub, and have made a more natural version.

I used to worry about the cost of ingredients for homemade products like this. However, what I’ve learned is that often the ingredients you buy last a super long time.  For example, I bought a large container of shea butter two years ago and still have some left.

Before we get into how to make it, let’s talk about safety.

This recipe contains essential oils. For that reason I would use caution when using it on really small children. Some essential oils can cause irritation, or even a burning sensation.

My youngest is 7 and I will use this on him, but I don’t think I’d use it on kids any younger. Of course, when it comes to recipes like this that you find on the internet, no matter where it has come from you should always use your own discretion.

 

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE VAPOR RUB

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Okay, let’s get started!  Let’s grab our ingredients.

You will need:

(If you are interested in where to buy the ingredients, be sure to click on the links below. )

1 Tbsp beeswax

3 Tbsp shea butter

2 Tbsp coconut oil

10 drops peppermint essential oil

20 drops eucalyptus

5 drops tea tree oil

(You can read more about which brand of oils I like to use here.   or you can grab all the three oils you need for this vapor rub right now – peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree – all together right here.)

The first thing you want to do is get a double boiler set up. If you don’t have a double boiler you can still make this work! To make your own double boiler, take a pot, fill about halfway or a little less water, and bring to a boil. Turn it down to medium heat.

When you are ready, just stick a bowl in the pot. You want the bowl to rest on the pot. You don’t want the bowl to touch the bottom of the pot or even the water. The idea is that you will heat the substance in the bowl with the steam, not the water.

Using a stainless steel bowl is a great option, or if it’s glass make sure it’s a heavy duty one that can withstand heat. I used a brie baker. 🙂 It was a perfect fit for my pot and is made to be put in the oven, so it can handle the heat.

Okay, so once your double boiler is ready, meaning the water is boiling, put in your beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter.

Wait for it to melt. You can stir it every once in awhile if need be.

Once it is all melted, remove it from the heat. Add in your essential oils.

Once the oils are added, pour the mixture into a small mason jar or whatever container you want it to harden it.

Let it cool. Use as needed!

Not too hard, right? I love any recipe with shea butter. That stuff feels so great on the skin!

Some people add lavender or rosemary essential oil but I prefer to make this homemade vapor rub with the three oils listed above. However,  I think next time I will try adding my Deep Blue blend essential oil because it contains Camphor .

Camphor is in the store bought stuff so I feel like it might just add that little extra something.  When you smell a bottle of Deep Blue the smell is identical to all those muscle creams you can buy at the drugstore, but without all the added chemicals.

However, some people find that Camphor can irritate their skin or is just a little harsh for them, plus it is toxic if swallowed (though I don’t think many people try to eat vapor rub. )

That’s why a vapor rub recipe without the camphor can be great for people who need something a bit milder. The peppermint and eucalyptus still packs it’s own punch.

Why not try and make your own homemade all-natural vapor rub for the next time you are all stuffed up and just in need of some congestion relief?