This homemade vapor rub recipe will help you clear congestion naturally, with no artificial chemicals. With the winter in full swing, cold and flu viruses run rampant through many households. My daughter has had a cough and head congestion off and on for what seems like months. I remember when I was a kid my mom would slather that mentholated petroleum jelly under my nose and on my chest to help clear up congestion. Eucalyptus is great for clearing a stuffy head but I could do without the petroleum based products all over my skin. This simple homemade vapor rub recipe will help you clear your head without exposing you to a whole bunch of nasty petroleum products!
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I received samples to facilitate this post about homemade vapor rub and aromatherapy usage. All opinions expressed here are my own. Please note: I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. Do not consider anything in this post medical advice! If you are sick, see your doctor!
Table of Contents
Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe to Clear Congestion Naturally
All you need (besides the ingredients, of course!) is a small pot to simmer water in, a glass jar with lid for melting the oils/butters, and a small container to put your homemade vapor rub in. You can repurpose a mint tin, a baby food jar, or whatever else you happen to have handy. In less than 30 minutes you will have homemade vapor rub that will last the entire cold and flu season!
Essential oils are powerhouses when it comes helping us feel better. The primary essential oils in this homemade vapor rub are Eucalyptus and Peppermint. I also added lavender for it’s relaxation properties and tea tree oil because it is a great antimicrobial oil. You can include other oils if you prefer. I have seen some recipes that use cinnamon oil to help improve circulation or Rosemary oil for it’s healing properties and benefits to the respiratory system. Just make sure that the primary oil (the greatest quantity) is eucalyptus, then peppermint and include your other oils in smaller proportions. This will allow for maximum head clearing capabilities!
NOTE: This recipe is for adult usage….if you want a child appropriate recipe, cut back on the essential oils. Their skin is more delicate and the oils may be too strong!
Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe
Yield: makes 1/2 cup
Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe
Wonderful way to naturally clear your head!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup shea butter
3 TBSP beeswax granules
45 drops eucalyptus oil
35 drops peppermint oil
15 drop lavender oil
10 drop tea tree oil
Instructions
Combine the coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax in a medium jar. Cover loosely.
Place jar in a small pot filled about half way with water.
Heat water on stove to a simmer.
Swirl your jar frequently to help mix and melt. You want the water only about half way up your jar.
When the ingredients are melted remove from heat and add oils.
Swirl gently to mix and pour in clean container with lid for storage. Keeps well at room temperature for up to one year.
Eucalyptus is great for clearing a stuffy head but I could do without the petroleum based products all over my skin. This simple homemade vapor rub recipe will help you clear your head without exposing you to a whole bunch of nasty petroleum products! ” width=”574″ height=”985″ />
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
I love this idea, Diane. Thank you for the great tutorial.
I’m visiting from All Things Pretty Link Party. I would be so honored if you would share this at Brag About It Link Party on VMG206.
~ Megin of VMG206
Hello, I would love to try some of their Sweet Leaf Stevia flavors. They carry root beer and English toffee that I would like to try. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I love essential oils and am always looking for new things to make with them. This is awesome and so much better than the traditional rubs you can buy in the stores. Thanks!
glad you found it helpful….i actually love the smell of eucalyptus, although it can be a bit strong for some. This recipe makes plenty so one batch is really inexpensive to make and will last a long time.
My Mom and Grandma did the same thing, with menthol rubs. I like the idea of not having all the nasty sticky on your body where the rub was placed; I always felt like a day old piece of half-eaten candy when I woke up! 🙂 I also like that you can use a diffuser as well, I always want to start with the least invasive home remedies first. Good giveaway, I’d be interested in trying this at home.
There are countless choices and of the number of choices mine would be the Co Q-10 Supplements! Along with many other choices, each would be HUGE help in supporting me through these times that I really could use support!
Hello All:
I live in Zone 7, Atlanta GA area and have a Silver Dollar Eucalyptus tree in my yard. Four years ago, I happened to find a 10″ healthy plant the beginning of Spring in a local Walmart of all places. I’ve never seen it for sale there and there was only one plant. I snapped it up for thirteen bucks. My house faces West and I planted it on the North side of my yard where it gets sun came all day. That was the easiest plant ever to establish to bush, then tree and survive our Winter’s. I amended red Georgia Clay with a half a bag (prox 20 lbs) left over manure from the previous year. Broke up a 4′ circle, tilled it in, planted, mulched and watered it regularly. It really took off and had to start last year pruning the thicker limbs to keep it in the 20′ foot range.
Eucalyptus thrives here and I have so much of it decorating inside and outside porch walls.
When my dried branches start to look skimpy or break, I add them in to my regular firewood in the fireplace for the scent in the Winter.
This year will be my first time ever making the oil and salve, and it will make a great gift idea in little festive 2oz Mason jars for family, friends and co-workers during the Holidays.
I would like the thyroid action
I’d like to try the lavender oil.
I’d like to try the cinnamon extract.
I love this idea, Diane. Thank you for the great tutorial.
I’m visiting from All Things Pretty Link Party. I would be so honored if you would share this at Brag About It Link Party on VMG206.
~ Megin of VMG206
I would like to try the Maximum Strength Red Krill Oil 1500 mg.
I would like to try the Navitas Naturals Goji Berries.
I was just told about EMU oil. It’s suppose to bring relief to aching muscles when applied.
I would like to try Organic Raw Lemon Pomegranate Energy Squares.
I also like the lavender oil
I would like to try to the massage oils!
I like their sambucus black elderberry.
I would love to have the Classic Ultrasonic Nebulizer Diffuser Silver.
I would love to try the cinnamon chips grinder!
I would like to try Just Raspberries
the Navitas Naturals Goji Berries
I would like to try the hair and nail supplements!
Im excited to try the cinnamon extract
Organic Health™ Invigorating Tea Tree Oil Conditioner
Who knew it was that easy to make! Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Retreat, hope to see you back on Thursday http://mommyondemand.com/
I would like to try the Organic Mother’s Milk® Tea
I’d like to try the Cranberry with Vitamin C & E.
I’d like to try the Omega 3 Fish Oil.
Hello, I would love to try some of their Sweet Leaf Stevia flavors. They carry root beer and English toffee that I would like to try. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I love essential oils and am always looking for new things to make with them. This is awesome and so much better than the traditional rubs you can buy in the stores. Thanks!
glad you found it helpful….i actually love the smell of eucalyptus, although it can be a bit strong for some. This recipe makes plenty so one batch is really inexpensive to make and will last a long time.
I’d like to try the cinnamon extract.
I would love to try the Serenity Massage Oil. Thanks for the chance to win!
i like Puritan’s Pride Hair, Skin & Nails Formula
Lavender oil to help me sleep
My Mom and Grandma did the same thing, with menthol rubs. I like the idea of not having all the nasty sticky on your body where the rub was placed; I always felt like a day old piece of half-eaten candy when I woke up! 🙂 I also like that you can use a diffuser as well, I always want to start with the least invasive home remedies first. Good giveaway, I’d be interested in trying this at home.
I like their selection of Aromatherapy
I would like to try the Mist Spa Vapor Diffuser
hard choice….. the lavender oil
I would like to try the Maximum Strength Red Krill Oil 🙂
I would love to try the scent ball!!
I’d like to try the Cinnamon CoQ10.
Coconut Oil!
I’d like the Organic Dark Choc Goji Berries.
I’d like the Retinol Cream
The Vitamin B-Complex Sublingual Liquid with Vitamin B-12 looks really nice
this looks wonderful..i have thyroid issues and this would be fantastic to try out. thanks for sweepstakes
grapefruit or tea tree oil
thank you!
*kelly
[email protected]
I would like to try the zinc products.
probiotic 10
Patchouli & Orange Spray
There are countless choices and of the number of choices mine would be the Co Q-10 Supplements! Along with many other choices, each would be HUGE help in supporting me through these times that I really could use support!
I would like to try their coconut oil under hair care
I would like some fish oil supplements.
I would like to try the Bacon Wrap Rawhide Bone Medium for my dogs.
the lavendar oil
I would like to try Lavender oil
I would love to try the Patchouli and Orange Spray!
I like the Triple Strength Glucosamine, Chondroitin & MSM Joint Soother®.
I would love lavender oil.
http://www.puritan.com/glucosamine-chondroitin-045/joint-soother-actibeads-tr-052620
I like the Marine Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid
I like the multivitamins for women that are 50+.
Children’s Multivitamins & Minerals Gummies.
Berry Detox Tea
I’d like to try the Ultra Woman™ Daily Multi Timed Release
I would like to try the Marine Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid
I would like to try the Tea Tree Shampoo.
http://www.puritan.com/aromatherapy-041/professional-nebulizing-diffuser-022832
Thanks for the contest.
I would love to try the raw organic honey and the coconut palm sugar.
id love to try the Niacin (B-3) 1000 mg
Ear Cleansing Pads for dogs
I would like to try the Biotin Shampoo.
omega-3 fish oil
I love the Reviva® Labs High Potency Hyaluronic Acid Serum
I would like to try some of their dog shampoos
try lavender oil.
i would also love to try the Navitas Naturals Goji Berries
I’d like to try the Puritan’s Pride Raspberry Ketones 🙂
Omega 3 fish oil
WOULD LOVE THE EMU OIL
cinnamon extract. also, the raspberry ketones.
I think our family could use some Tea Tree Oil Soap.
I have ordered vitamins from Puritans Pride for years. I did not know they sold nuts. I would like to try the Roasted Salted in the shell Pistachios.
I would like to try their Vitamin E Cream for aging skin. Thanks for having this contest.
I would like to try the Energy Massage Oil
I would like to try the Energy Massage Oil
I would like to try the Bariatein™ with Fiber Smart Complex Chocolate.
I would like to try Cameron’s Kona Blend Ground Coffee.
Hello All:
I live in Zone 7, Atlanta GA area and have a Silver Dollar Eucalyptus tree in my yard. Four years ago, I happened to find a 10″ healthy plant the beginning of Spring in a local Walmart of all places. I’ve never seen it for sale there and there was only one plant. I snapped it up for thirteen bucks. My house faces West and I planted it on the North side of my yard where it gets sun came all day. That was the easiest plant ever to establish to bush, then tree and survive our Winter’s. I amended red Georgia Clay with a half a bag (prox 20 lbs) left over manure from the previous year. Broke up a 4′ circle, tilled it in, planted, mulched and watered it regularly. It really took off and had to start last year pruning the thicker limbs to keep it in the 20′ foot range.
Eucalyptus thrives here and I have so much of it decorating inside and outside porch walls.
When my dried branches start to look skimpy or break, I add them in to my regular firewood in the fireplace for the scent in the Winter.
This year will be my first time ever making the oil and salve, and it will make a great gift idea in little festive 2oz Mason jars for family, friends and co-workers during the Holidays.
I love the idea of adding it to the fire pit. Must smell so nice!