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homemade vapor rub in glass container

Homemade Vapor Rub with Kid-safe Options

Keyword: homemade chest rub, homemade vapor rub
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
This Homemade All-Natural Vapor Rub is the perfect thing to help you breathe and sleep better when you aren't feeling well, or are suffering from the sniffles or congestion.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Small Jars
  • Small Pan for heating
  • stainless steel bowl

Ingredients

Older Child / Adult Version

Younger Child Version

Instructions

  • Melt the coconut oil (or other solid carrier oil) in a small pan over low heat, if needed. If using shea butter, use a double boiler or alternative.
  • Heat until just melted, then remove from heat.
  • Allow mixture to cool for about 5 minutes so that it's still liquid, but not as warm. This will allow you to blend the essential oils into the mixture without damaging the oils' healing qualities.
  • If using beeswax, stir into the rub after removing from heat.
  • Add essential oils and blend well.
  • Pour blend into a small glass jar.
  • To use, rub mixture on chest or wherever needed.
  • Store closed jar in a dark, cool place for up to 1 year.

Notes

Alternative carrier oils that would work well for this rub include palm oil or cocoa butter. Olive oil or almond oil will work great but will not result in a solid chest rub.
Note that if you choose to use shea butter, you'll want to heat it over a double boiler over hot water. If you heat or cool off shea butter too quickly, it can turn grainy--it's a bit more finicky to work with than other carrier oils.
The small amount of beeswax adds texture / heft to the formula.
DILUTION NOTES:
There are 295 drops in a tablespoon. 3 drops of an essential oil in 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil (replacing the carrier oil) would be a 1% dilution. 6 drops would be a 2% dilution, and so on)
Here are the safe dilution details for different age groups.
Ages 2-5: 1%. Can use up to 3% for short periods of time
Ages 6-9: 2-3%--up to 6% for short periods
Under Age 2: Diffuse only
KID SAFETY INFORMATION
While eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary are well known for respiratory support, you have to be careful using these around young children.
Eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint all contain 1,8, cineole, which can sometimes cause problems with the temperature receptors in kids' lungs leading to breathing difficulties. I could get into a lot more details, but here is some basic information on each of these.
Rosemary, as a result isn't recommended for kids under 10.
Most forms of eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus and eucalyptus radiata) aren't considered to be safe for kids, however Eucalyptus Divas is fine. It's just harder to find.
Peppermint is also problematic for the above reasons.
Thankfully there are other oils that support respiratory function that can be used for kids, some of which are lavender and lemon. Use these oils if you have them in the same ratio as noted in the recipe card.