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How to Make Your Own Natural Vapor-Rub

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How to make your own natural Vapor Rub for illnesses How to Make Your Own Natural Vapor Rub

Hopefully cold and flu won’t strike at your home this year, but this is a good remedy to have on hand in case it does.

For babies and small children especially, treatment options are limited, but congestion and coughing can really interfere with their ability to sleep well.

We used to keep regular Vicks Vapor Rub and the Baby version on hand for illnesses, until I realized that it had PETROLEUM in it.. yuck!

In the name of not consuming or slathering our skin with anything that is more beneficial to a car engine… I’ve been making this really easy homemade version ever since.

If you don’t have the ingredients or don’t want to take the time to make this recipe, mixing the essential oils with coconut oil works almost as well. All ingredients for the recipe below  (including tins or lip chap containers to keep it in) are available here.

Homemade Vapor-Rub Ingredients:

How To Make Vapor Rub:

  1. Melt beeswax with oil of choice in a double boiler  until just melted.
  2. Add the essential oils (use half the amount for a baby version or dilute with coconut oil before using)
  3. Stir until well mixed and pour into some type of container with a lid to store. Little tins work well, as do small jars. I also always make a few in lip chap sticks to keep in my purse or use on baby feet.
  4. Use as needed to help sooth coughing and congestion.
Note: Make sure to dilute for babies and children and use as little as is needed. Can also make with the herbs instead of essential oils by infusing the oil with 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs in a double boiler over medium heat for 2 hours.

What are your tried and true remedies for beating illnesses? Ever made your own remedies? Tell me about it below!

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About Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

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DISCLAIMER: The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

  • Jess M.

    Thanks for posting this!  I have always loved Vicks but never paid attention to the fact that it has petroleum in it…boo!  Hopfully I can find all those ingredients & get some made pronto since I love to grease baby girl up especially when she gets the croup.  Love your site BTW!!

  • Rebeccajlewis54

    I use vicks on my own feet at times. It helps me to sleep better and soothes any tired or sorness that I may have in them. I think this would even smell better. Thanks

  • http://www.healthwiseherbalguide.com Webmaster

    Love this recipe. I’d rather make my own and know exactly what’s in it.

  • http://wholenewmom.com Adrienne @ Whole New Mom

    How well does this work for you?  I tried making my own (different recipe) and it worked a bit but then not so well, especially when the kids (and I) were really stuffed up. Thanks!

  • Veronica

    wish I had read this earlier…  kiddo is sick and I don’t have all the essentials on hand :(

  • Amber

    How exactly does Vicks or your natural version help with healing?

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  • Deb_conner

    Thanks for the ideas! Is the coconut oil to be used in place of the olive/almond in the vapor rub? I didn’t see it listed as an ingredient.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yep… either one can be used

  • Debbie

    It really like this recipe. We had whooping cough this summer and one of my kids is still coughing some.

  • Sarah

    Thank you wellnessmama for the recipe. I didn’t care for the peppermint/cinnamon scent. I had an old jar of vicks baby vapo rub, and it had in order: rosemary eo, eucalyptus eo, lavender eo. With that as my guide, I followed your recipe and instructions, with substitutions. I did 30 drops rosemary eo, 20 drops eucalyptus eo, 20 drops lavender eo. I love it.

  • urs

    If I grate beeswax instead of using pastilles, how much should I use?

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001105952962 Lauralee Lien

    How is a vapor rub like Neosporin? ( Stated on the picture above)? Vapor rub helps sooth coughing and congestion and Neosporin you put on your minor wounds. I could not find anything in your article either relating it to Neosporin as the picture says.

  • Kathy

    When the kids had coughs, I would steam chopped onions, garlic and cabbage using a strainer setting inside a pan with a little water until it was slightly cooked, then wrap up in a white cloth rag, (an old t-shirt worked great). Then put it on their chest. (be sure to let it cool to nicely warm to avoid burns). This will loosen the cough and bring up a lot of the congestion. They didn’t like the smell but would ask me to put it on after they fell asleep. ; ). It was a lot of work to make in the middle of the night when they started coughing and I was sleepy so I think I’ll make some of this for my grandchildren! Thanks for the ideas!

  • http://www.facebook.com/malissa.mccartney.1 Malissa McCartney

    I didn’t have any beeswax so I mixed 1T oil with a drop or two of each oil. It really improved the headache and stuffy nose I woke up with this morning! I will use the rest of this while I wait for the beeswax I am ordering :) thanks so much for the recipe.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Wrong picture got uploaded… I was just updating those and the wrong one went to the wrong picture. THanks for the catch!

  • Heather

    Thanks for the recipe! the cinnamon really burns on the skin. I would skip that next time.

  • Mary Car

    I have all the ingredients with the exception of beeswax. Can I use something in it’s place?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You can actually omit it and it will still work, it just won’t be as thick…

  • Mary Car

    Thanks!

  • jacquelynlopez

    Just made it and it’s perfect!! I truly never knew you could make your own things with basic oils that are extremely effective. Thank you!! I look forward to learning more and making more awesome recipes!

  • dayana s.

    Anybody know how many days it will last;in a glass jar?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Several months at least… I have one still potent at over a year..

  • Nicole Kazikiewicz

    I love your blog and recipes! Thank you for sharing.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Just grate it with a cheese grater and measure…it will be about the same proportion…

  • http://www.facebook.com/tranquilskies Janelle Woods

    You mention to dilute it for babies and children. I have a 27 month old, how exactly do I dilute it? Can I maybe use half the recommended essential oils? Thanks in advance!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I mix with equal parts coconut oil or shea butter before applying to baby’s skin…

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  • http://www.facebook.com/tiffany.mladinich Tiffany Tucker Mladinich

    This makes about a 3% dilution. Never use more than 1% with children…and peppermint eo is a stimulant and can increase respiratory issues and mucous production. Clove eo and cinnamon eo are known skin irritants and mucous membrane irritants and should be used in small %’s, if at all (and never cinnamon bark eo).Just stick with the eucalyptus eo and 1%…even for adults. More is NOT better in the world of essential oils and they are very effective in small %’s. Please, always research essential oils (from a couple reputable sources) before making homemade recipes. Not all essential oils are safe and can be used without proper education. Spend $60 and get a good safety book (like Robert Tisserands Safety of Essential Oils), not recipe book, if you make a lot of things with essential oils (and particularly if you have children)…you might be surprised at what you find…

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  • Eva

    If you omit the wax, won’t the oil stain clothing?

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