How To Create Homemade Vicks VapoRub With Essential Oils

Vicks VapoRub is a household staple everywhere. It’s handy all year round, but most importantly during flu season. Essential oils can help prevent cold and flu, but the cooling balm can soothe any of their symptoms. Stuffy nose, runny nose, headaches caused by blocked sinuses, sore throat, coughs, and even nausea—Vicks VapoRub can offer relief for a lot of issues.

This homemade ointment with essential oils is a great substitute to the well-trusted Vicks VapoRub. It is made with all-natural essential oils, carrier oils, and beeswax. It is a great alternative that may just work wonders for anyone. Whether you’re a mom or a single adult, it is never a bad idea to have a soothing ointment within reach.

A Note On Essential Oils

Essential oils are extracted from plants. The “essence” of a plant is obtained through either distillation or cold pressing. The essential oils carry the original plant’s scent. When inhaled, essential oils stimulate areas of the limbic system. This allows essential oils to affect emotions, behavior, and certain bodily functions.

Because of the way essential oils work, they are best used for aromatherapy. Essential oils are highly concentrated substances, which is why they are measured in drops. However, heat and water can diminish their potency. You can make the most of your favorite essential oils by using a nebulizing diffuser instead.

Essential oils can also be applied on the skin, but this method is quite tricky as essential oils can cause an allergic reaction on sensitive skin. That is why for this recipe, the essential oils are diluted with a carrier oil: coconut oil.

Benefits Of Homemade Vicks VapoRub

If you have a few minutes to spare, you can create your own homemade Vicks VapoRub that brings multiple benefits.

• All-natural ingredients – This DIY Vicks VapoRub recipe uses only natural ingredients.
• Environment-friendly option – You can upcycle or recycle jars for this.
• More affordable option – You can make this ointment with materials commonly found in homes.
• Additional health benefits – Essential oils come with numerous health benefits, such as boosting the immune system, stimulating blood flow, and relieving sore joints and muscles.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil – Boosts the immune system, has antiviral and antibacterial properties, stimulates blood flow, and relieves sore muscles
  • Peppermint essential oil – Has antiviral and antibacterial properties, stimulates blood flow, relieves sore joints and muscles, and has a calming effect
  • Rosemary essential oil – Has antibacterial and antifungal properties and has a calming effect
• Customizable – Although the main ingredients are eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils, you can add other essential oils like lavender to make the scent more pleasant to you.

How To Create Homemade Vicks VapoRub

This recipe is hassle-free and will take only about 10 minutes.

The Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil (olive oil will also work)
• 1 tablespoon of grated beeswax
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 1 glass jar

Other Materials:

• Tablespoon
• Double boiler (or a pan and a heat-resistant bowl)
• Funnel

The Steps:

1. Grate enough beeswax to have a heaping tablespoon. Compress the beeswax to make sure you get enough.
2. Slowly melt the beeswax and the coconut oil over the double boiler.
3. Once the beeswax and coconut oil have melted, add the essential oils. Stir well.
4. Transfer the mixture into the jar and let it cool. Wait for the mixture to completely cool down before covering the jar to prevent condensation.

A Few Notes:

Coconut oil hardens in cool temperatures, so you will be able to achieve the same balmy texture of store-bought Vicks VapoRub.

A glass jar is an ideal container for this homemade Vicks VapoRub with essential oils because most plastics will disintegrate from essential oils. Essential oils eat away at plastics. This means the plastic will mix with your balm and be absorbed through your skin.

When you use this homemade ointment, make sure your hands are clean and dry. Water will affect the consistency of your balm.

Pro Tip: Before you make this, do a skin patch test first to make sure that no one in your family will have an adverse reaction to any of the ingredients you use.

How To Use DIY Vicks VapoRub

Warm up the homemade Vicks VapoRub in your hands and apply it on the chest and back to encourage the release of mucus or phlegm. Gently massage the area for additional relief.

You can also apply this on the hands, behind the knees, and the bottoms of feet for added relief for symptoms of cold or flu.

For stuffy and runny nose, dilute the homemade Vicks VapoRub in warm water and inhale the steam. This will open up the nasal passages. This method (or aromatherapy) is recommended rather than applying the balm directly under the nostrils as it is not safe to inhale the balm directly.

For migraines or headaches, apply homemade Vicks VapoRub on the temples of your head or other areas that hurt. However, take care not to apply it too close to the eyes as it will cause a stinging sensation.

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