Quick Homemade Vapor Rub

crunched by Crunchy Betty on May 24, 2011
filed under Crunchy Kids, Home Remedies, Household

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

I think you’ll agree that quote is, perhaps, the most eye-crossingly, nose-whistlingly boring saying ever.

And … also … so annoyingly true.

Despite my kajillion ideas of things to do in Kansas City with my nephews, not a single thing has been seen through to completion yet. Until today, when my youngest nephew, Sully, decided it was time to get ill. And not Beastie Boys style.

One day and a few hours before the sicky icky happened to poor Sullivan.

He woke up this morning with a bit of a cough and a runny nose.

By 6:30 this evening, my mother and I were crouched over his sad little sniffly body, plotting how we’d get him to keep his feet in garlic water while dripping hydrogen peroxide in his ears while pouring Umcka down his sad mouth. All before my sister could come home and stop us before we made his feet stinky and his ears bubble.

(My mother is VERY serious about her HUG cure.)

While we never really got around to garlic dipping or hydrogen peroxide curing, I did find a moment to make Sullivan some homemade vapor rub.

Here’s how.

Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe

The first time I ever made homemade vapor rub, it was a bit of a disaster with menthol crystals. Menthol crystals are very, very, very potent. They will make you cry for a week, if you’re not careful with them.

This time, I decided to go a gentler route and utilize a few essential oils that are perfect for relieving congestion.

eucalyptus
peppermint
rosemary

Hands down, eucalyptus and peppermint mixed together and used on a small square of cloth or as a steam to inhale is the quickest way I know to clear out a stuffy nose.

Rosemary is antibacterial and antiviral, and it’s well known as a great essential oil for respiratory and sinus health.

The way we create the “Vaporub” consistency is with beeswax and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO).

I’ve seen about 10 different versions of this recipe, and not a single one agreed with the other on measurements of everything. (With one calling for 2 entire cups of olive oil … enough to keep your family in vapor rub until the kids are in the retirement home.)

So I just whipped one up on my own, using measurments that seemed like plenty enough to give my sister and her family homemade vapor rub for at least the rest of the year.

You can double or triple it if you think your family will need more.

First, in a double boiler or in a glass bowl sitting in hot water, melt 2 tsp beeswax with 1/4 c. olive oil. Stir well until the wax is completely melted together with the EVOO.

Melted beeswax and olive oil, before it hardens softly. (Hardens softly. So poetic.)

Then, whisk in 25-35 drops of peppermint essential oil, 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil, and 10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil.

Before the oil/beeswax begins to harden softly (i.e., while it’s still pourable), transfer to a small lidded container.

At this point, you can either pop the vapor rub into the refrigerator to help it harden faster, or just allow it an hour or so on the counter to harden (softly).

Homemade Vapor Rub - Prettier than the stuff in the store, yeah?

Use it just as you would any mentholatum chest rub (like, say, Vicks Vaporub).

This should keep in a cool dark place for 6 months to a year (or more, as its full of preservative essential oils).

Quick Homemade Vapor Rub

2 tsp beeswax (grated)
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
25-35 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
10-15 drops rosemary essential oil

Melt the beeswax and olive oil together until smooth on a doubler burner (or similar melting system). Stir well with a whisk. Continue whisking while adding the essential oils drop by drop. Transfer to a small lidded container. Store in a cool, dry place for up to a year (or more).

The consistency of this recipe is awesome. Smooth, glides on easily, and it has just enough peppermint essential oil to give you the cool, tingling, slightly numbing feeling. And enough eucalyptus and rosemary oil to help open up the airways and loosen a cough.

Plus, Sullivan loved getting his chest and back rubbed with this stuff … even if he did fall asleep halfway through.

Do You Get Spring/Summer Colds?

It just dawned on me that I’ve done two “cold remedy” posts in the last month.

What’s up with that?

I don’t typically get cough/cold sick in the spring – though I do seem to be more prone to the stomach flu now. Oddly.

Do you or your family members get the spring/summer colds very often? If so, are they worse than the winter colds?

There’s got to be a reason why the universe keeps making me write cold and cough remedy posts in MAY.

The universe is a curious bedfellow.

(I have no idea what that meant, but it should be quoted often and with great aplomb.)

(I’m also not really sure what aplomb means.)

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Amber

That is awesome!
Ive always been looking to avoid petroleum jelly.
It makes me break out. :(
Sacha

Sounds just perfect for me and my multitude of colds (year-round, sadly).
But I’ve run out of, basically, all the ingredients. :/
But it’ll be worth spending my money on some yummy oils and beeswax. And maybe some Umcka while I’m at it.
:)
http://vanessasmith.webs.com/ Vanessa

I wonder if you replaced the beeswax with coconut oil, if it would have the same consistency (because it’s a solidifying oil)? Aside from coconut oil being much easier to find in my area, the person that I’m thinking of making this for is a vegetarian, bordering on vegan, meaning she won’t touch anything with beeswax. :(

I’m suffering from a summer cold right now, though I can’t be sure if it’s a cold, or the fact that there’s construction going on within my house and dust and mold spores are being spread everywhere. Blah.

Anywho, that being said, I have went to the Eucalyptus and Peppermint EO bottles to take the occasional deep whiff. Doesn’t do much for my ears and throat, but my stuffy nose and head are grateful.

~Ness
- Linda
  
  Maybe you could just use the coconut oil in place of both the beeswax and olive oil? (reduce the olive oil to get your desired consistency depending on your room temperature?) I believe coconut oil has anti-bacterial properties so I would think it would be a good addition.
- Sandy
  
  I’ve heard that carnauba or candelilla waxes could take the place of beeswax, but I’m not sure what amounts you would need of either.
Karlita

Very cool recipe. Thank you so much. I will definitely save this :)

I started making and drinking my own homemade kefir regularly and I haven’t gotten sick once since I started it 6 months ago. It’s a cultured milk drink full of those live beneficial bacteria that help boost our immune systems. Not sure if you’ve heard about it, but it’s pretty cool stuff.

Do you have a “wet ones” type recipe? You know–those little hand wipes. There must be a greener way to do those.

Thanks for all your crunchy research :)
http://maggieorganizingchaos.blogspot.com maggie

I don’t think it is an annoying phrase. In fact, I put that exact phrase at the bottom of my son’s birth announcement almost 4 years ago because his name is in the song that expresses, “Before you cross the street, better take my hand, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” The song is Beautiful Boy written and sung by one of the most amazing people to have lived on this earth: John Lennon. I sung it to my son in utero and still do so today. Nonetheless, I still enjoy your posts and will try :-) not to hold this against you. snark snark
http://Heart-art.ca Lara

Just found your site- wow! Looking forward to exploring it leisurely. Thanks for doing it!

Lara
http://www.cindyrowland.massagetherapy.com Cindy

Couldn’t you just use coconut oil and skip the bees wax? I’m talking about the coconut oil that you cook with that’s solid until you touch it or warm it. It seems to me that would smell better than EVOO. I use this for massage and the skin drinks it up. :)
http://simplicitymom.blogspot.com Stephanie

I’m a big advocate of homemade vaporub. When I’m lazy and don’t want to mess with beeswax I just use almond oil as a carrier and drop in some rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus, and rub my kids chest’s with it. Works like a charm. Also…I gave you a blog award. Just something for fun…if you have time, stop by my space and check it out. I heart Crunchy Betty!
http://mindfullyfrugalmom.blogspot.com Sarah

This is a great post. Both my kids have allergies/asthma and I am always looking for natural ways to relieve their sniffling and frequent respiratory discomfort. I would never have thought of making it myself!!! Thank you so much for this post.
http://greenearthbazaar.com Michelle

Great recipe! I’m definitely adding this one to my bag of DIY tricks. To clear our sinuses at home we sniff water up our noses (kind of like the neti pot concept). It works well, and it’s free.

Peace. ;)
http://www.bles-id.blogspot.com Jules

I found your post via Pinterest and am I glad I did! I will be making this for sure. I honestly believe that we could solve most of this world’s problems if we just used more Vaporub. Well, prayer would certainly help too… but never discount the healing properties of something that has been hardened softly. ;-)

Clicking to follow you! Jules
Dogpackmomma

I’m going to make this up to have on hand. Thanks for sharing & Happy Trails!
sheri

Do you think I could use tea tree oil instead of rosemary?
Alysonmcc

I do the same thing for my little man. He is just over a year old. I also made him a turtle that I crotched and then felted with wool yarn. Then I filled it with flax seeds that i had mixed with some eucalyptus, thyme and lavender oil for those icky coughs. I put it in the microwave for about a minute and then he takes it to bed with him. The wool is naturally antibacterial so I dont worry about germs and he loves to cuddle his warm turtle when he doesn’t feel good. The essential oils really emit a strong scent when heated and it seems to clear up his stuffy nose really quickly.
cookiesmiles56

I will have to give this a try, I’m allergic to the Mentol Vapor rub !!!! Thanks !!
Carrie-young living oil lady

Love it! Thanks so much! I am a lover of essential oils and need to make this for my children. I just put the oils directly on our chest, but this is great, especially for children. Thanks for sharing!
Pony65

During a recent (and incredibly long) bout of Creeping Crud, a friend shared that rubbing vapor rub on one’s feet and then covering with socks will keep one from coughing up one’s lungs for the night.

Yes, my friend is probably certifiable, BUT this trick WORKS. I tried it, and it worked so well I shared it with my friends who have little ones. All reported relief from coughing.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Dykstra-Martin/1301821142 Emily Dykstra Martin
  
  Our pediatrician shared with us the trick of rubbing vapor rub on the bottoms of feet. It works incredibly well for my children and also the children of the many people I have shared this tip with!
  - Priscilla Wallace
    
    I read this week, the pores on the bottom of feet are larger. I am guessing that is why it absorbs in quicker there… :)
- Gring7
  
  I do this all the time with my kids. Works like a charm. I have heard that on very young children (i don’t know what that means…2 and under? 1 and under?) that the ingredients might be too strong for their little feet since the feet really soak it all in so well. That being said, I lightly put it on my son’s feet a bit before he was one and he seems okay. ?? I’ve tried it on myself too. i coughed a few times that night but otherwise free sailin’! I would highly recommend doing this.
Emily Martin

My son came down with a major case of the “sniffles” today, so I decided to mix up a batch of this for him. Unfortunately I was out of beeswax and didn’t have time to get to the store. Instead, I mixed the EOs with coconut oil and aloe vera gel. The consistency is great and it smells so good!
http://www.singerskitchen.com/ Singerinkitchen

wow this is wonderful!! Thanks for the recipe!
Kristin

I love homemade recipes, but I’m also very frugal. How much does this recipe yield? And how does it compare to Vick’s Vapor Rub in price? It would appear the ingredients of your recipe would total at least $30 depending on where you shop. Thanks so much!
- Julie
  
  It might total that much but when you factor in that the oils will last a very long time and you can make many many batches, it is worth it in the long run, I believe. I will be making extra batches to share with friends who have kids as well. :)
- Maija
  
  Also, you can use those things for other things. For example: the bees wax and the peppermint oil can be made into lip balm; the wax to make a lotion, the eucalyptus can be used as drops into steaming water in a room with a stuffed up person. Those are only a few things.
Gerke

Where do you get the bee’s wax at.
- Maija
  
  I got a soap-like chunk from a health food store for about $3. I think I might have seen some at Michael’s in the candle making section.
http://oddlovescompany.com/blog/ Katybeth

I am surrounded by natural remedies (Waldorf mom for the last 15 years ;) but no one has shared this and I must have 5 essential oil friends. This is something I might actually use. Thank you!
http://twitter.com/D2ECoaching Down to Earth

Awesome! I have some allergy congestion–I think I’ll whip this up this afternoon!