An all-natural chest rub recipe that uses essential oils, making it delicate enough for the whole family and perfect for the upcoming cold and flu months.
Give your immune system a helping hand this winter with this all-natural chest rub that you can make yourself at home. Store bought chest rubs can be quite harsh – particularly on young children. A simple homemade chest rub recipe is just what the doctor ordered. This cold and flu chest rub combines the healing qualities of four antibacterial and antiviral essential oils.
Coconut Oil: In addition to the essential oils, you will also need some coconut oil. The recipe calls for ordinary coconut oil which you can purchase from the supermarket. You will need to heat this so that it turns to liquid (this can easily done by sitting the jar in a container of hot water). If you prefer to store your chest rub in a pump bottle, fractionated coconut oil would be ideal, and requires no heating.
Once your coconut oil is in a liquid form, you can add in your four essential oils.
1. Eucalyptus oil
- Reduces fevers
- Helps relieve coughing
- Helps clear the chest
- Opens up nasal passages and clears sinuses
- Facilitates easy breathing
- Soothes headaches
- Fights viruses
2. Peppermint oil
- Reduces coughs
- Antimicrobial properties that can help fight bacteria
- Helps reduce nausea
- Relaxes muscles and eases pain
- Commonly used to treat headaches and migraines
3. Lavender oil
- Calming
- Helps with fatigue
- Commonly used to relax the mind and nervous system
- Can help treat headaches and migraines
4. Tea Tree Oil
- Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties
- Inhibits bacteria
- Fight infection
- Helps relieve a sore throat
This cold and flu chest rub will help to alleviate horrible head and chest congestion, yet is mild enough that even the little ones in your family can benefit from it.
diy cold & flu chest rub recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the coconut oil until it turns to liquid, then add into a glass mixing dish.
- Add essential oils.
- Mix together in bowl until everything is combined.
- Scoop into clean jar, with airtight lid (make sure jar has been sterilised beforehand by soaking in hot water and tea tree essential oil).
- Allow mixture to re-solidify in room temperature or for easier use, just put in fridge until hard.
- Store at room temperature – will last for a year.
Notes
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Put a few drops of your tea tree and lavender essential oils in a diffuser to create the ultimate cold and flu diffuser blend that will help clear your sinuses and promote a deep restorative sleep.
10 comments
Hi Kat
I also had another alternative which may also be very useful for mums with very little babies (I read in Eco Modern’s book that some oils like eucalyptus and peppermint aren’t to be used on babies under 2) would be to source camphor and heat that in a bit of coconut oil till just warm. This is safe for even newborns and works beautifully! Just a suggestion
Jothsna that’s a lovely idea, and thank you so much for this feedback. Kat x
How much coconut oil do you use for that amount of oils ? Thanks
Hi Chloe, I use a 300g jar of coconut oil (available from the supermarket shelf). I’ve updated the recipe above to reflect this now 🙂 Thanks! Kat x
Thank you
Is it possible to melt the coconut oil in in the jar within a saucepan as suggested then add the essential oil direct to the jar, put the lid on and shake to combine still using the original coconut oil jar and lid?
Lee this is a great idea, and I imagine it would work well! 🙂
You could also try using vaporub! It always worked wonders on my siblings and I, when we were growing up.
Absolutely! It’s a classic. I remember it from my childhood.
This is such a helpful article. A few questions: how often do you reapply it to your throat and neck? How quickly will you feel the effects? Is there a tip for not getting the oil on clothes and sheets? (what do you put over the oil once it’s on your neck? Washcloth? Kleenex?)