If you follow along you all know that I love essential oils. I make my own sugar scrubs, hand sanitizers, and my favorite Essential Oils Vapor Rub. Perfect for those pesky coughs. Not only do they smell wonderful, but it makes me happy when I diffuse them in our home. It’s not a cure, but it helps us feel better.
Essential Oils Vapor Rub for a Cough
After a morning of coughing yesterday I decided to use my Young Living Essential Oils along with our everyday body cream, and coconut oil. I put together a little vapor rub to help us all sleep a little better and help control this horrible cough going around.
This post contains commissioned affiliate links.
Why Do I Use Essential Oils?
Essential oils that I used to make my homemade vapor rub. I solely only use Young Living essential oils because of their Seed to Seal Process.
- Peppermint essential oil is known to be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It also feels soothing and cooling on the chest because of it’s menthol content.
- Lavender essential oil helps with relaxation, so for us, it helped us sleep a bit better.
- Lemon essential oil is great for sanitizing.
- Eucalyptus essential oil is known as an antimicrobial. (Only use this for adults and not children)
How To Make Homemade Vapor Rub
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1/4 of shea butter (I used Cetaphil because my oldest is allergic to most everything else)
- 20 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 15 drops of lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
- 25 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
- Clean spoon and fork
- Clean glass mason jar or container that has a lid (make sure it’s not plastic)
Making your cough rub
I added my coconut oil and Cetaphil cream (not lotion) to a small clean bowl. I then added all of my oils one by one, then I used a fork to press everything down together. Because the coconut oil is solid at a cooler temperature I wanted to make sure it was nice and smooth.
I then used a spoon to mix it all together and scooped my vapor rub into a sealed container to make sure that it kept cool and dark. I also made sure that every time I applied it to the girls using my hands they were super clean. This will help it last much longer, about a month or two.
How To Use Vapor Rub For Cough?
Okay, so now that I have this amazing vapor rub what do I do with it? Well, I added the rub in two different locations. For me, I rub on my chest and for my girl’s I rub a bit on the bottom of their feet.
** Update as of 2016: Recently I starting using coconut oil with a drop of Thieves and RC Young Living Essential Oils. This by far is my new favorite combination! Not only does is make me feel better, but it smells like cinnamon! I just add the coconut oil on one hand and add my drops of essential oils on top. Then I rub on my chest. **
My favorite products when creating my vapor rub recipe:
You Are Also Going To Love:
If you enjoyed this essential oils vapor rub, then you will also love the following essential oils recipes I have put together for you:
Have you ever used essential oils in your home?
**Disclaimer: I only recommend using high-quality therapeutic-grade Young Living Essential Oils. These are not everyday oils that you can find at the store. This is also what has worked for me and my family, this is in no way to take away from what is suggested from your doctor. I am not a doctor and I am not promising any healing or medicinal advice. I just love therapeutic oils and love sharing how we use them at home. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. Contains Affiliate links.
Wow! I never thought of making it myself. Great idea! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
I didn’t at first Danielle, but I was desperate and one of my goals this year was to try and do things more naturally and healthier 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!!
We use Young Living also and we LOVE them. I can’t really see putting a Cetaphil product into a healthy non-toxic alternative DIY recipe. Why not use organic raw Shea Butter?
Hi Jennifer! That’s definitely a great option, but at the time my daughter had lots of skin allergies and we used what worked for us 🙂 That’s why now we only use the organic coconut oil instead.
Victoria, I love your Vapor Rub! Isn’t it comforting to know exactly what’s in the things you put in and on your kids and yourself? I love that you used lavender and coconut oil. I bet this smells SO good. Sounds like it really helps, too! Thank you for sharing this at Treasure Box Tuesday! 🙂
Thank you Joy! Yes, absolutely love knowing exactly what I am putting on my daughters skin! Absolutely smells divine 🙂 Lavender is one of my top favorites! Thank you for stopping by, have a wonderful week!
Hope your girls feel better! It’s great to know this works. I’ll keep it on hand for next time my family is sick. Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.
Thank you so much Cynthia! Yes, they are much better 🙂 Let me know what you think of it! Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!
Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic project on The Inspiration Board at homework. I featured you in the spotlight!
carolyn
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Thank you so much for stopping by and featuring my Homemade Vapor Rub Carolyn!!
Sounds like a very effective rub! I would never have thought about rubbing it on the feet — that’s a good idea I will remember.
Thank you for stopping by Charlene! Yes, by rubbing it on the feet it will prevent the sensitivity on the skin, but the oils will still do their job 🙂
We have had the cough bad in this house this past couple weeks. I would love to have you hop over and share with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday! (http://www.sweetsillysara.com/2014/01/tell-me-about-it-tuesday-3.html)
Hi Jacqui, hope everyone feels better! I’m telling you this worked wonders for us and my girls are doing amazing right now!! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
I must try this! Pinning it now!
Thanks for sharing at Tell Me About It Tuesday! I can’t wait to see what you share next week!
Thanks for stopping by Sara! Let me know what you think if you do 🙂 Have a great week!
We have a kiddo with Respiratory Airway Disease who has been in the hospital at least half a dozen times and we always run lavender through his steam machine. I never thought about making a rub for him, this is on the top of my Dr. Mommy to do list! Thank you for sharing this on Frugal Friday Fiesta, an oil rub is way cheaper then a 3 day hospital visit. 🙂 Blessings, Kyle
Hi Kyle, thank you for stopping by! Yes, I couldn’t believe how amazing it actually works. I myself last night was coughing non stop, I am asthmatic and have been since I was very young. I added a few drops of Thieves on the palm of my hand with some coconut oil and rubbed on my chest. After that I slept like a baby! Yes, it is Kyle and you know exactly what’s in it! Hope your little one feels better 🙂
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing with us at Your Designs This Time!
Thank you Emily! Have a great week 🙂
this is really good to know, pinning!
Can u put it on a 3 month old?
Hi Christina, although the essential oils are natural some are not to be used before a certain age. The only one that I would use on a 3 month old would be the lavender diluted with the coconut oil on the babies feet. This won’t help much with a cough if that is what you are trying to do but it definitely will help baby sleep better. After 3 months you can use the lemon essential oil as well and that can act as a antibacterial. Again, only apply under feet. Hope this helps!
Can we use QV moisturizer or other brand of moisturizer instead of Ceptaphil?
Hi Rosmini! Absolutely 🙂 You can use any moisturizer cream that you prefer. We use Cetaphil only because it’s the only one our daughter can use.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this recipe using YL Essential Oils!!! Can this be made using just the coconut oil (instead of coconut oil & cetaphil/lotion)?
Hi Amy! Yes, absolutely! Coconut oil is actually great for your skin by itself 🙂
OH I am going to have to make this for sure!!
I’ve had to use this the past week with my asthma acting up.
So, just to clarify…no eucalyptus if the rub is going to be used on children?
Hi Jenalyn! Correct! If you’re using the rub on a child no eucalyptus. We love RC with coconut oil.
RC has eucalyptus and peppermint
So I have a two year old who gets a cough and always turns into croup. You said no eucalyptus on kids, do I replace those 25 drops with R.C.?
Hi Katie! Do you have thieves? I would try some carrier oil with 2 drops of thieves and 2 drops of RC right on their chest and on their back. It seems to really helps my girls. I also like diffusing RC at night when they go to bed. I add 2 drops of RC and 1 drop of Lavender to help them sleep. Especially on days that I hear a cough starting. Hope your little one feels better soon!! {Disclosure: I am not a doctor, just sharing what works for my family. Always, consult a doctor.}
Hi. I am trying to find something that will work for me. I have a chronic cough from a post nasal drip that is going down into my chest and have been coughing (sometimes to the point of taking my breath). I have been to the dr 3 times to get a shot, cough syrup, an antibiotic and more cough syrup, then yet again called the dr to get a referal to an ENT but he gave me another round of an prednisone and another antibiotic. I still have the cough and not getting much sleep at night at all. So my question is: Can I use 1/2 cup organic coconut oil in place of the 1/4 cup of shea butter & coconut oil? I am SO ready to get a really good night’s sleep and my husband is too! I have spent a total of 4 nights out of 4 weeks in my bed!! I am keeping him and myself up quite a bit coughing so I am anxious to try this on my feet tonight!! Any help would be GREATLY Appreciated!! Thanks!!
Hi Sandy! I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well! You certainly can, or you can actually just mix it as you need it as well. Scoop up some coconut oil on your hand, add 2 drops of RC, 2 drops of Thieves if you have them, and then rub on your chest and back. This helps me with my asthma. If you have a diffuser I would also use that as well! Add water and few drops of RC really helps tons!! Hope you feel better soon!!!