DIY Chest Rub Ointment (Petroleum Free)
When I’m feeling congested at night, all I really want is to be able to get some relief so I can sleep well and wake up feeling better…and if I can breathe through my nose throughout the night, I’m overjoyed!
There are many ways we can work with herbs and aromatherapy throughout the daytime to help relieve sinus congestion, but at night, it can be a bit trickier if you don’t want to have to get up every couple of hours. Enter the aromatic chest rub ointment - one of the most popular over-the-counter remedies in the U.S. Unfortunately, its base is a petroleum product. If that’s not your jam and you would rather have a go at making an aromatic chest rub yourself, this recipe is for you. It is formulated with ingredients and a dilution rate appropriate for adults and children older than 15 years old who have no health concerns for which any of its ingredients would be contraindicated.
Ingredients
I recommend working with organic ingredients if you can.
6 ounces of unrefined, virgin coconut oil
1 ounce of beeswax (you could also use carnauba wax or candelilla if you want your recipe to be vegan)
handful of dried, organic eucalyptus leaves, crushed (I prefer Eucalyptus globulus for this recipe; do not use eucalyptus from the florist or grocer’s floral department)
1 teaspoon of dried ginger root
40 drops of spike lavender essential oil (Lavandula spica, syn. Lavandula latifolia)
30 drops of rosemary ct. camphor essential oil (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis)
30 drops of peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita)
Note: You could use menthol crystals instead. If you do, use no more than 4 grams of the menthol crystals in place of the peppermint essential oil.
This recipe yields 7 ounces of product with the essential oils present at around a 2.5% dilution. It is appropriate for acute (not chronic) use. The essential oils used in this recipe contain constituents that can cause breathing problems in young children. Please do not apply to young kids. Please also check for contraindications that could be a concern based on your own health history prior to using.
Instructions
Make an infused oil with the coconut oil, ginger and eucalyptus leaves. You can learn how to do so here. I recommend utilizing the “low and slow” method or the “I need it now” method covered in that lesson, as they will allow you to get your ointment made on the same day.
When finished, strain the plant material out of the coconut oil and add the oil to a double boiler with the beeswax. Stir over low heat until the beeswax has melted, then remove the pan from the heat.
Stir in the essential oils, mixing thoroughly until combined. It takes a little longer to really mix them in than you might expect.
Pour into an amber glass jar or tins while still warm. Wipe out your double boiler with a paper towel before it cools down to make cleaning easier. Label your jar(s) / tin(s) with the name of the blend, its purpose, its ingredients, and instructions for use, as well as any applicable cautions (not for internal use, not for use with children, etc.).
If you give this recipe a try, I would love to hear about how it turns out for you! I love the aroma the infused coconut oil lends to the formula. It’s truly delightful and if you are feeling congested, I hope it helps to bring you relief.
Much love,
Erin
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
Would you like to learn more about herbal / aromatic formulation? Consider joining me in our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™. In it, we study more than 100 aromatic herbs, learn how to formulate safe and effective remedies, and study herbalism and aromatherapy from the garden to the still to the apothecary. I hope to see you in class!
