Make your own natural chest rub!

Did you know the leading chest rub on the market contains petroleum, camphor and turpentine oil??

Petroleum in products can be problematic for a number of reasons. It’s one ingredient I steer clear of. Camphor is a highly toxic poison and can cause serious problems if consumed. Turpentine oil, while a natural product can burn the skin and cause respiratory problems.

So, why not make your own chest rub using organic, natural ingredients? It’s cheaper and your family will be safe and toxin-free.

Homemade Chest Rub

Okay so this is what you need:

Coconut Oil

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil

Lemon Essential Oil

* If you want to use a ready-made blend of oils, you could also just use Sinus Clear or Wellness Warrior

Okay, so this is how you do it:

* Melt your coconut oil by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water

* Pour 1/4 cup of the oil into a glass jar (clean and sterilise if using a recycled jar)

* Add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil, 20 drops of peppermint oil and 10 drops of lemon oil

* Mix well

* Let it re-solidify for easier use (pop it in the fridge in summer time)

Okay, so this is how you use it:

Rub on the chest, throat and back if you have a cough or cold.

Rub on your feet at night and pop on some socks to help ease a cough.

Rub a little under your nose.

Add a couple of teaspoons to hot water in a bowl to use as a steam inhalation.

The coconut oil is so rich and moisturizing, you will get the extra benefit of soft skin!

If you can’t be bothered making your own chest rub, check out these natural vapour chest rubs that I recommend.

You might also like to read: How to make your own natural hand wash.

*Please always double-check any product or ingredient containing essential oils that you use on babies and toddlers. Here is the current safety information regarding peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil around children from a source I trust, Robert Tisserand.

How to beat cold and flu – naturally!

Colds, coughs, snotty noses, flu ….. ugggh! Is there anything worse?

Well, it doesn’t have to happen at your house quite so frequently. We haven’t had a flu or even a bad cold in years at our place!

There is no ‘cure’ for the common cold but natural, toxin-free remedies can help stop the lurgies from getting too bad. As you know, I am not a doctor or a naturopath or have any medical qualifications at all. All I know is that my family hasn’t had a flu or even a really bad cold in ages (actually, this probably coincides quite nicely with our decision to go toxin-free!)

All I can share is things I have researched and tried out over the years that work for us.

First though I think we need to talk about prevention. Everyone says ‘prevention’ is better than cure, right?

What we do to prevent colds and flu:

* a diet high in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables

* a healthy lifestyle (exercise, sleep, toxin-free, no smoking, no drinking, not getting rundown)

* probiotics or fermented foods on a daily basis

* lots of water

* thorough washing of hands

* essential oils like Immune Boost blend from Twenty 8

* drink bone broth (with lots of ginger, turmeric and garlic in it) regularly or put it in our food

* freak out and run away from anyone with a cold 😛

What we do if we start feeling a bit sick:

* olive leaf extract – a couple of doses a day. It tastes feral, but we mix it with a little juice and do a juice chaser. It makes me shiver every time !

* several doses of Super Greens and Reds green powder

* rest, rest, rest

* extra fruit and veges (green smoothies usually do the trick)

* ingest coconut oil, usually in a herbal tea or smoothie

* Immune Boost blend essential oil in the diffuser and on the soles of the feet overnight

What we do if the germs get us:

* all of the above, plus

* a natural chest rub that we make ourselves (and we also use it on feet at night)

* manuka honey, coconut oil and lemon in chamomile tea