Natural Cold Remedies: A Safer Alternative to Harsh OTC Meds

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Even though spring is officially here, the lingering cold weather is making it hard for many of you to shake off those nasty winter colds and sniffles!

Your best bet is to ditch those harsh Over The Counter (OTC) cold medicines in favor of the many herbal, homeopathic, and aromatherapeutic alternatives that are safer, gentler, equally effective, and can be readily found or easily made.

If you’re anything like me, you probably grew up in a household that frequently used Vicks VapoRub for quick relief from congestion due to colds and flu. Here is a recipe you can use to create your own petroleum-free version of an equally effective decongestant chest rub:

Natural Vapor Chest Balm Recipe (2 oz jar)
Ingredients:
20 Grams of Olive Oil (or Safflower or Jojoba oil)
16 Grams of Unrefined or Gently Refined Shea Butter
12 Grams of Castor Oil
8 Grams of Beeswax (grated)
2 ML (approx 50 drops) of Dropwise Essentials Breathe Ease Diffuser Blend, or an equal combination of Eucalyptus, Cedarwood Atlas, and Lavender Essential Oils.

Supplies:
Kitchen scale with Tare function
Cheese grater
A Pyrex measuring cup (16 oz size recommended)
Small pot
2 oz glass jar with lid
Stirrer (chopsticks work great for this)
Candy thermometer

Directions:
1. Place measuring cup on kitchen scale and turn it on. If the scale is not set to measure in grams then switch it to grams.
2. Pour and measure first ingredient then press Tare function to re-set scale to zero then repeat for each ingredient except essential oil blend which will be added to the mixture at the end, after it is heated.
Use the cheese grater to grate the beeswax, which is usually purchased in 1 LB blocks (when done, you can heat the grater over the stove or rinse it off with boiling water and wipe it clean with a paper towel).
3. Place the Pyrex cup in a small pot with enough water to create a bath for the ingredients. Turn on the stove and set burner to low/medium heat. Place the thermometer inside the Pyrex cup (make sure it is clean) and stir occasionally.
4. When the mixture has reached 160 F degrees (the melting point for beeswax), remove the Pyrex cup from the pot (use a pot holder or towel to avoid burning yourself) and place on a trivet. Watch the thermometer and let mixture cool to about 125 F degrees (this may take 5-10 minutes), then add essential oil blend and stir for a minute or so. Pour into the jar and let it cool (you can place it in your refrigerator to speed up the process but small quantities usually set and harden very quickly at room temperature) then seal.
5. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place when not in use. You can make a larger quantity by doubling the recipe but allow more time for the wax to melt and the mixture to cool down.

_{Note: You can skip the castor oil and use 24 grams each of the base oil and shea butter instead. If you prefer a stiffer balm then increase the amount of beeswax and decrease the oil by the corresponding amount. You have to experiment to find the texture and consistency that works for you.}

If chest rubs aren’t your thing, then you can simply fill a bowl with steaming hot water, add a couple of drops of your decongestant essential oil blend, lower your head to a couple of inches above the bowl, place a towel over you head and the bowl, and slowly inhale the fragrant steam. Repeat several times until your breathing passages have opened or cleared. You can also add 8-12 drops of your essential oil decongestant blend to a cup of Epsom salts, mix together with your hand and add it to a hot bath to clear your sinuses and ease your aches and pains. Here’s to warm spring weather wherever it may be!