DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub Decongestant (for adults, kids, & babies!)

Is there anything peskier than a cold that just. won’t. go. away?

At times like these, naturally minded folk like you and me reach for essential oils.

Yet we may wonder, which ones are best? Which ones are safe for babies and children? Should any be diluted first, and by how much?

This homemade essential oil chest rub answers every one of those questions!

You choose the RIGHT essential oils with the right dilution rates depending on the ages and needs of your family members. Whether you have a 3-month-old or a 12-year-old or a 21-year-old in your household… this salve works as a natural essential oil decongestant!

Get ready to banish mucus and gunk forevermore! 😉

Choosing The Right Essential Oils

Below I’ve compiled a list of seven essential oils. Mix and match depending on your age and needs.

• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata or globulus) — expectorant; do not apply near the faces of children under 10 as it may cause central nervous system and respiratory distress
• Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) — expectorant; do not apply near the faces of children under 2; use 0.5% dilution for children aged 3 to 6
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) — for respiratory health; do not apply near the faces of children under 10 as it may cause central nervous system and respiratory distress
• Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) — for congestion and respiratory tract infections; safe for children if properly diluted (see below)
• Frankincense (Boswellia carterii, frereana, sacra, or serrata) — supports the immune and respiratory systems; safe for children if properly diluted (see below)
• German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) — supports the immune system; anti-inflammatory; safe for occasional use in babies under 3 months (and up)
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) — supports the immune system; safe for occasional use in babies under 3 months (and up)

Adult Vs. Child Vs. Infant Dilution Rates

The key to safely using essential oils is dilution.

For adults, if used in the short-term for an acute condition (like a cold), a 5% dilution is considered safe. This means…

• 30 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil, OR
• 15 drops of essential oils per 10 mL bottle of carrier oil.

For pregnant or breastfeeding women, a 1% dilution of pregnancy- and lactation-friendly essential oils is considered safe. This means…

• 6 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil, OR
• 3 drops of essential oils per 10 mL bottle of carrier oil.

For children, a 1% dilution of child-friendly essential oils is considered safe. This means…

• 6 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil, OR
• 3 drops of essential oils per 10 mL bottle of carrier oil.

For babies under 2 years, a 0.5% dilution rate of baby-friendly essential oils is considered safe. This means…

• 3 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil, OR
• 1 drop of essential oils per 10 mL bottle of carrier oil.

To find a dilution rate that works for you, check out this helpful chart. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th anniversary edition, also contains a dilution chart starting on page 14. So does The Healing Power of Essential Oils on page 53.

Which Oils Are Safe For Pregnancy & Lactation?

According to aromatherapist Eric Zielinski,

If an essential oil is safe for general use at any other time of life, it’s probably safe during pregnancy — IF properly diluted.

As for breastfeeding, follow the dilution rates above and remember not to use eucalyptus, peppermint, or rosemary if you’re going to be in close proximity with your baby anytime soon. Check out our Women’s Health eCourse, lessons 14 and 17, for more info.

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DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub Decongestant

As cough and sore throat season approaches, stock your medicine cabinet with the RIGHT natural remedy for the job: this DIY essential oil chest rub! It's an herbal salve or balm that clears up coughs, nasal mucus, and sinus gunk in a flash with healing ingredients. Plus, I've made it easy to mix and match the essential oils so your homemade decongestant can be safe for kids or babies, too.

Course Household & Health

Prep Time 20 minutes

Author Haniya Cherry

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 4 ounces
• 1/8 cup beeswax pastilles 1 ounce
• essential oils see list above

Instructions

1. In a double boiler over medium heat, melt olive oil and beeswax together.

2. Stir the mixture every so often until melted.

3. When fully melted, put a few drops of the mixture onto a piece of wax paper to check the consistency.

4. Let it cool for a minute or two. If the consistency is too hard, add a little more oil. If it's too soft, add a little more beeswax.
5. Once you're happy with the consistency, remove oil and beeswax mixture from heat.

6. Add essential oils: 150 drops total if for an adult, 30 drops total if for a child, 15 drops if for a baby.*

7. Immediately pour into 4 ounce Mason jar.

8. Cover and let cool.

9. Apply to chest and/or neck area during a cold to help with coughs and respiratory congestion, especially before bed to aid sleep.
   

Recipe Notes

*I prefer these blends:

• Adults -- 75 drops tea tree + 38 drops eucalyptus + 37 drops peppermint essential oils
• Children -- 15 drops frankincense + 7 drops German chamomile + 8 drops lavender
• Babies -- 7 drops German chamomile + 8 drops lavender

The Story Behind This Essential Oil Cough Salve

I’ve loved the smell of tea tree ever since I was a little girl!

When my siblings and I got sick, mom would pull out a little jar of salve. She’d dab a small amount under our nose and rub some on our upper chests before bedtime to help clear our airways and let us sleep. I don’t remember what was in it except that that was my first introduction to tea tree. So every time I came down with a cold after that, I would ask mom for more of the “nice-smelling salve”. It always helped with lingering congestion!

I’ve since learned that some people don’t care for the smell of tea tree. 😉 Oh well.

That jar of salve — who knows what happened to it! — inspired this recipe. Now adults, kids, and babies alike can sleep more peacefully during colds. Not to mention, get healthy faster!

Looking for other great essential oil posts? Enjoy these!

• How to Organize and Store Essential Oils
• Is It Safe To Ingest Essential Oils? {medicinal & culinary use}
• DIY Foaming Hand Soap With Essential Oils
• Homemade Essential Oil Roll-On Headache Stick {print & video instructions}
• Top 5 Essential Oils For Nourished Skin
• Top 5 Budget-Friendly Essential Oils For Natural Seasonal Allergy Relief
• Top 5 Essential Oils For Adrenal Support
• Top 5 Essential Oils For Women
• Top 5 Essential Oils For Men
• Top 5 Essential Oils For Gut Health

How do you get rid of colds fast? Will you try this essential oil chest rub?

Referenced throughout:

• Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, pages 243, 273, 288, 327, 387, 409, 441
• The Healing Power of Essential Oils, pages 66, 68, 72, 74
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th anniversary edition, pages 28-30, 577, 597-598

Disclaimer: At Traditional Cooking School, we recommend using only pure, therapeutic grade essential oils such as those from Rocky Mountain Oils and Aroma Foundry and those generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration. The information provided by this website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. This post or the essential oils mentioned therein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified aromatherapist when using essential oils for any purpose. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products.