Soothing D-I-Y Cough & Cold Chest Rub

Ahhh…cold, cough, and flu season. My favorite time of year {insert sarcasm}. Since my #1 jumped into the germ cesspool also known as pre-school last fall, it’s been a revolving door of sneezes, coughs, and runny noses. Not that I’m complaining. She’s building her immune system, after all. Ok, I lied. I am totally complaining. Sick child = no sleep.

Am I right? 

One of the staples in my mama’s medicine cabinet when I was growing up was Vick’s VapoRub. Remember that goopy stuff in the dark blue jar? There was something about that thick, greasy, smelly rub that brought a calm over me like nobody’s business. Perhaps it was the fond memory of a mother’s touch? Or perhaps I had a warped sense of smell? Whatever it was, those vapors were standard protocol when I came down with a cough that wouldn’t quit. 

Here’s the problem with this protocol: toxins. Let’s review the ingredient list as noted on the Vick’s website,  mmmkay? 

Active Ingredients

• Camphor 4.8% {cough suppressant and topical analgesic}

• Eucalyptus oil 1.2% {cough suppressant}

• Menthol 2.6% {cough suppressant and topical analgesic}

Inactive Ingredients

• Cedarleaf oil

• Nutmeg oil

• Special petrolatum 

• Thymol

• Turpentine oil

While the entire ingredient list isn’t a total train wreck, these are the biggies that I take issue with {and so should you}. Check it:

1. Camphor

This is one of the ingredients that contribute to VapoRub’s vapor quality, and frankly, makes Vick’s VapoRub, well, Vick’s VapoRub. Camphor {as well as menthol} can irritate open skin and can cause redness at application sites. And indeed, while it is intended to be a topical application, oral ingestion may cause burning, vomiting, thirst, and pain throughout the esophagus and stomach. Remember, we’re talking about kids here. You know, the ones that put **everything** into their mouths? Nothing is out of the realm of possibility. The lethal dose of camphor for children is estimated to be 0.5 to 1.0 g, and for infants, 70 mg/kg. In fact, there have been reports of instant collapse in infants after camphor has been applied to their nostrils. Toxic levels are anything over 11%. Vick’s VapoRub has 4.8%. Need I say more? (Source)

2. Eucalyptus oil

Most cough and congestion remedies contain Eucalyptus, which is perfectly fine for adults, but according to Robert Tisserand, **the** Essential Oils safety guru, it’s not recommended for children under 10 due to its ability to slow respiration in some children due to the constituent 1,8-cineole. Read more about essential oils safety here. 

3. Turpentine oil

This is another ingredient that aids in its vaporizing effects. It’s a substance distilled from material that comes from pine trees. Sounds harmless and totally natural, right? Wrong. It’s also a paint solvent and can be fatal if ingested. (Source)  

4. Petrolatum

Also known as petroleum, it is a byproduct of processing crude oil into gasoline {translation = not eco-friendly}, and according to the Environmental Working Group, a possible human carcinogen. That’s good enough for me! (Source)

Buh-bye, Vick’s! 

So now what? Well, the good news is there’s always a natural alternative to just about every malady your littles might encounter during circle time. This is no exception.

I created this super easy, super clean concoction in the wee hours of the night when I was desperate to get some shut-eye and quiet my child’s cough. It worked. Mixed with my BFF, coconut oil, the combination of Cypress and Lavender essential oils create a safe, soothing blend that will help your young guns to relax and promote sleep. It takes less than a minute to prepare and never goes bad. In other words, make a bunch and have it on hand for those rough nights. That’s my M.O.

Note: Not all essential oils are created equal. This is the brand of essential oils that I use in my home above all others because they are pure, unadulterated, and manufactured for therapeutic use not just for smell. Quality matters, folks! 

Tell me, what are some of your favorite natural remedies to soothe a cough? Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear!

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