Health and Health Coverage posted a simple way to detoxify your body in 30 minutes. Simply pour one cup Epsom salts, 1/2 cup Baking Soda, and about 1/2 cup Powdered Ginger into a hot bath & soak for 15 to 20 minutes. After soaking, scrub the skin gently with a natural fiber like a cotton washcloth or a loofah sponge for 5 minutes. Do not remain in the tub for more than 30 minutes.
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DIY Herbal Vapor Rub Balm – A Natural Vicks-Style Decongestant for Cold and Flu Relief
When someone in the house starts sniffling, you just know it’s going to make the rounds. That’s when I reach for this homemade herbal vapor rub—our family’s go-to chest balm for easing congestion, coughs, and that heavy-headed sick feeling.
Made with gentle yet powerful essential oils, this balm works just like the classic Vicks rub (but without the synthetic stuff). It’s safe, effective, and smells like a eucalyptus grove with a hint of grandma’s medicine chest—in the best possible way!
Whether you’re treating a toddler’s sniffles or trying to head off a man cold, this DIY vapor rub will be your winter wellness MVP.
Why You’ll Love This Natural Decongestant Balm
- No petroleum or nasties – A clean, green homemade Vicks alternative
- Gentle enough for kids – With optional adjustments for littlies
- Nourishing balm texture – Melts into skin without being greasy
- Essential oils – Provide cooling, clearing, and comforting support
- Customizable – Make it stronger for adults or extra-gentle for babies
Ingredients
Base:
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (or olive oil for a softer balm)
- 2 tbsp shea butter or mango butter
- 2 tbsp beeswax pellets
Essential Oil Blend (for adults):
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 8 drops peppermint essential oil
- 6 drops rosemary essential oil
- 4 drops tea tree essential oil
- 4 drops lavender essential oil
Optional for kids under 5:
Replace eucalyptus and peppermint with fir needle and cedarwood atlas, and halve the total essential oil amount.
How to Make Your Own Vapor Rub
- Melt the base:
In a double boiler (or a bowl over simmering water), gently melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax together. Stir until smooth and liquid. - Cool slightly:
Remove from heat and let cool just a few minutes—enough that it’s no longer scalding hot but still liquid. - Add essential oils:
Stir in your essential oil blend. Don’t add them too early or the heat will evaporate their goodness. - Pour into tins or jars:
Carefully pour into a small glass jar or metal balm tin. Let cool completely before putting the lid on. - Label & store:
Store in a cool place away from sunlight. Balm will keep for up to 6 months.
How to Use Your Herbal Chest Rub
- For chest and back: Rub a small amount onto chest, upper back, and soles of the feet during cold or flu season.
- For steam relief: Add a pea-sized amount to a bowl of steaming water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale.
- For headaches: Dab a touch on temples and neck (use caution and avoid eyes).
Mum Tips
- Patch test first if you’re unsure about sensitivities.
- Keep a tiny jar in your handbag during winter for on-the-go sniffles.
- For a nighttime version, add a few drops of Roman chamomile or lavender for extra sleep support.
Whoa there! 1/2 CUP POWDERED GINGER? Perhaps before this wonderful web-zine publishes any more Bath & Body self help ideas, the B&B editor(s) should do a brief investigation to make sure what’s being recommended isn’t bad, irritating or downright harmful. I make these comments as an experienced (10+ yrs) Soap Maker and B&B formulator and also as someone who spent 20 yrs in the Food Industry.
Ginger is a spice, a very powerful spice and can easily become a “hot” spice. If you put a pinch of ginger powder on your tongue, you will feel a tingle. Multiply that by 1/2 cup and it’s a recipe for severe skin irritation. 1/2 cup powdered ginger can and most likely will severely irritate skin, especially skin that is soaking in warm water, a medium that makes the skin more permeable and susceptible to irritants. And do I even need to remind you of a woman’s “feminine” parts? That area will surely get irritated and cause a whole slew of unintended problems.
I have bumped into the ginger bath recommendation many times before, and it was always listed as about “1/2 cup grated FRESH ginger (wrapped in cheesecloth or muslin, etc) or 1 teaspoon powdered ginger. NEVER 1/2 cup powdered ginger. Perhaps this is an accidental typo on the originating site’s posting and they didn’t proof or catch it, but it’s something that should have jumped right out as not quite right during the proofing before publishing here on Craft Gossip. Remember, as a social communication medium that communicates and transmits these hints, ideas and crafts, you also bear some responsibility to make sure they have little potential to cause problems. Content proofreading, a book of cosmetic ingredients and 10 minutes of Google can go very far in achieving just that.
I looked all over the originating post’s site and so far could find no place to comment on this ginger bath idea. Actually, I could find no comments on anything on this blog. If I do find it, I will be sure to express my concerns to them. In the meantime, perhaps you could pass this along to them. Thank you.
Perfect. bathnhbody.craftgossip.com kicks ass.