When your voice is scratchy and your nose is stuffy, you know it’s time for some relief. Being sick is bad enough: you feel like crap and fall behind on your responsibilities. The last thing you need is another problem on top of all that, but unfortunately another problem usually arises anyway! And that problem is an almost maddening inability to breathe at night. During a time when your body needs as much sleep as it can possibly get, struggling to breathe properly when you lay down is a sure way to end up losing sleep, and in the process your body’s ability to recover quickly is compromised. It is for times like this that we happily offer you this very simple, quick, effective and wonderfully fragrant chest rub to help open up those clogged breathing pathways. You can use it any time of the day, but we bet you’ll find yourself reaching for it at night the most.
You will need:
- Coconut oil or Shea butter
- Spruce essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Thyme essential oil
- Cypress essential oil
- Small container for storing
- Small bowl and spoon for mixing
Into your mixing bowl, drop a very generously heaping spoonful of either coconut oil or Shea butter (make sure they are warm and easily mixable). To that, add 5-10 drops of each essential oil. Mix and mash it all together with your spoon, then transfer it to your container of choice. When you’re sick you can keep this right next to your bed for easy access, otherwise it will store just fine in your medicine cabinet or other cool, dry place. If you are someone who is sensitive to essential oils start on the lower side of the oil concentration, even if that means only using a few drops of each oil. Every person is different and you want to listen to your body. You can also substitute or add in other essential oils if you like. For example, Lavender or Eucalyptus would both be great in this formula.
While this isn’t a cure, we have found it to do wonders for helping with calming a night time cough and opening up the chest and nose so sleep can come swift and easy. The essential oils also have beneficial aromatherapeutic properties that help with tension and impart an overall feeling of wellbeing. When stored properly, this can last a very long time, and a little goes a long way. Enjoy!