fresh from your kitchen: breathe relief rub

I don't know about you, but I always get sick when I finally get time off. I may have overbooked a bit the last few months of 2010. Being new to the whole retail scene during the holiday season, I knew traveling to visit family in Boston was out of the question this year with our new store... so I had the brilliant idea to host both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our families were up for it and traveled from the East coast to be with us in Santa Barbara, which was wonderful. What was not so wonderful was the killer cold that set in the first minute I sat down, stopped working and relaxed. I collapsed on the couch, sinus pressure set in followed by the usual suspects: a hacking cough, mild fever, congestion and overall feeling like crap. Luckily, my husband ran down to The Grapeseed Co. store and grabbed some essential oils for me to work some cold relief magic with. I whipped up my standby cold care steam recipe I've shared with you before, and made a batch of my special breathe relief rub to kick that cold to the curb.

Breathe Relief Rub

Remember that petroleum based Vick's Vapo Rub mom rubbed on your chest as a kid? I make a natural version with 3 simple ingredients:
2 oz 100% pure grapeseed oil (our travel size bottle is perfect to mix essential oils in and easily fits in a bag or purse to take with you and reapply as necessary)
15 drops eucalyptus EO
10 drops peppermint EO

 

directions:

Unscrew the lid to your travel grapeseed oil bottle. Carefully add the essential oils.
Cap the bottle and shake vigorously.
Apply as needed to your chest and breathe deep.

how it works:

Grapeseed oil is a perfect choice for all skin types and absorbs quickly into the skin, carrying the essential oil (EO) mixture with it. Eucalyptus and peppermint oils are known to help clear the respiratory system and ease breathing.

All ingredients are available by clicking on the links in the recipe above.  My resolution in 2011 is to slow down a bit, rest more and take better care of myself so I don't get sick! 

Stay healthy :)