Homemade eucalytpus, peppermint and ginger decongestant chest rub

The finished product...Eucalyptus chest rub!

  So,  I've decided to try a different decongestant rub for our family this year.  I usually make one with essential oils, coconut oil, and beeswax.  This time I have fresh eucalyptus leaves, so I wanted to try James Wong's recipe that I saw him make on The Cooking Channel's "Grow your own drugs" show.

Fresh eucalyptus leaves.

Add fresh ginger root & cracked black pepper.

   *We bought a small, digital kitchen scale for me to use for gluten free baking, and I needed it for James' UK measurements. --------

• 100 grams of eucalyptus leaves.

• 10 grams of freshly chopped ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper (his recipe says ground black pepper, but I used what I had)

• 150 grams of coconut oil, and 50 grams of white petroleum jelly (he used 200 grams of white petroleum jelly, but I did a combo of the coconut oil, so I'm sure it's a bit different than his).

• Combine the ingredients in a glass bowl that will fit over a pot to make your double boiler.  Let it simmer for 1 hour covered.  Make sure that you check to make sure water doesn't evaporate.  I set my timer for 20 minute intervals to check for this.

• Remove from the heat and let cool while covered.

• Strain and add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil.

I used a glass bowl with a lid atop my medium sized pot.

Strain, and pour the liquid into your glass container.

  You can use the rub once a day according to James.  I know that when fall allergies kick in, we will be grateful to have this around to ease some of the congestion in our chests and noses.  I especially like the cooling effect that it brings at night when you're trying to open up to be able to sleep.  I tried it a couple of times, and I love the way it feels.  I am not looking forward to a new wave of allergies, nor winter's bouts of colds, but I will be glad that I will have something to help sooth the symptoms.   

  I am also making an infused oil of sweet almond, olive oil, eucalyptus leaves, and rosemary leaves.  I will blog on that one after it gets 5 weeks to infuse in the sun.

Blessings,

Joanna