**In this post we are making a cooling salve you can use for congestion.**

*This formulation is easily customizable depending on which essential oils you choose to add & I will be giving some suggestions as well*

Cooling Salve for Congestion

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In today’s post we are making a cooling salve that can help ease congestion. I’m going to be sharing a base formulation with you that you can easily customize depending on what essential oils you want to add.

We will be talking briefly about some recommended essential oils to choose from & I will be sharing the formulation for my favorite blend to use with a cooling slave.

I want to talk about safety briefly before we jump right in & make this formulation.

Always be sure to stay under the IFRA recommended dermal limits for any essential oil that you are using. We don’t need to cause any skin sensitization by simply not using essential oils responsibly. I will give you general guidelines but essentially the responsibility of using essential oils safely falls on you & only you.

It is up to you to make sure that there are no known allergies to any of the oils I’m suggesting. Always be sure to use common sense when reaching for any plant ally.

If you are planning on using this salve on young children you will need to do your own research & due diligence to ensure you are making a safe product. For example I am using menthol crystals, eucalyptus essential oil & peppermint essential oil all of which are not to be used on children under the age of 2.

Essential oils that may help with coughs

There are many essential oils to reach for when creating this cooling salve but here are a few I like to reach for

Tea tree → stimulates the immune system while acting like an expectorant easing coughs while simultaneously lowering its duration
Eucalyptus globulus → ideal for coughs & colds as it boosts the immune system. Antibacterial properties may be good allies when fighting sinusitis, pharyngitis & bronchitis
Rosemary → soothes the tissue of the lungs & respiratory system
Peppermint → antibacterial & expectorant properties helping to relieve sore throat. It may relieve the severity of a cough while easing chest congestion.
Lavender → can treat severe coughing conditions by helping to clear the airways of inflammation
Oregano → antibacterial & antifungal properties which can help fight respiratory infections
Cypress → contains an active ingredient called Camphene which has the ability to eliminate nasal or mucosal congestion in the respiratory tract.

Other suggested essential oils & actions

If you are wanting to use a combination of essential oils I’m going to suggest you mix up a custom blend to ensure you stick below the dermal maximums. I’ll be sharing the exact blend I use but feel free to alter it as required.

Cooling Salve for Congestion

Equipment:

Hot plate
Metal bowl
Digital scale
Whisk
Storage container
Optional: Eye/Face protection, Mortar & pestle (this is only required if you are using menthol crystals)

Ingredients:

Phase A

69.5% Coconut oil

15% Shea butter

10% beeswax

3% menthol crystals

Phase B

2% Essential oil blend or essential oil of your choice

0.5% Vitamin E

This formulation will make a 100g batch but definitely feel free to upscale or down scale this formulation.

Method:

Using the proper PPE crush up the menthol crystals using a mortar & pestle.
In a metal bowl add phase A & place on the hot plate to warm gently until everything is dissolved & incorporated together
Remove the bowl from the heat & allow it to cool
Once phase A is below 40C take your whisk & whip it up
Add phase B & mix until thoroughly combined
Place into storage container & use as desired

Image of Phase A once fully melted & cooling off so we can add Phase B

My (current) Favorite Essential Oil Blend

46% peppermint

23% eucalyptus

14% sage

9% bergamot

8% menthol crystals, crushed

Method:

If you are using menthol crystals, put on your eye protection. I prefer to use my full face respirator when working with menthol crystals. Using a mortar & pestle crush up the crystals into a fine powder & set aside.
In a glass bowl add the essential oils
Add the menthol crystals & allow them to fully dissolve. This may take some time.
Once the menthol crystals are fully dissolved carefully place into a storage container. I like to use 10ml dropper bottles to store my essential oil blends
Label the bottle & use as desired

Notes & Suggestions:

Always use gloves when handling essential oils.
Use a full face respirator or another form of eye & lung protection when working with menthol crystals
If omitting the menthol crystals add the amount into the coconut oil portion
You could omit the shea butter & use a different butter in its place
If switching out the coconut oil for a liquid you MAY need to add some additional beeswax
If you don’t want to use a mortar & pestle you could use an herb or spice grinder instead. Just make sure that the dust from crushing up the crystals has settled before you open the lid to ensure you don’t have menthol crystal dust in places you don’t it to go
Wash your hands after applying the salve
If you want to add a preservative make sure it is oil soluble. Since this formulation does not contain a water component & it’s for personal use for my family I’ve decided not to include any preservation system. If you do add a preservative add it into phase B & remove the amount out of the coconut oil portion
Do not use peppermint, eucalyptus or menthol crystals on infants or young children.