On our path to better health, another thing I'm trying to change is our reliance on medications. I started dabbling in essential oils about a year ago & I have been very pleasantly surprised by their effects on several ailments.
About a month ago my older son came down with a cold that went straight to his upper respiratory system & so began his barking cough, particularly at night. It didn't seem to keep him awake, but I knew he wasn't getting a restful nights sleep & neither was I.
Around 3 in the morning I searched for an oil combination to help with his cough. I knew that my Breathe Ease oil was a good candidate for opening up the his lungs, but after researching I found that adding Rosemary & Peppermint might help to stop this unproductive cough.
I took a tablespoon of coconut oil & added 2 drops of each oil in the palm of my hand. I wasn't able to rub this concoction on his chest, because he was sleeping & would not roll over. So I just rubbed them it on his back...
he stopped coughing immediately!
I wasn't sure if it was a fluke, but we applied these every night until his cold was gone. Then just the other night his cough came back & our doctor believes it's due to allergies (whether seasonal or because of our dog, we're not sure...). I whipped up this combination again & the same thing happened. He stopped coughing right away.
Now, so that I don't have to stumble around the house in the middle of the night with my giant case of oils & my vat of coconut oil, I made up a small mason jar of "Cough Rub" to apply to his chest & back before bed.
It's always best to apply essentials oils with a carrier oil, especially on children. The Rocky Mountain Oils website is a great resource for application & uses. I am NO expert, these are just my personal results. Please educate yourself & take caution when using essential oils.