Any time I have a cold / the flu, I have always loved the “warming and comforting” of Vicks VapoRub. The smell, and the heat that penetrates the aches and pains of your limbs is just so soothing. After reading the label, that is no longer the case for me. Check out the active inactive ingredients. Not all bad. Actually some really nice oils, but!

Inactive Ingredients: cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum, thymol, turpentine oil

I use turpentine oil to clean my paint brushes. It is also used in some floor cleaners. But on my body! The U.S. National Library of Medicine website reads: “Turpentine oil is a substance distilled from material that comes from pine trees. Turpentine oil poisoning occurs when someone swallows turpentine oil or breathes in the fumes.” Among the effects are: Blood in urine, kidney failure, loss of vision, severe pain in the throat, severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue. Just go read the whole list here. It’s not pleasant. Maybe the small amount used is not going to cause these effects, but what about repeated use for days and years.

I have always know that it contained petroleum, as do many other products. That doesn’t mean it’s good for you either. All you have to do is a little search on Google for the dangers of petroleum jelly and you get over 59,600 results. Huffpo has an interesting article on how Petroleum Jelly May Not Be As Harmless As You Think. As with every search there is good and bad, but the point is this, we are putting this stuff on our bodies, and our bodies are soaking it all.

I did a little search on natural alternatives to Vicks VapoRub. A whole slew of results came up for this also. But the interesting thing is that among all of the ingredients, you only find what is natural and healthy.

• ½ cup olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil
• 2 level tablespoons of beeswax pastilles
• 20 drops of Eucalyptus Oil
• 20 drops Peppermint Oil
• 10 drops Rosemary Oil
• 10 drops cinnamon or clove oil (optional)

If not for anything else, we should all be looking at what goes into and onto our bodies. There isn’t such a high rate of cancer in this country for nothing. God provides everything we need in creation. Maybe the natural way is the way to go. The more I read, the more I’m attracted to what God has supplied.