Are you feeling congested? Hi, it’s Shinko, and I’m passionate about living a natural lifestyle. A stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, headaches and body ache: being sick is not fun. I remember our little ones used to get sick a lot with nasal and chest congestion. Without knowing anything about essential oils back then, I would apply commercial vapour rub on their chests by trusting I was doing the right thing to relieve their cold symptoms.

Much later on, I was shocked to find out that the commercial vapour rub includes a paint thinner called Turpentine oil as an ingredient! Why it’s in the vapour rub? Turpentine is added to products like the vapour rub due to its “clean scent”…yikes! Why should you be concerned about Turpentine? Because Turpentine oil is suggested to cause serious safety hazards. For example, taking turpentine oil by mouth can be very dangerous. As little as one tablespoon can be fatal in children, taking a half cup can be fatal in adults!

What happened to us next? Fortunately, we were introduced to the essential oil blend called R.C. (stands for Respiratory Care) to replace the synthetic vapour rub. Formulated with ten therapeutic essential oils, including three different Eucalyptus oils, R.C. provides a refreshing respiratory experience when applied to the chest. And this is what we found out: R.C. is quite effective as a natural decongestant, and the kids liked the organic aroma a lot better!

Speaking of Eucalyptus, did you know the tree is referred to as “Fever-Tree”? Where does the nickname come from? Well, it is named as the tree was planted to drain malarial swamps in the Eastern Mediterranean area in the 19th century (“Fever-Tree” as malaria fever destroying trees)! What’s more, just like the nickname, indigenous people in Australia make infusions of Eucalyptus leaves to relieve fever. It is no wonder today Eucalyptus is listed as the No. 1 essential oil for cough and cold!

What are other ingredients of R.C. oil? Myrtle, Marjoram, Pine, Lavender, Cypress, Black Spruce and Peppermint essential oils are in this therapeutic blend! Can you guess what the smell reminds me of? Fresh Citronella! Although the oil is not included, our house smells like a forest in the summer whenever we diffuse the blend!

Curious to know what these single oils have been used for individually? Well, history has the answers! Myrtle; for example, has been used in herbal medicine since ancient Egyptian times, as records are showing the leaves being steeped in wine to combat fever and infection. In the Middle Ages, Marjoram was prescribed to treat chest congestion at the Medical School of Salerno in Italy, the oldest medical school in the West. In America, Pine’s inner bark was treasured and used by the Colonists as a natural cough remedy. According to the legend, four 15th-century French thieves formulated a unique aromatic combination of Lavender, Peppermint and other botanicals to ward off germs while robbing plague victims. Chinese medicine considers the seed cones of Cypress to be beneficial for the respiratory system. The Inuit people have used a tea made of Black Spruce gum or needles for respiratory infections! Formulated as a blend, can you see why R.C. is a must-have oil during a cold and flu season?

In short, R.C. oil is used to help open the airways and ease congestion naturally. For more details, watch the other videos posted on the website. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.

Are you wondering where the oil is from? Stay tuned because tomorrow I will show you where R.C. oil comes from and how it’s made! Remember, a healthy home starts with essential oils. Be oily, and be happy!