College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Chest Rub With Essential Oils

Penetrating salve that opens up the lungs and circulation, having a general clearing effect.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

An aromatic chest rub is a penetrating salve that opens up the lungs and circulation, having a general clearing effect. Chest rubs dilate the airways for easier breathing. Their pungency also dilates vessels and stimulates the heart - greatly enhancing immunity. They break up mucus for release from the body.

Aromatic chest rubs are a classic home remedy for respiratory congestion, cough and constriction across the world. Many will recall, as children, a caregiver rubbing a sticky, nose-clearing salve on their chest when a cough or cold took hold.

Making your own, personalized chest rub couldn't be easier. This comes with the added benefit of not covering your pajamas in sticky gel!

Why Do Chest Rubs Work?

Aromatic compounds like menthol, limonene or thymol dilate the blood vessels, relax muscles and ease pain. In fact, the aromatic nature of chest rubs is the key to the cold-busting power of chest rubs. In Ayurveda, aromatic is a subtaste of pungent, meaning it can penetrate deep into the tissues.

But unlike spicy pungents, aromatic pungents relax smooth muscle tissue, which is how these formulas dilate blood vessels and bronchial tubes. These actions ease symptoms and can make sleeping when unwell a little easier.

Make Your Own Chest Rub

Choose Your Carrier Oil

  • Coconut oil (melted)
  • Olive oil
  • Almond oil
  • Shea butter

Choose Your Essential Oils

  • Eucalyptus
  • Mint
  • Citrus aurantium (orange)
  • Thyme - Thyme is effective but irritates the skin

Tailor the Strength to Your Needs

Strong formula for before shower (max 10 minutes on skin):
  • 10 drop thyme essential oil
  • 25 drops other oils of choice
  • Add to 2 tbsp carrier oil
  • Apply 1/4 - 1/2 tsp to chest before shower
Weak formula to be left on skin:
  • 1 drop thyme
  • 2 drops other oils of choice
  • Add to 2 tbsp carrier oil
  • Apply to chest before bed
Caution: Eucalyptus is contraindicated in infants. If planning on using this on small children, the menthol from mint may be too potent. Essential oils are potent. Always dilute and patch test essential oils on a small section of skin before larger application. Research the herbs and/or check with your medical doctor before using.

SUGGESTED USE

Please follow label or as directed by your practitioner.

Metabolic Nature of Chest Rub with Essential Oils

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS


Affinity: Heart Circulation Blood, Respiratory Health
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Chest Rub with Essential Oils
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.

SEE ALL 'BRONCHODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

,
Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Mucolytic

MUCOLYTIC

An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus.

SEE ALL 'MUCOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antipyretic

ANTIPYRETIC

Reduces a fever / febrifuge.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPYRETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Chest Rub with Essential Oils

Garlic (raw)

Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Mucolytic, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Vasodilator, Antimicrobial, Decongestant, Lung-tonic

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Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Antimicrobial, Decongestant, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Antimicrobial, Decongestant, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Thyme (fresh)

Thyme (fresh) has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Mucolytic, Antimicrobial, Expectorant, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Lung-tonic

LEARN MORE

Daikon Radish

Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Decongestant, Lung-tonic, Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Mucolytic

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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Flushes-sinuses, Antimicrobial, Decongestant, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Cardiac-stimulant

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Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne Pepper has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Mucolytic, Expectorant, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses

LEARN MORE

Wasabi

Wasabi has these Actions in Common

Vasodilator, Antimicrobial, Flushes-sinuses, Cardiac-stimulant, Mucolytic, Expectorant

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Horseradish

Horseradish has these Actions in Common

Antimicrobial, Flushes-sinuses, Cardiac-stimulant, Mucolytic, Expectorant, Vasodilator

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Caraway Seeds

Caraway Seeds has these Actions in Common

Antimicrobial, Lung-tonic, Bronchodilator, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant

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Red Onion (raw)

Red Onion (raw) has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Vasodilator, Flushes-sinuses, Bronchodilator, Mucolytic

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Chest Rub with Essential Oils

Hot Shower

Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Expectorant, Flushes-sinuses, Mucolytic, Vasodilator

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Inhale Steam

Inhale Steam has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Decongestant, Expectorant, Flushes-sinuses, Lung-tonic, Mucolytic, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Hot Bath

Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Expectorant, Flushes-sinuses, Mucolytic, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant

LEARN MORE

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Expectorant, Flushes-sinuses, Mucolytic, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant

LEARN MORE

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Decongestant, Expectorant, Lung-tonic, Mucolytic, Vasodilator, Antimicrobial

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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Lung-tonic, Vasodilator, Antimicrobial, Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant

LEARN MORE

Mustard Poultice

Mustard Poultice has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Expectorant, Flushes-sinuses, Vasodilator

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Hyssop Powder

Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Expectorant, Mucolytic, Vasodilator, Antimicrobial, Bronchodilator

LEARN MORE

Angelica

Angelica has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Expectorant, Lung-tonic, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Humidifier

Humidifier has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Expectorant, Lung-tonic, Mucolytic, Bronchodilator

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Chest Rub with Essential Oils may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Decongestant: For decongestants whose mechanism is vasoconstriction, could potentially increase blood pressure.

WHAT'S NEXT?

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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