Make Your Own Eucalyptus Shower Discs

A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.  

Ogden Nash 

The common cold - it 'tis the season - the season when you cringe to see someone sneeze into their hand and then touch the grocery cart, or a door handle or offer it for a handshake at church....the unseen gift that just keeps on giving.  

So even though hands get washed, the habit of touching the face gets broken, the shopping cart handle gets a disinfectant wipe down and sneezes get buried in the fold of a sleeve, cold viruses still can strike.  With more than 200 viruses causing colds, it is tough to avoid.  

We do our best to stay healthy but if one of those viruses takes up a temporary lease in your body, what can help the sneezing, runny nose and cough?  Extra fluids and rest and mandatory.  Chicken soup really does work too!  The warmth of the soup helps congestion and it is also an anti-inflammatory.  But the one thing that we use at our home is a steamy hot shower with a Eucalyptus Shower Disc.  

These Shower Discs are placed in the floor of the shower.  As the hot water hits it, the disc starts to melt and releases the Eucalyptus which helps open nasal passages and ease congestion.  Taking a shower with this aromatherapy right before bed will certainly help you sleep. 

Here are the directions: 

Eucalyptus Shower Discs  (makes 6 to 8 discs)

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups baking soda

1/2 cup water

Eucalyptus Essential Oil 

foam egg carton or muffin tin with liners

Instructions: 

Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to make a paste.  Pack the paste in the egg carton or muffin tin.  Leave out on counter to dry - takes about 24 hours.  Unmold and if not completely dry, let air dry for a few more hours.  When totally dry, put 20 - 30 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil onto the disc.  Store in a dry, airtight container.  

To Use: 

Place scented disc on floor of shower and let slowly melt to release the Eucalyptus oil.  

I hope you do not catch a cold this year but, according to mayoclinic.org, adults get on average two to three colds yearly.  If you do, rest, drink plenty of fluids, sip chicken soup and take a shower with a Eucalyptus Shower Disc....and get well soon!  Check out the poll on this blog (on the right side) and let us all know how you deal with a cold.  

Tomorrow is Farmgirl Friday and I share my progress on my merit badges.  This month is Cleaning Up - Going Green ....and I'll be writing why I can't break up with my dishwasher just yet...plus a DIY recipe for making your own dishwasher soap packs.  Hope to see you then! 

Peace be with you, 

Star Schipp