I think what needs to be remembered is that just because we use something for a long time doesn't mean it hasn't got side affects or issues yk?

I have seen peppermint oil stop a child breathing. I have also seen similar with eucalyptus oil - but used with caution & in the correct context it's safety is managed...

Euky Bear, Vicks etc are all petroleum based. They have some fairly heavy duty chemicals in the ingredients. It will be a personal choice weather you use them or not. Remembering that just because someone uses something without ill effect doesn't mean it's safe. yk? It's like Great Uncle Fred who smoked 2 packs of ciggies, drank a bottle of Johnny Walker & ate dripping sangas every night but lived to 100. We know through education that there are safer ways to live.

Likewise with these types of remedies. They undoubtedly help. If though you are wanting to look for a safer remedy that has less toxicity then avoiding chemicals can be helpful, also choosing a more dilute concentration of essential oils is also helpful. Lavender, Eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor can be toxic, can cause breathing difficulties esp in young children. They can cause miscarriage. It's just something to be aware of. Just because it's "natural" doesn't mean it's safe. It's always good to seek out somebody who is trained in the use of these oils before you use them. Lavender can help with relaxation and headaches - but use it to a more concentrated doseage can cause headache!