Next time, reach in your refrigerator for this natural cough syrup remedy that will last all year.
Over the counter cough syrups have become controversial in recent years.
You used to be able to find a plethora of cough syrups at the drugstore, and doctors were quick to prescribe it at the pediatrician’s office when your little one had a lingering cough.
But then, as goes the way of many widely-used “medicines”, it was determined that those remedies might be causing more problems than they were solving.
Many of the ingredients used were found to be either ineffective, addictive, or unsafe in general. In fact, there are few cough syrups for kids available on the store shelves anymore.
For these reasons (and more), I’ve turned to natural remedies for colds, coughs and sore throats. They’re easy to create at home and have stood the test of time for usefulness and safety.
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Choosing Ingredients: Natural Cough Syrup Recipe
Any time you look to make an herbal / natural remedy, you have a lot of options. Too many, really!
For a cough or sore throat, there are many natural ingredients you could use, such as:
- Mullein
- Marshmallow Root
- Elecampane root
- Gumweed
- Wild Cherry Bark
- Licorice Root
- Lemon
- Thyme
- Honey
You could make a tincture, a throat spray, a tea, or a syrup with any of your favorites.
There are many ways to reap the benefits of nature’s medicine. It’s really up to your preference.
In this recipe, we’re going the simple route, and using just two of the above options: Honey and thyme. Both are readily available and a syrup is as easy to take and quick to make.
Honey and thyme make a potent cough aid, and for children, honey is considered safe to use after age one.
How to make Natural Cough Syrup
The process is as simple as the ingredients. Unlike some herb-infused recipes which take a few weeks to extract their goodness, the herbs are quickly infused by heating in water.
First, you’ll use either fresh or dried thyme, added to boiling water and steeped for 40 minutes.
To the strained water, you’ll add anywhere from 1/2 cup to 2 cups of honey. By using a greater concentration of honey, it will last longer in the fridge (up to 1 year) as it’s a natural preservative.
But you can mix according to your preference and how much syrup you will need.
*I recommend using raw, organic local honey for cough syrup.
Kids can take 1 teaspoon and adults, 1 tablespoon, for sore throat and cough relief.
See printable recipe card below.
Natural Cough Syrup Recipe (Honey & Thyme)
A simple herb added to honey can bring relief to sore throats and cough symptoms.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh thyme OR 1/3 cup dried thyme leaves
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 to 2 cups honey (organic, local raw honey recommended)
Instructions
1. In a small pot or bowl, add 1 cup of boiling hot water and the fresh (stripped leaves) OR dried thyme. Let sit for 40 minutes.
2. Strain the water into a pint or quart jar ; discard the thyme.
3. Add 1/2 to 2 cups of honey to the quart jar and stir until mixed well. (If the water got cold while steeping, you may need to reheat it before mixing it with the honey.)
4. To Use: Take 1 teaspoon for kids over age 1, and 1 Tablespoon for adults, as needed.
Notes
If you use the 1/2 cup of honey for a smaller batch, it will last a few weeks in the fridge. If you use 2 cups, it will last up to a year in the fridge.
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