This winter has been really difficult for K and me. With wedding planning pressing on us and a half marathon coming up, it was the worst time to get sick… but like everyone else in Tennessee, we were hit with a nasty virus that then became a sinus infection… IN BOTH OF US! Ugh!
I’m on my second round of antibiotics and K just started his first and after only a couple days, we are both starting to mend. Thankfully! I will say, I typically wait too long to go to the doctor for things like this because I ALWAYS try to cure it naturally. I was using my neti pot with grapefruit seed extract for weeks and while it helped move the yuck out of my head, the infection was fairly insidious. I also added extra vitamins and ate lots of soup, plus drank lots of yummy herbal teas (and a few hot toddies when I needed some pain relief). However, sometimes Western medicine is required. Hence, to the doctor I went. She recommended I use cough syrup and prescribed me some but I have my own recipe (my doctor does not believe in natural cures, that’s partly why I’m looking for a new doctor).
So, yesterday, I made us up a batch of my homemade herbal cough syrup. This stuff works well and is full of wholesome, healthy, organic ingredients. You can purchase them all from Vitacost.com. I adapted this from a youtube video I saw but I don’t know where the recipe originally came from. However, I’ve changed it up a bit.
Herbal Cough Syrup
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1 cup elderberries
- 1 cup spearmint
- 1/4 cup marshmallow root
- 1/4 thyme
- 1/4 cup cinnamon chips or sticks (I just use whole sticks)
- 1/4-1/2 cup raw, local honey
- 1/4 cup brandy or whiskey (can be omitted to be kid friendly)
Boil the water in a tea kettle. Mix all the herbs in a bowl, then pour the water over them. Let sit for about 30 minutes. Put honey and brandy in a separate container- I go ahead and put them in the jar I store it all in. After herbs have sat for 30 minutes, strain through cheesecloth. Add to jar with honey and brandy, shake to combine so the honey will dissolve. Store in fridge. With brandy, it will last about 6 months. Without brandy, use within a few weeks. Take 3 tablespoons every hour as needed, though I’ve usually found I only need it around every 4-6 hours.
Trust me when I say this stuff works and you don’t have to worry about all those unnatural ingredients in commercial cough syrup. These ingredients reduce inflammation, help fight infection, and soothe and coat the throat. It tastes REALLY yummy too! I like it with the brandy, which at the above amount is no more than you would find in those nighttime cold medicines. Just helps relax you a tiny bit and help you sleep through all the aches and pains from infections. Since you store this in the fridge, make sure it is labeled and out of reach of kiddos. It has a beautiful deep maroon color and as I said, is very tasty, so someone could mistake it for a juice blend.
So, if you are also suffering from the bugs going around this cold, cold winter, mix yourself and your family up a batch of this great cough syrup!
Some lagniappe…
Tennessee Honeybee’s ginger hot toddy
- Water
- Cinnamon stick
- Whole cloves
- 3 slices of lemon
- 1/4-1/2 inch ginger root, chopped
- Raw, local honey
- Whiskey or brandy
There are no amounts listed really because this is to taste. Place a bit of water in a pot. Add cinnamon, cloves, lemon, and ginger and let simmer. I usually simmer them about 15-30 minutes, though more strengthens the flavor. In a small mug, put about a bit of honey and your desired amount of whiskey. Strain herbs from water and pour infused water into mug. Stir to combine. Enjoy!