That time of year is here again – the time when the days are short, the temperatures cold or chilly and the colds, flus and infections are making their rounds and making people miserable! The respiratory tract seems especially vulnerable at this time, and babying it a little can really pay off in the long run. One thing you can do for it is to indulge in these homemade organic cough drops.
A Great DIY Project
What is so great about homemade cough drops? Well, to begin with, it is far cheaper to make cough drops at home yourself than to purchase them from the store. Good quality, organic cough drops are particularly expensive. For another thing, these homemade drops, loaded with high-quality herbs and organic honey, can often bring you faster and more complete relief from the worst of your respiratory symptoms. Lastly, the homemade cough drops simply taste better and will not leave a nasty taste in your mouth.
You can make these cough drops up well ahead of time. They store well in an air-tight jar tucked into a cool, dry place. It is best to make them up well ahead of time and then just use them as you need them. The recipe is below.
The Recipe for Organic Herbal Cough Drops
Ingredients and Supplies:
- Candy thermometer and candy mold
- 2 ½ cups filtered water
- 2 cups raw, unfiltered organic honey
- 1 teaspoon each of the following herbs: slippery elm, chamomile, eucalyptus leaves, licorice root and mullein
Optional ingredients: different natural flavorings like cinnamon bark or lemon rind; small amount of natural food color if you prefer
Directions
Boil 2 ½ cups water in a saucepan and add herbs, then let them boil down. Put through a fine mesh strainer to strain out the herbs. Then add the honey to the herbal water and bring to a boil. Keep boiling until it reaches 300 degrees (measure with candy thermometer). Now pour the liquid into candy molds and let them cool completely.
Once they have completely cooled, you can remove them from the mold and dust them with a little rice flour if they are too sticky and wrap them individually in waxed paper.
These drops store well and even make a great gift for someone who isn’t feeling well. They will help soothe down a sore throat, help with congestion of the sinus passages and airways and also relieve a chronic, nagging cough. In short, they are great for the cold and flu season!
While these cough drops may take a little time and effort to make, they are well worth it, whether you are making them for yourself or a friend or family member. The herbal ingredients should be found at most health food stores, so there’s nothing stopping you from trying to make a batch today!
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