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Pouring homemade cough syrup into a jar on the table.
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Homemade Cough Syrup

With cold and flu season just around the corner, it's time to prepare this homemade cough syrup. This home remedy can help calm persistent coughs that can often accompany wintertime ailments. (A word of caution: I am not a medical doctor, so to be safe, be sure to check with your physician before taking this cough syrup or any homemade natural remedy.)
Prep Time15 minutes
Steeping Time30 days
Total Time30 days 5 minutes
Course: Natural Remedies
Cuisine: Americana
Servings: 32 servings
Calories: 65kcal

Ingredients

  • cup Lemon Thyme
  • cup Marshmallow Root
  • cup Slippery Elm Bark
  • 2 cups Raw Unfiltered Honey, pourable Additional honey may be needed to completely saturate herbs

Instructions

  • Mix herbs and add them to a jar sufficient to hold 2 or more cups. (I like to use canning jars that are for asparagus or green beans and hold approximately 2 1/2 cups.)
  • Cover herbs with at least 2 cups of honey, making sure that there is enough honey to completely saturate the herbs.
  • Cover the jar tightly with a lid.
  • Each day in the morning for the next thirty days, turn the jar upside down and then in the evening, turn the jar right side up.
  • After thirty days, place a strainer over a glass container and strain the herbs from the honey. This process is made easier by warming the jar in a bowl of hot water first.
  • Once the herbs have been strained from the honey, decant the honey into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator.
  • This syrup will last approximately 1 year if properly refrigerated. When using the syrup, always use a clean spoon to not contaminate the syrup. For additional information pertaining to the shelf life of the syrup and on how I use this Homemade Cough Syrup, please see the Recipe Notes below.
  • One final note as to the solids that remain after the honey is strained out. Do not discard the mixture of herbs. Transfer this mixture to ice cube trays, top off with water, and place the filled ice cube trays in your freezer. Once frozen, transfer the individual herbal ice cubes to a plastic bag and store it in the freezer. Use these herbal ice cubes to make tea by placing individual cubes into a tea ball and steep in hot water for a few minutes.

Video

Notes

Do not discard the mixture of herbs. Transfer the herbs to ice cube trays, top off with water, and place the filled ice cube trays in your freezer. Once frozen, transfer the individual herbal ice cubes to a plastic bag and store them in the freezer. Use these herbal ice cubes to make tea by placing individual cubes into a tea ball and steeping them in hot water for a few minutes.
Make sure your jar is large enough for the honey to completely saturate the herbs.
If the honey won't pour easily, you can warm it up slightly in a bowl of hot water.
Note: I am not a doctor or medical professional. If you are not feeling well, please seek professional medical attention and medicine. And if you are thinking of supplementing your treatment with home remedies, be sure to talk to your medical professional about them. It's important that you get the medicine and treatments you need to get back to good health.
Also, remember that honey should never be given to infants under the age of one. And if you decide to introduce honey into your toddler's diet, be sure to check with your pediatrician first.
How I Use Homemade Cough Syrup:
As a remedy for a cough accompanying a cold or flu, I take 1 tbsp. 3-4 per day. This is what I do as an adult. But check with your own physician as to what is the best dosage for you. Check with your pediatrician as to the proper dosage for children. Honey should never be given to children under the age of 1.
Shelf Life:
The Herbal Academy of New England says that a syrup will last for one year refrigerated if it has a 20% sugar content. This syrup has a 20%+ sugar content provided by the honey so it will last for one year as long as you keep it cold and don’t contaminate the contents. Always use a clean spoon when removing it from the jar. Plus, the honey has antiviral, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties which help to maintain the freshness of the syrup.
Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-homemade-cough-syrup-video/
Copyright © 2020 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg