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It seems that the flu has hit many people pretty hard this year! So far, we’ve gotten by with only minor sniffles, but I’ve got some natural remedies on hand just in case!
One recipe I’ve finally perfected and am happy with is this one for homemade herbal cough drops! Most cough drops contain sugar and preservatives, and some even contain artificial colors, flavors or chemicals! Since we have one child still on the GAPS protocol, these aren’t even an option, and I wanted to find a homemade recipe anyway.
Herbal Cough Drops Recipe
After much, much experimentation and many batches of gooey messes that got thrown away (or were eaten by the kids as taffy…), I finally found a recipe I am happy with and can duplicate. I’ll also be posting recipes for herbal cough syrup and herbal tincture for cough, but these pack a powerful herbal punch and my kids love them!
Herbal Cough Drops Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for herb infused water:
- 2 cups water
- 1 TBSP-¼ cup slippery elm
- 1 TBSP-¼ cup coltsfoot
- 1 TBSP-¼ cup cinnamon
- 1 TBSP-¼ cup dried elderberries
- 1 TBSP-¼ cup chamomile flowers
Ingredients for cough drops:
- 1 cup herb infused water
- 1½ cups honey
Instructions
To make herb infused water:
- In a medium size saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
- Place between 1 tablespoon and ¼ cup (for a really potent cough drop) of each herb into a medium size bowl. I put the herbs in a muslin bag to make straining easier.
- Pour the boiling water over herbs and let steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain out the herbs and use half of the infused water for the next part of the recipe. Refrigerate and save the rest for another batch or mix with equal parts raw honey for a simple cough syrup.
To make the cough drops:
- Pour 1 cup of the herb infused water into a medium saucepan.
- Add the honey and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 300°F. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, this usually takes about 30 minutes and can be tested by dropping a drop of the mixture into ice water to see if it immediately hardens. It should harden to the point that the drop breaks if dropped on the counter. You can also tell because the mixture will start to foam and separate. At this point, it is important to remove it from the heat quickly so it does not burn.
- Pour the mixture into candy molds, or pour onto a large baking sheet that has been greased with coconut oil or that has a silicon baking mat on it.
- If you are not using molds, you will need to form the mixture into cough drops by hand. Let it cool until it is cool enough to touch without being burned and immediately and quickly form it into lozenges with your hands (you might need help to do this quickly enough).
- Put the finished cough drops/lozenges on a silicon mat or piece of parchment paper to cool.
- When completely cool, I toss the cough drops in a mixture of powdered slippery elm and stevia to prevent them from getting sticky in humidity.
- Use as needed for coughing, congestion or sore throat.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
What natural remedies do you make at home? Has the flu hit your house this year? Share below!
Could I use essential oils in this recipe instead?? I would LOVE to make some lozenges with some of the blends that I take orally, as it would REALLY help in taking them while on the road.
I would like to know this, too, Amy. I particularly want to know about eucalyptus. One source says it’s fine to use in cough drops, the other says NEVER take it internally. !
Eucalytpus Globulus is the only eucalyptus essential oil that is safe for ingestion, but be careful because not all brands are safe for consumption. For example; Now Foods eucalyptus states on the bottle that it is for external use only however, Young Living’s eucalyptus is safe for consumption when diluted. Always double check the bottle, it will tell you if it can be taken internally. And always use a reliable source to check what precautions should be taken with essential oils whether used internally or externally. I use 2 essential oil books that cover all the information I need for every essential oil I have and I still search the internet. The internet has great information about uses for essential oils. If I were you I would also check to see if the essential oil is safe to use when heated or blended with other essential oils.
just because someone in a book or on the internet says that essential oils are safe for ingesting does not mean that they are! This is especially true if those saying that are trying to get you to buy their essential oils (i.e. Young Living distributor). Unless you are dealing with a clinical aromatherapist (one whose training was independent of any brand product line) you should not believe what you read about essential oils. They are exponentially more potent than the natural herbs that they are derived from and can cause damage from both short- and long-term use to your mucus membranes and liver. Yes, they might calm your cough, but at what greater cost?
Here’s a simple tea that’s great for a sore throat or a thick nose..
Boil halv a onion ( a whole half) in water togeather with ginger (a thumb-size or two). Let it soak for a while then add lemon juice and honey untill it’s drinkable.
Add some peppermint if you like. 🙂
Soothes my thoat everytime!
when making this recipe do you use the whole elderberries?
I made these to help with a friend’s daughter’s abscessed tooth, I made with rosemary sprigs and chamomile tea. Other than slightly burning it (no thermometer and about zero successful experience with candies) they came out decently. Fortunately the daughter’s sense of taste is about nil. 😀
Thanks so much for posting this, it was a learning experience, that’s for sure.
Wow, yum! I used a native New Zealand Beechdew honey (organic), and infused it with organic ginger and lemon. Super tasty, sweet and tangy. Love your recipes as always!
safe while breastfeeding? any of these things have a drying effect on milk?
Dena, it all depends on which herbs you use as to whether it’ll have a drying effect on breastmilk. I know there are websites out there, books even, that will tell you which herbs and such to avoid for that reason. I know that because I looked them up both times I was breastfeeding my kiddos several years ago. A good Google search will help with that.
how much of each herb do you use?
Do you use ground cinnamon or a whole cinnamon stick?
Can’t wait to try this!
What a wonderful recipe that I cannot wait to try with my family!
There is a nasty cold/flue buzzing around our area too (I noticed you live in KY and so do we!!!) and does not seem to want to leave anytime soon.
I have been struggling with some infection and have had 3 relapses of this cold even on the heavy stuff (oregano, garlic, GSE, and probiotics to replenish the ones lost during this sickness) among many other herbs, but it has not completely kicked it like it usually does.
I have started making this very helpful tea from a book I would highly recommend called “Be your Own Doctor” by Rachel Weaver M.H and it has been making us feel so much better, and hope that we are now on the road to recovery and will get rid of this cold for good!
Here is the recipe if you (or anyone else for that matter) would like to try it!
*Flue Tea*
Mix together:
3 parts Red Raspberry Leaf
2 parts Peppermint Leaf
1 part Alfalfa Leaf (optional, as this herb can aggravate those with arthritis)
1 part Nettle Leaf
1/4 part Yarrow Flower or Boneset
Mix this in a bowl, and store in a jar. Use 1 tsp. per cup of boiled water, or 1/4 cup to 2 quarts boiling water.
*My note* Tastes better if you add a small amount of stevia, and chill the tea with ice or in the frige for a few hours.
Here is another great tea our family has used for a few years that is great for coughs and sore throats, and pretty much anything else!
Garlic, Lemon and Honey Tea
Boil 3-4 good sized cloves of crushed garlic in about 3-4 cups of water in a pan, let simmer (with lid on) for about 10-20 min.
While garlic water is steeping, juice half a lemon in a mug. Use strainer to filter out the garlic and pour garlic water into mug and place the rest back on the stove for later use.
Sweeten with honey to taste, and if you need an extra boost, add 1 tsp. of coconut oil!
Hope this helps and thanks again for sharing this cough drop recipe….this will certainly come in handy!
Blessings,
Antoinette K.
PS. Part of this may be because we recently moved from another state, and our bodies may be adjusting to the new bacteria in the area our bodies are not used to yet.