It seems that winter has not done with us yet, and at this time of year coughs and colds are doing the rounds. Here is a recipe for herbal cough drops:
Herbal Cough Drops
1 pint boiling water
½ tsp crushed aniseed
2 tbsp. elecampane
3 tsp grated fresh ginger root
2 tbsp. hyssop
1 tbsp. chopped marshmallow root
1 tbsp. thyme
12 fl. oz. honey
Cover the herbs with the boiling water and allow to infuse for 20 minutes. Strain. Use ½ pint of the resulting infusion and put it in a pan with the honey. Cook over a medium heat until the mixture reaches setting point – drop a bit of the mixture in very cold water and see if it sets to a hard lump. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the syrup into a greased baking tray. When it has cooled, you can break it into pieces.
Aniseed and elecampane are good for relieving coughs. Hyssop sooths and moistens sore throats. Ginger reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system. The mucilage in marshmallow is wonderful for inflamed throats and sooths coughs. Thyme is antibacterial and antiviral, while honey is soothing, antibacterial and antiviral.
If you don’t have all these herbs you can just use some of them or substitute anti-inflammatory chamomile, decongestant cinnamon, antiseptic cloves, immune boosting Echinacea, soothing liquorice, cough relieving mullein leaf, or sage, which is a great all-rounder for sore throats, coughs and inflammation.
