Herbal Cold and Cough Care Syrup and Tea
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Herbal cough and cold care ranges from off the shelf products to a mix of homemade recipes tailored to your specific symptoms. The sore throat syrup has a mild licorice taste that is quite palatable. I think even kids would take it without a fuss. The cold and flu herbal tea recipe below has more of a kick.
Cold and Cough Care Sore Throat Syrup Recipe
Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s “Cough-be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup”
In Rosemary’s book, she lists the ingredients as follows:
- 4 parts fennel seed
- 2 parts licorice root
- 1 part cinnamon bark
- 2 parts slippery elm bark
- 2 parts valerian
- 2 parts wild cherry bark
- ½ part ginger root
- 1/8 part orange peel
To make 1 quart of herbal infusion, Rosemary recommend 2 ounces of herb mixture to one quart of water. To get roughly the right weight, I used 2 tablespoons fennel seed, 1 tbsp licorice root, 1 tbsp, slippery elm bark, 1 tbsp valerian, 1 tbsp wild cherry bark, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon bark, 3/4 teaspoon ginger root and 1/4 teaspoon orange peel. All measurements were a little generous so I had enough to get 2 ounces.
Over low heat in a heavy bottom pot, simmer the herbs and water until it is reduced by half, so that you have one pint of liquid.
Strain the herbs out of the liquid, rinse chunks out of the pot, return the liquid to the pot.
For each pint of liquid, add one cup of honey. You may go up to a one to one ratio for a sweeter syrup (1 pint honey to 1 pint liquid).
Heat gently and mix until the syrup is well blended.
Add a small amount of brandy, if desired, to help preserve the syrup and act as a relaxant.
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Remove from heat, bottle and label. This syrup should last for several weeks, even months, if refrigerated. (Most herbs have preservative qualities.)
Rosemary suggests taking 1 to 2 teaspoons every hour or two throughout the day, or as needed for cough.
Cold and Flu Tea Recipe
Adapted from Healing Naturally by Bee
For one mug of tea use:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger (spicy, warming, immune balancing)
- 1/4 teaspoon stevia leaves (or to taste )
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped sage (spicy, antihistamine)
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme (spicy, antibiotic, antiviral)
- Juice of half a lemon (sour, vitamin c)
- A dash of cayenne pepper (hot, immune enhancing) [optional]
Place herbs in mug and cover with boiling water (leave enough room for your lemon juice). Cover and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain herbs, mix in lemon juice and sip slowly. The warmth and natural antihistamine action of the herbs is great for congestion and runny noses. You can adjust the amount of the herbs a bit to taste. I was a little generous with the cayenne in the photo above – too hot for me! *Note: I had originally listed larger portions of the herbs, but with the dried herbs, I think these amounts will probably be better for most people. You can use more to taste.
Longer steeping will give a stronger brew, but if you leave it too long it may become more bitter, so no more than 15 minutes is recommended. Covering the tea while it’s brewing will help to trap “the good stuff”. 🙂
You may also find our other Cold and Flu Remedies useful, including:
- Make Homemade Elderberry Cough Syrup with Juice or Dried Berries
- Easy Homemade Cough Drops for Treatment of Sore Throats and Coughs
- Immune Boosting Herbs in Finger Gelatin
Originally published in 2012, updated in 2017.
How about something for night sweats/hot flashes. 🙁
I would like to learn about the joint pain also. I have RA. Most of the medications are pretty bad. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
We were just looking up natural remedies last night to see what we needed to make our own. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I would really love to learn more about herbal remedies to treat my animals. such as ringworm, ear mites, a natural heartworm formula, hotspots, snake bites, wound care.
I also have lupus so I would love to see something on pain relief for joints although I use Tiger balm now which does help sometimes. I would also love to see something for winter dry skin, I get itchy patches with the onset of the cold weather so a good lotion of some type would be wonderful. Really either of these items with a warming effect is awesome in the winter. I use to buy this oil and lotion combo that warmed when you used it and had the most amazing pine/foresty scent. The company went out of business and I have never found anything to replace it. That set was my after bath oil and daily moisturizer for the entire winter and I sure do miss it. Thanks for asking what we would like to see posted!
I love this easy hard lotion bar recipe for dry skin – https://commonsensehome.com/super-easy-hard-lotion-bars/
I haven’t experimented with warming agents yet, but will keep that in mind.
This is great, would love to win!
I would love to see more information about making glycerites or maybe using glycerine + ACV as substitute solvent for alcohol. Luv your blog 🙂
Trying to accumulate natural remedies for cold/flu season as well as other ailments! Thanks for the recipes!
I’m interested in illness/allergy remedies!
I would love to learn more about remedies and treatments for common dog problems! (fleas, thyroid etc. etc.) Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I’d love to learn more about herbal remedies for sinus congestion. I am allergic to epinephrine. which is in every cold medication it seems.
Jen – I have a post live now specifically about home remedies for congestion – https://commonsensehome.com/home-remedies-for-congestion/
I wasn’t sure where to start, this is all brand new to me! Thanks so much! 🙂
How about herbal care for hair. I have fine oily hair.
The Herbs Gone Wild! series of herbal e-book is great for skin and hair care ideas – https://commonsensehome.com/herbs-gone-wild-win-3-great-herbal-e-books/
I would like to learn more about pain relief for teething and calming toddlers. I currently buy teething tablets but I’d feel more comfortable if I made my own remedy (and it would also be better than running to the store late at night to buy more tablets!)
anti inflamitory would be awesome
I’d love to read more about pain relief and anti-inflammatory tinctures and syrups.
I’m so thankful that more and more people are interested in herbal healing for common ailments instead of running to the pharmacy. Thanks for these informative posts on spices and herbs.
I LOVE THIS BLOG! So many great recipes and articles! Thank you!
Would love to win this! I haven’t ordered from Mountain Rose Herbs yet but am getting ready to place an order for supplies for the fall/winter. Thanks!
Don’t forget to watch for monthly specials. I list a few on the sidebar, but if you visit their site they have a whole page of listings. In October, soothing herbal bath salts are on sale, too.
I love to learn about all the herbs you are sharing about! Wonderful! I guess if I had to pick one thing right now, maybe something that would continue to boost our immune system through the winter months. Thanks!