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 do you learn to grow and forage for herbs anywhere? Thank you from N. Kentucky.
For foraging, you might want to check out the Weekly Weeder series – https://commonsensehome.com/wildcraftingweekly-weeder/ I normally get a new post up on Wednesdays, but sometimes it ends up on Thursday. Will be wrapping up for this season soon as we are due for hard frost, but will be back next year.
Can I ask if a tulsi tea from Dr. Mercola is an organic one too? Can you confirm if it is good? Here it is http://organicindia.mercola.com/tulsi-tea.aspx because I’m thinking of trying one of this because somebody told me that it has a strong antioxidant properties too.
Organic India teas are indeed organic – and tasty. Another option is to buy bulk tulsi and make your own blends, or grow your own. MHR has bulk tulsi, tulsi capsules, hydrosols, oil, and seeds.
I use Mt. Rose Herbs too. I love how quick and easy it is to find things on their website and I’ve always been very pleased with their prices and quality. I could sure use the cough and cold collection right now. I am up late because I can’t quit coughing. Need to go for a long walk tomorrow and see if I can’t find any mullein…
I’m trying to build up my collection of herbs I haven’t grown so I’d be thrilled to win either one! Thanks for posting all the info that you do, I love it.
Mountain Rose Herb is a great company.
Love, love this post and love, love Mountain Rose Herbs – a vendor I know I can trust! I’m thrilled to have the chance to win either prize…
Information about allergies would be great.
I’ll have to try this syrup. I usually make an Elderberry or Wild Cherry syrup for the winter.
Cough be gone sounds tasty. Between allergies and colds we have here- I plan on trying it. Thanks for sharing.
Maybe herbs that aid with weight loss…
I would like to know more about natural remedies for diabetes. Every member of my husband’s family has to use insulin as well as other medicines.
I love learning about about how to use common herbs and spices for healing common childhood illnesses as well as herbs for tonics and building immunity. I really like Mountain Rose’s products! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love Mountain Rose Herbs products. Great quality and good prices.
I’d like to learn more about energizing and sore throat help herbs!
Something to help me go to sleep and sleep better!
I’d like to know more about herbal remedies for PMS
There is a post on herbal remedies for PMS here – https://commonsensehome.com/herbal-remedies-for-pms/
I would love to win this — I love Mountain Rose.
I’m just beginning to learn more about medicinal herbs and would love to win this!
I would LOVE to learn more about how to use common “spices” as healing herbs. I love that the cold and flu recipe was mostly stuff I’d already have and not need to order. More of that.
I would like to learn about all of them! I am currently an herbalism student (working toward my certification slowly but surely) and my current focus is on herbs that help repair the gut, as my children suffer from celiac and I am looking for ways to help them heal. Thanks for having this giveaway!