Make Your Own Cough Drops

 

There’s nothing worse than a sore throat and cough, yet some cough drops you can buy can be a bit nasty with additions like artificial colours and fructose. These are not great to ingest anyway, but it’s even worse when your immune system is working over time. The good news is that it’s really easy to make your own cough drops at home using natural ingredients that are totally safe.

This recipe is easy to make: you can whip up a batch in forty minutes including making the ginger marshmallow tea. Marshmallow root contains mucilage which is helpful in relieving irritated mucous membranes of the throat and dry coughs.

Ginger and lemon are both great for the immune system, and we all know of the wonders of Manuka honey. These three ingredients together are super soothing and taste great. These drops would make a thoughtful get well gift for a friend who’s under the weather, and they’re perfect to keep on hand in case of a scratchy, tickly throat.

Make Your Own Cough Drops

1/2 cup Coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

1/3 cup Earthbound raw Manuka honey

1/4 – 1/2 cup Ginger marshmallow tea

2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice, all pips removed

Powdered Arrowroot or cornflour for coating

Here’s what to do 

First make the ginger and marshmallow tea by grating or chopping 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger and putting it into a tea diffuser along with 2 teaspoons of marshmallow root, then fill with 1/2 cup boiling water and infuse for 15 minutes. You can buy marshmallow root from most organic shops.

You’ll need to heat all the ingredients in saucepan adding only 1/4 cup of tea to start with, a saucepan with a heavy bottom will work best. Heat for around 20 minutes, if it’s reducing too much add the rest of the tea. Keep heating until the mixture cracks when a little is dropped into a bowl filled with water. If the mixture is too chewy you’ll need to keep heating it and try the crack test again.

Once ready drop in rounds (about 1 teaspoon each) onto a sheet of baking paper and leave to cool.

To store you’ll need to toss them in arrowroot or cornflour to stop them from sticking, if they do get a little sticky toss them again.

Some great herbs (and their uses) for cough drops are listed here on the American College of Health Care Sciences site, you can substitute any of these for the marshmallow root, or add them in with it for a super boost.