I've had an acute, yet persistent cough for a week, and even though Ricola lozenges taste good and help slightly, they never help as much as Halls, and those don't fit into my natural lifestyle.
After doing a little research & concocting, I came up with a splendid, absurdly inexpensive substitute. Don't suppress your cough, encourage speedy and healthy lung expecting, healing, and recovery with your own homemade honey lozenges.
There are many herbs for soothing the throat such as slippery elm, mullein, horehound & licorice. I went with what was in the house and it worked great too.
Step 1: Herbal Decoction & Water Base
First boil down about 2 cups of filtered or distilled water with 1 Tbs thyme (not powdered), 1 Tbs rosemary, and stick of cinnamon. Measure about that amount or more for whatever herbs you use, better if grown and dried yourself. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes with lid, occasionally stirring. Strain.
Step 2: Lozenge syrup
Combine 1 cup decoction with 1/2 cup natural syrup and 2 drops each of eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint in a glass saucepot.
Simmer for another 45-60 minutes, stirring often and testing for rigidity until the syrup is quite dark & hardens once cool, almost immediately.
Step 3: Making Drops
Drop about 1/4 tsp of syrup onto lightly greased metal or ceramic sheet that drops will chip off easily from once cool. The wax on wax-paper melts and sticks to the lozenges, and a plain plate didn't work well either, but was easily solved by placing the plate/paper and lozenges in freezer for about an hour. Once cooled, wrap the lozenges in plastic individually and seal in a jar or tupperware. Freezing them adds a nice cooling touch. They will keep for 3-6 months.
After doing a little research & concocting, I came up with a splendid, absurdly inexpensive substitute. Don't suppress your cough, encourage speedy and healthy lung expecting, healing, and recovery with your own homemade honey lozenges.
There are many herbs for soothing the throat such as slippery elm, mullein, horehound & licorice. I went with what was in the house and it worked great too.
Step 1: Herbal Decoction & Water Base
First boil down about 2 cups of filtered or distilled water with 1 Tbs thyme (not powdered), 1 Tbs rosemary, and stick of cinnamon. Measure about that amount or more for whatever herbs you use, better if grown and dried yourself. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes with lid, occasionally stirring. Strain.
Step 2: Lozenge syrup
Combine 1 cup decoction with 1/2 cup natural syrup and 2 drops each of eucalyptus, lemon, and peppermint in a glass saucepot.
Simmer for another 45-60 minutes, stirring often and testing for rigidity until the syrup is quite dark & hardens once cool, almost immediately.
Step 3: Making Drops
Drop about 1/4 tsp of syrup onto lightly greased metal or ceramic sheet that drops will chip off easily from once cool. The wax on wax-paper melts and sticks to the lozenges, and a plain plate didn't work well either, but was easily solved by placing the plate/paper and lozenges in freezer for about an hour. Once cooled, wrap the lozenges in plastic individually and seal in a jar or tupperware. Freezing them adds a nice cooling touch. They will keep for 3-6 months.
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