by Amanda Iglesias
This time of year, it’s inevitable to catch a little something in the air. When those lingering coughs get me down I turn to a recipe that my herbal teacher shared with me for making my own cough syrup.
Today’s cough syrups have loads of extra junk in them, including artificial sweeteners. Making your own cough syrup, or oxymel, as herbalists call them, is simple, effective, and way better for you.
To make an oxymel, you need four basic ingredients:
- Honey – Honey has a lot of powerful properties to soothe. Raw honey is best
- Vinegar – I prefer apple cider vinegar
- Herbs – There are all sorts of configurations of potent medicinal herbs that can make great oxymels, but some of the easiest to start with are humble kitchen herbs like thyme or sage or ginger (or all three!). Also, if you have access to it, I highly recommend mullein for its affinity for the respiratory system.
- Time – I like to let the mixture hang out for a few weeks, at least. I try to shake the jar once or twice a week.
Simply chop your herbs and put them in a clean jar. Cover them in equal parts apple cider vinegar and honey. Wait a few weeks, strain, bottle and voila! Your own homemade cough syrup!