Right before Cold/Flu and Respiratory Season I like to make many different types of herbal medicine.
One of the herbal medicines I love making is syrups. I make a lot of syrups and I especially like making syrups for coughs and lung congestion. I make all my syrups in big batches and this way I can have it ready when the time comes. By making a big batch of Cough Syrup I will have enough if the whole household comes down with a cough/cold/flu.
Always make sure the herbs you are using are organic and sustainably grown and harvested.
Never use plastic, aluminum, copper or microwaves when making herbal medicine.
Here is the recipe that I created for this year, the year 2022.
1/2 cup Hawthorn
1/2 cup elderberry
1 cup elecampane
1/2 cup wild cherry bark
1/2 cup echinacea augustifolia root
1/2 cup rose hips
1/2 cup licorice root
14 reishi mushroom slices
1/2 cup cinnamon chips
14 cloves
Love
16 cups of filtered, or spring water.
A big stainless steel pot
Basically you are going to make a decoction and at one point you will cook it down by half.
Put all the above herbs in the pot. Now add 14 cups of cold water.
Bring to boil.
Turn down to a very lower simmer, such as 1 or a 2. Cover.
Simmer for 8 hours covered on a very low (super low heat) make sure you are not losing your liquid.
Turn off and let sit overnight
Next Day
Turn the decoction on and simmer down to almost the half way point. Right before the halfway point add these herbs:
1/2 cup mullein leaf
1/2 cup marshmallow root
1/4 cup lemon balm
Love
Cover, turn off the stove and let steep covered for 4 hours.
Now it is time to strain the herbs and you will need a big strainer and cheesecloth. You will have to squeeze a lot! Over and over again to get every bit of liquid out.
Keep track of how much liquid you have. This will help give you an idea of how much honey you would like to add. If you are adding Brandy to preserve it then it is also important to know how much liquid you have.
I had about 6ish cups of liquid left.
Now add 16 ounces of Lakewood Organic Black Cherry CONCENTRATE.
This gave me a total of 8 cups of liquid.
Add honey to taste. I added about 2 to 3 cups of honey
If you are planning to use this for children, tweens and teens then it is best to leave the alcohol out. My suggestion is to put a little at a time in the refrigerator and the rest in the freezer. Pull it out of the freezer when needed. It can last in the refrigerator for a couple of months without alcohol. Dispose if it has mold or a fermented smell
To preserve with Alcohol: 1/4 cup brandy (or alcohol of choice, or tincture of choice) to 1 cup syrup
I used 2 cups of hawthorn leaf, flower and berry tincture that I made. The alcohol when help preserve the syrup.
Store in a jars and label
Store in the refrigerator.
If you did not add alcohol store some in the refrigerator and the rest in the freezer.
When The Cough Hits -Syrup Dosage:
Adults: Depending on how acute the situation is take 1/2 shot glass to a full shot glass every hour or so. Or take 3 times a day.
Children: It is best to not give your child a syrup with alcohol in it.
Remember if you sweetened it with honey do not give it to a child that is under one years old.
younger than 2 years -- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
2 to 4 years -- 2 teaspoons
4 to 7 years -- 1 tablespoon
7 to 11 years -- 2 tablespoons
Every few hours to 3 times a day.
