It's tremendously empowering to make my own medicine.
I feel like I'm channeling the generations of women that came before me. The healers. The grandmothers who learned from their grandmothers what to do when a child has a dry cough. These women didn't have Web MD. They knew which plants to use for every common ailment.
I hope to continue teaching myself these home remedies, so that one day I may have my own medicinal garden and be able to help heal others.
I recently learned about the Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Root, both traditionally used to treat a dry cough. They help coat the throat to ease that pesky tickling feeling and allow for healing. Combine that with the soothing power and sweet natural flavor of raw honey, and you've got yourself a homemade cough syrup.
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 tbsp marshmallow root, powdered
1 tbsp slippery elm, powdered
2 tbsp raw honey
Combine the water, marshmallow root, and slippery elm in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 30 mins until the liquid is reduced by half. Remove the mixture from heat and allow to cool for 5 mins before stirring in honey. Pour into jar and seal tightly. Store in glass jar in fridge for 1 month. A dose is 2 tsp up to 4 times a day.
Adapted from Do It Gorgeously
Where do you buy slippery elm and marshmallow root?
You can get it on Amazon, but I buy them from Mountain Rose Herbs.
thank you.. Nicely written
I have been reading the posts avidly and
Does this taste good?? ..thinking of my grandkids.
Because of the honey, the flavor is sweet. Some kids have trouble with the slippery consistency but that’s what makes it work.
I was wondering, do you think you could add elderberry to this concoction? thought it might help boost the immune system. I might try it and add some ginger too. Thanks very much for your inspired posts!
Hi jp. That sounds interesting, and might make the syrup tastier! I saw go for it!