Be prepared to combat cold season with this plant-powered recipe

There's a lot of people rolling around our neck of the woods suffering from dry hacking coughs.  I figured it would be great to share a recipe to make your own cough lozenges.  It's so empowering to be able to create your own medicine just how you need it, specifically for yourself and  your family. I've said it before and I'll say it again: there should be an herbalist in every family!  

So, maybe you've done something like this before, or maybe you haven't, either way I encourage you to try this recipe next time a sore throat creeps your way.

Dry Throat Herbal Lozenges

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup Water
• 1 TBL Marshmallow Root
• 1 TBL Echinacea Root
• 1 TBL Elecampane Root
• 1 TBL Peppermint
• 1 tsp Orange peel
• 1 TBL Thyme
• 1 TBL Anise Seed
• ½ Cup Marshmallow root powder plus an extra ¼ cup for rolling
• 2-3 TBL raw honey

Directions 

1. Combine marshmallow root with ¼ cup water, and place in fridge overnight.  Strain in the morning.  It will be slimy, and that's good news! More on that below
2. Simmer ½ cup water with Echinacea & Elecampane Root for 10-20 minutes (and a cinnamon stick if you like)
3. Remove from heat and add the peppermint, thyme, hyssop, and orange peel
4. Cover and steep for 15 minutes
5. Add 2-3 Tbsp raw honey to a ¼ cup measuring cup – fill the rest of the measuring cup with 2/3 tea concentrate & 1/3 marshmallow goo.
6. In a bowl, add the contents of the 1/4 measuring cup and 1/2 cup of the powdered marshmallow root. Stir this together and make into dough.  
7. Use a rolling pin or clean water bottle to roll the dough out to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. It helps to sprinkle the cutting board and the roller with a little marshmallow root powder so it doesn't stick.
8. Cut into little pieces, or use a bottle cap (for round lozenges)
9. Lay on a cookie sheet to dry. If you have a dehydrator, that works best, or put on lowest temp in the oven for a couple of hrs. 

Want to know a little bit more about the herbs in this recipe?  Here you go!

Marshmallow Root: Althea officinalis

• Named after my sweet niece  ;)  No, not really, she was named after a song.  Bonus points to those of you that know the song!
• Very  mucilaginous, moistening, cooling, & demulcent, with an affinity for the respiratory tract,  & the digestive system
• Specific for respiratory catarrh, bronchitis, and irritating coughs

 Echinacea: Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea, E spp.

• Aids the body in ridding itself of microbial infections
• Effective at fighting off viral and bacterial infections
• Particularly useful for infections of the upper respiratory tract, including laryngitis, tonsillitis, the common cold, and other catarrhal conditions of nose and sinuses.  

Elecampane: Inula helenium

• Expectorant, meaning it helps to loosen phlegm
• Specific for irritating bronchial coughs, particularly in children
• Helpful for asthma, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema
• Mucilaginous, providing a soothing effect for the bronchial tubes
• Antibacterial
• Bitter flavor, stimulating digestion and the appetite

Peppermint: Mentha piperita

• Relieves symptoms of asthma, and chronic bronchitis
• Antimicrobial properties
• Helps to clear the sinuses
• Helpful with fevers that include nausea and vomiting
• It's yummy!

Orange Peel: Citrus sinensis

• Has a lung cleansing effect by helping to expel break down congestion
• High in Vitamin C, which boosts immunity and helps fight off cold and flu
• Bitters properties aid in the production of digestive secretions

Thyme: Thymus vulgarus

• Highly antiseptic
• Eases sore throats and soothes irritable coughs
• Reduces bronchial spasms, and helps expel mucous
• Can be an effective treatment for bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma

Hyssop: Hyssopus officinalis

• Loosens phlegm in cases of irritable coughs, chronic catarrh, and bronchitis
• Relaxes spasms of smooth muscles in the respiratory tract
• Promotes sweating, which can be beneficial during colds and flu

Looking for more help with your digestive health?