Cough, Cold, and Flu Remedy - Natural and Organic

Making your own cough, cold, and flu remedy is not only easy and frugal, it is actually healthy for you too.  It can even be taken daily when not ill as a preventive.

To top it off, it is pretty tasty! 

The exciting thing for me about this year's blend was using some of my own black elderberries plus the addition of homegrown marshmallow and echinacea leaves and flowers.  

I will be writing articles down the road about the many health benefits of both marshmallow and echinacea but for now let me explain a few reasons why these are good choices to add to your cold and flu blend.  

Marshmallow has mucilaginous properties making it great for soothing sore throats and calming coughs. 

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)

 

Echinacea is an immune strengthener and will kill both bacterial and viral infections. 

Both echinacea and marshmallow have analgesic properties making them useful in relieving pain.

Echinacea Purpurea   

Then there are the wonderful immune boosting and bug fighting spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, plus the use of raw honey that on its own, is wonderful for  healing and immune strengthening.  

The added benefit of all these spices and honey means the syrup tastes quite good making it easy to get the whole family to take it when needed.

 Recipe:
*3/4 cup Black Elderberries

*1/2 cup dried Marshmallow Leaves and flowers

*1/2 cup dried Echinacea Leaves and Flowers

*2 Tablespoons Ginger Root Powder

*2 Tablespoons Ceylon Cinnamon

*1 tsp or more Ground Cloves 

*4 cups filtered water

*1 cup Raw Honey

Add all ingredients except the honey into a saucepan and mix well.  Put on the stove and heat to boiling then turn down heat to the lowest setting and allow to simmer for up to an hour. The infusion will be very dark, nearly black, when ready.
Remove from heat and allow to cool to below 100 degrees.  Strain out the herbs and then stir in the honey.  

It is best to add in the honey after the infusion has cooled significantly to be sure that the honey remains in its raw form to preserve its healing properties.

Store your syrup in glass bottles or jars with tight fitting lids or corks and keep in your refrigerator.  It should keep for at least 6 months or more but best if used within the first few months of preparing it.

Take 1-2 Tablespoons daily during cold and flu "season" to help prevent illness and take that much or more as needed (at least three times per day) when you feel something coming on to assist the body in curing itself. 

You may want to consider making extra and wrapping up like I did here with these pint mason jars to give as gifts to family and friends

The beauty of natural herbal remedies like this is that unlike store bought synthetic drugs, they are non toxic and there is no worry of addiction or overdose. They are actually healthy to take on a daily basis.

However, one should still take into consideration any allergies to certain herbs and if you are on any prescription or over the counter pharmaceuticals with which there could be interactions. I recommend you do your own research regarding these things.  

Note: I am not a doctor and nothing I say should replace medical counseling, I just like to share what we do that works for us. We have been so much more healthy since going the all natural route and we very rarely get ill.  

Here is a recent video I did making the cold and flu remedy using my own elderberries - since this was my first harvest and rather small, I only used a half cup but I still recommend using 3/4 cup of elderberries (Sambucus Nigra) in your own:

I hope you found this information useful and thank you again for your time Faithful Reader! ~Heidi

Other articles you may enjoy:
Garden Reflections
How to Make Organic Chocolate Syrup
Make Your Own Organic Nut Milk