Home-Made Organic Herbal Cough Syrup

Growing up in the Midwest, I often reminisce of the change of seasons. The leaves turn from green, to yellow and then sometimes a bright and vibrant red, before tumbling to the ground. As they dry, they form natural leaf “banks” and piles for children to play in. The first snow is always kind of exciting as well. With it comes memories of sled-riding, snow-ball fights, igloos, snow people, and a million other mementos associated with the holidays.

Now that I’m older, and living in a part of the country that barely fluctuates 5 degrees above or below 70 (not trying to rub it in), I’m happy to relinquish some of my holiday yearnings, based on 1 very strong argument:  I hate getting sick.  While I do practice and promote a diet and lifestyle optimum for a strong immune system, we are all human. Depending on where your home is right now, and where you are spending the holidays, there’s a very good chance some sniffling and coughing are right around the corner.  There’s nothing more annoying than a cough, and if you have kids, there’s nothing more sad than hearing that child suffer with a cough throughout the night.

So what exactly is happening when we cough?  Well, coughing, believe it or not, is actually a very good technique we humans have developed, to help clear our breathing passage of dust, mucous, bacteria, and other foreign invaders.  So as uncomfortable as coughing is, we should remember that coughing is actually saving our lives.  It’s one of those defense mechanisms that are body uses to fight disease. Remember the blog on inflammation?  In the same way, however, when these defense mechanisms become chronic, it may be a sign that WE are doing something that irritates our bodies.  Your cough may be a sign of the cold or flu virus.  It may be a sinus infection.  It may also be an allergy.

Regardless of the cause, here are some foods you may want to avoid while you have a cough:

Milk – I used to get 2 sinus infections per year until I removed cow’s milk and dairy from my diet.  It thickens mucous and makes your sinuses a very pleasing environment for bacterial growth. Thicker phlegm might be irritating to the throat or make a cough worse. One report even says that parents often feel that their child produce more mucus after drinking milk or eating dairy foods. Some people complain that their throat feels coated, and this makes them cough.

Nuts – Some nuts, especially peanuts, have been linked to an allergic cough.  Removing these from your diet may ease the agitation in your throat. Avoid nuts like nuts such as almonds, ground nuts, pistachios, cashew nuts and walnuts and as they are high in oil content as well. Another thing, a cough that develops from a peanut allergy is related to asthma. The inflammation in your airways is caused by the chemical reactions in the body that occur during an allergic reaction.

Wheat – Wheat allergies are very common, and several of the symptoms are swollen throat, itchy throat, and cough.  Try avoiding wheat as well while you are experiencing cold and flu-like symptoms such as a cough. Although take note that allergic reactions to wheat can differ. Sometimes the same person can react differently at different times.

Here are some positive tips to help you ease a cough:

Stay Hydrated – Drinking plenty of water will thin the mucous in your throat and sinuses, and allow the material to properly drain without causing as much irritation. Drink a full glass of water each hour, so that you are drinking a minimum of eight full glasses in one day. Also, make sure that the water you’re drinking is not cold. Room temperature or lukewarm water is the best.

Drink Lemon Water – Lemon has natural antimicrobial effects and can help reduce inflammation in your throat. It also helps break up mucus. The hot water relaxes the throat muscles. Drinking lemon water also helps in cleansing and releasing the toxins in your body which may be causing your cough. Plus, we all know that lemons are loaded with Vitamin C which helps in boosting and protecting the immunity!

Use Cloves in a Diffuser – Cloves are naturally anti-microbial and fight inflammation.  They also have been used as a natural pain reliever.  You can boil some cloves in water, or put some clove oil in a diffuser.  Stand nearby and breath in the aroma.  The particles will flow through your sinuses and throat, killing bad bacteria and easing pain in your throat.

Finally, I’d recommend making a Homemade Organic Herbal Cough Syrup!  These are delicious, fun to make, and will help ease your cough.  

Here’s the recipe:

Home-Made Organic Herbal Cough Syrup

Ingredients

2 cups of water

1 ginger root

1 tea spoon of chamomile

1 tea spoon of marshmallow root

half a tea spoon of cinnamon

4 table spoons of lemon juice

1 cup of honey

Instructions

Bring the water to a boil, and add the roots and spices (all the wet ingredients.)

Let it simmer until it has reduced about 40%.

Then strain the water into a jar and let it COOL.

Add the honey and lemon juice (after it’s cooled, we don’t want our honey to cook.)

Take 1-2x a day until cough is relieved.

This is a time of year when colds and flus are more common, and it’s not just in the colder areas.  Why?  I think it’s because our diets change around the holidays.  During holiday parties and gatherings, the foods we eat are much less micro-nutrient dense, and our immune system suffers without those vital minerals and vitamins.  

Secondly, we eat more sugar.  

Studies have shown that just 70 grams of sugar (2 sodas) can reduce our white blood cell count by 50%.

This season, we’ll be around a lot of sick friends and family, so let’s keep our precious immune system in mind, and give ourselves as many vitamins and minerals as we can.  The best way to do that is by juicing organic vegetables and super-foods on a regular basis.  

Live Well Be Well