How To It is possible to make homemade cough drops.
Colds and allergies seem to pop up out of nowhere and catch us completely off guard, whether it be the dead of winter or the high life of summer.With these seasonal problems comes the cough.It is advisable to only take cough syrup in moderation to avoid any unwanted side effects.Natural herbal ingredients can be used to soothe your symptoms.You can either buy these drops in the store or make your own at home with a few simple ingredients and tools.
Step 1: You need to gather your supplies.
The following items are needed for this recipe.
Step 2: The spices and lemon should be prepared.
The ginger can be peeled with a paring knife or vegetable peeler.Most supermarkets have fresh ginger in their produce section.The anti- inflammatory properties of ginger make it an effective cough remedy.To slice ginger, use a paring knife.If you use a zester, you can get a lot of lemon zest.
Step 3: The ginger slices, cinnamon stick, and 1.5 cups of water should be placed in a saucepan.
Bring this to a boil.When you have a constant stream of bubbles coming to the surface and a good amount of steam, you will know when the pot is at a full boil.The heat should be reduced once the pot has come to a full boil.
Step 4: The mixture should be simmering for 10 minutes.
The ginger and cinnamon stick needs to be removed.A strainer is the easiest way to remove the spices.A strainer is placed into a saucepan.The hot mixture should be poured through the strainer.The ginger and cinnamon will be left in a strainer in the clean saucepan.
Step 5: The spiced liquid should have 1.5 cups of sugar and 1/2 honey.
Stirring constantly, bring this mixture to a boil.Clinical trials have studied honey.It is as effective as cough syrup in suppressing coughs.The sugar should be dissolved.If you don't see any grains of sugar in the liquid, you can tell if the sugar is dissolved.You can use a candy thermometer to get this syrup to the hard-crack candy stage once the sugar is dissolved.
Step 6: If you want to stop the stirring, put a candy thermometer in the saucepan.
This will be used to monitor the heat.To make lozenges, the candy liquid needs to be heated to a high temperature.It is important that you watch the temperature of the syrup so that it doesn't get too hot or burn onto the saucepan.The temperature for hard-crack lozenges is the goal.
Step 7: The temperature of the liquid should be watched very closely.
As you cook the liquid, it will rise quickly.The liquid may change color as it rises in temperature.As the sugar in the syrup oxidizes, this is expected.Remove the liquid from the candy thermometer when it reaches 300 degrees.Before pouring the mixture into candy molds, you need to add the final ingredients.
Step 8: Add lemon juice and lemon zest to the hot candy liquid.
It's a good idea to take caution when adding the juice.The hot liquid may splash as you add the juice.Make sure the liquid is evenly mixed.
Step 9: Grease candy can be made into candy molds.
Unflavored cooking spray can be used to do that.The hot liquid should be poured into the molds.Don't put too much liquid over the top of the small candy mold.The recipe will make 50 small pieces.
Step 10: The cough drops should cool in the candy molds.
This will take a long time.Take the cough drops out of the molds and put them on wax paper.To crack the candy mold, gently tap it on a hard surface.The cough drops should stop.You may have to bend the candy mold tray in order to get the cough drops out.
Step 11: The cough drops should be put in a jar.
You can put regular sugar in a food processor if you don't have superfine sugar at home.This should be a fine consistency.You can coat the cough drops with sugar.They will not be able to stick together.It is possible to coat the drops with powdered sugar.
Step 12: The cough drops can be kept in a jar or container.
You don't need to keep them cold.They should be used as needed.If you want to avoid the side effects of over-the-counter cough remedies, these are ideal.The cough drops will have a sweet taste.
Step 13: A strong herbal tea can be made.
There are several remedies that can be used to treat coughs and colds.Elderberry and elderflower have been used to relieve congestion.Native Americans have used slippery elm to treat coughs.It can help to reduce inflammation and mucus production, so it may be an effective treatment for coughs.If you want to make a strong tea, place a generous pinch of each herb into a cup of water.Bring the water and herbs to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat.The tea should be steep for 15 to 20 minutes.Reserve 1/2 cup of tea for the cough drops after removing the herbs.
Step 14: The sugar molds should be prepared.
You can make your own cough drops using sugar and a baking sheet instead of using candy molds.Add a few cups of powdered sugar to any cookie sheet.Use a measuring spoon or finger to make small changes in the sugar.You will pour the syrup here.
Step 15: Put all of the ingredients together and heat them.
Put 1/2 cup of herbal tea into a saucepan, then add 1.5 cups of honey and a small amount of peppermint extract.To heat up the ingredients, use a medium to high heat.Make sure all the ingredients are mixed.There is a candy thermometer on the side of the pan.
Step 16: The temperature of the liquid should be checked frequently.
It should get to about 300 F.As it cools, this will allow the liquid to become lozenges.As it warms up, the mixture may get foamy.Give the cough drop liquid a stir if this happens.Once the mixture gets close to the correct temperature, you will be able to tell.The process takes about 30 minutes.Remove the liquid from the heat when it is 300 degrees.
Step 17: Pour the hot mixture into the Pyrex measuring cup.
Pour slowly.Put the hot liquid into each of the small depressions on the baking sheet you prepared earlier.You can use a candy mold.If you don't want to use sugar or have a candy mold, you can put the liquid on the paper.This is the messiest way to do it.
Step 18: Before storing, allow the cough drops to cool in the sugar or candy molds.
As the cough drops cool, try not to disturb them.Carefully move the drops out of the sugar molds.The cough drops out of candy molds.The cough drops should be put in powdered sugar.You can keep these in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.They can be frozen between layers of wax paper.They will last for several months if you choose to do so.
Step 19: Pick out your herbal ingredients.
The recipe calls for slippery elm powder, cinnamon, honey, orange essential oil and lemon essentialoil.Most health food stores, herbal shops, and online herbal retailers sell slippery elm bark and essential oils.There is a substance called mucilage in slippery elm.When combined with water or honey, it becomes gel-like.It can help coat the mouth and throat.Native Americans used this remedy for hundreds of years.Unlike other herbal supplements, slippery elm has not been shown to cause medical problems.Little formal research has been done to show how effective it is.Clinical studies show that honey is a very effective treatment for coughs.It may be possible to control a bad cough with cinnamon.
Step 20: Place the slippery elm powder, honey, and cinnamon in a bowl.
To combine, stir very thoroughly.Warming up the jar under warm water is anywayanydayd if the honey is too stiff.The honey should be thin or reconstituted.This mixture can be very dry.If this is the case, you can add more honey to make it easier to work with.The mixture should look like a soft dough when finished.It might be sticky because of the honey.
Step 21: The essential oils can be added to the mixture.
Make sure you get the right amount of drops with a dropper.You will need orange and lemon essential oil.Take the cough lozenge mixture and mix it with these.They need to be incorporated evenly into the dough.
Step 22: The lozenge dough can be rolled into small balls.
These should be the size of a spoon.Place these on a piece of paper.You can put this on the counter or baking sheet.The lozenges should be placed in an area where they won't be disturbed.The ingredients in these cough lozenges are effective.
Step 23: Before using or storing the lozenges, let them dry for at least 24 hours.
If you live in a humid climate, you may need to leave them longer.Wrap the lozenges in wax paper.You can store them in a jar.When stored properly, these will last 3 weeks.The recipe should make about 36 lozenges.