Herbal DIY Homemade Cough Syrup

This recipe for an all natural cough syrup is soothing, tasty and all natural. Thyme, licorice root, and aniseed loosen mucous congestion and relax the respiratory tract. Honey thins mucous secretions, preserves the syrup, and soothes a raw, irritated throat. For a more potent syrup that can ease spasmodic coughs, try adding wild black cherry bark, which has a powerful sedative action.

2 cups (500 ml) water
1 tablespoon aniseed
1 tablespoon dried licorice root
1 tablespoon dried wild black cherry bark (optional)
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 cup (250 ml) honey

1. Simmer the aniseed, licorice root, and wild black cherry bark ( if you have chosen to include it) in the water in a covered pot for 15 minutes. 

2. Remove from the heat, add the thyme, and steep until room temperature. Strain, and add honey, warming the tea gently, if necessary, to dissolve the honey. 

3. Store in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three months. Take one teaspoon as often as needed to relieve a cough.