Remedy Technique: THYME COUGH SYRUP

A reliable and effective remedy for ordinary coughs that is easy to make from supermarket ingredients

♠ The herb thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that we know so well from cooking is the key ingredient here.

♠ Medicinally this herb is very antiseptic and helps to kill germs.

♠ It is also an expectorant: a tonic that helps to open up the lungs and cough up phlegm. So, it can help to kill germs and clear out a mucousy cough.

AGE RANGE SUITABLE FOR......

ADULTS:

Yes

CHILDREN:

Yes

INFANTS & BABIES UNDER 1 YEAR:

Not recommended due to  honey or high sugar content

IN PREGNANCY:

No, Thyme is NOT safe.

Use Marshmallow Leaf instead.

WHEN BREAST-FEEDING:

Yes, both mother and child benefit from the medicine this way.

Thyme Cough Syrup: An introduction

Why Make Syrups?

♠ Thyme works well in a tea or tincture BUT the syrup is more concentrated and much more effective, so it is well worth making.

♠ The honey or sugar form a thick protective layer that helps to soothe and coat the throat and ease the cough.

♠ They are also essential for preserving the extract so don’t cut down on the amount in the recipe. Doing so would make a runny syrup that would go off rapidly and would need to be thrown away.

Introducing Thyme Cough Syrup

Recipe Technique: Photo lessons and pdf recipe info

This recipe makes approx 500 ml of cough syrup so make sure that you prepare enough clean, dry bottles for this amount.

Step 1

* The syrup can be made with fresh or dried thyme.

* If using fresh thyme from the garden then you can use the stalks as well as the leaves.

Step 2

* This syrup is easy to make using packets of dried thyme that are readily available in shops.

* Confusion alert: the text in this photo is in Portuguese!

Step 3

* Put the dried thyme (40g) into a clean dry pan.

Step 4

* Pour on the water (900ml).

Step 5

* Stir together to prevent the herb floating on top of the water.

Step 6

* Over a gentle heat, bring it to a simmer.

Step 7

* Put on the lid and gently simmer for 20 mins.

 

Step 8

 * After 20 mins it will have turned a rich brown colour.

Step 9

* Get another clean, dry pan and a metal sieve.

Step 10

* Strain the liquid into the new pan, and discard the herbs on the compost.

Step 11

* Heat the liquid again, leaving the lid off this time.

 

Step 12

 * Leave off the lid, and simmer until this reduces to about 1/3 of the volume e.g. 250 -300 ml.

* The more gradually you do this, the better. It tends to take 30-45 mins.

Step 13

* After reducing it, measure the amount of liquid.

Step 14

* Pout it back into the pan and bring it to a simmer.

Step 15

* Pour in 450 ml of honey (or sugar).

 

Step 16

* Bring this to the boil, stirring continuously. If you don’t do this then it can turn to toffee!

*Turn off the heat as soon as it starts to bubble and boil.

Step 17

*Get the bottles ready [make sure that you have cleaned and dried these properly, they are best used warm from the oven, see the pdf for details preparation instructions].

Step 18

* Pour the syrup into the bottles (careful now!).

* A funnel helps, if you have one.

Step 19

* Leave bottles to cool down completely before putting on the lids and labels.

Step 20

* A dose of syrup in this glass, approx 5-10 ml. (It’s a very small glass!)

*Store the bottles in the fridge.

I don't have time! Where can I buy a herbal cough syrup suitable for children?

I haven’t been able to find a Thyme cough syrup that is suitable for children. The ones for sale in the shops contain other ingredients too, making them too strong.

Instead I recommend buying Marshmallow cough syrup.

This one is safe and suitable for children:

https://napiers.net/collections/elixirs-syrups-glycerites/products/marshmallow-syrup