These are a couple of my favourite herbal remedies to make when we’re feeling under the weather. I made them again recently in anticipation of Lily’s tonsillectomy. Imagining the worst case scenario meant having as many throat soothing remedies ready as possible. These recipes come from A Kid’s Herb Book, a wonderful book that has seen a lot of use in this house. Here’s what I did:

Slippery Elm is not only healing to sore throats, but also soothing to the stomach. It’s as nutritious as oatmeal! It’s a great herb for kid’s use because it’s mild and safe.

Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges

Slippery Elm Throat Lozenges

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp shredded Liquorice Root
  • 1/2 cup Slippery Elm Powder
  1. In a small pot, bring the water and liquorice root to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Strain. You should have 1/4 cup of tea. If less, add a little more water to make 1/4 cup.
  2. Put slippery elm powder in a small bowl. Make a well in the powder and pour the tea in the centre. Gently mix into a smooth dough.
  3. Sprinkle a little slippery elm powder on the counter and roll out dough. Cut into small pill sized circles with a tiny bottle cap. Or my preferred method is to roll small pill shaped balls between my palms.
  4. Allow lozenges to dry uncovered on a sheet of wax paper overnight or for a day or two until completely hardened. Store lozenges in a small, preferably dark jar in a cool, dry, dark place.

For even stronger acting lozenges, use 1/4 cup cough syrup (see below) in place of the liquorice tea. Other useful herbs to add to the cough syrup for these lozenges are elder, ginger and echinacea. For this syrup I used mostly liquorice with a little lemon balm because liquorice is so soothing to the throat and lemon balm is perfect for coughs, fever and colds. Raw honey, of course is also healing and nutritious.

Slippery Elm Throat LozengesSlippery Elm Throat LozengesThroat lozenges

Liquorice Cough Syrup

Cough Syrup

  • 1/2 cup Herbs (shredded liquorice root, ginger, garlic, mullein, elder, plantain, lemon balm, cinnamon, fennel, a pinch of cayenne)
  • 2 cups Water
  • 1/2 cup raw Honey
  1. Make a tea by bring the roots and water in a pot to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add any flowers and/or leaves at this time and steep covered for another 20 minutes. Strain into a jar.
  2. While still warm, add honey and stir well until dissolved.
  3. Cool and lid jar. Refrigerate for up to one month. Take a teaspoon of the syrup as needed.
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8 Responses to Sore Throat Care

  1. Dawn Suzette says:

    I really need to make those lozenges… Need to get into the city to find the ingredients.
    I have been just lovin’ that book. Sad when it had to go back to the library. I really need to just buy it… soon.
    Thanks for sharing Annie!

  2. Lynn says:

    Nice! Thanks for sharing those, I’m definitely going to make both, and hunt down that book.

  3. Jacinda says:

    Hey thanks for the book link…it looks great and something that my 8 year old would love.

  4. natalie says:

    Hi Annie. I am gearing up to do more healing home remedies. Where do you get your herbs? I hope to plan out the garden better next year and get my own herbs, but do you have any sources in the meantime? xo

  5. Annie says:

    xx

    Nat- I bet the health food store would care most of the herbs you were looking for. I usually stock up on a few hard to find herbs when I’m in Vancouver. There’s a great apothecary near my dad’s house.

  6. Amber J says:

    Just noticed the comment on herbal supplies, a great supplier in the US is Mountain Rose Herbs, they have a website and are great to talk with, also they have a catalog. I’m not sure how shipping/rates are to your area, however they do have great herbs and other products.

  7. Amber J says:

    Thanks for the recipes, especially the lozenges, they sound easy and good!

  8. debra says:

    we love that book! the girls went through fevers and sore throats this past week and while drinking our magical cold elixir (ginger, garlic, lemon, honey), ani was wanting to know why ginger (it can be a little spice by the end of the thermos!)? so we got out the book and read all about it, as well as the little story…

    we’re a little spoiled by having a really fine local herbalist who sells her concoctions, teas, syrups, so i often wait until the last minute and buy from her, but making your own is so satisfying…

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