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By Andrea CandeeHomeopathic RemediesQ: Is there a home remedy for coughs so I can avoid the chemicals and alcohol found in over-the-counter cough syrups? A: Here are two of my favorites (excerpted from my book, Gentle Healing for Baby and Child...A Parent's Guide (Simon & Schuster). The first is prepared and consumed right away, while the second may be prepared and stored in your refrigerator all winter long! ONION/HONEY COUGH SYRUPHere’s a sweet and delicious cough remedy your child will love to eat! The anti-inflammatory properties of both honey and onion help relax coughing spasms and soothe irritated tissue. Onion and honey are anti-microbial, as well. Research reveals that onions, as well as garlic and cayenne, produce an irritation in the stomach lining that signals the lungs to release a flow of secretions that help thin sticky, thickened mucus. Can you recall how peeling an onion brings tears to your eyes? That’s the same mechanism in action. This is what makes onion such a good expectorant, breaking up congestion in the lungs. In a small saucepan, mix together 1 cup honey; 1 medium, yellow onion, chopped; 1 tablespoon thyme leaf (more, if you use it fresh). Cook the above ingredients until the onion is softened. Serve warm by itself, eaten by the teaspoonful; over mashed potatoes; or with your child’s favorite vegetable, meat, or chicken. Small amounts may be eaten several times a day, if desired. The healing properties of thyme have often been called upon in another of my passions, directing children’s theatre. Sometimes, the fledgling thespians’ vocal chords don’t hold up for multiple performances, so I share the formula with their parents, suggesting they use it throughout the day. I also recommend that they send their children to the performances with a container of honey-sweetened thyme tea. School plays don’t usually have understudies, so you can imagine how important, in the microcosm of the little actors’ world, a remedy for laryngitis can be! THYME-HONEY SYRUPThyme is an excellent expectorant as well as an anti-microbial herb, and honey not only soothes but is a preservative as well. I keep this wonderful-tasting syrup in my refrigerator all winter long. It can be used for colds, coughs, laryngitis, and sore throats. Steep 1 oz. dried thyme leaf (Thymus vulgaris) in 1 cup boiled water, covered, until cool. Strain; mix the liquid with 1 cup honey. Store refrigerated in a glass jar. It keeps well for several months.
Give undiluted doses of 1
teaspoon to 1 tablespoon
several times a day as needed. About The Author ...Andrea Candee, MH, MSC, is a master herbalist with a consultation practice in South Salem, NY. She lectures for the New York Botanical Garden and throughout the country for schools and corporate wellness centers about taking charge of your health naturally. Her book, Gentle Healing for Baby and Child (Simon & Schuster), was awarded The Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center. She may be contacted through her website, www.AndreaCandee.com or by mail at PO Box 171, South Salem, NY 10590. |
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