Chitika

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Amazingly Simple Natural Cough Remedies You Can Make at Home

By Liz Alderson

There are many natural cough remedies you can make at home.

I'm going to show you how to use items you might already have in your store cupboard and garden, or can easily buy at the supermarket to make your own cough medicine.

You may be concerned about the chemicals that over the counter cough remedies put in your body - I know I am - and of course, if you have children, you will be even more worried about what you give them.

I think a natural remedy is always preferable and can be just as effective.

Many over the counter remedies are based on traditional remedies but are full of preservatives and chemicals.

So here's 3 natural cough remedies you will be able to use safely.

The first is honey and garlic.

Simply chop up a garlic clove and mix it with a teaspoon of honey - then swallow it!

The second is my particular favourite.

Honey and sage.

Sage has many healing properties and is widely used in herbal medicine - it's an essential in your medicinal herbal garden as well as your culinary.

Simply take about 6 sage leaves and crush them lightly in your hand to begin the release of the essential oils. Pop them into the bottom of a cup or mug.

Take some boiled water - just off boiling point and pour over the leaves.

Add a teaspoon of honey and stir it in to dissolve.

Leave for about 5 minutes for the sage to infuse - then lift the leaves out and sip the sage and honey tea.

It will bring relief from a persistent cough and will ease the tight feeling in your chest.

The third cough remedy is sage and honey again, but this is made into a syrup that you can either take by the spoonful (as a cough medicine) or stir into hot water with lemon to make a soothing drink.

Take a large pan and pour in two pints of water and bring to the boil.

Add 1 oz (25g) of dried sage - tie it in a muslin bag so that it can be easily lifted out, if you don't you will have to strain the liquid before going onto the next stage.

Simmer for 20 minutes, then either lift out the sage bag or strain through a cloth to remove the herbs.

You could also use a really big handful of fresh sage leaves for this - just crush them in your hands to begin the release of the essential oils.

Add a pound jar of clear honey and stir well.

Simmer for a further 20 minutes then allow the mixture to cool before putting into a jar.

You can keep this for about 6 months - the honey is a natural preservative.

When you need some, just take a spoonful neat or pop some in a cup with lemon juice and hot water for a soothing natural cough remedy.

You can take this several times a day to soothe your cough - 4 or 5 times will give you quite a bit of honey - just beware if you suffer from raised blood sugar for any reason.

These natural cough remedies can all be made out of things you will either already have in your store cupboard and garden, or can easily buy on your next shopping trip.

The information in this article is in no way intended to replace medical advice. If you have persistent problems that do not respond to herbal treatments within a few days, then you should consult a doctor.


Liz Alderson is the webmaster of http://www.the-herb-guide.com which is a free resource for information on all things herbal - from growing to using herbs.

Visit http://www.the-herb-guide.com/natural-cough-remedies.html to learn more about natural herbal remedies.


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