Ingredients
- 1/4 cup slippery elm bark
- 1 cup filtered water
- 2 cups organic cane sugar
- Add a slice of fresh turmeric or ginger to the tea or add 1 tablespoon of acerola berry powder to make it high in vitamin C.
Directions
- Mix the herbs and water together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat.
- Steep the mixture for 30 minutes.
- Strain the liquid well through a piece of cheesecloth, squeezing the wet herbs to release all the liquid. Discard the herbs.
- Pour the tea into a clean, large saucepan.
- Mix in the sugar.
- Prepare a piece of parchment paper or molds in your preferred shape dusted with powdered sugar.
- Turn the sugar/tea mix on medium-high heat and let it come to a boil. Use a candy thermometer to check when it reaches the “hard crack” stage, 300 degrees F.
- As soon as the mixture is ready, pour it onto the parchment paper or into the molds. Do this quickly or it will harden right in your pan!
- Let the drops dry. If you’re using parchment paper, hammer a clean screwdriver into the solidified mixture to break it apart into small pieces (about 1/2-inch squares). If you’re using molds, pop out your formed lozenges.
- Store in an airtight container for several months.Dosing Take one as needed, but no more than one per hour.Good to Treat Colds, coughs, and sore throatsContraindications: Do not give to children under 4 years of age; they may be a choking hazard. Turmeric and ginger should not be used by those with clotting disorders or who are about to undergo surgery.
More from Natural Remedies For Kids:
• Fever Tea• Lemon Sports Drink• Safely Using Herbs
Reprinted with permission from Natural Remedies For Kids by Kate Tietje and Bob Zajac, M.D. and published by Fair Winds Press, 2015.
Natural Remedies For Kids (Fair Winds Press, 2015) by Kate Tietje and Bob Zajac, M.D is an easy-to-use illustrated reference guide for parents who are ready to take their families’ health into their own hands by using more than 100 natural and herbal remedies to help common ailments at home.
For older kids who are coughing or have a sore throat, it’s nice to have something you can use on the go. These throat drops are fairly simple to make and they taste yummy! They are high in sugar, so don’t let kids eat them too often. They’re not candy; they’re medicine. Make sure to keep them away from children under 4 years of age, as they can be a choking hazard.
Wild cherry bark – Wild cherry helps to quiet coughs and clear mucus from the body.
Slippery elm bark – Slippery elm helps to coat the mucous membranes, alleviating sore throats and coughs.
