Make This Now If Your Kids Get Chest Colds & Coughs

This chest cold remedy became part of my protocol last year. My son is prone to coughs and this glycerin tincture was great to have on hand. I often hear from parents that they aren't using natural remedies because they just don't have it on hand when they need it. This is why it's necessary to be prepared ahead of time (Reminds me of something I heard over and over growing up – “a girl scout is always prepared!”).

There are a number of pre-made natural cough syrups that you can buy at a health food store or online. Many of them still have some ingredients in them I do not like so I usually make my own. I like having the control of what ingredients are in the remedies I give my children.

Making herbal remedies at home is a lot easier then you think. It's not much more complicated then brewing a cup of tea. I'll walk you through it.

Herbs for Cough & Chest Cold Remedy

This is the herb mixture I use to make this remedy. Simply measure out the herbs and put them into a mason jar.

• 1/4 cup licorice root (please note: not recommended for pregnant or nursing moms)
• 2 tbps. cinnamon chips
• 2 tbsp. echinacea
• 2 tbsp. elecampane root

One reason many people don't make their own remedies is because they don't want to purchase large bags of dried herbs that they won't use. To help make this a bit easier, I made up pouches of this herb mixture in this exact measurement needed for this recipe and they are available to buy in my skin care & herbal shop online here.

This mixture of herbs can be used to make an alcohol free tincture, a standard tincture, a syrup, or an herbal tea. The below list gives you the options of the different liquids you can use to draw out the nourishing benefits of the herbs.

Remedy Options

1. Make an alcohol-free tincture by mixing together 2/3 cup vegetable glycerin + 2/3 cup water and pouring it over the herb mixture in the mason jar. Let this sit for a minimum of 14 days, strain out the herbs, and store the finished remedy in a glass bottle or jar.
2. Make a standard tincture by mixing together 2/3 cup 100 proof vodka + 2/3 cup water (not ideal for children) and pouring it over the herb mixture in the mason jar. Let this sit for a minimum of 14 days, strain out the herbs, and store the finished remedy in a glass bottle or jar.
3. Make tea. Pour herbs into a saucepan, cover with cold filtered water. Simmer for 20 minutes, covered. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain out the herbs and drink as a tea.
4. Make a syrup. Pour herbs into a saucepan, cover with cold filtered water. Simmer for 20 minutes, covered. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain out the herbs. Pour the liquid into a glass jar and mix with 1/4 cup raw unfiltered local honey (or more if you want it sweeter).

** options 1 & 4 are the most palatable and preferred choice for children's remedies.

Here's what it looks like – the left is the herbs alone, and the right is the herbs with the glycerin and water mixture.

Generally, I make the alcohol-free tincture and keep it in a glass dropper bottle so it's easy to dispense. If I need something right away and don't have the tincture made up then I make the syrup. In addition to this cough and congestion remedy I always have my children take extra elderberry syrup because it's been proven to shorten the life-span of viruses.

I promise, it's easier then you think!

Do you think this remedy is something you will try to make this season? Let me know in the comments below!