Whether it is a dead winter or the high life of summer, colds and allergies seem to come from this and “catch” us completely from fear. Hand in hand with these seasonal horrors brings a terrible cough, and there are two ways to fight a cold comrade ----- either with droplets against coughing, or with what you can do yourself.
DIY yourself, you ask? Why not! Easy and many ingredients in these little soldiers can be found right in your own kitchen. Sugar, corn syrup and water are gently brought to a strong boil until they reach the so-called “hard crack” stage, which will give you an “average” one. The only secret to a successful fall is to use a tasty and simple combination of herbs “immersed” in water before adding it to the sugar syrup. This wonderful tea to relieve coughing along with your “dry” ingredients is all you need to make your own coughers.
Some herbs that are found in many other coughs that you find on the market that you can try on your own or in combination; Coltsfoot, Korean Mint Licorice (easy to grow, seeds are available from Change seeds), thyme, slippery elm, choreographer, comfrey leaf, hyssop, swamp and common dog, to name a few. Many of these herbs are perennial, so from year to year you will have them for your personal "medicine cabinet." Use only the leaves of these herbs, either alone or in combination. It helps to first try them as tea, so you know which herbs will best reflect your cough. About 2-3 hours L. from the grass to 1 1/2 glasses of boiling water, you get the necessary concentration; let it be cool to the cold.
Here is a recipe with a solid recipe, straight from Cooking pages for American housewives. I have used this gem for many years to create a lollypop, and this is the first course to create a “medium:
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup candle corn syrup
2/3 cup water (herbal tea)
vegetable color (optional)
Mix the sugar, herbal tea and corn syrup and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils. Continue to boil without stirring, until a small amount becomes very brittle when released into cold water. Wash the crystals on the side of the pan with a damp cloth. Cook slowly at the end so that the syrup does not discolor. Remove from heat and add color. Either drop quickly from the tip of the spoon onto the oiled surface, or into the prepared caramel molds. Cool and cool completely before removing. You can roll them in powdered sugar and wrap them in plastic wrap or wax paper for storage.
For gifts, why not add a personal touch by pressing some of the fresh herbs between the wax paper and using it to decorate or wrap your gift box. Add a good tag that lists the herbs that you used for the professional look.
