Make this mullein, slippery elm, and juniper berry herbal cough and decongestant syrup ahead of time, so you have it on hand for the cold and flu season!! Video and printable recipe are below!
When I used to smoke, years ago, I would get bronchitis every single year, sometimes multiple times a year. This one time, approximately 20 years ago, maybe longer…I got a really bad case. I went to the doctor and was given medications. Nothing I was given touched this stuff. I remember after a long coughing bout over the sink as i was trying to make myself something hot to drink to soothe my throat, I looked out the kitchen window at the bank behind our house and saw a lonely little mullein rosette growing on the bank. It has some snow on it, because it was the middle of winter and we had just had a light dusting of snow, you know the kind you get in the country that is around six inches? It had just started melting off, well… enough for me to see that solitary mullein plant.
I recalled my Grandma and my Mom sharing their wisdom about this particular plant and how it would open airways. This was before there was a computer in every home. So, I called my Mom for a positive ID on the plant, then I got to work boiling five or six of the largest leaves down into a concentrate tea and then into a syrup. I added way too much sugar, because then, I didn’t know what I was doing. Eventually, the top of the jar turned into a jar shaped sugar cube that I had to chisel a hole in the side to get to the syrup. I want you to know that, even though I didn’t know what I was doing, that syrup lasted me for several years, and it worked beautifully every time I used it.
That incident fueled my desire to learn more and more about herbalism, even though I only ever “treat” myself and my family, when I come across a real keeper, I will share it, like this one!! Now, I am happy to say that I know a little more about how to use herbs to make syrups to help my family breath when whatever invisible germ or allergy makes breathing difficult. This recipe works so well, I have had some family members use it and request that I make some jars for them to keep in their home. My sweet Mama got covid with double pneumonia and two types of pneumonia, and she used this cough syrup to open up her chest.
The best thing about this mullein, slippery elm, and juniper berry herbal cough and decongestant syrup is, barring an allergy to one of the ingredients, the ingredients are safe. As always, with any herb, please do your own research and use your own judgment!! I am not a doctor or pharmacist or a practicing herbalist. I am just a Mom trying to care for my family that best way I can.
Here are some good resources to look into each herb in this syrup (click the article name to follow the link). If you follow these links to read the really good information available, don’t forget to come back here to watch the video and print the recipe!!
What Is Mullein? Soothe the Respiratory Tract, Ease Ear Pain, and Fight Infection
What Is Slippery Elm? An Herbal Treatment Believed to Treat Sore Throat and IBS
Dr Axe: Mullein
Dr Axe: Slippery Elm
Dr Axe: Juniper Berries
Mullein, Slippery Elm, and Juniper Berry Herbal Cough & Decongestant Syrup
Ingredients
- 1.5 Cup Mullein leaves dried and crushed
- 2 Tbsp Mullein root or flowers dehydrated (optional) Make sure there are no seeds in the flowers!
- 1 Cup Slippery Elm bark dehydrated shredded (powdered can also work, but reduce amount in half)
- 1 Cup Juniper Berries dehydrated
- 3/4 Gal Water (or 3 quarts)
- 14 Cups Sugar (any organic)
- 2 Pkg Liquid Pectin (any)
- 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice approximately2 large lemons or 4 small lemons (optional)
Instructions
- Put your herbs into a large tea or nut milk bag and tie it off to the handle of the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil covered for 30minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- When herbs are cool enough to touch, milk the bag like you would nut milk. (You may want to use a different bowl to milk the bag over.) Slippery elm is gooey. It does have mucilage and that is the medicinal property of slippery elm. You want as much of that as you can get out of the bag. Finished product will not be slimy.
- Combine what you milked out with the rest of the tea water. Add lemon juice and liquid pectin and bring liquid to a rolling boil. Stir in sugar and bring to a rolling boil.
- Time it for 1 minute at a rolling boil. A rolling boil is a boil that you cannot stir down.
- Remove from heat and ladle into sterile jars with a 1/4”head space. Clean rim of jars with a damp towel (vinegar works good) to ensure a clean rim for a good seal. Cap with sterile lids.
- Process in a water bath for 15 minutes. Leave in hot water 5 minutes, then remove.
Thank you. I was looking for something like this. Will make this soon. Will let you know how it worked. Yah Bless.
Debra
You’re welcome! Please do let me know how it works for you. Everyone who has tried it loves it, but no pressure. Haha 😄 Seriously though,, I’d love your honest opinion. YAH bless!