Natural cough medicine

[mrsflibble]

Helps with tickly coughs and also helps with the phlemy kind.

makes enough for lots ofdoses. keep covered in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

1 chamomile teabag
1 mint teabag
large handful bramble leaves
large handful hawthorn leaves (flowers too if you can get them)
handful elderflowers (not essential if making this after May)
3 drops ginger tincture
2 dstsp agave syrup (you can use honey if child is over a year old)
handful feverfew if you can get it OR
thyme leaves OR
lavendar flowers


in a bowl, put leaves and flowers if using and pound until bruised. all the better if you have a pessle and mortar but this is not essential.
pour on just boiled water and leave to steep while you make the teas.
put teabags in a jug and pour on about 200mls just boiled water. leave to steep for 10 mins. leave the plant much bowl to one side for the same amount of time.
strain leaves over the teabag jug. I find unbleached organic cotton nappy liners have a dual purpose, great for nappies but also fantastic for straining things like jellies, jams and cordials. line your sieve with one of these if you have one handy.
stir. take out teabags, squeezing everything you can out of them. stir again and add sweetener until it tastes really sweet. the sweetener-honey or agave- not only help the mixture go down, they will help soothe the throat.

leave to cool and refidgerate. give 5-15 mls depending on size of child after every coughing fit.

This is a tried and tested recipe. Can be given from birth.