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Newsletter>
Homemade Cherry Cough Syrup
November 5, 2007
Dear Friends,
Cold and cough season is here. Colds and flu, including
coughs, are one of the leading causes of doctor's office
visits! Children are known to come down with more of these
common illnesses than adults. Most of us mothers are all
too familiar with "The Croup".
The cold, hard truth is that the over-the-counter
pharmaceuticals do not prevent or cure the common cold or
the flu, and cough suppresents do not cure a cough. In
fact, these drugs may even make you worse. They often
produce very undesirable side effects. It is true that some
of them will ease symptoms, but at what cost?
I must remind you that a cough is not always a bad thing.
It is the bodies natural reaction when irritating fluid and
mucus builds up and must be brought up and out. It can be
annoying and sometimes even painful, and it may prevent
rest, so at times a mild cough suppresant is appreciated.
However, while you may want to rely on a suppresant at
night, try to encourage a cough to break up. An
expectorant, not a suppresant, is what you will want to
take to encourage this.
Some other tips for dealing with a cough, especially a
croupy cough...
-Drink extra amounts of liquids, such as herbal teas,
diluted juice, and water.
-Elimate irritating factors, such as dust, smoke, candles,
perfumes, and dry air.
-Keep the air moist with a vaporizer or a humidifier.
-If necessary, take a young child into a steamy bathroom
for 15 minutes or so during a particularly hard coughing
spell. Adults may create a steam tent by placing a large
towel over your head while leaning over a bowl of steaming
water. ALWAYS BE VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID BURNS!
-A warm bath with the addition of eucalyptus and lavender
essential oils is very soothing and can help to relieve a
cough. A few drops in a bath full of water is all that is
needed.
-Healing soups and broths are beneficial for meals.
Here is a very simple and mild cough syrup that tastes
yummy and will work gently. It is tasty and soothing to
sore, scratchy throats.
Homemade Cherry Cough Syrup
2 cups cherries
1 cup water or herbal tea
1 whole lemon, sliced
2 cups honey
Simmer this mixture on the stove on low heat for 30
minutes. Strain to remove cherry pits, lemon slices and
seeds. If you are using an herbal tea, I suggest one that
contains wild cherry bark, elder berries or flowers, or
licorice.
For more easy herbal recipes like this one, check out the
new e-book, "The Kitchen Apothecary". Go to
www.fromfieldsandgardens.com/ebooks for more information!
Blessings,
Jennifer Ferris
www.fromfieldsandgardens.com
Jennifer@fromfieldsandgardens.com
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