You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how long I’ve been searching for a natural cold medicine. And I’m happy to report that I’ve finally found it! This DIY Cough Syrup recipe checks all the boxes ⏤ all of the ingredients are natural and safe for all ages, it tastes great AND it’s easy to make. Don’t let the dark berries scare you; elderberries have been used for ages to boost immunity. I’ve come such a long way from my DayQuil days ⏤ read on to learn this easy DIY Cough Syrup recipe.
What you need
Dried elderberries
- Boosts the immune system
- Alleviates respiratory conditions from cold and cough
- High in antioxidants
- Prevents infections
Cinnamon powder
- Treats cold, sore throat and cough
- Has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties
- Boosts the immune system
- Preserves food from bacterial growth
Ground ginger
- Strengthens immune system
- Has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
- Supports easier breathing by opening constricted airways
Vegan honey
- The bees are dying, and this bee-free honey helps to not place demand on the honey industry. Learn more about why this matters here
- Contains apples, lemon juice and sugar and no actual honey
- This ingredient is safe for all ages, but if you are substituting with real honey keep in mind real honey is not safe for infants
Air-tight container
- I repurposed a maple syrup bottle for this batch, but a similar option is linked above
- Reusing containers is an easy way to be eco-friendly and lower your plastic usage
- Store-bought cough syrup typically comes in plastic that will eventually require recycling
Fine-mesh strainer
- Once the dried elderberries have steeped in the water, we will need a strainer to separate our elixir from the berry bits
- Using a strainer ensures the cough syrup doesn’t have any berry bits or pieces
- You could also use cheese cloth or a nut milk bag instead
How to make
- Add 3 cups of water, 3/4 cup of dried elderberries, 1 tsp each of cinnamon powder and ground ginger to a lidded pot and bring to a boil
- Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and let simmer for 30 minutes
- After 30 minutes, remove from heat
- Use strainer to remove the berry bits from the syrup
- Add 1 cup of vegan honey
- Shake to combine
- All done!
Ways to use
- Take 1 tablespoon daily for immune support
- Or take 1 tsp every 4 hours once sick
- Keeps well if stored in the fridge
Did you make this recipe?
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