When we’re sick the last thing we want to give our bodies is sugar because it lowers our immune systems. But, we need something to relieve a sore throat or calm a cough. Store bought cough drops are loaded with sugar, and many times, artificial colors and flavors. DIY cough drops can be customized with your favorite herbs, healing honey, and essential oils, and they’re so much better for you!
Table of Contents
- Essential Oils for Sore Throat
- Homemade Cough Drops
Essential Oils for Sore Throat
We often lump respiratory issues and sore throat issues together when we reach for cough drops. Whatever bug you’re battling with at your house right now, there are essential oils that can help support your healing process.
It’s really not hard to make your own cough drops. You’ll use raw honey, real herbs and pure essential oils, and everyone’s favorite… coconut oil! If you have a cold, or feel a scratchy throat coming on, and you’ve made the cough drops recipe below, you can also utilize my immune boosting shot to give your system a head start.
Licorice – This is known as an expectorant. It helps to loosen and expel mucus from your lungs. It’s anti-inflammatory and will help soothe sore, irritated throats as well. (1)
Lavender – Popular for the familiar is calming fragrance, this essential oil is also antimicrobial and will help combat the underlying infection causing your sore throat or coughing.
Peppermint – How refreshing this oil can be for respiratory issues – it has a strong antitussive property for long-lasting, healing benefits.
Basil – Proven effective against even resistant strains of bacteria, basil essential oil may help you help fight off the microbes causing your sore throat. (2)
Myrrh – Another strongly antimicrobial essential oil, this healing oil of the Bible also has oral health benefits so it’s perfect to include in our homemade cough drop recipe!
This recipe is an adaption from one that my friend Katie put together for her blog, WellnessMama.com.
Homemade Cough Drops
Instructions
- Pre-mix coconut and essential oils (dilutes them to prevent burning your throat).
- Boil 2 cups of water and infuse with desired herbs. Use about ¼ cup of each herb for a really potent cough drop, but as little as 1 tablespoon of each herb is effective.
- To infuse: Pour boiling water over herbs. Put herbs in a muslin bag to make straining easier. Let steep for 20 minutes and strain out herbs (or remove bag).
- Pour 1 cup of the herb infused water and 1.5 cups of honey into a medium saucepan and turn on medium high heat. (save the extra liquid and mix with equal parts raw honey for a simple cough syrup)
- Stir the honey/herb mixture over medium high heat until it reaches 300 degrees. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, this usually takes about 30 minutes and can be tested by dropping a drop of the mixture in to ice water to see if it immediately hardens. It should harden to the point that it breaks if dropped on the counter. You can also tell because the mixture will start to foam and separate. At this point, it is vital to remove it from the heat quickly so it does not burn.
- Mix in coconut oil and essential oil mixture and pour into candy molds, or pour into a large baking sheet that has been greased with coconut oil or that has a silicon baking mat on it.
- Let cool until it can be touched and molded and immediately and quickly form into lozenges with your hands (you might need help to do this quickly enough).
- Put finished cough drops/lozenges on a silicon mat or piece of parchment paper to cool.
- When completely cool, toss in a mixture of powdered slippery elm and stevia to keep from getting sticky in humidity.
- Use as needed for coughing, congestion or sore throat.
Notes
* * Research and experience suggest that these oils are some of the most potent against bacterial throat infections, or that have an antitussive effect:
tea tree
lavender
fragonia
peppermint
lemon
These essential oils have been known to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus (3):
basil
mint
rosemary
lavender
Personally, my preference is to use myrrh essential oil as I have found it to be one of the most effective sore throat remedies out there. At least for me, and I used to get strep infections as a kid, so sore throats are no stranger to me! My sore throat triple-threat blend includes equal parts of:
frankincense
myrrh
peppermint
References:
FAQs
Instructions
- Add honey to water. ...
- Reduce heat immediately and allow mixture to cool for 5–10 minutes, or until the consistency becomes syrupy.
- Add Lemon and Ginger oil, stirring to combine.
- Dust candy mold with ascorbic acid powder.
Combine oils in spray bottle first. Our team recommends a ratio of 5 drops OnGuard blend, 3 drops Lemon and 3 drops Frankincense. If you need more support you can add 1-2 drops of Peppermint as well. After mixing the essential oils in the spray bottle, fill the rest up with distilled water.
How do you gargle with essential oils for a sore throat? ›
You can also add 3 drops of lemon oil and 1 drop of eucalyptus oil to your water, gargle for 10 seconds and then drink.
What is the best essential oil to stop coughing? ›
Essential oils for coughs, like eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme and lavender, contain properties that help to relieve coughs. They can be used to complement the treatment recommended by your doctor. Aromatherapy is a natural therapy that utilizes essential oils to treat various health conditions and symptoms.
How do I get rid of a sore throat quickly? ›
Self care
- Rest. Get plenty of sleep. ...
- Drink fluids. Fluids keep the throat moist and prevent dehydration. ...
- Try comforting foods and beverage. ...
- Gargle with saltwater. ...
- Humidify the air. ...
- Consider lozenges or hard candy. ...
- Avoid irritants. ...
- Stay at home until you're no longer sick.
Topically a 0.5% to 2% solution in lotion or oil is rubbed on the chest. The child will inhale the essential oil as it vaporizes, and it will be absorbed through the skin. For inhalation the essential oils can be steamed or diffused in the room. Diffusion is particularly good for a nighttime cough.
What essential oils clear lungs? ›
Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract infections
- Anise oil. Anise oil (Anisi aetheroleum) is obtained by steam distillation from the dry ripe fruits of Pimpinella anisum L., and star anise oil from Illicium verum Hook. ...
- Bitter fennel fruit oil. ...
- Eucalyptus oil. ...
- Peppermint oil. ...
- Tea tree oil. ...
- Thyme oil.
Stir in the apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, peppermint oil, lemon oil, and clove oil. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a spouted measuring cup or bowl to remove the peppercorns. Place a funnel over a spray bottle and pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
How do you make a sore throat spray? ›
Directions:
- Boil the water.
- Place the sage and echinacea in a small jar, then fill it with boiling water.
- Let it steep for 30 minutes.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer. Add 1/2 cup of hard liquor if desired.
- Place the mixture in a small spray bottle and spray into the throat every 2 hours or as needed.
PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL
| Active Ingredient/Active Moiety |
| Ingredient Name | Basis of Strength | Strength |
|---|
| PHENOL (UNII: 339NCG44TV) (PHENOL - UNII:339NCG44TV) | PHENOL | 15 mg in 1 mL |
| GLYCERIN (UNII: PDC6A3C0OX) (GLYCERIN - UNII:PDC6A3C0OX) | GLYCERIN | 330 mg in 1 mL |
Diffusing essential oils like Lavender oil, Frankincense oil, and Peppermint oil helps in calming the sore throat build-up, thereby reducing uneasiness.
Does peppermint oil get rid of sore throat? ›
Peppermint and its main active agent, menthol, are effective decongestants. Because menthol thins mucus, it is also a good expectorant, meaning it helps loosen phlegm and breaks up coughs. It is soothing and calming for sore throats (pharyngitis) and dry coughs.
How do you use lemon oil for a sore throat? ›
If you have a cold or are experiencing a sore throat, lemon essential oil is a good home remedy to try. Try setting up a diffuser with lemon oil to release its sweet, citrusy scent in your room while you get some rest. The calming properties of lemon oil can help relax both your mind and the muscles in your throat.
How many drops of essential oil should I take for a cough? ›
For inhalation 12 drops of the essential oil in 3/4 cup of boiling water three times a day. Vicks VapoRub, commonly used for coughs and colds, contains eucalyptus oil. It may be useful to find a recipe to make your own rub with eucalyptus oil at home or purchase a product that contains the oil at your local pharmacy.
What ingredient makes cough drops work? ›
The most common medication in a cough drop is menthol. This is an organic compound made from peppermint, eucalyptus, and other mint oils. Menthol helps cool your airway passages and soothe your throat. It may be paired with benzocaine , a local anesthetic.
How do you make a natural cough mixture? ›
Instructions
- Add honey, olive oil and lemon juice to a small pot.
- Stir.
- Heat over medium heat until barely warm, stirring. ( See note)
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Place into a jar with a lid.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- Take 1 tablespoon warmed as needed.
