There are many DIYs in the winter medicine cabinet, but throat lozenges aren't often top of mind. Instead of sucking on a store-bought sugar-filled hard candy, chew these drops at the beginning of a cold or to coat the throat when a dry, irritating cough is difficult to manage.
Marshmallow is the star here and a plant simply made for winter. It's soothing and hydrating to dry, inflamed mucous membrane tissue due to its high mucilage content. The root contains up to 25-35% of mucilage, a viscous substance that forms a protective layer on surfaces. It's also a cooling relaxant with tannins that aid in calming and tightening tissue.
Added herbs include echinacea, licorice and sage for immune and throat support, and antimicrobial and demulcent properties.
Cinnamon, ginger and rose hips add warmth and flavor along with their own medicinal qualities and a touch of vitamin c.
Honey is known in its own right to offer relief to a sore throat or cough due to its antimicrobial and surface coating nature. In fact, if you don't have time to make these drops, a spoonful of honey can help in a pinch.
A unique aspect of this recipe is you consume the plant matter rather than an extraction of it. Using herbs in powdered form ensures you are experiencing the whole plant rather than simply the constituents that were drawn out by a given medium such as the vodka in a tincture or water in a tea.
M A K E
4 tsp marshmallow root, powdered
3 tsp sage, powdered
2 tsp licorice root, powdered
2 tsp echinacea root, powdered
2 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp cinnamon, powdered 1/4 tsp ginger, powdered 1/4 tsp rosehips, powdered Mix marshmallow, sage, licorice, and echinacea powders in a bowl.
Stir in honey. Mix well.
Mix cinnamon, ginger, and rosehip powders in a separate bowl.
Roll the honeyed herb mixture into tiny balls. Roll drops in powdered herbs to coat.
Allow drops to air dry for a few days. Store in a cool, dry place.
N O T E S
*If you can't purchase the herbs in powdered form, you can easily transform them in a spice or coffee grinder or blender such as a Vitamix. If the herbs come out of the blend a bit rough, sift them through a fine mesh sieve, like you might sprinkle powdered sugar on top of a dessert.
*If the consistency is not similar to a dough, add more honey or marshmallow powder until you you can form a loose ball when rolled. *Having a batch of throat drops on hand is helpful, because they take a few days to dry and you may want to start using them at the first tingle in your throat. However, its best to make in smaller batches, as needed.
*Do not use licorice if you have high blood pressure.
For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.
Makers Remarks: I'm not going to lie, it's a messy project, but the mixture easily washes off your hands or bowl with warm water.
The cinnamon, ginger and rosehip powders provide a bit of zip at first taste, but that quickly subsides as you chew. The back notes offer a bit of a rooty vibe. It isn't a common flavor to experience, but I enjoy really tasting the plants I am working with. The linger notes come from the licorice whose essence loves to stick around.
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