Many of my co-workers are complaining about being sick these last few weeks; with sore throats, coughs, fevers, sinus infections, etc. So I came across this recipe from Mother Earth News for a cold remedy made from the herb Thyme, and thought I'd share it.
It seems much too often now that when someone is sick, all I ever hear them say is "I went the urgent care and got a Z-pack." Why doesn't anyone try to take care of themselves through natural remedy anymore, rather than always rushing in to rely on modern medicine? What ever happened to chicken soup? Whiskey and honey?
Ingredients:
2–4 ounces thyme leaf and flower (fresh is best but dried will do)
1 quart water
1 cup honey
To make the syrup:
Combine the thyme and water in a pan over very low heat. Simmer lightly, with the lid ajar to allow the steam to escape, until the liquid is reduced by half, giving you about 2 cups of strong thyme tea. Strain, and compost the spent herbs. Add the honey to the warm liquid and stir, just until the honey is melted. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator, where the honey will keep for 3 to 4 weeks.
To use:
Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon every couple of hours until the cold or cough subsides.
Variation: For a longer shelf life, add 1/4 cup of brandy to each cup of syrup. Brandy not only is a good preservative but also serves as an antispasmodic and will help relax the throat muscles, which is helpful in treating a cough. (I will certainly be adding brandy to my batch!)
