Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup

When I have pain or get sick I normally do not take anything for it, I just wait it out.  OTC drugs help with the symptoms so we can get on with life, right?  HOWEVER, I do not think that is what our body needs.  Normally it needs rest and when we feel crapy that is what we do... rest.

With that said, sometimes we just need something.  Taking OTC drugs is not something I feel OK giving my family (even our family doctor has warned against them).

Here is an alternative that I love, works, easy to make, and natural.

Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup
(For those interested I'm putting together kits containing the herbs and glass bottle. 
Let me know and I will send you more info).

1 cup freshly chopped onion
1/2 cup raw honey

Plus any of the following (optional)

1 tsp Cloves (Whole or powered)
1-2 tbsp Comfrey or Slippery Elm
1-2 tbsp chopped ginger root or 1 tsp ginger powder

Maximum 2 tbsp extra herbs total.

Put chopped onion and any herbs of choice into a small stainless steel pot (not aluminum).  Add enough honey to cover the onions (about a half cup).

Turn stove to low heat and slowly simmer.  The honey will soften and becomes liquid, make sure to keep the temp really low while allowing herbs to steep in honey.  Keep covered, taking the lid off every few minutes to give a quick stir.

Simmer for 20 minutes and then remove from heat.  Strain onions and herbs but retain the remaining honey.  I like to keep mine in the fridge in a glass jar.  When I go to use it, I heat it up for about 10-15 seconds to soften the honey.

Dosage-
1 tsp for young kids
1 tbsp for 10+ adult

 

What does each ingredient help with?

Onions are great overall for flu or cold symptoms.  This site explains it really well but they have helped people for centuries.

Honey is a great cough suppressant and helps sooth sore throat. Check out here if you want to see more.

Comfrey is good for healing.

Slippery Elm is good for soothing and coating sore throats.

Ginger increases warmth and circulation for overall effectiveness of the syrup.

Orignall recipe from -10 Essential Herbs by Lalitha Thomas

Disclaimer: The writer of Homemade Addition is not certified medical professionals of any kind and are not qualified to give you medical advice. My goal is to help to educate and inspire you to take responsibility for your own family's health and make informed choices of your own, not to consult you on medical treatment. 

Homemade Vapor Rub

I do not know about you or your house but cold season has hit our house hard this year.  I am guessing it is because we are in a new state with new germs but either way my hubby and kids have been sick.  Vapor Rub has always worked really well for chest colds, coughing, and stuffy nose for us but I am not a fan that it is petroleum based or some of the ingredients. 

I like simple ingredients with natural products.  Anyway, here is a great natural vapor rub that I do not have to worry about putting on my family.

I listed it in parts so you can make as much or as little are you want.  Not to mention this is a great way to make the right amount for whatever container size you have.

Chest Rub Salve-

2 parts coconut oil
1 part beeswax
eucalyptus essential oil (about 10 drops per ounce)
White camphor essential oil (about 5 drops per ounce) *

*Instead of white camphor, you could us peppermint essential oil.


Simply melt coconut oil and beeswax in double boiler over low heat.  Pour into container and then stir in essential oils.  Wait 10-15 minutes for it to hard, add more oils if needed. That's it!!

I like to rub on chest, throat, and upper back. 

Where to purchase?

I like to purchase my butters and coconut oil at Mountain Rose Herbs. I would just make sure the essential oil's you use are high quality oils.  Many of the oils you can find at health foods stores or other places are full of fillers even if they states 100% essential oil. 

If you need any help finding any products I reference on this site, please let me know.


Disclaimer: The writer of Homemade Addition is not certified medical professionals of any kind and are not qualified to give you medical advice. My goal is to help to educate and inspire you to take responsibility for your own family's health and make informed choices of your own, not to consult you on medical treatment. 

Whipped Chocolate Drizzled with Mint..... Lotion

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Whipped Chocolate Drizzled with Mint..... Lotion

Yes you read that right and let me just say, you will be fighting back the urge to lick the beaters!

This by far is my favorite lotion!  Not only is the smell to DIE for but it also works great on really dry skin. 

My skin really suffers from normal mom duties, (i.e. washing dishes, cleaning, diaper changes, and washing hands a million times).  But the winter they use to hurt really bad from being so dry but NOT now.  So now I will share my new found love!

Ingredients- (Where to find below)
3 oz Shea Butter
3 oz Cocoa Butter (this butter adds the chocolate scent)
3 oz Coconut Oil
3 oz Kokum Butter (Great healing butter for dry, tired skin) Optional*
Peppermint Essential Oil

*Note - if you decide not to use the Kokum Butter use 6 oz of Shea Butter instead of 3 oz.

Items Needed-
Double boiler or metal mixing bowl and pot
Mixer
Jars to store lotion in
Digital scale
Wooden spoon

Add water to bottom pan of double boiler.  Weigh all butters and oils and then add to double boiler (top pan).  Do not let water get into top pan.

 Melt butters and oil on medium heat until completely melted, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat, cool to room temperature.  Then place in fridge for 2-3 hours until mixture has solidified.

Whip using mixer for 10-20 minutes making sure to scrape down sides as you mix.

Once mixture is fully whipped, add four drops of peppermint essential oil.  Mix one more time to completely incorporate essential oil.

Scoop into desired jar and enjoy!!

Places to Shop for Ingredients-

There are lots of places that sell the butters or oils that I referred to in this recipe.  You can check out

your local health food stores or many places online but my favorite in mountainroseherbs.com.  They have

high quality products and great customer service!

Homemade Apple Juice

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Each Fall growing up my family and I would travel to Apple Hill in Camino, California.  Apple Hills is know for the BEST pies ever and don't get me started on the apple juice....  amazing!

Since we just moved to Utah, Apple Hill is just a little far for fresh pie and apple juice. 

So off to the kitchen I go!

Apple juice is surprisingly easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

Start with a box of sweet apples, not tart since they would call for added sugar.

Wash them really well before you begin.

 Next, slice and core them but you do NOT need to peel them.

 Throw them all in a heavy metal bottom pot with about four inches of water.Cover

 Start on high heat until the water comes to a boil then reduce heat to low. 

Simmer until apples are really soft.

 Now you will have to decide if you like filtered juice or non-filtered juice. 

 I love non-filtered juice but next time I will filter it it just a little!

Directions for filtered juice-

You will need a heat safe bowl, colander and lots of cheese cloth.

Place your colander over your heat safe bowl and then line with lots of layers of cheese cloth. 

The more layers the more filtered it will be but the longer it will take to drain.

Once your colander is lined, pour cooked apples over the cheese cloth.  You will need to let this drain for a few hours but coming back every so often to stir.

Directions for unfiltered juice-

You will need a heat safe bowl and a colander. 

One or two layers of cheese cloth (optional)

Place your colander over your bowl (you may line it with one layer of cheese cloth if you desire)

Pour the cooked apples into the colander.

Carefully use a spoon to stir the apples but be careful not to squash them or else

you with have really thick juice.

You can either keep the juice in the fridge and it will stay fresh for a few

days or if you have a lot than you could can it.

Enjoy!!

Fresh Smoothy with Homemade Granola and Drizzled Honey

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I thought I would share one of my FAVORITE breakfast ideas.  It starts as a thick smoothie but layer after layer it becomes something so much more. 

Ingredients

Fresh or frozen fruit of your choice
Milk or I used coconut milk
Greek yogurt - A fantastic homemade Greek yogurt tutorial to follow soon!
Raw local honey
Chopped nuts of your choice (I used almonds, walnuts, and raw cacao beans)
Unsweetened shredded coconut
Wheat germ
Homemade granola
Sliced fresh fruit to top

 OK, let's get started!

Probably one of the best investments I have made would be my Vita Mix.  It is not your ordinary mixer, it plows through just about anything you can throw at it!

So start by adding fruit, yogurt, wheat germ, milk and ice.  Today I was making enough for my whole family but normally I just guess on the amounts and have yet to mess it up. 

Turn that baby on!! The Vita Mix has a plunger that can help move everything to the blade while it is mixing but if your mixer does not have that feature just turn it off and stir a few times.  Don't forget you want this smoothie thick!

 While it is mixing I get everything else ready.

 This is another great kitchen tool that I use all the time!  The Pamper Chef chopper. LOVE it!

The dark black ones are my Raw cacao beans  that are really rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, magnesium, iron and fiber. 

Once your thick smoothie is mixed up and everything is chopped then you are ready to layer.  I really do not think the order matters but here is how I do it.
Put a big dollop of smoothie in your bowl, cover with homemade granola, sliced fruit of your choice, sprinkle nuts and shredded coconut, and then drizzle with lots of honey.  This breakfast is healthy, filling and high in protein.  Yum!!

DIY Wallflower Plug In Air Fresheners

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I am not sure if there is anything better than a clean house that smells good.  One without the other just does seem complete.  The only problem is, a few years ago I started thinking about all the chemicals that go into making air fresheners, candles and sprays.  Really, I am not sure why I do this to myself but it takes all the enjoyment out of a nice smelling house. 
If you Google "dangers of air fresheners" you will get page after page of all kinds of stuff you do not want to know.  So let’s just keep this simple.  It is cool to make your own Wallflowers and using just Essential Oils you do not have to feel guilty.  Do you want to know what the best part is?  They are crazy simple!!

 

First, take your wallflower and unscrew the bulb. 

Next, pull out the wick.  This can be somewhat tricky so you might need a butter knife to pry it out. 

 

Rinse out the bulb and fill 1/3 the way with your favorite essential oil(s).  Have fun experimenting with new combinations.  Then fill the remaining 2/3 with water.  FYI- You can fill the whole bulb with essential oils and it will just last longer. 

Last, put the wick back in the bulb and screw it all back together.  Enjoy!!