Over time, I’ve gathered some reliable flu remedies to help keep my family healthy. I’m a big fan of garlic, raw honey, and elderberry, but it’s also handy to have a few specific remedies on hand. One of my go-tos is a wild cherry bark cough syrup, which is excellent for soothing persistent coughs, particularly at night.
When most people think of cough syrup, they picture those brightly colored, artificially cherry-flavored mixtures. Regular cough syrup often just suppresses the cough without addressing the root cause. The key is that there are different types of coughs. You might have a wet cough with plenty of mucus, a dry cough with nothing coming up, or intense coughing fits that leave your ribs sore. Different herbs are beneficial for different coughs.
My herbal cough syrup is a versatile option I frequently turn to during cold and flu season. However, the wild cherry bark syrup is especially effective for dry, irritated coughs. Traditionally, it’s been used for conditions like whooping cough, chronic coughs, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
Wild cherry bark, sourced from the inner bark of wild cherry trees, offers numerous benefits. It opens up the lower respiratory tract, helping to move and dry up trapped mucus. It’s calming and can ease coughing spasms that irritate the throat. Its calming qualities also make it useful for nighttime coughing that disrupts sleep.
This herb is great for cooling and soothing sore, inflamed tissues in the sinuses and throat. Beyond the occasional cold, wild cherry can also help with asthma, boost heart health, and aid digestion.
You might have seen mullein with its tall stalks and yellow flowers by the roadside. Though the leaves feel soft, they have tiny hairs that can be irritating. Properly strained, mullein leaf tea or syrup is excellent for coughs and irritated throats. Like wild cherry bark, mullein helps expel mucus and reduces inflammation and spasms. It’s particularly good for calming wheezing and unproductive coughs and is a reliable choice for lung issues.
Vitamin C is crucial for a strong immune system and healthy skin, among other things. Great sources include lemons, camu camu berry, and bell peppers. Rosehips are also rich in vitamin C and have a tangy, fruity flavor. They help tighten tissues, combat free radicals, and cool inflamed areas.
Hibiscus flowers are another vitamin C powerhouse and have a tangy taste too. Besides making a delicious tea, hibiscus can give hair a reddish hue when used in natural dyes. If you run out of rosehips, hibiscus can be a good substitute. Some herbalists advise against hibiscus during pregnancy as it may affect the uterus, though opinions vary.
Elderberry has gained popularity lately. In this cough syrup recipe, elderberry plays a supporting role, adding its antiviral punch and enhancing the berry flavor. Elderberry is known for its antiviral properties and is packed with vitamins A, B, and C, which can reduce the severity and duration of the flu.
Making homemade cough syrup might seem daunting, but it’s really quite simple. Essentially, we’re making herbal tea and then mixing in raw honey. Just remember a couple of things: mullein leaves have tiny hairs that can irritate the skin, so strain the tea well using a cloth or paper coffee filter.
There’s some debate about the best way to use wild cherry bark. Some prefer simmering it for syrup, while others suggest a cold infusion. After looking into it, simmering appeared to be effective and the easiest option.
As for hibiscus, it’s potentially questionable during pregnancy, though opinions differ. Dr. Aviva Romm, a doctor and herbalist, considers hibiscus safe during pregnancy but notes that wild cherry bark might not be. There’s no clear evidence of harm with cherry bark during pregnancy in humans, though some animal studies suggest potential risks, which may not apply to humans. Many experienced herbalists don’t see any issue with its use during pregnancy.
Bottom line? The situation isn’t entirely clear, so if you’re pregnant and want to be cautious, you might want to avoid this recipe. Generally, it’s safe, even for children, but skip it for infants under one year old since it contains raw honey.
This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Madiha Saeed, a board-certified family physician. Remember, this isn’t personal medical advice, so make sure to consult your doctor. Let us know your favorite way to soothe a scratchy throat in the comments and feel free to share this post with a friend!
