Herbal Mucolytic Syrup Recipe
This Herbal Mucolytic Syrup is thick and gooey, and seems to grab onto the mucus and clear the throat as you swallow a spoonful. Chase with hot tea for improved results. Research has shown the benefits of licorice, anise, marshmallow root and honey in helping with mucus.
Herbal Mucolytic Syrup Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce of dried licorice root
- 1/8 ounce of dried anise pieces
- 2 pints of distilled water
- 1/2 ounce of dried marshmallow root
- 1/3 cup of honey
- Juice of one squeezed lemon
Herbal Mucolytic Syrup Instructions
- Prepare a decoction of licorice and anise by adding them to 1 pint of water and simmering down to 1/3 pint of water on medium heat.
- Cool and then strain and remove the licorice and anise remains. Pour the remaining liquid into a large glass jar.
- Add 1 pint of water to the licorice/anise decoction along with 1/2 ounce of dried marshmallow root. Allow the marshmallow to infuse for 12 hours at room temperature.
- Then strain the marshmallow herb from the decoction. Save the remaining liquid.
- Separately, in a saucepan, heat 1/3 cup of honey and then add the licorice/anise/marshmallow liquid. Bring to a gentle boil and then simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- Pour into the glass jar, cool, and then add the juice of one squeezed lemon.
- Adult dose is up to one tablespoon up to four times a day. Store in the refrigerator for one week.
Do you find it curious, to drink a mucus-like syrup to help fight mucus? Read this blog: Fight Mucus with Mucus
Herbal Mucolytic Syrup Research
- In an open trial of 62 patients, a cough syrup made from ivy leaves, thyme herb, aniseed and marshmallow root was effective. From: Büechi, S., Vögelin, R., von Eiff, M. M., Ramos, M., & Melzer, J. (2005). Open trial to assess aspects of safety and efficacy of a combined herbal cough syrup with ivy and thyme. Complementary Medicine Research, 12(6), 328-332.
- Throat coat, a tea including licorice, slippery elm, and marshmallow, reduced throat pain in patients. From: Brinckmann, J., Sigwart, H., & van Houten Taylor, L. (2003). Safety and efficacy of a traditional herbal medicine (Throat Coat®) in symptomatic temporary relief of pain in patients with acute pharyngitis: A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 9(2), 285-298.
- In a double blind study, A. officinalis reduced the cough of those taking and having side effects from enzyme inhibitor drugs to treat hypertension. Rouhi, H., & Ganji, F. (2007). Effect of Althaea officinalis on cough associated with ACE inhibitors. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 6(3), 256-258.
- In vitro, marshmallow extracts stimulated epithelial cells to support the traditional use for treatment of irritated mucous membranes. From: Deters, A., Zippel, J., Hellenbrand, N., Pappai, D., Possemeyer, C., & Hensel, A. (2010). Aqueous extracts and polysaccharides from Marshmallow roots (Althea officinalis L.): Cellular internalisation and stimulation of cell physiology of human epithelial cells in vitro. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 127(1), 62-69.
- Lozenges containing marshmallow root showed an effect in treating irritated oropharyngeal mucosa associated with a dry irritable cough. Benbassat, N., Kostova, B., Nikolova, I., & Rachev, D. (2013). Development and evaluation of novel lozenges containing marshmallow root extract. Pak J Pharm Sci, 26, 1103-1107.
- Licorice components had an anti-allergic effects in vitro and in vivo due to glycyrrhizin, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, and liquiritigenin, and may be useful in treating asthma and dermatitis.From: Shin, Y. W., Bae, E. A., Lee, B., Lee, S. H., Kim, J. A., Kim, Y. S., & Kim, D. H. (2007). In vitro and in vivo antiallergic effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its components. Planta medica, 73(03), 257-261.
- In a study of 105 children ages 2-18 years with nighttime cough, parents rated honey favorably in reducing the cough associated with respiratory infections. From: Paul, I. M., Beiler, J., McMonagle, A., Shaffer, M. L., Duda, L., & Berlin, C. M. (2007). Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 161(12), 1140-1146.
- In a double blind study of 300 children ages 1-5 years, the three different types of honey tested reduced nocturnal coughing. From: Cohen, H. A., Rozen, J., Kristal, H., Laks, Y., Berkovitch, M., Uziel, Y., … & Efrat, H. (2012). Effect of honey on nocturnal cough and sleep quality: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Pediatrics, 130(3), 465-471.
- The antimicrobial activity of honey is reviewed. From: Molan, P. C. (1997). Honey as an antimicrobial agent. In Bee products (pp. 27-37). Springer, Boston, MA.
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice root) and Adhatoda vasica had an antitussive activity in mice comparable to that of codeine sulphate. From: Jahan, Y., & Siddiqui, H. H. (2012). Study of antitussive potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Adhatoda vasica using a cough model induced by sulphur dioxide gas in mice. International journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and research, 3(6), 1668.
- Glycyrrhiza glabra induced cough efforts in guinea pigs more effectively than codeine. From: Saha, S., Nosál’ová, G., Ghosh, D., Flešková, D., Capek, P., & Ray, B. (2011). Structural features and in vivo antitussive activity of the water extracted polymer from Glycyrrhiza glabra. International journal of biological macromolecules, 48(4), 634-638.
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA, LMT, RYT
4/11/18
