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Herbs & Cultures

Herbal home remedies: tea, honey, tincture and salve

Herbal honey for sore throat and cough

Thyme and fenugreek, slowly steeped in honey.

Used for

Time
Steep at least a week
Makes
One jar
Thyme

Steeping herbs in honey is an old way to keep them and make them pleasant to take. Thyme is the main flavour, fenugreek adds mucilage for the throat.

Ingredients

  • 1 part thyme
  • ½ part fenugreek
  • ½ part peppermint
  • ½ part lemon balm
  • Honey (see the method)

Step by step

  1. Use clean, roughly chopped fresh herbs or dried herbs. Use as much honey as fresh herbs, or half as much herb if you use dried herb. (It also works with tinctures: as much honey as tincture.)
  2. Put the herbs in a clean jar with a lid.
  3. Warm the honey slightly, without letting it boil, pour it over the herbs and stir slowly.
  4. Close tightly, label with the date and leave to steep for at least a week, preferably a month or longer. Stir well before first use.
  5. Take 1–2 tablespoons a day until the complaints fade, neat, in tea or in warm lemon water.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 118

    Fenugreek

    Trigonella foenum-graecum

    The seed has been studied for blood sugar and for increasing breast milk. NCCIH reports there is not enough strong evidence for these uses.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 3

    Mint

    Mentha × piperita

    Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 85

    Lemon balm

    Melissa officinalis

    Traditionally used for restlessness, sleep problems and a nervous stomach; externally for cold sores. Small studies suggest a mild calming effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+7Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

These traditions know the herbs in this recipe.