I don’t get sick often, but when I do, I like to support my body with nourishing soups, fire cider, and various herbal preparations. Sometimes, when I’ve come down with something particularly nasty, I prefer to take something that not only tastes great but also effective against the symptoms I'm experiencing. I’m happy to say that there IS such a thing as tasty medicine and you can find it in the form of herbal syrups.

Making an herbal syrup can really help you get powerful and much-needed medicine into even the pickiest eaters allowing them to get well sooner. This is especially important if they’re not getting enough rest, one of the most important factors for a speedy recovery.

How to Make an Herbal Syrup

There are many useful combinations when it comes to making an herbal syrup, but one of my favorites happens to be one of the simplest recipes. Seriously, anyone can make this syrup because who doesn’t have honey and an onion lying around? If you don’t, shame on you because this simple combination can kick a cold or flu in a matter of days. Much shorter than the typical week long cold or flu if you ask me! So make sure you’ve always got some honey and at least one onion laying around just in case. You'll thank me when the time comes!

So you might be thinking “Yuck! Onions and honey??” but let me put your fears at ease, this syrup tastes really good. In fact, I’ll bet you’ll soon find yourself looking for excuses to eat this stuff because it’s delicious!

Why does this syrup work?

Honey is known to be very soothing for coughs and raspy throats and is one of the carriers used to get less than pleasant tasting herbs into finicky children and adults without too much hassle. It is also anti-bacterial and will even kill viruses.

Onion, believe it or not, is a powerhouse of virus-fighting constituents. They offer nourishment along with immune enhancing properties. If you have a croupy cough, the onion will help thin it out too. Onions are also naturally anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and antiviral.

Are you convinced yet? Okay...

Here’s What You’ll Need:

Simple Onion and Herbal Syrup

• 1 onion thinly sliced
• 1 cup Local honey (use more if the onions are not fully covered)
• A small pot

Onion and Herbal Syrup - Loving Preparation

• Slice whatever type of onion you have on hand into very thin slices (I have found white onions to be strongest in flavor and red to be more mellow in flavor)
• Put the onion slices into the small pot and cover evenly with honey
• Turn the heat to very low (you don’t want to burn anything or kill off too much of the naturally occurring enzymes in the honey)
• Let the syrup gently heat up until the onions become very soft
• Strain the syrup if desired using a mesh strainer and store in a glass jar in a cool dark place

This syrup can last a few months, but I bet it will be gone before then! 

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Dosage and Use

Whenever you feel a cold coming on simply take up to 1 teaspoon for children over 1 yrs old and up to 1 TB for adults every 1-2 hours until symptoms disappear.

Feel free to add other cold busting ingredients like freshly chopped garlic or grated ginger for extra healing benefits.

For more great herbal syrup recipes, check out these articles:
Elderberry Syrup Recipe for Cold and Flu Prevention
Flu Prevention: Elderberry Syrup!
Honey and Lemon Cough Syrup with Coconut Oil
Mama’s Soothing Cough Syrup