{ home remedy cough syrup }

I have a cold. I have a bad cold. I suspect that it's likely a step-child in the flu family -- related to the flu ... but not really.

The aches and pains are finally beginning to subside, and I don't feel like road kill anymore. But the lingering cough with which I've been left is nasty business. And no matter what product I try from my trusty neighborhood Walgreens, I can't get any relief.

I've choked down the contents of a $40 box of Extra Strength Mucinex, chugged liquid cough syrup, slathered my neck and chest with Vick's Vapor Rub, popped Benadryl (Benadryl cures whatever ails you if there's snot involved, right?), and have been perpetually sucking on Ricolas. But so far, nothing is breaking through the wall that seems to have built up inside my lungs.

I haven't been to the gym in a week, and I'm tired of being unable to walk from Point A to Point B without being racked by coughing spasms.

Time to try something new.

I remembered pinning a home remedy on Pinterest a few weeks ago that supposedly acts as both a calming agent and expectorant, so I decided to make up a batch. The recipe says it soothes a sore throat, hacking cough, and tight congestion -- sounded good to me. Here's a bit more of the description from the blog where I found the recipe:

"I’m not saying it’s a cure-all, or some homeopathic miracle drug. But it did a mighty fine job taking the place of store-bought cough suppressants, expectorants, decongestants.

Wouldn’t you rather have a dose of spicy honey-cider syrup from a little jar mixed up in the kitchen than any of those bottles lurking in the medicine cabinet?"


Um, yeah I would. And I did.

Holy smokes! After mixing up the firey concoction and swallowing a spoonful of it, I could almost feel my body, especially my lungs, beginnng to loosen. I was able to breathe deeper, without being overcome with a coughing fit. I was shocked at how well it worked. I just felt ... better.

And since I know you're wondering, it doesn't taste that bad. The predominant flavor is actully the ginger, not the cayenne pepper. And I'd recommend heating it up a bit before swallowing, just to make it extra soothing.

So, whoever Maggie is, I salute you, Ma'am. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for passing on your cough remedy.

Passing it on ....

Maggie's Cough Remedy
(adapted from Good Food Matters)

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon grated cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (organic preferred.)
• 1 tablespoon honey (use locally produced raw honey, if possible)
• 2 tablespoon water

Process
In a jar, or any other container with a tight-fitting lid, dissolve cayenne and ginger in cider vinegar and water.

Add honey. Shake vigorously.

Take 1 tablespoon, as needed, for cough.

Note: this doesn’t dissolve perfectly. Always shake well before using.