Homemade Herbal Cough Drops
One night recently, I was up in the middle of the night with two little ones who couldn’t sleep. Their throats were scratchy, their coughs were relentless, and I remember that helpless feeling so well.
I wanted to give them something soothing, natural, and safe, but everything in my cabinet felt too harsh or just not right.
That’s when I pulled out my lavender and marshmallow root, made a quick infusion, and stirred up our first batch of homemade cough drops the next morning.
Those tiny herbal cough drops were lifesavers! Not only did they ease the sore throats, they also tasted so good, my kids actually asked for more. Since then, we’ve kept a jar stocked through every cold season.
Because they worked so well for us, I had to share this homemade herbal cough drops recipe with you so you can feel relief too!
Why Lavender and Marshmallow Root?
Lavender is more than just a calming scent. It has gentle antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be incredibly supportive during cold and flu season.
Lavender helps relax the nervous system, so it’s especially helpful when illness brings on restlessness or trouble sleeping.
Marshmallow root is a classic demulcent herb. That means it’s deeply soothing to irritated mucous membranes, perfect for sore throats or dry coughs.
It creates a gentle, protective coating that can help reduce pain and promote healing.
Both herbs are safe for most children and adults when used as described here, but as always, listen to your body and consult a practitioner if you’re unsure.
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How to Make Homemade Herbal Cough Drops at Home
Here is how to make these DIY cough drops using herbs:
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lavender
- 1 tablespoon marshmallow root
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup lavender and marshmallow root infusion
- Silicone mold
- Candy thermometer
Instructions
Pour the hot water over the herbs in a glass jar. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs and set aside ½ cup of the infusion.
In a pot, combine sugar, honey, and the ½ cup herbal infusion. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Bring the mixture to a boil without stirring further. Let it cook until it reaches 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer. This is the “hard crack” stage for candy.
Remove from heat and carefully pour the mixture into a silicone mold.
Let the drops cool and harden completely. Once set, remove them from the mold and store in an airtight container.
To Use: Suck on one every couple hours.
Notes
- This recipe makes about 20 cough drops, depending on your mold size. I usually double it in the fall so we’re stocked and ready for any surprise sore throats.
- The mold that I used makes really big cough drops. It is nice during the night as I could use it all night long, but next time, I plan to make them even smaller.
- If you’re just starting with herbs, this is such a simple, confidence-building recipe. No fancy tools, just real ingredients with real healing potential.
- You can also explore more gentle remedies like this in my Lavender Herbal Guide, which includes even more ways to use lavender safely and effectively in your home.
- You can also play around with other herbs too! Thyme is great for sickness, chamomile, or ginger as well. The options are pretty endless!
Herbal Cough Drops
Materials
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lavender
- 1 tablespoon marshmallow root
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup lavender and marshmallow root infusion
- Silicone mold
- Candy thermometer
Instructions
- Pour the hot water over the herbs in a glass jar. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs and set aside ½ cup of the infusion.
- In a pot, combine sugar, honey, and the ½ cup herbal infusion. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Bring the mixture to a boil without stirring further. Let it cook until it reaches 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer. This is the "hard crack" stage for candy.
- Remove from heat and carefully pour the mixture into a silicone mold.
- Let the drops cool and harden completely. Once set, remove them from the mold and store in an airtight container.
- To Use: Suck on one every couple hours.
Notes
- This recipe makes about 20 cough drops, depending on your mold size. I usually double it in the fall so we’re stocked and ready for any surprise sore throats.
- The mold that I used makes really big cough drops. It is nice during the night as I could use it all night long, but next time, I plan to make them even smaller.
- If you’re just starting with herbs, this is such a simple, confidence-building recipe. No fancy tools, just real ingredients with real healing potential.
- You can also explore more gentle remedies like this in my Lavender Herbal Guide, which includes even more ways to use lavender safely and effectively in your home.
- You can also play around with other herbs too! Thyme is great for sickness, chamomile, or ginger as well. The options are pretty endless!
Final Thoughts
Making your own herbal cough drops might sound intimidating at first, but once you try it, you’ll see how easy and satisfying it can be.
Each time you make a remedy like this, you’re not just caring for your family, you’re growing in your confidence, your knowledge, and your connection to nature’s gifts.
And that’s what this journey is really about.
Natural living isn’t about doing it all perfectly. It’s about one choice at a time, one jar of homemade goodness, and one peaceful moment where you remember, you’ve got this.
Let me know how it works out for you!
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