The Green Man - Tim Moorhouse Medical Herbalist

Thyme & Onion Cough Syrup

This is a recipe that I have developed from one given to me by my friend Kath who has made it many times for her family. She always makes a batch up in autumn ready for the winters ills and says that it keeps fine in the fridge for a couple of months. Start to take it if you feel that a cold is or might go to the chest and keep going with it until you are better!

Ingredients and equipment:

250g of onions

400g granulated sugar

30g of dried thyme

A large jar with tight fitting lid (a 1.5l Kilner jar is ideal)

Recipe:

1. Measure out the sugar and thyme and mix together in a bowl.

2. Thinly slice the onion.

3. Cover the bottom of the jar with a layer of the sugar and thyme mixture.

4. Cover this with a layer of sliced onion. Add another layer of the sugar/thyme mix to cover this onion layer.

5. Continue to create layers of the onion and sugar/thyme mix until the jar is full. You will probably have some of the sugar/thyme mix left over; keep this to one side as you will add this later.

6. Seal the jar tightly and place it over night in a warm place, an airing cupboard is fine. Give it a shake every couple of hours.

7. The following day you will see that the sugar has drawn out the juice from the onion and has dissolved into it. Open the jar and add the rest of the sugar/thyme mix, seal it again and put it back in the airing cupboard.

8. Let it sit in the warmth for 3 days, shaking it every time you remember to do so (the more the merrier). In a few days the rest of the sugar will dissolve and the thyme will infuse into the syrup.

9. After 3 days strain the contents of the jar through some muslin or a clean tea-towel, making sure you squeeze out all the syrup from the onion and thyme residue. Put the syrup into a pan and bring to the boil, then turn it off and let it cool a bit. Discard the residue onto the compost heap.

10. Pour into a clean bottle and shake every half hour until cool.

11. Once cool store in the fridge until needed.

The dose for this syrup is 1 teaspoon 3 or 4 times a day.

You could give the syrup more of a kick by adding in 4 or 5 cloves of crushed garlic to the sliced onion before layering with the sugar/thyme mix but beware this may not make you many friends!. If you are particularly brave you could even add a sliced chilli to really spice it up!