We love spring in Eugene! However, this is the time our stunning oaks, cedars, pines, and other trees release their pollen. Then we move into gorgeous early summer weather… except that is when the ryegrass and Timothy grasses that are so prevalent in our area join the trees in their pollen-fest. For people who have sensitivities to pollen, spring and summer in our beautiful city can be challenging. The silver lining for herbalism DIYers is this is an opportunity to try your hand at making herbal lozenges that can offer some seasonal relief.
Herbs for Seasonal Yuck
Horehound—Marrubium vulgare is a bitter member of the mint family and contains several constituents that can be helpful when pollen counts are on the rise, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and diterpenes. The diterpene marrubiin is thought to be responsible for the expectorant action of the herb. Horehound can help to thin and move buildups of mucus.
Cautions: Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Also, as with all bitters, use cautiously if you struggle with gastritis or peptic ulcer disease because bitters may increase the production of stomach acid.
Goldenrod—Solidago gigantea is a member of the aster family and contains terpenes, saponins, and beneficial flavonoids like quercetin. Like horehound, goldenrod is an anti-catarrhal, meaning it can help counteract or suppress catarrh by thinning and moving mucus along. Horehound and goldenrod are excellent compatriots in herbal blends.
Cautions: Not for use in pregnancy or while nursing except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Do not use during attacks of kidney stones or other kidney disorders. People with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae (aster) family should exercise caution.
Elderflower—Sambucus nigra and S. ebulus flowers contain pectin, tannins, vitamins (including vitamin C), and flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin. Elderflowers have a long tradition of use for supporting mucus membranes, particularly in the nose and throat. In Ayurveda, elderflowers are said to dispense accumulation in the respiratory system.
Cautions: If you are taking diabetes medications, speak with your doctor or naturopath about using elderflower, and monitor your blood sugar levels.
First and foremost, these lozenges are not candy and should not be treated as such. That said, the process is the same as making hard candies like toffee and lollipops. The benefit of lozenges over syrups is that lozenges keep the herbal constituents in your mouth for a longer time, which means you are slowly administering the herbs where you need them the most when dealing with seasonal yuck—your sinuses and throat benefit from more time with these beneficial botanicals.
You may be questioning why we’re decocting these leafy herbs as we would roots or woody botanicals instead of steeping them. In this process, we do lose much of the water-soluble vitamins by boiling them, but we’re making a trade. The long-simmering process does a better job of extracting the potent bitter constituents that are so helpful when dealing with pollen. Alternatively, you can boil the water and pour it over the combined herbs, cover and set aside overnight, then strain. You can then proceed from step six below. For similar reasons, if you don’t want to simmer honey, I suggest using sugar.
Although making lozenges isn’t difficult, it can be intimidating the first couple of times you do it because you’re dealing with very sticky boiling goo that will absolutely boil over given the opportunity. It requires time and your full attention, so plan for a day when you can focus.
A note about cooking pot size: You will be putting 1 cup of herbal decoction in a pot with 1 1/2 cups of honey or sugar(s) but—because of that aforementioned boiling-over problem—you need to use a pot that initially seems much too big for this quantity of liquid. I use a heavy 3 quart (12 cups) pot and even then it requires my undivided attention. There is a point, particularly once the mixture hits about 220° F, when you may need to toggle the heat up and down a bit to keep the mixture simmering but not going wild. You can also remove the pot from the heat temporarily to let it settle back down into the pot, but it’s better to adjust your heat to manage it if possible.
Makes 70-75 drops.
Measurements are by weight, but this recipe does not need to be exact, so I’ve included approximate volume measurements as well.
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tips
You may also enjoy:
Topics: Culinary, Recipes, Herbalism, Specialty Ingredients
Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.
We love spring in Eugene! However, this is the time our stunning oaks, cedars, pines, and other trees release their pollen. Then we move into gorgeous early summer weather… except that is when the ryegrass and Timothy grasses that are so prevalent in our area join the trees in their pollen-fest. For people who have sensitivities to pollen, spring and summer in our beautiful city can be challenging. The silver lining for herbalism DIYers is this is an opportunity to try your hand at making herbal lozenges that can offer some seasonal relief.
Herbs for Seasonal Yuck
Horehound—Marrubium vulgare is a bitter member of the mint family and contains several constituents that can be helpful when pollen counts are on the rise, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and diterpenes. The diterpene marrubiin is thought to be responsible for the expectorant action of the herb. Horehound can help to thin and move buildups of mucus.
Cautions: Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Also, as with all bitters, use cautiously if you struggle with gastritis or peptic ulcer disease because bitters may increase the production of stomach acid.
Goldenrod—Solidago gigantea is a member of the aster family and contains terpenes, saponins, and beneficial flavonoids like quercetin. Like horehound, goldenrod is an anti-catarrhal, meaning it can help counteract or suppress catarrh by thinning and moving mucus along. Horehound and goldenrod are excellent compatriots in herbal blends.
Cautions: Not for use in pregnancy or while nursing except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Do not use during attacks of kidney stones or other kidney disorders. People with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae (aster) family should exercise caution.
Elderflower—Sambucus nigra and S. ebulus flowers contain pectin, tannins, vitamins (including vitamin C), and flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin. Elderflowers have a long tradition of use for supporting mucus membranes, particularly in the nose and throat. In Ayurveda, elderflowers are said to dispense accumulation in the respiratory system.
Cautions: If you are taking diabetes medications, speak with your doctor or naturopath about using elderflower, and monitor your blood sugar levels.
First and foremost, these lozenges are not candy and should not be treated as such. That said, the process is the same as making hard candies like toffee and lollipops. The benefit of lozenges over syrups is that lozenges keep the herbal constituents in your mouth for a longer time, which means you are slowly administering the herbs where you need them the most when dealing with seasonal yuck—your sinuses and throat benefit from more time with these beneficial botanicals.
You may be questioning why we’re decocting these leafy herbs as we would roots or woody botanicals instead of steeping them. In this process, we do lose much of the water-soluble vitamins by boiling them, but we’re making a trade. The long-simmering process does a better job of extracting the potent bitter constituents that are so helpful when dealing with pollen. Alternatively, you can boil the water and pour it over the combined herbs, cover and set aside overnight, then strain. You can then proceed from step six below. For similar reasons, if you don’t want to simmer honey, I suggest using sugar.
Although making lozenges isn’t difficult, it can be intimidating the first couple of times you do it because you’re dealing with very sticky boiling goo that will absolutely boil over given the opportunity. It requires time and your full attention, so plan for a day when you can focus.
A note about cooking pot size: You will be putting 1 cup of herbal decoction in a pot with 1 1/2 cups of honey or sugar(s) but—because of that aforementioned boiling-over problem—you need to use a pot that initially seems much too big for this quantity of liquid. I use a heavy 3 quart (12 cups) pot and even then it requires my undivided attention. There is a point, particularly once the mixture hits about 220° F, when you may need to toggle the heat up and down a bit to keep the mixture simmering but not going wild. You can also remove the pot from the heat temporarily to let it settle back down into the pot, but it’s better to adjust your heat to manage it if possible.
Makes 70-75 drops.
Measurements are by weight, but this recipe does not need to be exact, so I’ve included approximate volume measurements as well.
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tips
You may also enjoy:
Topics: Culinary, Recipes, Herbalism, Specialty Ingredients
Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.
