When I was growing up in the mountains, my father gave me two “winter tips” that were passed down to him from his parents and grandparents. First, keep a pot of water on the wood stove as a sort of rustic humidifier to moisten the dry air that happens in homes shut up tight against the winter cold. This helped avoid the dry mucous membranes and throats that would otherwise plague us. And second, keep a jar of raw, local honey in the cupboard at all times, as this beautiful gift from the bees does wonders to soothe an irritated throat. With the cold weather now upon us here in western Oregon, I’m reminded of that steaming pot of water, stoking the fire against chilly nights, and Papa handing me a spoonful of honey before I brushed my teeth for bed.
These days, I’ve traded in the pot on the wood stove for a much more effective humidifier when we need one. But I still keep honey on hand at all times, and I’ve discovered that there is more that I can add to help that honey do its job in soothing the dryness of a winter throat. Adding herbs and spices that support immune health and offer expectorant and adaptogenic qualities is a lot like plucking more than one string on a musical instrument—you get a richer, more complex experience and you come away more satiated.
One of my favorite discoveries in this process has been learning the wonders of making a honey-based herbal syrup. Syrups are an extremely effective way to enjoy the healthful properties of herbs—and they taste good, so it’s a win-win! This elderberry, echinacea, and wild cherry bark throat syrup recipe (courtesy of the sage Juliet Blankespoor of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine) offers a favorite combination of herbs and spices that support the immune system and assist in soothing irritation.
Ingredients
Directions
Suggestions:
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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.
When I was growing up in the mountains, my father gave me two “winter tips” that were passed down to him from his parents and grandparents. First, keep a pot of water on the wood stove as a sort of rustic humidifier to moisten the dry air that happens in homes shut up tight against the winter cold. This helped avoid the dry mucous membranes and throats that would otherwise plague us. And second, keep a jar of raw, local honey in the cupboard at all times, as this beautiful gift from the bees does wonders to soothe an irritated throat. With the cold weather now upon us here in western Oregon, I’m reminded of that steaming pot of water, stoking the fire against chilly nights, and Papa handing me a spoonful of honey before I brushed my teeth for bed.
These days, I’ve traded in the pot on the wood stove for a much more effective humidifier when we need one. But I still keep honey on hand at all times, and I’ve discovered that there is more that I can add to help that honey do its job in soothing the dryness of a winter throat. Adding herbs and spices that support immune health and offer expectorant and adaptogenic qualities is a lot like plucking more than one string on a musical instrument—you get a richer, more complex experience and you come away more satiated.
One of my favorite discoveries in this process has been learning the wonders of making a honey-based herbal syrup. Syrups are an extremely effective way to enjoy the healthful properties of herbs—and they taste good, so it’s a win-win! This elderberry, echinacea, and wild cherry bark throat syrup recipe (courtesy of the sage Juliet Blankespoor of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine) offers a favorite combination of herbs and spices that support the immune system and assist in soothing irritation.
Ingredients
Directions
Suggestions:
You may also be interested in:
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.
