Cough drops: how they work and how you make them yourself

Sage, menthol, thyme or eucalyptus: cough drops are available in many variants. Purchased cough drops are not always the best choice. That is why we will explain to you how you can make cough drops yourself quickly and easily.

How do cough drops work?

(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / pen_ash)

Who doesn’t know that: As soon as winter is just around the corner, the first waves of cold begin to hit us. To relieve cough and sore throat, many resort to a packet of cough drops. After all, the pastilles are supposed to have an expectorant effect and quench the urge to cough.

A cough drop works for two main reasons: First, the sugar content of a drop of candy or a lozenge is responsible for the pain-relieving effect Onmeda, The sugar lies on the mucous membrane in the throat like a kind of protective layer and thus temporarily alleviates the pain.

On the other hand, the plant extracts in cough drops can also contribute to the effect:

• eucalyptus solves loudly pharmacy magazine stuck mucus from sinuses. It also helps to remove the mucus, has a slight antibacterial effect, can relieve cramps in the respiratory muscles and cools the irritated mucous membranes. Instead of candy, you can too Eukalyptosöl apply.
• Also thyme has an expectorant effect, liquefies stuck mucus and thus helps to remove it. It also has an antispasmodic effect and inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses Onmeda, Thyme also has a mild analgesic effect.
• The main ingredient in peppermint is Menthol, that too expectorant, Peppermint can also be shown to have an antispasmodic effect.
• Plantain also helps Loosen slime and also works against inflammation of the mucous membranes.
• Icelandic moss relieves the irritation of cough, soothes irritation on the mucous membrane and inhibits the growth of germs.
• Also hibiscus relieves the cough and inhibits irritation and pain of the mucous membranes. Marshmallow also improves immune defense.
• sage especially helps against inflammation in the mouth, be it on the oral mucosa, a sore throat or sore throat.

Sucking a candy stimulates the flow of saliva. This moisturizes the mouth and dry mucous membranes.

Disadvantages of bought cough drops

Cough drops do not fall under the category of prescription drugs and therefore mostly contain rather small doses of herbal active ingredients. Even if they can temporarily relieve sore throat and cough temporarily, there are a few disadvantages from a health and environmental point of view:

• Most cough drops contain a lot Sugar: This grips the teeth and can lead to tooth decay. If you consume too much sugar, it can also have a negative impact on your health. The consequences include obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. You can find out more here: Life without sugar
• So-called sugar-free sweets usually contain the sugar substitute as a sweetener isomalt, which protects the teeth, but is by no means calorie-free and can also have a laxative effect in case of excessive traffic.
• From an ecological point of view, there is another problem: the packaging, Unpackaged cough drops are not available in supermarkets and drug stores. On the contrary: The candies are often packed in large plastic or paper packaging and are also individually packed in plastic. Because of a few candies, a lot of garbage is created.

Make cough drops yourself – how it works

(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / stevepb)

The solution to the garbage problem is obvious: why not just make your cough drops yourself? This is not that difficult and you can dose herbs and essential oils better than in purchased sweets with little plant-based ingredients. You need the following things:

• 100 gram Birkenzucker (Xylitol)
• 2 tablespoons dried or fresh herbs, for example mint, thyme, sage, ribwort or ginger
• Perhaps a few drops of pure essential oil, for example mint or thyme oil.
• At will a few dashes of lemon juice for a pleasant freshness.

You can of course also use normal sugar, but xylitol is gentle on your teeth, is low in calories and also suitable for diabetics. But be careful: in large quantities, birch sugar can cause abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea.

Cough drops with xylitol can be produced in just a few steps:

1. Warm the xylitol first over medium heat: it liquefies and becomes transparent.
2. As soon as the xylitol has liquefied, take the pot off the stove and stir in the herbs, the essential oil and the lemon juice.
3. Then you can put candy-sized drops on baking paper.
4. Let the cough drops cool for about an hour until they are white – done!

Tip: Instead of baking paper, you can also use reusable ones Baking paper replacement hernehmen.

If you prefer conventional ones sugar If you want to work, you must observe the following basic rule: two parts of sugar, one part of brew. For example, for every 200 grams of sugar there are 100 milliliters of brew. Do the following:

1. Boil a brew of 100 milliliters of water from the herbs and then pour it through a sieve.
2. Boil the sugar (200 grams) with a couple of tablespoons of brew until a brownish mass develops.
3. Then add the remaining brew and possibly a few drops of essential oil.
4. Let everything boil down and stir well until the mass has thickened.
5. Spread the mass in equal sized drops on the baking paper.
6. Let your candy set – done!

Read more on Techzle.com:

• Home remedies for irritable cough: These tips work quickly and safely
• Ginger Shot: DIY recipe
• Ribwort plantain: use, effect and cultivation of the medicinal plant