The final herb to be included is the old favorite, horehound (Marrubium vulgare). This has been used for thousands of years to help the body fight cold and flu symptoms. It breaks up congestion but in 1989 the FDA ordered a ban on horehound’s use in cough remedies claiming it was ineffective. However, orehound is still sold in Europe in cough syrup and lozenges.

Mrs. M. Grieve in “A Modern Herbal” (available online) says that it has long been used for coughs, even in children. “For children's coughs and croup, it is given to advantage in the form of syrup, and is a most useful medicine for children, not only for the complaints mentioned, but as a tonic and a corrective of the stomach. It has quite a pleasant taste.” Since I am making this for my own use, I’ve decided to follow the traditional herbalist way.
 
Lastly I’m adding a teaspoon or two of spearmint essential oil. We are all familiar with it in our chewing gum because of its sweet, cooling and calming effect. Spearmint tea makes an excellent bedtime drink. Ancient Greeks even used spearmint in bath water for its antiseptic and refreshing properties. Since spearmint essential oil works well for respiratory issues, I’ve decided to include it as well.
 

Wendy Keeney-Kennicutt