Ariel was, unfortunately, feeling pretty icky early in the weekend. (She would be less likely to come down with colds, etc. if we could ever get her to drink water, but that has been a losing battle since she was a toddler. If you have any ideas, I’m all ears.) Sophia felt pretty rotten yesterday. At the moment, we have some Boiron Chestal cough syrup that we got through Kiwi Moms’ Meet. Otherwise, I would be trying this recipe for Chocolate Elderberry Cough Syrup*.
Yes, you read that right. Chocolate Elderberry Cough Syrup. What child would refuse to take chocolate medicine? (Well, okay, I know there are a few children who don’t like chocolate. But they’re rare. And they certainly don’t live at my house!)
Apparently, the theobromine in chocolate helps to suppress coughing — and without the side effects of conventional medications. (Does that mean I don’t have a good excuse next time my children are feeling poorly, to prevent their eating Hershey’s bars? lol) The writer for Daily News Central summarized, “Theobromine works by suppressing vagus nerve activity, which is responsible for causing coughing….The team also discovered that unlike standard cough treatments, theobromine caused no adverse effects on either the cardiovascular or central nervous systems.”
I actually have never made regular elderberry syrup. I keep meaning to, but I’ve never gotten around to it. But surely this can’t be any less effective than the OTC dextromethorphan-based stuff.
*[UPDATE 10/2012: The original link no longer seems to work, so I’m posting the recipe below.]
Chocolate Elderberry Cough Syrup
Chocolate Elderberry Cough Syrup
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. cocoa powder
- 1 c. elderberry juice
- 1 c. honey
- 1 lg. pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Mix the cocoa and elderberry juice in a saucepan. Heat and stir to dissolve the cocoa.
- Add honey and stir to dissolve.
- Boil for 3 minutes over medium heat.
- Add salt and the vanilla; let cool.
- Pour into a sterile glass jar, and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
The original author also says that if you substitute water for the juice, you have chocolate syrup, and that it’s great over fruit or ice cream too.
**Please remember that babies should not be given any honey-based medicine! The potential for contamination with botulism spores creates a serious safety risk for tiny ones.
**Also, elderberries and their juice should not be consumed raw.
Disclaimer: Of course, so that no one sues me and the FDA doesn’t track me down, I have to point out that I am not a medical professional, this is not medical advice, and I’m not diagnosing anyone. If your child needs medical attention — well, you know what to do. 🙂
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