Recipes for Natural Throat Lozenges

When you have a sore or scratchy throat, the drugstore offers a variety of choices. Many of them, however, contain unnecessary refined sugars and added food coloring. It is easy to make your own natural throat lozenges at home. If you have ever made candy, then you will understand the process to make throat lozenges because it is similar. You will have control over what ingredients you use and put into your body. The ingredients can be found in most health and natural food stores, but there are online suppliers as well.

Herbal Lozenge

• Marshmallow root is the key ingredient in this lozenge. It has properties that help soothe inflamed and irritated tissues, including those that cause sore throats. First, you'll need to decide on what herbs you want to use. Choose from dried peppermint, dried spearmint, violet petals, rose petals and powdered ginger. Then add your choice of herbs and flower petals to a measuring cup until you reach a total of 1/2 cup.

  Next, pour the half cup of herbs into a spice grinder (or a coffee grinder that has been thoroughly cleaned). Grind the herbs down to a fine powder. Pour the powder into a mixing bowl and then add just enough honey to form a ball with the crushed herbs. Add 1 tsp. of dried marshmallow root and work it into the mixture. Finally, shape bits of the mixture into small balls, the size of an average cough drop. Allow the lozenges to dry on a baking sheet at room temperature for 24 hours. Wrap the lozenges in wax paper, place them in a sealed container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 8 weeks.

Honey and Lemon Lozenge

• Honey and lemon throat lozenges are popular. They taste great and are very soothing. You can make your own with common pantry items. Add 3/4 cup light corn syrup, 1/4 cup honey and 3/4 cup sugar to saucepan and cook over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar is complete dissolved. Allow it to reach a boil. Do not stir while the mixture is boiling. Keep cooking it until it reaches a temperature of 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer.

  Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Pour the mixture into a prepared candy mold and allow it to harden. This will take approximately 30 minutes. Once the lozenges have hardened, remove them from the molds and coat lightly with 1/4 cup powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together. Store the lozenges in a sealed container.