Do a little steeping and straining, boiling and stirring, rolling and cooling. Voila! Your very own cough drops at half the price and just as effective as the commercial ones. You need a candy thermometer to make these.
2 oz. dried or 6 oz. fresh horehound leaves
3.5 Cups dark brown sugar
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops tea tree essential oil
1. In a saucepan, pour 3 cups boiling water over the horehound leaves and steep for 30 minutes over low heat. Strain into another saucepan and add the brown sugar: stir until the sugar dissolves.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil until it reaches 295 F on the candy thermometer. Stir in the eucalyptus and tea tree oils. Let cool slightly, then, using buttered hands, roll into small balls and let the balls harden on wax paper. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and use as needed.