An Old-time Homemade Cough Syrup

I can't say I'm totally taken by surprise. The flu has been running high around us for some time. Now I am down with that "near-death experience".

The first days of an influenza infection are the worst. You are not able to do anything at all because you feel so bad. So, I've been in bed with high fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, aching muscles, headache, weakness and a terrible cough. I woke up feeling a little better this morning but I have very irritated intercostal muscles from all the coughing.

I wish I had a bottle of spruce shoot syrup right now. It's an old-time Sámi speciality. Easy to prepare but takes a long time. Spruce shoot syrup is a good alternative to over-the-counter cough syrups. Bromhexin did little (if anything) to relieve my cough.

Here is the recipe:

METHOD:
* When spring comes, pick pale green, fresh and soft spruce shoots.
* Pack them tightly in a rather large glass jar.
* Then add alcohol on top to cover the packed spruce shoots.
* Seal with a screw lid and tape to prevent leaks.
* Let the jar stand in a window for ab. 1 week.
* You need to turn and shake the jar every day.
* Then place it in a cool dark place for 8-12 months.
* Finally sieve the syrup and add honey until it tastes bitter-sweet.

Standard dosage: 2-3 tablespoons daily.

Note: Not suitable for children, pregnant women, or people with kidney problems. Spruce shoots contain resin. It is not poisonous, but better be safe than sorry. A salve made from spruce resin has traditionally been used by the Sámi people as an effective healing of wounds. Spruce resin is one of the main ingredients of the famous Swedish Bee-Salve.