Some of the most powerful throat-soothing remedies have been growing in gardens and collected by bees for centuries. These homemade Honey Ginger Thyme Throat Lozenges harness the scientifically-proven healing properties of three remarkable natural ingredients, creating a time-tested home remedy that’s both safe and incredibly effective.

Honey’s Healing Power

Raw honey isn’t just nature’s candy—it’s a sophisticated antimicrobial powerhouse that modern science continues to validate. Research published in systematic reviews shows that honey is superior to usual care for improvement of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, offering a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics. 1 The magic lies in honey’s unique composition: Its low water content, natural acidity, and enzyme-produced hydrogen peroxide create an environment where harmful bacteria simply cannot thrive.

Honey also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it particularly effective for soothing inflamed throat tissues. 2 When you let these lozenges dissolve slowly in your mouth, the honey creates a protective coating that not only delivers immediate comfort, but continues working long after the sweet taste fades.

When shopping for honey for your homemade cough drops, try to buy from a local, small beekeeper if you get the chance. Supporting local beekeepers helps small business, and also helps protect and sustain local honeybees!

Choose 100% raw honey, if you can. Raw, local honey contains more pollen, minerals and enzymes—including more anti-bacterial properties. These are often filtered out or destroyed in commercial production.

Ginger: The Ancient Anti-Inflammatory Warrior

The warming spice that gives these lozenges their gentle kick carries centuries of traditional wisdom backed by impressive modern research. Ginger’s antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities help manage pain and inflammation, making it a soothing companion for throat discomfort. 3

Recent studies reveal just how sophisticated ginger’s healing mechanisms truly are. The beneficial effects can be attributed to biologically active compounds including gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone, which work together to calm irritated tissues. Research shows that [6]-gingerol and dried ginger extracts exhibit analgesic and potent anti-inflammatory effects, explaining why that familiar warming sensation signals real healing happening in your throat. 4

What makes ginger particularly valuable for respiratory health is its ability to target multiple inflammatory pathways simultaneously. Studies demonstrate that ginger significantly reduces inflammatory markers including TNF-?, IL-6, and hs-CRP levels, addressing the root causes of throat discomfort rather than simply masking symptoms. 5

Thyme: Your Lung’s Best Friend

Often overlooked as “just” a culinary herb, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) has earned its place in traditional medicine cabinets worldwide—and modern research explains exactly why. Studies show that thyme’s main constituent, carvacrol, acts as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic benefits in respiratory diseases.

The remarkable thing about thyme is its dual-action approach to respiratory wellness. Clinical trials demonstrate that thyme combinations achieved a 68.7% reduction in coughing fits compared to 47.6% with placebo, with patients experiencing relief two full days earlier than those using conventional treatments. 6 Thyme essential oil also possesses antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, creating a comprehensive defense system in every lozenge. 7

Perhaps most impressive is thyme’s ability to increase mucociliary-beating frequency, which is dramatically impaired during respiratory illness 8. This means thyme doesn’t just fight infection—it actively helps your respiratory system clear itself more effectively.

You can use fresh or dried thyme in this recipe, but fresh leaves and blossoms will contain the most potent and helpful properties in the herb.

A Gentle, Effective Alternative for the Whole Family

By combining these three scientifically-validated ingredients into convenient, homemade lozenges, you’re creating more than just a throat soother—you’re crafting a targeted therapeutic tool that contains only pure, safe ingredients.

Unlike commercial cough drops laden with artificial colors, flavors, and questionable additives, these lozenges deliver pure, concentrated healing power that you can feel good about sharing with every member of your family.

Storing Your Homemade Cough Drops

These homemade honey cough drops tend to be a bit stickier than commercial brands. You will definitely need to dust them with arrowroot powder, cornstarch or powdered sugar once they have hardened.

Store your homemade throat lozenges in an air-tight container on the counter, where they will last for months. If they stick together too much (which can happen on warmer, humid days), consider wrapping each individual drop in wax paper and then storing them inside your air-tight container.

Lozenge-Making Tips

  • Always use a wooden or silicone spoon when stirring honey. Some metal spoons can transfer a metallic taste to honey that can ruin your recipe.
  • Making a throat lozenge is mostly the same process as making hard candy, which means it works better when it is not humid or rainy outside.
  • Be sure to cook the recipe to the required temperature to ensure the mixture will set and harden. A candy thermometer will make all the difference.
  • The mixture will foam up while heating, so choose a larger pot that won’t spill over. Remove the pot from heat to let the foam settle, stir, and return to heat. If the honey starts to burn, turn the heat down right away.
purple thyme blossoms floating on a dish of honeypurple thyme blossoms floating on a dish of honey

Honey Ginger Thyme Throat Lozenges

These homemade lozenges harness the scientifically-proven healing properties of three remarkable natural ingredients, creating a home remedy that’s both safe and incredibly effective.

CourseFood Medicine

CuisineHerbal Remedy

Makes50 lozenges

Calories24

Prep Time 20 minutes

Setting Time 8 hours

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 8 hours 40 minutes

This recipe may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

For Syrup

  • Place thyme leaves/flowers into a tea ball, fine mesh strainer, or muslin bag. Boil filtered water and pour it over the thyme leaves like tea, and cover. Allow to steep for 20 minutes or longer. 

  • Remove or strain out the thyme leaves.

  • Using a wooden spoon, mix thyme tea, lemon juice, and grated ginger into the raw honey until thoroughly combined. 

  • Store syrup in an glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, or make lozenges (below). 

For Lozenges

  • Slowly heat honey thyme syrup (above) in a large, heavy saucepan until it reaches a low boil. Stir regularly with a wooden spoon. The mixture may foam and expand during boiling, so choose a bigger pot than you think you need so it doesn’t boil over.

  • As the foam builds up, take the pan off the burner for a few seconds to allow the foam to settle down. Turn heat down to low if honey begins to burn.

  • As with making hard candy, the mix must reach the “hard-crack” stage. Use a candy thermometer to determine when the syrup reaches 300 F/150 C. Remove from heat immediately!

  • Let the mixture begin to cool. Once it begins to thicken a bit, pour into silicone molds, or use a spoon to drop teaspoon-sized amounts onto a silicone mat or a piece of parchment paper.

  • Place molds or mats into the fridge to set overnight.

  • Remove hardened lozenges from molds or parchment, and dust them with arrowroot flour, cornstarch, or powdered sugar to keep them from getting too sticky.

  • Store in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks. Or if your home is warm or humid, wrap each lozenge with a piece of wax paper to keep them from getting stuck together.

Always use a wooden or silicone spoon when stirring honey. Some metal spoons can transfer a metallic taste to honey that can ruin a recipe.
If you do not have a candy thermometer, drop a bit of the heated mixture into a bowl of cool water. When it hardens instantly, it is time to remove the mixture from heat. 
Don’t make lozenges on a rainy day. Dry, low-humidity days are the best for candy making.

Serving: 1lozengeCalories: 24kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.02gSaturated Fat: 0.004gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.005gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.001gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 10mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin B1: 0.001mgVitamin B2: 0.01mgVitamin B3: 0.02mgVitamin B5: 0.01mgVitamin B6: 0.005mgVitamin C: 1mgVitamin E: 0.002mgVitamin K: 0.001µgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mgMagnesium: 1mgZinc: 0.03mgCholine: 0.3mg

Other Cough and Cold Soothers

References

  1. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. “Honey as a treatment for upper respiratory tract infections.” https://ebm.bmj.com/content/26/2/57
  2. Samarghandian S, Farkhondeh T, Samini F. “Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research.” Pharmacognosy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5424551/
  3. International Journal of Preventive Medicine. “Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
  4. Bode AM, Dong Z. “The Amazing and Mighty Ginger.” In: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Chapter 7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
  5. Phytomedicine. “Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019938/
  6. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, “In vivo and in vitro investigation of anti-inflammatory and mucus-regulatory activities of a fixed combination of thyme and primula extracts” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2018.04.009.
  7. International Journal of Molecular Sciences “Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Properties of Thyme Oil and Its Main Constituents.” https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/8/6936
  8. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, “Thyme extract increases mucociliary-beating frequency in primary cell lines from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.004