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Home » Herbalism » Herbal Remedies » Pine Needle Cough Syrup

Pine Needle Cough Syrup

May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my privacy policy and affiliate disclosure.

Originally published on November 2, 2018. Last updated on December 14, 2022

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Pine needles may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of natural herbal medicine, but they actually do have a lot of benefits! This pine needle cough syrup is easy to make and is helpful for calming coughs and soothing sore throats.

a bottle of pine needle cough syrup with a spoon, pine needles, and pine cones

Medicinal Benefits of Pine Needles

What better way to make natural medicine than with the trees around us?

The needles of most species of pine trees have both edible and medicinal properties. They are aromatic and have antibacterial and pain relieving properties.

Pine needles, along with most other conifer needles, are high in vitamin C and can be used as an expectorant for coughs and for relieving chest congestion.

When pine needle tea is combined with honey to make a syrup, it is highly beneficial for soothing a dry and scratchy throat and helping to tame coughs.

This recipe is from my book Healing Herbal Infusions, be sure to check it out if you are interested in more herbal remedies like this one!

pine needle branch on a foggy day

Which Pine Needles are Safe to Use?

Most pine and other conifer needles are edible and have medicinal uses. Just be certain of your conifer tree identification, as there are a few species that you want to steer clear from. Do not use Yew as it is toxic!

Pregnant women should avoid using needles from Ponderosa Pine.

Besides pine, other conifer needles you can use in this recipe are fir, spruce, or hemlock (the coniferous tree, not the toxic herbaceous plant).

The best part is that conifer needles are easy to forage year round. They are perfect for fall foraging and winter foraging!

Related: 30+ Conifer Needle Recipes: Drinks, Desserts, Syrups, Balms & more!

a small dish of pine needle cough syrup with a spoon

How to Make Pine Needle Cough Syrup

This recipe comes together very quickly and easily!

First, bring the water to a boil then pour it over the pine needles in a pint mason jar. You are essentially making pine needle tea.

For a stronger pine needle flavor, you can boil the pine needles in the water for a few minutes before taking off the heat. Just be aware that this does diminish some of the vitamin C content.

Let the infusion steep until the water has cooled to room temperature, then strain out the pine needles and stir in the honey.

Store the syrup in a covered jar in the refrigerator and it will keep for 2-4 weeks. If you’d like to increase the shelf life of this syrup, freeze it in baggies or ice cube trays and then thaw it as needed before use.

Related: Pine Needle Infused Honey

How to Use Pine Needle Cough Syrup

Take one tablespoon (15ml) every two hours as needed to ease a cough, relieve chest congestion, or to soothe a dry and scratchy throat.

This syrup is safe for children ages 2 and older, but be sure to give the little ones a smaller dose. I have a handy dosing guide for children based on their ages in my book Healing Herbal Infusions.

Pine Needle syrup should not be given to children under the age of one due to the raw honey.

Beyond being medicinal, this syrup is very tasty and is nice to have around for the holiday season for mixing into cocktails or mocktails!

I’m definitely going to do that this season, maybe mixed with some infused winter gin? Yes please!

Healing Herbal Infusions

This pine needle cough syrup is one of the recipes in my book Healing Herbal Infusions, which is packed full of herbal remedies for everyday ailments.

It includes infusion recipes in seven different categories:

  • boosting immunity
  • soothing aches and pains
  • relieving what ails you
  • easing digestion
  • embracing inner well being
  • nourishing skin, lips, and hair
  • supporting mother and child

The recipes I’ve created for Healing Herbal Infusions are simple and straightforward. They are easy enough for a beginner to understand and carry out, yet accessible to herbalists of every level.

Take control of your health naturally with this guide to natural herbal medicine!

the book Healing Herbal Infusions on a wooden board with flowers and tea


More Immune Support Remedies

These are some of my other favorite herbal remedies to support our bodies during cold and flu season.

  • Elderberry Syrup
  • Rose Hip Syrup
  • Fermented Honey Garlic
  • Fermented Elderberry Honey
  • Immune Boosting Herbal Tea
  • Elderberry & Echinacea Tincture
  • Fire Cider

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.37 from 25 votes

Pine Needle Cough Syrup

This pine needle cough syrup is beneficial for soothing for a dry and scratchy throat and helping to tame coughs.
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 1 serving
Cost $1.50
Calories 26kcal
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Equipment

  • Small Saucepan
  • Pint Mason Jar
  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Ice Cube Trays

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh pine needles or other edible conifer needles
  • 1/2 cup raw honey

Instructions

  • Bring the water to a boil then pour it over the pine needles in a pint mason jar. For a stronger pine needle flavor you can boil the pine needles in the water for a few minutes before taking off the heat. (Just be aware that this does diminish some of the vitamin C content).
  • Let the infusion steep until the water has cooled to room temperature, then strain out the pine needles and stir in the honey.
  • Store the syrup in a covered jar in the refrigerator and it will keep for 2-4 weeks. If you’d like to increase the shelf life of this syrup, freeze it in baggies or ice cube trays and then thaw as needed before use.

Notes

  • Most pine and other conifer species are edible and have medicinal uses. Just be certain of your conifer tree identification, as there are a few species that you want to steer clear from. Do not use Yew as it is toxic!
  • Take one tablespoon (15ml) every two hours as needed to ease a cough, relieve chest congestion, or to soothe a dry and scratchy throat.
  • This syrup is safe for children ages 2 and older, but be sure to give the little ones a smaller dose. I have a handy dosing guide for children based on their ages in my book Healing Herbal Infusions.
  • Pine Needle syrup should not be given to children under the age of one due to the raw honey.
  • Reprinted with permission from Healing Herbal Infusions by Colleen Codekas, Page Street Publishing Co. 2018. Photo credit: Colleen Codekas.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tablespoon | Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Potassium: 5mg | Calcium: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Afton says

    June 18, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Hi! I was wondering if you knew about if I could can it. Would it last that way? Or is freezing it the only way?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      February 8, 2021 at 7:16 am

      I am wondering the same. Did you ever find the answer?

      Reply
      • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

        February 8, 2021 at 8:41 am

        The canning process would destroy the beneficial bacteria in the raw honey, so freezing is the only way to go when it comes to extending the shelf-life of this pine needle cough syrup.

    • TRINA says

      March 7, 2021 at 9:57 am

      I think if I were to want to can it to have on hand I would can it without tvs honey and I would add that in when I was ready to use it, just a thought

      Reply
  2. Deb Flynn says

    May 3, 2020 at 12:36 pm

    4 stars
    I’m wondering – you say that dried needles wouldn’t be as beneficial, but if you doubled the amount? I can get lovely pine, but it means making an hour long trip, as pine trees don’t grow where I live.

    Reply
  3. Jenn says

    February 11, 2020 at 10:37 pm

    I boiled the needles in water until they were mostly brown and left them in the water to cool to room temp. Seems it may have soaked up the water – recipie barely made 1 cup ? Is it going to be too strong for my little one who is 3 years

    Reply
    • sim_simmah says

      February 13, 2020 at 12:54 am

      add more water, she says To make it stronger boil it with the needles. Small children usually require a lesser dose of everything

      Reply
    • Mary E Mangold says

      May 26, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      Just to let you know, I’ve read over and over on the topic of pine needle herbal remedy whether tea or cough syrup —> not to boil the pine needles. It will eliminate the vitamin C and possibly other vitamins.

      The correct approach is to pour boiling water over the pine needles to let it steep for 10 minutes. Cover the cup or container while steeping.

      Reply
  4. Tami says

    January 6, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Would Balsam fir, Fraser Fir or Canaan fir tree needles work?

    Reply
  5. Rebekah B says

    December 29, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Can you use Douglas Fir? Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Nancy Flemming says

    November 27, 2019 at 5:24 pm

    Information says Infusion time 14 days, Instructions say steep until room temperature. Do you have to leave it 14 days before you use it. Needs clarifying. Thanks

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      November 30, 2019 at 7:10 pm

      Hi Nancy, sorry that was a mistake, you do not need to leave it for 14 days before using. I’ve fixed the recipe now!

      Reply
  7. Tracey Besemer says

    October 17, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    4 stars
    I gave this a try recently and although I really enjoyed the flavor I needed something more viscous for my sore throat. So, I boiled it down into more of a syrup consistency. I know, I killed all the beneficial microorganisms in the raw honey, but man, did it make a difference and put that damn cough to bed!

    Reply
    • Nancy Flemming says

      November 27, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      Tracey, if you were to do it again, would you boil the pine needles for long before adding the honey?

      Reply
      • Mary E Mangold says

        May 26, 2021 at 8:53 pm

        Boiling the pine needles will largely eliminate the vitamins. Just pour boiling water over pine needles to steep for 10 to 15 mins. In fact I’ve read that the water shouldn’t even be boiling but super hot – before the boil. Its important to preserve the anti-microbial and astringent qualities by not ever boiling the pine needles. You could probably steep a large amount of pine needles and ratio of water, and then maybe simmer down to a syrup.

  8. Christine says

    June 5, 2019 at 10:46 am

    How long can this be frozen?

    Reply
  9. Sherry-ann McNeil says

    March 6, 2019 at 7:54 pm

    Do you have a printer version of this recipe?

    Reply
  10. Shanon says

    March 6, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Can pine essential oil be used? What would the measurements be?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      March 6, 2019 at 1:37 pm

      I do not recommend using pine essential oil. Essential oils are not safe to be ingested.

      Reply
      • Nejla smith says

        May 6, 2022 at 9:17 am

        Can you show pictures of the needles a better close up would be great.my neighbor has pine trees but I don’t know how to tell if it the right kind I can use they are long Needles.

      • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

        May 9, 2022 at 9:51 am

        Hi Nejla. Sorry about that. I recommend getting a tree identification book for your area (your local library probably has one) to better identify the trees in the backyard.

    • Kathy says

      September 23, 2019 at 3:20 am

      …you cannot ingest essential oils!

      Reply
      • S says

        September 25, 2019 at 3:37 am

        There are certain oils by doterra or young living that can be ingested. They are labelled. Not all are though

  11. Windy says

    February 21, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    Is it necessary to refrigerate? Honey wouldn’t need to be, I don’t know about the needles, once cooked?
    Asking because I’d like to send this to someone a distance away.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      February 24, 2019 at 1:01 pm

      Because there is pine needle tea added to the honey it will eventually start to ferment and could possibly go bad if not refrigerated. It will be fine for several days without refrigeration though!

      Reply
    • Karen says

      May 5, 2020 at 5:37 am

      Can it, 10 minutes on full rolling boil!

      Reply
  12. Dwight says

    February 11, 2019 at 11:34 am

    How do you know the needles that are poison?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      February 12, 2019 at 8:50 am

      All pine needles are safe to use. The only conifer that you want to avoid using is the Yew family.

      Reply
  13. Sylvia says

    December 5, 2018 at 3:02 am

    Hi, can i also use dried pine needles and how much would i need. No fresh pine in close proximity.

    Reply
    • Dawn Philpott says

      January 26, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      Would love the answer to this also?

      Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      January 27, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      I would only use fresh pine (or other conifer) needles. Dried will not have as much of the beneficial compounds.

      Reply
  14. Kristy says

    November 17, 2018 at 7:45 am

    I have eastern re cedar trees. Will they work ok?. TIA

    Reply
    • Tammy says

      December 3, 2019 at 8:44 pm

      I make cedar tea all the time ! Great for a good immune boost!

      Reply
  15. Erin Norton says

    November 3, 2018 at 10:28 am

    What do you think about Redwood Needles? I live in the Redwoods and have used the Needles for a yummy honey, also I have made tea with the Needles. Would they work for this?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      November 6, 2018 at 3:15 pm

      Yes, redwood needles would work wonderfully!

      Reply
  16. Deborah says

    November 3, 2018 at 7:45 am

    Hello, I’d love to try making some! But, does it have to be raw honey? It can be hard to find!

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      November 6, 2018 at 3:16 pm

      Raw honey has many medicinal benefits so that’s what I recommend to use. It will still be ok without it, but not quite as beneficial.

      Reply
  17. Dianna says

    November 3, 2018 at 6:22 am

    Any pine needles? There’s a difference between white and red pine.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      November 6, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      All pine needles and most conifer needles will work! Just avoid the yew tree as it is toxic.

      Reply

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Hello there! I’m Colleen.

I want to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. I share information on foraging and wildcrafting, fermenting and preserving, cooking whole foods from scratch, permaculture gardening, and making herbal products. And that’s just the beginning! Learn more.

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