1) For a homemade cough syrup, add three Tbsp dried thyme to one pint of boiling water. Let cool, then add one cup of honey. Take one tsp. every hour as needed. You can store the mix in the fridge for up to three months.

2) Ziziphus fruit has a high vitamin C content and can be made into a tea to ease a sore throat. Try the bagged Jujube Tea ($5, kgrocer.com).