Make Your Own Natural Cough Syrup: 5 Terrific Recipes! (#4 Is Our Fav!)

Photo credit: bigstock.com

If you are like many of our readers, you don’t get sick often. You eat right, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and get at least moderate exercise. Instead of getting a flu shot, you use natural immune boosting herbs and spices.

However, no matter how careful you are, we sometimes get hit with the flu, a cold, or sometimes just a nasty cough. Children are especially susceptible, as they are exposed to many people on a daily basis, they don’t always practice the best hygiene, and their immune systems are still developing.

Most cough syrups are not designed for children and are at best ineffective, and at worst, downright dangerous for children under six. Although over-the-counter cough syrups can help an adult stop coughing, they contain a great many chemicals that you certainly don’t want or need. Not to mention the $6 to $12 price!

You can avoid the damaging chemicals and save some serious bucks by making your own cough syrup using natural ingredients at home. These are safe enough to give to children, and they cost less than $1 to make. In addition to that, they work! What more could you ask for?

We have collected five of the best cough syrup recipes that you can whip up in minutes to stop that nagging, hacking, painful, and annoying cough. You might want to print this out and tape it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet or the medicine chest so you can refer to it in a minute if you or your children develop one of those midnight coughing fits.

1. Herbal Stop Coughing Syrup

Of course, honey is the main star here. Honey can soothe a cough all by itself, but the other ingredients included can help with other symptoms. Ginger acts as an expectorant, while chamomile will relax the muscles in the throat, relieving that tickle or itch in the back of the throat. Chamomile is also terrific for letting you to get the sleep you desperately need when you are sick! Cinnamon is known to improve the immune system, while the marshmallow root coats and soothes sore throats.

Please note: You should NEVER give honey to children under one year of age. If your baby has a cough, substitute pure maple syrup for the honey.

Ingredients:

1 cup of raw, organic honey (or maple syrup for children under 12 months)
1 quart of pure water
¼ cup of lemon juice
¼ cup of freshly grated ginger root (or powdered ginger if that’s what you have on hand)
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
¼ cup dried chamomile flowers
¼ cup marshmallow root

Instructions:

Pour the water in a medium sized saucepan and add the marshmallow root, chamomile, ginger root, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat. Simmer over low heat until the volume is reduced by about half. Strain out the herbs. While the mixture is still warm (but no longer boiling) mix in the remaining ingredients and stir well. This should be slightly more than one cup of cough syrup. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. This should keep for about eight weeks.

Dosage: Give one teaspoon to children 10 and under. Give one tablespoon to adults and children over 10, as needed.

Photo credit: bigstock.com

2. Honey And Lemon Basic Cough Syrup

Ingredients:

1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger root
2 organic lemons (grate the zest of both lemons, then squeeze the juice)
1 cup of pure water
1 cup of raw, organic honey

Instructions:

Peel and slice the ginger root. Pour the water into a medium-sized sauce pan, and add the ginger slices. Add two tablespoons of lemon zest. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for five to 10 minutes. Strain into a separate container and set aside. Pour the honey in the saucepan and keep it under low heat (do not let it boil). Add the juice from the lemons and mix well. Now add the ginger solution you made earlier. Mix well over low heat for another two or three minutes until everything is incorporated. Turn off the heat and pour into the container of your choice with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator. This should keep for two to three months.

Dosage:

Children between 1 and 5: 1 teaspoon every 2 to 4 hours
Children between 5 and 12: 2 teaspoons every 2 to 4 hours
Adults and children over 12: 1 to 2 tablespoons every 2 to 4 hours

Photo credit: bigstock.com

3. Glycerin And Honey No-Cook Cough Syrup

Ingredients:

¼ cup food grade glycerin
¼ cup raw, organic honey
¼ cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, add the glycerin and honey. Mix well, and then add the lemon juice. You might find that using a wire whisk is helpful in mixing these ingredients. Once they are well mixed, transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator. This mixture should keep for two months.

Dosage: Children over 1 year of age and adults can take 1 teaspoon every 2 hours or as needed to control coughs.

Photo credit: bigstock.com

4. Feel Good Cough Syrup

This one takes a bit of time to put together, but it is well worth it. You might not want to use this one if you have to drive or if you are at work, but this cough syrup is super effective and will help you to get the rest you need.

Ingredients:

1 white onion (small), sliced
1 cup of raw, organic honey
2 tablespoons of dried thyme (or fresh sprigs)
1 tablespoon of dried rosemary (or 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary)
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
1 stick of ginger root, a finger size, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cloves of organic garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup of brandy

Instructions:

In a saucepan or skillet, place the onion slices with just a dash of oil. Stir for a minute or two, just enough to let them sizzle and get hot. Add the ginger, garlic, turmeric, and herbs. Stir for another minute to ensure that the onions are well-coated with the herbs. Turn off the heat. Allow the onions and herbs to cool for a minute or two, and then pour the honey over the onions and herbs. Stir well, then cover and sit for 30 minutes. Drain the mixture through a very fine mesh strainer (funnel-lined with muslin may become a great option, too) into a glass bottle or jar that has a tight fitting lid. Add the brandy and shake well. Store in the refrigerator. This will keep 10 to 14 days.

Dosage: For children over 2 years of age and adults, take one teaspoon every 2 to 4 hours as needed. If you like, you can add a squeeze of lemon on top.

Photo credit: bigstock.com

5. Super-Fast Honey And Onion Syrup

Instructions:

1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup of raw, organic honey

Place the onion in a glass or ceramic bowl and cover it with honey. Put a lid (a plate works well) over the bowl and store in a warm place, such as in a sunny window or near the oven. Allow to sit overnight, all day, or at least six hours. Strain the onion and pour the honey into a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator. This should keep for eight weeks.

Dosage: Children between 1 and 10 years of age: 1 teaspoon every 2 to 4 hours

Adults and children over 10: 1 tablespoon every 2 to 4 hours

References:

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Archpedi.jamanetwork.com

Mayoclinic.org

Prev Next