This cough syrup recipe combines several cough, congestion, and germ-fighting ingredients that make it amazing!
I’m one of those crazies who doesn’t like to intervene too much when I get sick. You know, just let the virus run it’s course. I suppose I’m a stick in the mud because I haven’t had much success with over-the-counter drugs. When I took them, I actually felt like they just prolonged the problem.
Having sick kids though… that’s different. You can’t just let your kids sit there and cough and cough and cough without trying to do something.
Which is what finally prompted me to try making homemade cough syrup.
I admit that I went into the problem with some skepticism. I mean, could homemade cough syrup really work? Of course, I was kind of assuming that we were going to just be mixing some honey and lemon juice together, and that sounds more like dessert than anything really.
No so fast though!
I’m learning that homemade remedies have the capacity to be so much more powerful than their conventional counterpart. Homemade lip balm is a perfect example of this: Having tried several different recipes, I can tell you that all but one of them was light-years beyond anything I’d ever bought at Walmart.
Honey contains powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, and strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases. Raw honey has also been proven to be just as effective as over the counter cough medicine. (Source)
Onions break up, and help discharge phlem. In fact, some folks even use straight onion juice for their cough. (They’re tougher than me!)
Coconut oil contains large quantities of lauric acid which kills bacteria, viruses and fungi, which helps to starve off infections. Furthermore, when coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin. Like lauric acid, monolaurin also kills harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi (source).
Cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Not only that, but it helps coat the throat, warding off that itchy I-have-to-cough-now feeling.
Onions, you say? Why yes, but here’s a secret: you’ll never know they’re there! I couldn’t taste them above the honey, coconut oil, and cinnamon, and my kids don’t object wither.
One hot tip though: if you’re kids don’t like onions, don’t tell them what’s in the syrup, and they’ll probably never know.
Homemade cough syrup recipe
- 1 onion
- 1 cup raw honey
- 3 T. extra virgin coconut oil
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- Chop onion and cover with ¼ to 1/2 the honey in a saucepan or heatproof bowl.
- Heat over a double boiler to a gentle simmer until the onions become translucent.
- Strain onions out through a wire strainer.
- Mix in coconut oil and stir to melt.
- When syrup has cooled to luke-warm, stir in the remaining honey, and cinnamon.
- Blend well. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Dosage: 1 tsp. to 1 Tablespoon every 15 minutes, or as needed. Obviously, there’s no worry about over-dosage here – it’s just food!
Please note however, that due to the risk of botulism, products containing honey should never be given to infants under the age of one year.
Recipes everyone can make!
Nourish your body with ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
[…] amazing how much you can do with a few simple ingredients, and after I made my first batch of homemade cough syrup, I knew that I had to follow it up with homemade cough drops. I’m a huge believer in the power of […]