Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe

Posted on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 3:07

I awoke yesterday morning to the sound of Amy coughing in her room... the rattley, congested kind of cough that signals the beginning of a respiatory infection in-the-making.  I quickly turned to one of my favorite books, The How to Herb Book, and looked up "cough syrup".  Four different recipes were given; I chose the one with ingredients that seemed to best suite Amy's symptoms: onion, which is a natural antiobiotic, to kill any infection; lemon, to cut congestion; and honey, to soothe the throat and add a pleasant taste. 

I recruited Amy to help me prepare the cough syrup... I reasoned she would more be apt to take the medicine without too much complaining if she was involved in making it.  She was an enthusiastic little helper and recipe was very simple and quick to prepare! 

I added more lemon and honey than the recipe calls for, and the syrup was actually pretty palatable (for a cough syrup, anyway!).  Amy has been taking 1 tsp 3 times daily the past 2 days and her cough has not gotten any worse.  I've been treating her with other infection and cold fighting herbs, such as echinacea, grape fruit seed extract,  etc., using a vaporizor in her room at night, rubbing her chest, back, and soles of her feet with essential oils (tea tree and eucalyptus with garlic oil) and of course giving her tylanol.  

Here is the recipe for homemade cough syrup, taken from The How to Herb Book.  (I highly recommend this book, available from The Bulk Herb Store.) 

Homemade Cough Syrup

2 large onions

juice from half a lemon

1 TBSP raw honey

Slice onions and place in a pan (I used an iron skillet).  Drizzle lemon juice and honey over onions.  Turn oven to lowest heat and place pan inside; cook 45 minute to 1 hour.  Pour off juice and discard onions.  Store "syrup" (juice)  in a glass bottle and label.  Makes about 1 cup cough syrup.  

This morning Emily woke with a fever... no cough, thankfully, but her temperature stayed pretty high all morning. :sigh:  I managed to get it down with a eucalyptus-oil bath, herbs, tylanol  and a long nap.  I love this time of year but dread the onset of sickness-fighting!! 

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Posted by Kitty on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 4:32 - Link

I received an email just the other day about this subject. If you rub Vicks vapor rub on their feet and put socks on, they will sleep soundly and not cough for hours. The email said it works 100%. The next time one of mine has a cough, Im giving it a try. good luck.......Kitty

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Posted by naturalmama on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 5:00 - Link

Thanks, Kitty... that's good to know! ~Kristy

Hope your little girls get better soon!

Posted by Anna S on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 5:42 - Link

I remember I took a course in natural medicine two years ago, and heard so many good things about onion, lemon and honey. And garlic as well!

Great Book

Posted by Emily on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 9:04 - Link

I too have the How to Herb book and the The ABC Herbal on for children. I got mine from the Bulk Herb Store as well. I have not had anyone sick yet to try it out on. But that is a good thing so Praise the Lord.

Emily
http://emilyswhatsoeverthings.blogspot.com/

I hope she gets better soon

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 7:39 - Link

I love homemade remedies because they are safe and inexpensive and usually more effective!