Easy Homemade Cough Syrup

Need an all natural remedy for coughs that works? Try this easy garlic and onion DIY cough syrup for cough relief without side effects!

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Nothing is more annoying than a cough at night. A cough will keep your kids awake and keep you awake. You want a cough remedy that will quiet a cough quickly, without side effects, especially if you have special needs children. An all natural DIY cough remedy is best.

Homemade Cough Syrup with Onion, Garlic and Honey

Our favorite homemade cough syrup contains both onions and garlic, but they are suspended in honey which makes the whole concoction easier to stomach, and pretty kid friendly.  It works wonders with chest congestion and cough, and even soothes a sore throat that is irritated from drainage and coughing.

How can I make cough syrup at home?

Making cough syrup at home is easier than you think, and much less expensive than over the counter cough remedies. Gather the few basic ingredients, combine them on the stove top, and in just over an hour you will have a great home remedy for cough.

What Ingredients do I need to make homemade cough syrup?

Making homemade cough syrup is easy and can be done with a few basic ingredients. All of the ingredients are natural and can be found easily in your local grocery store. During cold and flu season, use your local grocery pick up service, like Walmart pick up to limit your exposure to germs. For a basic cough syrup, use:

• Honey
• Garlic
• Onions
• Cayenne Pepper

What tools do I need to make homemade cough syrup?

Making homemade cough syrup is simple and can be done with tools you probably already have in your kitchen. You will need:

• a medium to large sauce pan with lid
• large spoon or spatula to stir
• wide mouth glass canning jar with lid

Homemade Cough Syrup Instructions

First quarter your onions and separate the layers so they will get the most exposure in the sauce pan. Then separate the garlic bulb into cloves and chop each clove in half.

Place onions and garlic in a medium to large sauce pan (depending on on the size of your batch of cough syrup. Then cover the garlic and onions with honey. (This should take about 2 cups of honey for one onion and two garlic cloves.)

Next cook on very low heat for one hour. This should not quite be simmering. Be sure to watch the honey until you get your heat adjusted properly. It boils over easily and makes a huge mess on the stove top.

After you allow the mixture to cool, transfer it into a glass jar. When it is completely cooled, put a lid on the jar and store it in the refrigerator for best results.

How long can I store homemade cough syrup?

Homemade cough syrup can be stored for an extended time in the refrigerator. The honey is a natural preservative. I have used homemade cough syrup from the previous year.

Is homemade cough syrup safe for kids?

Because the ingredients of this particular recipe are all natural and it does not contain alcohol, this homemade cough syrup is safe for kids. The only questionable ingredient is the honey. (Honey can be fed safely to children over age 1, according to the AAP Nutrition Handbook. The AAP does not recommend giving honey to infants under 12 months of age because it could contain a bacterium that causes infant botulism.)

How much homemade cough syrup should I take?

I start dosing with 1 tablespoon and dose again as needed for cough. This is why I love basic remedies like this one. You cannot take too much.

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