This Homemade Cough Syrup is made with two simple, natural ingredients. The result is like a magical home remedy for colds, coughs and sore throats that works wonders at soothing and speeding up our recovery time for both kids and adults.
Years ago when I was still a working gal and my oldest daughter was a toddler, she started going to a new nanny. She received great care from her nanny and we all absolutely loved her. However, my daughter began to get sick much more often than she had with her previous nanny because she was around a lot more children.
As a former elementary school teacher I know one thing that comes with being around a lot of children, germs.
So it was not a surprise to me that being around a couple of school-aged children during her nanny days led her to more sicknesses. From October through April of that year my daughter was sick every single month. From ear infections, to colds, to terrible coughs, my sweet girl could not catch a break.
She was prescribed a couple of rounds of antibiotics for some of her ear infections. As new parents, we just wanted our little girl to feel relief and if the doctor said it was with antibiotics then so be it.
However, we soon began to question the use of too much medicine. It was then that we began to look for more natural alternatives and learned how to make our own cough syrup.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Homemade Cough Medicine
- Traditional & Homeopathic: It was my parents that introduced me to this natural cough remedy. Coming from Mexico my parents acquired many homeopathic remedies, ones that have been passed down for generations and have proven very effective.
- For Children and Adults: This home remedy for colds, coughs and sore throats has alleviated not only my children’s ailments many times but my husband’s and mine as well.
- Only 2 Common Ingredients: This homemade cold and cough syrup uses only two ingredients that you most likely already have in your home, red onion and honey.
- Easy to Make: The honey and onion cough syrup takes less than 5 minutes of prep time. Then allow it to rest for a couple of hours and to let the magical elixir take shape.
Please keep in mind, it is always best to consult with your doctor before trying anything, especially with small children.
The Ingredients
- Honey: Many doctors, my children’s pediatrician included, recommend using a spoonful of honey instead of cough syrup. Honey is a natural cough suppressant and also helps coat and relieve sore throats. Plus it has a great taste, there’s no risk of overdosing, and is a natural antibacterial. Keep in mind that honey should never be given to children under the age of one because it could contain botulism spores that can make a baby extremely sick.
- Red Onion: Onions are great when making this syrup because they are a natural antibiotic and antiviral. They are also a great source of vitamin C, which is so important to immune function. Red onions especially have a high amount of antioxidants, with more nutrients than yellow or white onions. When combined with the honey, the onion will release its natural juices creating a sweet syrup that is loaded with both ingredients' benefits and helps sooth cold and flu symptoms.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Homemade Cough Medicine
1. Prep the Onion
- Slice a red onion into thin layers.
- Place the onion in a deep and wide bowl.
2. Add the Honey
- Pour a cup of honey over the red onion.
- Cover as much of the sliced onion with honey as possible.
3. Allow to Rest
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Let it sit for about 2 hours.
- After about two hours, you will notice a watery syrup at the bottom of the bowl.
How to Serve
Give your kids one teaspoon of the syrup every 2-4 hours, like you would a cold and cough syrup.
For adults, take a tablespoon every 2-4 hours. But honestly, you could use this every hour, especially if needed to soothe a cough.
Continue to use this natural home remedy until the symptoms subside.
How to Store
Transfer the whole mixture, onions and all, to a glass jar or other air-tight container so it can keep longer. You can leave it on the countertop for up to 3 days or place in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
It is definitely more soothing when it is at room temperature but will last longer in the refrigerator.
Discard at first sight of spoilage such as mold or a strange smell.
Tips and Variations
- The sliced onion will continue to create more syrup while it sits. This should last you the duration of your or your child's illness. If you run out, it's so easy to make again that it won't be a problem.
- The syrup has a very mild and sweet taste. You will hardly notice a taste of onion. My kids do not mind it one bit (I think they actually like it).
FAQ
This is a recipe that has been passed down from one generation to another because of its effectiveness. Personally, I find that it helps relieve and speed up the recovery process of coughs, colds and sore throats in both adults and kids.
This is a great choice for adults, kids and toddlers over the age of one. Be sure to not use this remedy for children under one because it could contain botulism spores that can make a baby extremely sick.
This syrup will last for up to 3 days at room temperature or place in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I hope you enjoy!
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MAKE THIS OR TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM @EVERYDAYLATINA.
More Recipes
Here's another great way to use red onions.
Recipe
Homemade Cough Syrup
Equipment
- Knife
- Air-tight container
Ingredients
- 1 red onion
- 1 cup honey
Instructions
- Slice a whole red onion into thin layers.
- Place the onion in a deep and wide bowl. You want to have as much of the onion exposed to be able to cover as much of it with honey as possible.
- Pour the honey over the red onion.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Let it sit for about 2 hours.
- After about two hours, you will notice a watery syrup at the bottom of the bowl.
- Give your kids one teaspoon of the syrup every 2-4 hours, like you would a cold and cough syrup. For adults, take a tablespoon every 2-4 hours.
- Continue to use until the symptoms (cold, sore throat, cough) subside.
- Transfer the whole mixture, onions and all, to a glass jar or other container with a tight lid so it can keep longer. Discard at first sight of spoilage.
Notes
- Honey should never be given to children under the age of one because it could contain botulism spores.
- Please keep in mind, it is always best to consult with your doctor before trying anything, especially with small children.
- The sliced onion will continue to create more syrup while it sits.
- You can leave the onion and honey container on the countertop for up to 3 days or place in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Originally published November 29, 2018. Updated post and photos February 2023.
Milan Bisui
Thank you for sharing this magical home remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats! As someone who values natural remedies, I appreciate learning about alternative solutions that can help alleviate symptoms without resorting to pharmaceuticals. The ingredients in this remedy are simple and readily available, making it easy to try at home. Thanks again for sharing this helpful information!
Also Read : Is It OK To Take Cough Syrup Everyday
Gemma
Hi Milan, so glad you found it helpful. Thank you so much!
Tina
I have done this for years and love it. I put mildly chopped garlic in as well to infuse into the syrup. It has powerful antibacterial effects and opens the blood vessels. It doesn't change the taste much either. My grandchildren take it without problem.
everydaylatina
Hi Tina, I haven't tried it with garlic. I am going to have to do that, anything that can help speed up the recovery process. Thank you!
Claudia
Since covid started, I started chopping a clove of garlic and place it on a spoon and cover with honey and swallow whole . I do this every other day. I haven't been sick in over a year and a half. My son told me his throat was hurting and I had him swallow a spoonful of garlic and honey and the next day he was fine. On another occasion he told me he wasn't feeling well and if I could make him the garlic because it helped him last time. The first time he tried it I had to bribe him. Now he asks for it.
Gemma
Yes, I love using garlic as a home remedy. I like to make garlic teas with honey and they work wonders for us.
Sana
Can I use yellow onions instead?
everydaylatina
Yes you can, onions in general are a natural antibiotic and antiviral. However, red onions have a high amount of antioxidants, with more nutrients than yellow or white onions.
Dominique
My cold just started to act up today and I have always been dead set on not taking medicines unless it's really serious. Goes the same for going to the doctor. I only see myself going once a year. I look to using only homemade, natural remedies and what I remember from growing up that my mom did whenever I got sick as a kid.
Will try this since I haven't heard of this before and I just bought a tub of honey so I should be good. Thanks for sharing!
everydaylatina
I hope it works out for you. It works wonders for my whole family and it is so easy to make.
Madison at The Mouse Mama
Wow I have never heard of this but it is definitely worth a try! Will have to do this next time one of us is sick.
everydaylatina
It is a great remedy and so easy to do. I hope it works for you!
Jennifer
This sounds like a great idea! And so much better than all of the chemicals than in the over the counter remedies.
everydaylatina
Yes so much better to try a natural remedy and avoid all those chemicals for sure.
Cayla
This is so helpful! My daughter has had a cough for the last couple of weeks. I hate onions, but definitely want to try this!
everydaylatina
I know I really can't stand raw onions, but the flavor really mellows out in the syrup and it just ends up tasting sweet.
Jill
I found this post just in time. We are all coming down with a cold and I always like natural remedies over any over the counter medicines. And these are ingredients I already have in the house, which is a bonus! Thanks for sharing.
everydaylatina
Cold and flu season is the worst! It is great to have some home remedies to turn to instead of over the counter medicine. I hope this works out for you!
Jaime
Wow, I'm going to try this. My kids are going to a new school this year and it's a whole new set of germs. My youngest is a bit more sick than usual.
everydaylatina
Oh no, I hope your little one gets better soon. This is a great and easy remedy to turn to.
Denise Riehle
I love finding natural solutions to problems, so I am very excited about this option. I have onion and honey in the house at all times, so knowing that I have the ingredients for this syrup at the ready is a great relief. Thank you for sharing!
everydaylatina
I always have honey and onions too, that's one of the reasons I love this remedy so much. Hope it works out for you!
Sara
I make a lot of homemade medicines for myself and my kiddos. I have not heard of doing this and I’m genuinely interested in checking it out. I also pinned this for later!
everydaylatina
Oh good, it is such a great one and so simple. Hope you like it.
Kayla Haas
Gemma! I couldn't have found this at a better time. My husband is so sick right now, and I know I'm going to come down with it any day now. I can't take most medicine since I'm nursing. I'm going to try this if I catch his sickness. You'll be my HERO if it works!
everydaylatina
Glad you saw this and hope it works out for you. It is a lifesaver for us whenever we get sick. Hope you don't get too sick, my husband is who brought it home to us this time too. Argh!
Maegan
I've never heard of this remedy but I'll definitely try it next time our family gets sick! We started taking elderberry gummies this year, and they've seemed to help prevent the really bad colds so far.
everydaylatina
Oh good, glad I could offer a new remedy for you and your family. I will have to check out the elderberry gummies.
Jenna
So excited to try this tonight!! My little Stella has been sick the last week thanks to her wonderful cousin Ryne LOL!!! Thanks!!!
everydaylatina
Let me know what you think. I don't say it's magical for nothing, it really does wonders! Just make sure to give it to her often so it is effective. Poor Stella, I hope she feels better soon.
Farrah
Thank you so much for posting this. My daughter has been sick from Oct- Jan and it’s also her first time in school. Never been to preschool etc. So it’s been rough and she has been of course passing it to her little sister 🙁 thank you for expressing how you daughter also got sick often and helped me understand it’s do to the grade school kids which made
Me feel like okay this is what happens. I will definitely try this!
everydaylatina
Hi Farrah, oh no! I know exactly what that's like, it's finally gotten better for my daughter this year now that she's in kindergarten. However, now she brings the germs home and my son gets sick, but this always ends up being my first line of defense. I hope this remedy helps and I hope your daughter gets better.