10 Cough Remedies & Treatments

Honey Mixed With Lemon Juice Is A Popular Treatment For Relieving Coughs

Coughing is your body’s way of breaking up mucus, clearing airways and getting rid of irritants. As annoying as coughs are, it’s actually best to let your body take care of itself and do what it needs to do (cough). But when your throat is raw, or you’re trying to sleep, sit in meetings or handle business calls all day–persistent coughing is irritating and you want relief.

Here is a collection of a ten easy remedies and home treatments for getting rid of coughs, most are simple to manage with many ingredients found readily in your pantry.

Cough Remedies & Treatments

Homemade Honey & Lemon Cough Syrup

1/2 cup honey
1 lemon (juiced)
1 TBS glycerin

• Heat the lemon juice in a saucepan without bringing to a boil, add to honey and glycerin, mix thoroughly.
• Pour into sterilized glass jars and seal. Refrigerate.
• Instructions for use: Take 1 to 2 tablespoons as needed to relieve cough.

Homemade Garlic Syrup

• Good old-time remedy for coughs, this stuff can get pretty pricey to buy in the herbal/natural remedy stores. Here are several different ways you can make your own Garlic Syrup: 5 Homemade Garlic Syrup Recipes.

Thyme or Basil Tea Remedy

• Brew 1 tablespoon dried thyme in 1 cup boiling water. Strain then drink (for sore throats, gargle with this tea).
• You can also make a basil tea: For relief of cough, make a tea of dried basil (1 teaspoon) per 1 cup boiling water. Steep then strain, add a spoonful of honey then drink (from 23 Home Remedies From The Spice Rack).

Horehound Cough Medicine

1 oz. dried horehound leaves
1 pint boiling water

• Pour hot water over leaves and steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
• Mix 1 1/2 cups of the infused water with 3 cups of honey. Pour into sterilized jars, seal.
• Instructions for use: Take 1 tsp every 4 hours (during waking hours) until cough goes away. Do not take more than 4 tsp a day.

Simmered Onions & Honey

• Simmer roughly chopped onions in water until soft. Mix onions with honey and eat every four hours.

Another remedy is to strain out the onion after boiling for about 15 minutes, then bottle the juice. Drink the onion juice as needed to relieve a cough.

Ginger

• Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 1 teaspoon of honey for cough relief.
• Another remedy is to dip a piece of fresh ginger into coarse salt (to coat the ginger) then eat it.

Aloe Vera Remedy

• Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice/gel with honey to treat coughs.

Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey

• This one’s easy, just mix 1/2 tsp of apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp of honey and drink.

Rose Hip Tea

• Soothe a tickly cough by adding 1 spoonful of honey to rose hip tea. Make tea with 2 tsp dried rose hips per 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 10 to 15 minutes (from Rose Hips: Tips & Recipes).

Homemade Garlic Plaster

This is used and prepared the same way as a mustard plaster (which is also good for treating coughs). Minced onion can replace the garlic if preferred.

• Chop garlic finely then cover garlic with olive oil, mix to make a thick paste (about the consistency of sour cream). Spread over fabric and fold so garlic doesn’t ooze out. Apply poultice to chest then cover with hot water bottle or a microwavable heat bag.

Tips

• For relief from dry coughs, try a Herbal Decongestant Steam Blend.
• Try adding a teaspoon of honey to your favorite tea–this might be all you need to find some relief from that pesky cough!
• For a chronic cough that just won’t go away after a few days, make sure to see your doctor. You could have more serious issues going on that need to be tended to.
• Remember: Honey shouldn’t be given to children under 1 years old (risk of infant botulism).

Note: These are simply home remedies I’ve collected, they’re not professional medical advice.

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