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Homemade Cough Remedy


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Homemade Cough Remedy - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com
This Homemade Cough Remedy is a spicy, honey-cider syrup potent enough to calm a cough and sooth a sore throat. Over the past few years, this handy little remedy has become one of the most popular posts on this website. As I mixed up a batch for my son last night, I decided to re-share it with all of you, as a testament to just how much we use it!

 After making it all the way through the holidays without a cough, a sneeze or a fever, cold season hit us like a freight train on New Year’s Day. My boys were miserable and I started to feel it as well after a couple of days. I remembered saving this Homemade Cough Remedy recipe to try, so I shook up a tiny little test batch and tested a spoonful on myself. Consider yourself warned, this is seriously spicy and potent enough to actually clear your head. Personally, I think it tastes better than any store-bought syrup I’ve tried.

 With only a handful of pantry ingredients and a few minutes effort, this Homemade Cough Remedy was sitting on my counter. I was amazed at how well it worked to completely clear our congestion. My oldest son was willing to try it as well and I couldn’t believe how quickly it worked on his cough.
Homemade Cough Remedy recipe made with common everyday items - found at barefeetinthekitchen.com
It cleared his throat and he slept solidly through the night. Over the counter cough medicines don’t even accomplish that for us!The powerful ingredients in this remedy are common everyday items: ginger, cayenne, cider vinegar and honey. Yet they work together to create a potent remedy for cold symptoms. It’s definitely worth trying before turning to the medicine cabinet once again this winter.

Updated to add: I’ve been making this Homemade Cough Remedy for so long now, all three of my kids request it anytime they start coughing. The serving size (or dosage) will vary depending on the person. My 11 and 13-year-old sons take a tablespoon without a problem, my 7-year-old takes about a teaspoon. A full tablespoon works great for my husband and for me.

Kitchen Tip: I use this jar to store the cough remedy.

4.71 from 27 votes
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Homemade Cough Remedy
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
This remedy is a spicy honey-cider syrup potent enough to calm a cough and soothe a sore throat.Recipe gently adapted from and with thanks to Good Food Matters.
Servings: 6
Calories: 3 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar preferably Bragg's, if available
  • 2 tablespoons honey locally produced raw honey is best, if available
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Leave at room temperature for a few days or place in the refrigerator for longer storage. Shake well each time, before using. The spices will not dissolve into the liquid. It will not be a thick syrup, it should remain watery. Take as needed and have a happy and healthy new year!

{originally published 1/8/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/19/17}

Homemade Cough Remedy - get the directions at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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  1. Of course, I just got over a serious cough about two days ago! lol oh well, I'll keep this for next time.. cause I know there will be a next time!! Thanks for sharing, Mary!
    Reply

  2. I am DEFINITELY trying this. I've had a cough for the past week and my boyfriend keeps trying to get me to take cough syrup. And I refuse. But a homemade version...I am totally going to try!
    Reply

    • Our family of six drinks this at the first sign of any sniffle/cough, we typically just add to hot tea. Our recipe is very similar. So far we have all stayed pretty healthy. We use two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar, three tablespoons of raw honey & fresh grated ginger to taste - if heads are stuffy then we add the cayenne. Drink this once in the AM & once in the PM. :)
      Reply

    • My husband loves this stuff, since he is a smoker. When he gets sick you can hear the congestion in his chest and the coughing sounds the worst. But when I started to make this remedies he drinks it everyday. Cough is gone and congestion gone. The only thing I changed was the Cayenne 1/2 tsp. He just loves SPICY and Hot everything.
      Reply

  16. I made some for my mum, and here's the result: AWESOME. she coughed only once tonight, before she seemed like she was going to hack out her lungs!! :'
    ( I was so worried for her, I'm soo thankful for this! thank you! I'll be making some for my pastor and friends at school as well! :DD
    -Momo
    Reply

    • Yes, it can easily be doubled or tripled. I'm not sure of the shelf life. It only takes a minute or so to make up a batch as needed, so I haven't make it in large amounts.
      Reply

  19. Tried this several days ago for the whole household - two with sinus infections and all three with rotten hacking coughs. The stuff is amazing. Even the four year old tolerated it, despite her "bleah" comment. We all slept much better and with nearly no coughing. Opens nasal passages as well. Thanks to you and to Nancy! :)
    Reply

  21. My son has a cough with sinus problems the dr just gave me something for his nose gonna try this.......I don't have any cayenne pepper though :-(
    Reply

  22. Just whipped up another batch for all the people at work who sound like seals protecting their territory. I usually make a double batch and sub 1 tbsp water with lemon juice. It helps give a touch of citrusy goodness and hey, vitamin C.
    Reply

  23. I don't have Cayenne is there anything I can sub in its place? Could if grind down crushed red pepper flakes and use that? I have a horrid cold and it has dropped into my lungs which is harsh for me because I am asthmatic, I have been pretty much bed or chair bound for last 2 day because I cant breath, I need something that will break this crap up in my lungs and make the coughs productive.
    Reply

      • I just made this up, husband and I both are coming down with something, he believes in the Vinegar and honey and water so I thought going to try, I made first thing this morning so I will let you know
        Reply

  24. Thank you...this recipe gave me 8 hours sleep for the first time this week...I was coughing every 2 mins...after taking it...I coughed twice through 8 hours of sweet sweet sleep...Thnxs again....
    Reply

  25. Well i myself have had a nagging cough and some chest congestion. I have a prescription for cough medicine and have also tried over the counter to which neither has worked. so the last resort I am going to try this and we will see how it works. so far so good. so I did change the recipe a little and added a tablespoon of lemon juice to the mix. I did this as a separate mix so I actually have two. I will try them both and see how they work. thank you for sharing!!
    Reply

  26. This sounds interesting. Just found this on facebook, wish I had seen it earlier. I've had an asthma attack for almost a month, using 3 bottles or homeopathic cough syrup (Umcka and Boernicke and T?, and two Robitussin, with little effect as well as antibiotics, steroid injection and pills.

    I will try this one and keep it on hand. Love this type of recipe.
    Reply

  27. I'm anxious to try this...will def have on hand this winter. I love someone above's idea to swap the water for lemon juice. I'd also like to make up a test batch with the addition of mustard powder to help clear the sinuses even more.
    Reply

    • I'm not an expert, but honey is part of the treatment. You could sub maple syrup for a similar consistency and final product, but I'm not sure if it would give you the same result. It might be worth a shot though.
      Reply

    • Actually, the honey and pepper are the "active" ingredients. Dr Oz had something similar on his program recently and he said there is something in the honey that is medicinal. He even said that you can use honey on raw wounds and it will foam a bit due to there being a low level of peroxide in the honey.
      Reply

    • I made a batch of this a few days ago for a nagging cough I've had for weeks along with sinus problems. This is awesome, I LOVE it! Works way better than the OTC stuff I usually buy. Thank you so much.
      Reply

    • I have a tickle and a hacky cough. When I buy the store bought stuff I have symtom s of dizziness, memoryloss for weeks afterwards. With this I have to watch my Diabetic Blood Sugar!!. I have officially returned to you!
      Reply

  30. I used this because my son came down with a cold and his natural cough syrup had expired. The health food store I buy it from isn't "just down the road" so I tried this. Six months later, when I became sick with a cold, he said "Don't worry mom, if I get it, you can just give me some of that homemade stuff." (I use the syrup as a base for tea, because drinking tea helps ease the swollen ear canals).
    Reply

  31. Thank you so much!!! I was feeling sick all weekend and found this link accidentally. I actually came to your website for your crispy chicken thigh recipe. The chicken was delicious, and this stuff started to make me feel better almost immediately. Thank you again! You really uplifted my Sunday evening! I am definitely going to keep both recipes on hand!
    Reply

  33. Giving this a shot got a kick to it added extra honey but it tastes good. Hopefully the kid will like it instead of regular store bought cough syrup
    Reply

    • I don't take anything to prevent a cough during the day for this very reason, unless I have somewhere to be where my incessant coughing is problematic... but unfortunately when I have these kinds of coughs/colds, as much as 90% of my coughing is at night. I've gone as far as taking a double dose of the only OTC cough medicine that works for me, Delsym, and still wake up every hour to cough up a storm. Without it, though, I wouldn't get any sleep at all. I've been online looking or home remedies that might work better. I'm currently fighting a pretty bad cough, if I weren't fresh out of the ACV I would be making it as we speak to try this out!
      Reply

  36. I have a warning and then another ingredient to add.

    DO NOT GIVE HONEY TO ANY CHILD UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE. There is pollen and possible bacteria in it that can affect them. I trust and use a similar one myself

    For a really congested chest add a little brandy to the mixture. And sure to break a sweat if a fever is acompanying it.
    Reply

    • I agree with no honey to children under 2 yr old. Dr Oz had this on his show recently and he made that warning also. In addition to pollen and possible bacteria, the warm water releases a small amount of peroxide which will actually foam a bit when put on a raw wound.
      Reply

  38. I used this all last winter. It works great. I do add a bit of lemon juice as well. It is spicy for small children. I just give them a piece of bread to eat after they swallow it to take the heat out of their mouths.
    Reply

  41. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo gonna make a shopping list and make this because my cough makes me feel like I am ready to vomit a lung or something (well, just vomit)
    Reply

  43. I've had a cold for almost 3 weeks that includes a cough. Made this last nite and tried it today. Was anticipating a strong vinegar taste, but it actually wasn't bad and thought, I could do this as a salad dressing and would like it. SUCCESS!! And I think my coughing is less too!! THANKS!!
    Reply

    • Thanks for asking this question. I too have a ulcerative tummy. Any pepper or any thing with a sauce or spicey is very painful for me. Hope someone answers this ? I am sick in bed with a horrible cough, and inner ear infection. Sounds like I am going to cough up a lung. Throat is beyond raw right now. Can't sleep for coughing non stop. Nose is just pouring. Ugh !
      Reply

    • I've heard that cinnamon worked really well for some people. Maybe try that or just leave out the cayenne. The vinegar and the honey should help! I hope you feel better soon.
      Reply

    • You aren't coughing because it took your breath away!! LOL All joking aside, I just made a batch and tried some. I have had a dry wracking cough since last weekend. Nothing has helped. I really need some sleep!! Ok..breathing again.....
      Reply

    • The cayenne is definitely hot. Depending on their ages and heat tolerance, you might try making it with just a teeny amount of cayenne and adjust it accordingly.
      Reply

  50. Yes it works. I've got a 5 1/2 yr old she hates the taste but drank 1tsp before bed=no coughing!!!! Followed recipe exactly as above in pic.
    Reply

  56. I have always used 2 tablespoons raw honey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons brandy in a cup of hot green tea. Sip it.

    Reply

  57. My hubby-a family practice dr-prescribes this, minus the pepper but add 2 tbsp of bourbon-for his patients OVER Rx cough syrups! We have used it at home for years! I grew up on 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup bourbon plus juice of one lemon. Heated. Store in fridge but heat in microwave before using.
    Reply

  58. I will never use anything else!!!!.....gave this to my daughter before bed (hoping it would help us all get a few hours of sleep)....no coughing all night....gave her some before school ...teacher asked for the recipe ,my daughter hardly coughed all day.
    Reply

  59. I made this for my mom but used lemon juice instead of water. It worked even when the script didn't. I will always have this on hand from now on. My mom also suggested using orange juice concentrate instead of water. Both have vit c and will improve the flavor.
    Reply

  61. This is fabulous!! I actually rather liked the flavor! My 17 year old daughter has been coughing all night for 3 nights (and keeping me up) but this totally did the trick.
    I have had sinus congestion and pain and so I took a tablespoon also. Great stuff!
    Reply

  62. We had run out of the last batch I made and my 16 year old son came in and woke me around 1:30 this morning asking me to whip up another batch so he could stop coughing. His cough and congestion is currently from hay-fever. My boys swear by it. I find you need a drink of or something straight after it because it's quite hot.
    Reply

  63. Hubby's been coughing almost a week now & made some up last night & he took some & didn't hear him cough at all overnight & he took some this morning before going to work. Then I remembered I forgot to put the 2 Tbsps. of water in it..lol..but it is helping his cough.
    Reply

  64. I gave this to my daughter and the coughing and sore throat were gone,when the cough pearls and cough medicines didn't do anything for her cough
    Reply

  66. This really helped my swollen throat. I also added lemon juice and coconut oil. I read that coconut oil helps the cold not to take hold of you. Thanks for posting this.
    Reply

  69. I'm sad bc I made it and it didn't help..however I get bronchiospasms (sp) so maybe I was coughing from those and not a cold.
    Patty
    Reply

  70. I gave this to my daughter who is almost 4 (just two teaspoons) and she didn't have any problems with the spice at all. She did say it was a little yucky, so I gave her a tablespoon of raw honey to wash it down and she was fine, and it worked GREAT! She has had a TERRIBLE cough the past few days (she gets like this every year around this time and the doctors always tell me it's "croup" or a virus etc. and there is "nothing" they can do), and the prescription meds they gave me weren't helping at all, so we tried this and some sleepytime tea with lemon and she has stopped coughing and is fast asleep and no more wheezing! Thanks for the recipe!
    Reply

  72. This did not work for me, but then again nothing does. Doctor gave me a prescription & that didn't even help. I guess I just have to ride it out again.
    Reply

  77. I made some of this tonight. I'm on the 4th day of a flu-like sickness and am starting to feel better. The worst part for me has been the coughing. I'll let you know how it goes. I took about a tablespoon. It burned, but not any worse than another recipe for strep throat that I use also for colds that includes cayenne, pepper, garlic, and honey. If this works as good, I may forgo the other recipe because the garlic is so overwhelming.
    Reply

  78. I did make the cough syrup and it worked wonders for me since I live in the Caribbean and the weather here got windy and really humid really fast. Thank you so much for sharing!!!!
    Reply

  79. I was very skeptical that this would work. I had been coughing for hours before falling into a fitful sleep over the last week, even taking honey to soothe the throat and sleeping in a chair.
    Well, I took one tablespoon of this before bed and was able to fall asleep with no coughing fits and just a few little coughs.
    I am happy to say this worked wonderfully.
    Thank you!
    Reply

  80. This sounds amazing! but I have a 2 year old and a 6 year old that cant even sleep for coughing! I see that you should not give it to a 2 year old...so what can I use for him? Please tell me there is something I can use! Feel so bad for him! Thanks for any info!
    Reply

    • The one thing that used to help with my kids was to rub Vicks on their backs and the bottom of their feet as well as their chest. It's an old remedy, but it did seem to help. The idea, I was told back then, was that the lungs are actually closer to your back than your front. I still have my husband rub my back with Mineral Ice when I get a cold and it seems to help when I am congested. If his throat is sore, you might try giving him Coke and potato chips, it can help with kids that are too young to gargle salt water.
      Reply

  81. I've been congested for 3 days and the cough just began last evening and progressing today ... I am heading to the kitchen NOW to make this! Thanks for the post!
    Reply

  82. Have had a nasty cough for two weeks. OTC cough syrup has high fructose corn syrup so sure don't want that. Going into kitchen to try this stuff.
    Reply

  83. Dad finished his 5th round of chemotherapy for lymphoma and developed a nasty, sleep-stealing cough. Just gave him some of this and he said that he could feel it working already. Will post again in a couple of days with an update, but here's keeping my fingers crossed! He's been through enough already.
    Reply

  86. I came looking for a recipe like this because I have a bad cold with a bad cough, the prescription cough syrup I was given doesn't seem to be working and I can only take if every 4 hours. I didnt have cayenne pepper but i had all the other ingredients. Just took a dose and will let you know how it goes.

    thanks for posting the recipe
    Reply

  88. I have made this for a few members of my family & they said it definately worked for them. My aunt has had a cough for a while & the medecine the dr prescribed ($30) didn't work so I made this yesterday & she took it before going to bed & rested all night where the night before she didn't sleep much at all from all the coughing she had done.
    Reply

  89. This is so awesome! I love the flavour, tastes like Mexican candy, for me it's not hot at all and really helps with my soar throat!
    Reply

  90. I REALLY wanted/wished this worked for me but it just didn't. I don't know if it's because I have been coughing for a week already or not. I'm a health nut and I love all natural remedies. The taste was great but I'm still coughing and my throat is sore as ever. :(
    Reply

  94. I have been using this recipe for several years now with excellent results. There are no over the counter medicines that work nearly as well. Most if not all are useless.
    Reply

  97. Apple cider vinegar and honey are very good for many problems, especially if taken daily, diluted in water. Dr. D.C. Jarvis wrote a whole book on it!
    Reply

  98. We've been using this recipe of yours for two years now - have yet to buy another cough remedy since. It works. We swear by it and have recommended it to so many friends and family - all of whom are amazed how effective it is. I even shared it with a doctor who was rather impressed!
    Reply

  101. I couldn't find my cayenne so I made this with a dash (DASH!) of ghost pepper salt. Deliciously spicy, though I would only recommend ghost pepper if you are seriously good with the burn! Love this stuff. I need to make another batch tonight since I seem to have come down with a sinus infection and cough...again!
    Reply

  102. Just made a batch for my tight, congested chest and cough. Seems to have immediately provided some relief and I can breath without coughing. Taking another dose before bed. Thanks!
    Reply

  104. I've been taking this 2x a day for 3 yrs now...if I do get a cold never lasts more than a day, 2 tops....have not had the flu (no flu shots either) ....I actually triple the recipe with the exception of the pepper...keeps well refrigerated...swear by it.
    Reply

  106. Good lawd, that initial swallow had my throat on fire!!! I've become obsessed with making homemade Italian ice and I've been eating about 2 bowls a day. Whenever I eat or drink something cold on a consistent basis it causes me to get sick. I feel a cold coming on right now and want to combat that so I made this. Looks like I'm going to have to quadruple this recipe because it doesn't make much. 1/3 cup is probably 3.5 tablespoons worth so back to the kitchen I go.
    Oh, the apple cider vinegar smell makes you not want to take this but the honey makes it taste pretty good.
    Reply

  108. I have been sneezing all day. I sneezed as I was taking this, inhaled it, and for awhile, I couldn't even breathe. My breath came back, and I'm quite sure I won't sneeze again tonight. I don't recommend it for sneezing. I think it's effective, but for me, I think that was a little risky.
    Reply

  110. Amazing Homemade Cough Remedy with only apple cider vinegar and honey! Cough becomes a normal disease especially for this season so it's really important to prepare few remedies for the children. Great thing I found this post. Thank you so much!
    Reply

  111. This is a wonderful remedy. I've had a cough for a long time; taking all those over-the -counter stuffs, which were not helping. I started doing online research and found this site. I tried it immediately, and believe it or not after a few hours of taking it, the cough went away. That was about 3 months ago, and the cough has not come back. I'm now telling everyone about it.

    Thank you very much for your information. God Bless
    Reply

  112. Truly amazing 👌🏼 My son is on immunosuppressants so it's not easy when he gets a cold or a cough. He had this deep chesty cough and had begum wheezing. I tried this recipe and it Worked some great magic👌🏼 He is 6 so I gave him around 10ml just before sleeping Thank u for sharing it❤
    Reply

  113. I grew up with asthma and was constantly coughing - so much, I was prescribed codeine cough syrup. It was the only thing that shut me up so I could sleep. Although, I don't have asthma, anymore - I still get a cold a year and always cough. I tried this recipe based on the many positive comments. It works great for me for about 3 hours, at night, which is when I always cough. I have been singing the praises of your recipe for over a year, now. Thank you so very much!
    Reply

  115. Dr. Oz had this on his.program years ago. I just remembered it and he suggests doing it like a shot. I have terrible bronchitis and this works like a dream. Almost better than my inhaler.
    Reply

  117. Make a couple batch in the spring and a couple in the fall. Doesnt taste as aweful as you would thik. But it Works WONDERs.
    Reply

  118. I made this yesterday for my daughter. She took a tbsp before bed and did not cough all night. I didn't have ground ginger, so I peeled some ginger root and added 2 pieces in it, and only a pinch of cayenne. She took some this morning and her cough is better
    Reply

  119. I just made this (didn't have cayenne), as I have been dealing with a cold every month around menstruation time, for the last 6 months...fun right? I will let you know how it works! Thanks so much!
    Reply

  120. I tried this because I didn't have lemons as most recipes call for. I'm glad that I did because it does help my cough calm down when alternating with a gargle of salt water. It is certainly better than store bought with the glucose and sucralose and whatever else. I leave out the cayenne because I have a sensitivity to it. Thank you, this will be my go-to from now on!
    Reply

  121. This stuff is amazing!! I've had this terrible cough for 1.5 weeks, the hacking has made me dizzy, see stars, kept me up at night etc. my poor lungs have been aching and felt like I needed an asthma inhaler. I didn't want to go to the dr , get on antibiotics, or buy otc drugs which make me feel loopy and out of it. I googled and found this recipe. I made it this morning and subbed lemon juice. I'm in awe how the cough spasms stopped and I can breathe. Sinuses also have cleared without using my neti-pot saline rinse. Thanks so much for this helpful recipe. This is my go-to remedy when I feel a cold/flu coming on. You are a Godsend for sharing this. :)
    Reply

  124. Thank you for posting this again! I hate taking over the counter medications - any medications, actually - and am glad to have this recipe on hand when the need arises. All the ingredients are in my cupboard. So easy and natural.
    Reply

  129. Thanks for sharing your homemade cough remedy. I have a few questions for you. 1. Can Manuka honey be used instead of normal honey? 2. Is it possible to use freshly finely grated ginger instead of ground ginger? Thanks.
    Reply

  136. We found a commercially prepared concoction with apple cider vinegar last year. It was fairly effective and had a crazy funny name, but the price put the family budget into crisis mode. Your recipe came along at just the right time! My 11 year old granddaughter started her "changing weather" cough yesterday. We mixed up a batch and she started with a teaspoonful. It stilled her cough for 30 minutes or so, then she had another teaspoonful. Nothing short of a miracle. Thank you so much for sharing!
    Reply

  138. My mother has had a chronic cough for quite a while & I have tried several kinds of cough medicine over the counter as well as prescribed medicine.Unfortunately none of them have worked. Hopefully with this online remedy it will subside & clear it up altogether. I will try it & respond with the results in the near future.
    Reply

  139. I love home remedies for cold and cough. They often work better than store brought meds. Do you think it's safe to give this syrup to my 2.5 year old. Right now I give him honey for cough.
    Reply

  148. Hello - This sounds wonderful and I am going try it. How long does it stay fresh once made and should it kept in the refrigerator between uses? Thank You.
    Reply

  149. I grew up in a household where most of the food was homemade.My favorite school lunch was an egg-salad sandwich :). Smelly (after being packed for a while), but so tasty anyway.
    Reply

  152. Thanks for sharing this cough remedy treatment. Apple cider vinegar does a lot of wonders when it comes to our health. I also suffer coughs from time to time, so this is useful for me.
    Reply

  154. Thank you for this. I have been taking a tablespoon of Apple Cidar and drinking hot lemon tea with a tablespoon of honey. But I also have the crap in my throat to loosen up also.I have had this cold for the past 3 weeks already I will have to try it.
    Reply

  155. I'm a Breastfeeding mom so I haven't taken any over the counter medication besides Tylenol or Advil for headaches is quite some time. I made a jar of this remedy this morning and took my first dose. Hoping it helps. I woke up feeling congested and coughing. How often should I take a tablespoon of it?
    Reply

  161. Making this! Love knowing the full length of the ingredients. Thank you for sharing. I wonder if I could put this in candy mold & freeze for like a cough drop?
    Reply

  162. I used lemon juice instead of apple cider vinegar because I didn't have any apple cider vinegar hoping this works been coughing all day lost my voice earlier today
    Reply

  163. Definitely going to try this tomorrow. I can't sleep due to this acute bronchitis. Hoping this works for that. I will let you know . Lord I need sleep.
    Reply

  164. Halelialua!!! You saved me from getting on a greyhound bus with the flu!!!! A week before i was due to go on my trip, i was stupid enough to see my doctor who gave me a flu shot. Needless to say symptoms came on like a runaway freight train. Thanks!!! I will ALWAYS keep it on hamd!!!
    Reply

  167. I actually tried it and its awesome! I may have overdone the ginger - I love ginger. My son thought the ginger was too much although he enjoyed the syrup.
    Reply

  168. Hi just made the cough remedy. Have had this horrible cough for about 2 months now.. so tired... took my first tablespoon. So with Faith in my heart I truly hope it works for me.. As I am also an asthmatic.. thks..
    Reply

  169. I have acute upper respiratory infection. Hurts my throat so much to cough or sneeze. Made this last night and did not cough once all night long. LOVE it. Recipe will go in my recipe drawer! Thank you so much!
    Reply

  170. Wow!!! I can't stand to take over the counter or prescription cough syrup. I definitely make it. My husband has a morning and night cough. I have ashma, so I cough some with that. Thanks Linda
    Reply

  171. Does this help with a sore throat? My throat has been so dry and hurting due to the dry air. Is this ok to take while pregnant as well? Assuming so because it’s all natural but you never know with anything these days it feels like.
    Reply

  174. Did this actually work for anyone or what? Don't want to add anything extra like some people are doing. Just want to know if the actual recipe work. I swear. Also, the ads are a bit annoying. Sorry. Just being real.
    Reply

    • Hi John,This cough remedy has worked well as written for hundreds of people, as evidenced by the comments on this post. My own family has been using this remedy for years with great success. I'm sorry to hear that the ads annoy you. However, those ads help make the free content provided on this website possible.All the best, Mary
      Reply

  175. This cough syrup started working in literally minutes! I slept on the couch last night not to wake up my husband with the horrible cough I had and I forgot to stop by the store today, because cough didn’t bother me during the day. Amazing homemade remedy, all I can say! I made a batch and took 2 table spoons! I couldn’t breath for a moment lol, too hot, but the cough was gone immediately! I also put a warm scarf around my neck to keep area warm. I came to bed and it’s bin 1 hour after I took the remedy and I didn’t cough one single time! Thank you so much, Mary, for sharing this recipe with us!
    Reply

  176. I use this recipe now for the last few years. Works and I have passed this on to everybody. Thanks for sharing!!! Merry Christmas and have a healthy New Year!!! 😘
    Reply

  178. I have not had any reason to use your homemade cough syrup, but it sounds like a really good & helpful thing. So much so that I've passed it on in FB. Thanks so much for this. And I really enjoy your tips & recipes....your website is just GREAT!
    Reply

  181. I came down with the flu for the last few days. My throat hurt to swallow, my nose was congested, my cough was hacking and my ears hurt. So I made this before I went to sleep. The only difference is, I used lemon juice instead of water, and I didn't have cayenne so I used a mix of cinnamon and freshly ground black pepper. THIS IS MAGIC SYRUP!! I IMMEDIATELY felt my throat clear with each spoonful. I ended up chugging the whole thing! It was awful, but I felt SO much better afterwards. My throat barely hurt when I swallowed, my nose cleared, and my voice came back. This stuff is AMAZING! MAKE IT RIGHT NOW!!I did see a doctor and I am on medication, but if you want relief from cold/flu symptoms, make this!
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  183. Hey! I just tried this with my boyfriend and it actually tasted better than we thought. My nose felt better right away nice one!
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  186. goes down so smooth. didn't gag at all. thankfully not salty. i would have trouble swallowing if it was warm and salty.
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  188. I didn't have cayenne pepper, so I substituted freshly ground black pepper. It didn't taste nearly bead as I feared. I'm feeling the helpful clearing of my sinuses and chest. I'll be making this again.
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  190. This does get rid of a sore throat And calms a cough But you do not need all of that stuff. Just use the Apple Cider Vineger A couple of tablespoons down the throat (let it set on back of throat if possiable) follow with drinking cold water to clear the taste in mouth if needed. It works and its all worth it. Because sore throats Suck.
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  192. Well that was funny. Both of my kids are ill with a cough. I whipped up my first batch of this. They put up a hilarious fuss. Eventually they got it down the hatch. Neither of them have noticed they've stopped coughing. Lol
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  194. Gotta have faith. My. Own is 3 fingers whiskey. To 3 fingers honey stir &hold onto summat. Down 1/2of it. You cough do rest. Don't drive!! .
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    • The ingredients are simple food items. I don't see a problem with taking it as often as every hour, if you need it. I typically take it a few times a day, as needed.
      Reply

  196. I used this for myself and my Son a few years ago and worked great. Now he asks for it when he's coughing. Just dug out the recipe for my husband who is coughing away. I'm not hearing anything now! Thanks again. So much better than OTC.
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  198. Thank you for a late nite fix to a nagging cough! My husband is finally getting some sleep. This recipe is perfect for this awful flu cold virus that is going around this year.
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  199. This is the best cold remedy!!! I’ve tried and works very well,thank you Mary! I use fresh ginger instead of ground ginger and I add lemon juice, just because when I get sick I like sour and sweet mixed( I do have a crazy tastebuds I guess :) )
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    • There's nothing in it that could be dangerous if overdosed, so I'd say use it as needed. The one possibility is if you're diabetic and using so much honey would be detrimental to your blood sugar levels.
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  204. Miserable with a Cold, scrolling through Facebook, I came across this Recipe! I made it (without cayenne-did not have) and within 30 minutes my Sinuses are opening up! Thank you Thank you Thank you for sharing this.
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  206. Went to bed, couldn't stop coughing (I'm recovering from the flu), googled and found this. Whoa, potent stuff! Will report back on how it works...tho it seems to have helped already.
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  207. Is there any way that you can give me an estimated time from when you actually take the dose to when you start to feel actual relief from first dose to actual relief... And how many doses there after do you have to continue taking to achieve maximum relief? I've been sick for over two and a half weeks and gone through many bottles of cough syrup refuse to go to the doctor because they don't do anything for me and I have many other illnesses on top of that so it's a matter of having a lack of immune system as well please advise ASAP thank you
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  208. Just made this “syrup” to hopefully battle a cough i just can’t control. The cough feels like it’s from deep in my chest and difficult to get relief after coughing.I slipped up with a little too much water (it spilled while i poured and coughed). I heated my water first so it would soften everything up. My Briggs is stored in fridge.Had 1 tablespoon. Tasted good IMO.HAVE NOT COUGHED SINCE BEGAN POSTING. And it does feel like something is relieved in my chest. Oh i hope this works.Thanks for your recipe ❤️
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  209. Life saver!! I’m really getting this bad cold and I’m my husbands caretaker when Hospice is not here so this caugh must go. I’ve been looking for a good cough syrup I could make at home because I need it now and don’t drive nor can I leave ..::::: I felt it sooth my throat almost right away. I know it tastes better then any store bought or RX that’s a Big Plus. The Cyan Pepper is perfect. Just enough to clear things up. This will go into my Reciept Book for sure
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  211. How long does it keep for? I'm very impressed with it. It cleared a cough I was really struggling to shake off.
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  213. Hello: This recipe has been amended recently. It used to be one tablespoon of honey, water, apple cider vinegar and 1/4 tsp of ginger and cayenne pepper. Not sure why it was changed, but I am going with the old way.
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    • I don't think that the recipe has been changed. However, an additional bit of ginger and cayenne won't hurt a bit and might even help. Hope you feel better!
      Reply

  214. This is a truly effective cough syrup, and compared to $15 for a bottle off the shelf of the pharmacy, it's absolutely the best choice. It may cause a shudder when you take a spoonful, but then so do those commercial preparations. I didn't even have ginger for my first batch, and it still worked . . . it loosens congestion & clears your head. Can't speak to a sore throat because I didn't have one, but my guess is it works for that too.And the recipe isn't hard to remember . . . 2 tbsp. of the wet ingredients, and 1/4 tsp. of the dry ones.
    Reply

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