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This Homemade Cough Remedy is a spicy, honey-cider syrup potent enough to calm a cough and soothe 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 a natural cough suppressant that is both seriously spicy and potent enough to actually clear your head. Personally, I think it tastes better than any store-bought cough syrup I’ve tried.
With only a handful of pantry ingredients and a few minutes of 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
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 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.
Homemade Cough Syrup
- Place the vinegar, honey, water, cayenne, and ginger 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!
Homemade Cough Remedy
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
- 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!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 1/8/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/3/22}
This cough remedy has been gently adapted from and with thanks to Nancy Vienneau’s (no longer active) blog, Good Food Matters.
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 🙁
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.
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.
If you are able to grind it into powder, then it would probably work. I hope this helps!
Use ground black pepper instead of cayenne (which also may be too hot for you if you are not used to chillies.)
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
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….
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!!
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.
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.
I am allergic to.honey.what could I.use as a subsitute???
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.
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.
if you have a cough would the c.pepper burn your throat when you swallow it
It might. Cayenne has a lot of kick to it, so this is pretty hot. It's worth it to me though because it calms my cough.
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.
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!
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).
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!
Do you think that this will work with Strep Throat? Its to thw point i havent eaten in two days, because my throat is so swollen and i can hardly swallow.
It's worth a shot, Candi. Hope you feel better soon!
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
Honestly, I want to know where you got that adorable little jar to put it in. 🙂
PIMENTOS AT THE GROCERY STORE COME IN LITTLE CUTE, SIMILAR JARS.
Isn't it better to cough during the day and get that nasty crap out of you and take the awesome remedy at night so you can sleep?
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!
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.
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.
Well luckily I am 17. and that is completely understandable, i would more so say maybe under 3 or 4 though.
I tried it. It did seem to help with my cough.
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.
I substitute the water for lemon and no kidding this will cure a cold in half the time.
Can not wait to try this, came down with this cold Wed!!!! :(:( :):)