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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.
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!
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!
This worked wonderfully! The cayenne caused some intestinal "distress" so I had to stop using it!
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.
Thanks for your reply. I will have to try that. I really don't want to take flu shots.
Gonna try this again. I will try this. I don't want to be taking flu shots.
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.
made this for my dad and overnight he felt better! thanks so much. a question- what is the maximum dosage a day? 3 TBSP a day?
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.
This was seriously helpful! Thanks.
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!
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
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❤
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!
Thank you so much! It is working:) xoxo
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.
Will try and advise
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.
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