This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
Love it, took it took it when i was a kid
Do you have to use cayenne pepper for this cough remedy?
You can certainly skip it and see how it works for you. I’ve never made it without the pepper.
Well, this looks amazing! I will absolutely try this the next time someone around here gets sick!
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!
How often do you take it ?
As needed.
how much should I take? A spoonful?
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.
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.
I’ve been giving this to my kids since they were 2.
How much if this should I take in the morning and and night
Can I give this to my 14 old month baby?
My Dad has COPD and that comes with a terrible hack has this been tried for that?
thank you will have to try thi
Is this good for all ages. Like children age 5 and up? Do we use teaspoon or tablespoon when giving?
What is the dosage? Im concerned about the ceyanne pepper bc i am very sensitive to hot spices
How long can it store in the fridge? Thx.
Awesome Thank you
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.
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.
Trying to make a copy of this
is it ok to us on a 2 year old?