Homemade cough medicine is a fairly common home remedy. The syrup is designed to soothe sore throats and quiet chest spasms, but you can also add some ingredients with expectorant properties if you have a deep, chesty cough. However, it is important to keep in mind that if the cough and accompanying symptoms last for an extended period of time, it's best to visit a doctor to make sure antibiotics aren't required.
Function
Homemade cough medicine is a popular home remedy because it contains natural ingredients that ease your symptoms without chemicals or drugs that may cause side effects. Because coughs are frequently a symptom of the cold or flu virus, which antibiotics won't really help, homemade cough syrup allows your body to heal itself without added issues such as drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.
Ingredients
Home remedies for coughs often contain a simple list of ingredients that most people keep in their kitchen pantry. Honey, which coats your throat and significantly decreases irritation, is a common base for cough medicine. Lemon juice reduces inflammation and gives you a dose of vitamin C, which is quite important when you're fighting a virus. One lesser-known ingredient is white onion. Onions contain compounds that thin phlegm and trigger coughing, helping clear out the nasty muck that's blocking your lungs.
Recipe
Keeping your cough syrup recipe simple is key. A basic home remedy for coughs is to combine two parts lemon juice with one part honey in a saucepan over low heat, along with a tablespoon or two of finely grated white onion. Heat the syrup until it's thoroughly combined and just warm, then take it by the teaspoon as needed. Store the leftover cough medicine in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator, reheating several teaspoons when you require a dose.
Considerations
It's important to consider your symptoms when making a home cough remedy, and to tweak the recipe accordingly. For example, if your cough is dry and originates in your irritated throat as opposed to your lungs, skip the onion in the cough syrup. If your chest mucus is too thick and compact for onions to penetrate, substitute dried horehound flowers steeped in a bit of water.
Warning
Do not use homemade cough syrup to treat severe coughs. If your cough lasts for more than a week and is accompanied by fever, chills, extremely sore lungs and bloody or brightly colored discharge, go to a doctor or hospital immediately. These are symptoms of several fairly serious conditions, including pneumonia.
References
- "1,801 Home Remedies;" Editors of Reader's Digest; 2004
- "Jude's Herbal Home Remedies;" Jude C. Todd; 2002
