If your family has a cough or cold and you are looking for a natural alternative to OTC medicines, this homemade cough syrup is perfect for you! Safe for almost all ages to take, this honey onion cough syrup will help clear the sickness out of your house.
![a jaw of honey next to an onion](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/honey-onion-cough-syrup.jpg)
If you and your family are trying to switch over to a more natural lifestyle, making your own medicine is an important step.
Conventional medicine, while absolutely necessary for treating some illnesses, is not needed for others.
Having a cold is one of those illnesses that can usually be healed without conventional medicine.
Of course there are always special cases, but for the most part, you can get away with treating a cold with natural remedies.
Making your own homemade cough syrup out of honey and onions is a great place to start.
Or try using mullein leaves to heal from a cold or pine needle tea to boost your immune system.
![onions and honey in a jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-20-1024x768.jpg)
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The ingredients
This recipe for herbal cough syrup only uses two ingredients: honey and onions.
Honey
Honey contains antioxidants which can help lower inflammation in your body.
Using honey for a cold helps to soothe the soreness and irritation in your throat and mouth.
Adding this natural ingredient to your homemade cough syrup also helps soothe your throat, making the urge to cough subside.
![onions in a pint jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-5-768x1024.jpg)
Onion
Onions help thin and loosen mucus in the respiratory tract.
This will help make your cough more productive, which will in turn help you get over your cold faster.
Onions also contain properties that help fight bad bacteria and viruses, helping your body fight against respiratory illness.
There are also plenty of anti-inflammatory properties in an onion that will help fight inflammation in the respiratory tract, as well as, nutrients that will help your body heal.
![stirring the honey cough syrup](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-16-1024x768.jpg)
Who can use this honey cough syrup?
As long as you aren’t allergic to onions or honey, you should be able to use this cough syrup.
However, you should not give any honey or anything that has honey in it to babies that are under 1 year old.
This is because there is a risk of botulism, caused by clostridium botulinum bacteria spores.
Botulism can be very dangerous to anyone, but it is extremely dangerous for those under 1 year old.
Children under 1 year old have a digestive system that is not fully developed, which gives them a higher chance of getting sick from the bacteria that could be present in raw honey.
![finished homemade cough syurp](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-24-768x1024.jpg)
How to Make homemade cough syrup
Chop one medium sized onion finely and place it into a pint sized jar.
Next, pour 1 cup of honey over the onion.
![pouring honey over the onions](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-12-1024x768.jpg)
Stir this mixture very well with a fork and screw a lid on the jar.
![mixing the onions and honey together](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-14-1024x768.jpg)
Let this mixture sit for 24 hours.
Strain the honey into a clean pint jar using a fine mesh sieve or strainer.
Reserve the onion pieces to cook with later.
Store the honey in the fridge for up to 6 months.
![finished homemade cough syrup](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-22-1024x768.jpg)
How to use homemade cough syrup
When using this honey cough syrup to help get rid of a cough, it best to start using it as soon as you start feeling the cough coming on.
Dosage for adults: take 1 teaspoon as needed throughout the day or night, up to 3 times in a day.
Dosage for children: give 1/2 teaspoon as needed throughout the day or night, up to 3 times in a day.
Dosage for toddlers (over 12 months): give 1/8 of a teaspoon, up to 3 times in a day.
How to take: sip the cough syrup from the spoon, slowly so that it coats your throat and nasal passages.
![onions and honey in a jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Make-Homemade-Cough-Syrup-with-Honey-18.jpg)
Notes
Need the cough syrup right now? You can start straining off 1 teaspoon of honey cough syrup at a time after the onions and honey have sat together for at least 30 minutes.
It won’t be as strong as it will be in 24 hours, but it should help your cough, regardless.
If you would like to, you can also add other ingredients to this homemade cough syrup if you would like.
Some ideas include minced garlic, sliced fresh ginger, or lemon slices.
Store your natural cough syrup in the fridge because this will help prevent bacteria from growing that could be introduced by the onion.
![a jaw of honey next to an onion](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/honey-onion-cough-syrup-300x300.jpg)
Homemade Honey Cough Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 1 cup honey raw
Instructions
- Chop one medium sized onion finely and place it into a pint sized jar.
- Next, pour 1 cup of honey over the onion.
- Stir this mixture very well with a fork and screw a lid on the jar.
- Let this mixture sit together for 24 hours.
- Strain the honey into a clean pint jar using a fine mesh sieve or strainer.
- Reserve the onion pieces to cook with later.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Notes
pin it for later
![homemade honey cough syrup pin image](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Homemade-Honey-cough-syrup-576x1024.jpg)
Other posts you may be interested in
Mullein Leaves to Help Fight a Cold
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