Here is a collection of ten easy remedies and home treatments that I've gathered over the years, most are simple to manage with many ingredients found readily in your pantry.
Homemade Honey & Lemon Cough Syrup 1/2 cup honey 1 lemon (juiced) 1 TBS glycerin Heat the lemon juice in a saucepan without bringing to a boil, add to honey and glycerin, mix thoroughly. Pour into sterilized glass jars and seal. Refrigerate. Instructions for use: Take 1 to 2 tablespoons as needed to relieve cough.
Homemade Garlic Syrup Good old-time remedy for coughs, this stuff can get pretty pricey to buy in the herbal/natural remedy stores. Here are several different ways you can make your own: 5
Thyme or Basil Tea Remedy Brew 1 tablespoon dried thyme in 1 cup boiling water. Strain then drink (for sore throats, gargle with this tea). You can also make a basil tea: For relief of cough, make a tea of dried basil (1 teaspoon) per 1 cup boiling water. Steep then strain, add a spoonful of honey then drink (from 23 Home Remedies From The Spice Rack).
Horehound Cough Medicine 1 oz. dried horehound leaves 1 pint boiling water Pour hot water over leaves and steep for 10 minutes. Strain. Mix 1 1/2 cups of the infused water with 3 cups of honey. Pour into sterilized jars, seal. Instructions for use: Take 1 tsp every 4 hours (during waking hours) until cough goes away. Do not take more than 4 tsp a day.
Simmered Onions & Honey Simmer roughly chopped onions in water until soft. Mix onions with honey and eat every four hours. Another remedy is to strain out the onion after boiling for about 15 minutes, then bottle the juice. Drink the onion juice as needed to relieve a cough.
Ginger Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 1 teaspoon of honey for cough relief. Another remedy is to dip a piece of fresh ginger into coarse salt (to coat the ginger) then eat it.
Aloe Vera Remedy Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice/gel with honey to treat coughs. Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey This one's easy, just mix 1/2 tsp of apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp of honey and drink.
ose Hip Tea Soothe a tickly cough by adding 1 spoonful of honey to rose hip tea. Make tea with 2 tsp dried rose hips per 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 10 to 15 minutes (from Rose Hips: Tips & Recipes).
Homemade Garlic Plaster This is used and prepared the same way as a mustard plaster (which is also good for treating coughs). Minced onion can replace the garlic if preferred. Chop garlic finely then cover garlic with olive oil, mix to make a thick paste (about the consistency of sour cream). Spread over fabric and fold so garlic doesn't ooze out. Apply poultice to chest then cover with hot water bottle or a microwavable heat bag.
