If you are the adventurous and independent type, here’s a homemade cough remedy that really works. It’s also a great gargle for inflamed tonsils and sore throat, too (then swallow it)!
The ingredients are a simple combination of spices and nutrients with no side-effects:
• no drowsiness
• no dry mucous membranes
• no precautions about using machinery or driving
We made this potent cough remedy in our home recently to get some relief so we, my 14 year-old daughter and I, could sleep.
It worked for us!
(Note: I would not give this mixture to a young child, because the taste is too strong, and do not give honey to children under 1 year of age.)
The recipe is from Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal. It seems to work for all kinds of coughs but especially for that dry cough that keeps you awake and hangs on long after the cold is over.
Cough Remedy Ingredients:
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 Tablespoon honey (we use raw honey for its amazing benefits)
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (not GMO corn-based vinegar)
• 1/4-1/2 cup water
Directions:
Mix and take by the teaspoonful. Stir well each time before taking. We keep this in the refrigerator. Because of the preservative nature of both ACV and honey, it will store there for 3-4 months, covered.
The recipe doesn’t mention how much to take. We took 3 teaspoons the first time because we had had this bad cough for over three weeks and were desperate for some relief. It worked, and we got a good night’s sleep.
Beneficial Effects of the Individual Cough Remedy Ingredients:
• Ginger has long been used and recommended for arthritis and bursitis, because it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Also ginger is a natural antihistamine. It has also been used for for motion sickness and nausea, and in addition, it’s known for relieving chest congestion.
• Cayenne is used as a natural fat burner and pain killer, to treat ulcers, increase metabolism, improve circulation, boost the immune system, and aid digestion.
• Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar has so many healthful benefits.
• Note: We used to use Bragg’s until they sold out to Katie Perry (read more about this). Now we get even better organic ACV from Azure Standard.
• Raw Honey will draw pus and poisons out of wounds and it is useful for relief from colds. In its raw state it contains untold amounts of micronutrients and enzymes.
The next time you have a cough that just won’t quit, you might want to give this homemade cough remedy a try. You will thank me 😉
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. ” ~Thomas Edison
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Toni
Thank you for posting your cough remedy recipe! I’ll give it a try when needed. I’m always looking for recipes like this as some recipes work better for some individuals than others. Have a great day!
Petra : )
Wonderful, thank you! I love that it uses things we usually store in the pantry. I’m praying that you both will feel better quickly. The flu season is bad out here too…I encounter many sick people every day, just at work. 🙁 And I am also keeping the suffering people in CT in my prayers. There are many troubles we can’t understand but knowing Who does is a great comfort. I hope they will lean on Him. Blessings to your family today! ~Petra
Sarah
I am bookmarking this!! Curious as to the taste….
Cindy Moore
It tastes horrible but it works.
Jacqueline
Oh, dear!! But I’m glad it works!! Maybe it will grow on you 😛
Juana Mikels
Your blog is so absolutely beautiful! I have been trying to email you to show you something about Mary, can you email me your address? Love, Juana
Jacqueline
Hi, Juana,
I sent you an email, so we can correspond 🙂
LindaG
I agree. Thank you! I’m a little unsure of the cayenne, but I can always make a little bit first, right?
Thanks again. ♥
Janie
My mum is really run down at the moment, and she gets a horrid cough. Not a productive one, or a chesty one, I think it just a weakness in her lungs and it shows up most when she’s under par. I shall make her a batch of this tomorrow and see how it works for her. Thank you x
Janie x
A Mama's Story
Ooooo, I love this! Thanks for linking up and going to go share this right now. 🙂
Laurie
Just made and tested! I’ve had a runny nose, sore throat and a persistent dry cough for a few days. WOOWEE! This stuff is potent! But it opened up my nose, eased my throat and the coughing has subsided.
Thank you! 🙂
Mary@The Encouraging Home
Thanks! This looks great!
Renee Pierce
What a great recipe! I would say I am looking forward to trying it, but actually I hope I never have too. 🙂
I have nine little people, well they aren’t all little anymore, in my home. When we get onto a bug, it sometimes feels like it will never go away!! I really dislike using medicines with a lot of chemically looking ingredients, I will definitely save this recipe. Thank You!!
Jacqueline
You are welcome, Renee! I hope you’ll never have to use it, too 🙂
Kasey
One of my twins is always sick, catching absolutely everything that goes around. We are working on boosting his immune system but in the meantime, this sounds awesome! I love the list of ingredients!!
Jacqueline
Kasey,
I’m sorry to hear about you little guy…I’m thinking that this recipe would be too strong unless…unless he likes it 😉 If they are over 1 the honey will be fine, and maybe cut way back on the cayenne. Thanks for your comments!
Tanisha
Thank you so much for this recipe!
Sveta D.
Oh! This stuff is awesome! Thanks for posting…it saved us from weeks of coughing. 🙂 And I think it actually tastes good.
Jacqueline
I am SO glad it helped!! It has done wonders here, and we like the taste, too, so I felt I could share it and not get anyone upset. Still good things, don’t work for everyone for some reason! Praise God for His pharmacy!
angel
My husband and 2 boys were up with a cough last night. I made up a batch of this and everyone felt much better!
Jacqueline
I am so thankful, Angel! I do hope they will be totally well soon! Use raw honey (1 tsp.) and cinnamon 1/4 tsp.) and mix well for another wonderful healing mixture. Blessings!
Erin
Thank you for this blog Jacqueline! And the music button ~ it is bringing me refreshment 🙂 ~ Thank You!
Jacqueline
Yeah, for refreshment! We can all do with some of that! And your kind words bring me great joy~~
Natalie V
How long does it keep?
Jacqueline
Natalie, it should be fine for at least 5-6 weeks, maybe much longer. It is pretty powerful stuff and with raw honey and cayenne (which are both preservatives of sorts) it should kill any bad stuff. Good question!
Sharon Hunter
Thank you so much for this post. This is the best remedy for me. I had the worst cough and as soon as I took this I felt so much better. I will recommend this to everyone!
michele
This stuff is amazing!! My two daughters both get a horrible cough every winter (sometimes several). Works better than anything I have ever given to them in the past. I made this out of desperation, and I could not believe how well it worked. My youngest daughter was very impressed!!!!!
Jacqueline
Michele,
I am so thankful!! I’m also glad I shared it; I felt it if it worked for us, I might as well tell about it 🙂
Vicki Harris
I’m wondering if instead of ground ginger, I could used fresh ginger juice and if so how much would you recommend??
thanks and thanks for your blog!!!
Jacqueline
Vicki,
I’m sure you could but have I no idea of exactly how much. There is a rule with using fresh herbs vs. dried, though: you need 3 times as much fresh herb as dried (dried is more concentrated, but may have lost a bit of potency). It needs to be quite potent for this recipe 🙂
As with all things, learning comes with practice, and your experimenting over time will give you so much knowledge. If you have a daughter, consider making it with her, and she can gain this intuitive knowledge early. Who knows? She may become a famous herbalist 🙂 I hope you all feel better!
Cheryl Elliott
Thank you! I will give it a try and I posted it on Facebook too.
Jacqueline
Cheryl, thank YOU!! It really makes a difference for so many and hope it is wonderful for you, too!
angel
We tried this a few months ago, and it absolutely worked for my husband and oldest son! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Jacqueline
I am so glad! Everyone has said the same thing 🙂 God is good!
JES
Just reposted this recipe on my blog and had a question about the shelf life in the fridge from a reader. Can you help? Lots of love, JES 🙂
Jacqueline
Hi, JES 🙂
I have had this keep for 4 weeks before we used it up and made more. If one uses ACV with the mother, it might just last a long, long time (4-5 mo.?) b/c we are talking about raw honey, cayenne, ACV, and ginger. One should use discretion, though, before using if stored past one month. “If in doubt, throw it out.”
Blessings to you!!
Gigi
I do the same thing, but use lemon instead of vinegar…I love it! Even the taste 🙂 hehe… Seems to work well for sore throat pain. For coughing I have greater success with a garlic tea I make before going to bed.
Never thought of storing these…I usually do it enough for a day, how long can you keep them in that jar??
Gigi
Never mind…should read the posts above before asking questions 🙂 hehe…
Jacqueline
That’s OK, Gigi 🙂 Glad you got your question answered! Have a blessed day!
Bles
Great tips!
melissa
Is this safe for pregnant women?
Jacqueline
Yes, Melissa,
The little amount of cayenne, ginger, and honey should be quite safe. Blessings on you during this pregnancy and on your family.
Charlotte Everett
ok, wow. Well it taste better than I thought but my lips are on fire now from the aftershock of the cayenne pepper. All in all not too bad.
Jacqueline
Awesome! And did it work??? Oh, do tell us 😉
Yoelah
I Love & Enjoy all Natural Stuffs, please keep posting. Thanks – Yoelah.
Always want to know more about home made stuffs/remedies/medications – I believe in Natural because it is Yah/God given Herbs.
Jacqueline
Yes, Yoelah, they are wonderful gifts form God! I am so glad it was helpful. There are a lot of posts about natural things, so look around. This is a post you may find interesting: https://deeprootsathome.com/complete-guide-side-effect-medicine-cabinet/
Have a very blessed day, friend!
jen
I love the flavor….Now start using it hopefully my cough go away I cough for 1 week now 🙁 and its hard so bad.
Toni
Hi there! Jacqueline, we must have been on the same wave length yesterday as I kept thinking I had to stop by and tell you that this remedy saved my sanity the past few days. Goodman was sick first then I came down with a bug that left me coughing really bad. I’d taken this before and knew it worked but had forgotten to make it when this all started. After the first few hours of taking it I finally got some relief from the hacking. I can’t thank you enough for sharing it and so many other helpful posts. 🙂
Blessings and have a great weekend!
Toni
Jacqueline
Awww… I am SO glad and thankful that it WORKS! So many have said so 🙂
I’m praying for Goodman (and you) now. You are a wonderful wifey and I’m really appreciating you as a friend, as well!
Kathleen
That is a very good help for coughs, I have also used it with lemon juice. Another remedy for a cough free night, I have only tried it on children. Cut up garlic into slices and bind it to their feet. It needs a tissue between their feet and the garlic. A sock to hold it in place. This works wonders.
Thanks for the helpful posts on Fridays Blog Booster Party #23
Kathleen
Jacqueline
I have read of that (using garlic on feet), Kathleen! As I have a lot of newly harvested garlic we’ll be doing it along with eating it!
Love garlic!
Amber Harrop
I must try this my daughter is always getting colds and coughs and I love organic remedies
Swanzy Klafleh
The importance of natural remedies can not be over emphasized, in that it solve health problems and not creating another.Hey guys plant is the way to go. Check out this amazing and forgotten power of plant( https://bit.ly/3dzVMKF).
Susan
Hi –
Thank you for sharing!
Could one use store bought honey if you don’t have raw honey available?
Thanks in advance!
Jacqueline
Susan, yes, but try to get it raw (unheated and with all the pollen), and if you read this, here is why: https://deeprootsathome.com/7-bee-utiful-benefits-of-raw-honey/
I hope that helps!
Blessings,
Jacque
Susan
Thank you so much!
Can I ask another question? I had a friend who had an allergic reaction to raw honey. Can one be allergic or have a reaction?
Jacqueline
Hi, Susan,
I have not heard of this before, but I guess it is possible…about anything is possible these days. ~Jacque
Carol L
Yes, people can be allergic to bee stings, as well as bee products, honey, propolis, royal jelly, etc.
I am sensitive to bee stings, but not to honey or propolis or royal jelly.