Simple homemade cough syrups and other easy home cough remedies can quickly help both adults and kids stop coughing.
They can also ease sore throats and chest inflammation that prolong painful coughs.
So at first signs of a cough use the recipes here to whip up from your cupboards :
- Gentle cough syrup for kids
- Or a stronger cough syrup for adults.
PLUS these other quick and easy natural :
This is NOT qualified medical advice. See a doctor with these cough symptoms.
Cough Syrup For Kids
This homemade cough mixture is suitable for kids over 1 who are old enough to eat honey. Do not give honey to babies.
The recipe is especially useful for kids as even fussy eaters usually find it palatable.
Cough Syrup Ingredients
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Real runny honey
- Optional : pure glycerine
Lemon and honey are natural antibiotics that soothe throats to suppress coughs whilst glycerine is a natural humectant which stops our throat from drying out.
If you don’t have the ingredients check out these other instant cough remedies for kids.
How To Make Cough Syrup
- Cut lemon in half
- Squeeze juice into a glass jar
- Add as much glycerine as lemon juice
- Slightly warm lemon juice & glycerine in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds
- Add as much honey as lemon juice, roughly 50 ml, to mixture and stir gently.
How To Take Cough Syrup
Give children :
- 1 teaspoon of cough syrup
- Every 4 hours
- For 3 days.
Teenagers and adults can take 2 teaspoons but may prefer the cough syrup for adults which is lower in natural sugars.
Storing Cough Syrup
Store cough syrup in fridge for up to 4 days.
1 lemon typically gives 30 child portions of syrup, i.e. enough for 2 kids for 3 days. If you don’t need all that, use half a lemon and freeze remaining juice in an ice cube tray.
Don’t freeze the cough syrup as it reduces the healing benefits of the honey.
More Cough Remedies For Kids
These quick home cough remedies for kids will also suppress coughs and help children get the sleep they need to heal properly :
- Natural yoghurt
- Coconut oil
- Honey water
- Warm apple juice
- Warm berry juice
- Pineapple juice
- Homemade humidifier
- Popsicles & slushies
Use them instead of cough syrup if you don’t have all the ingredients to hand or in between cough syrup doses.
Natural Yoghurt
1 or 2 dessert spoons of natural yoghurt can ease inflammation, soreness, dryness and infection to suppress coughs. Give every 4 hours between cough syrup doses.
The yoghurt must be pure natural yoghurt without sugar, flavourings or preservatives.
Coconut Oil
1 or 2 teaspoons of coconut oil acts as natural demulcent to suppress coughs moisturising and relaxing kids throats. Give every 4 hours in between other remedies.
Honey Water
For instant cough relief simply stir 1/2 teaspoon of honey into slightly warm water and encourage child to slip slowly.
Warm Apple Juice
This natural cough remedy for kids can helpful with chesty coughs. Gently warm in a pan 1/2 cup of pure apple juice with 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Pour warmed juice – NOT hot – into a mug over 1/2 teaspoon of honey and stir.
Warm Berry Juice
If you have any berry juice – sugar and additive free – you can make berry tea as above. It also helps relax the chest and gives a big boost of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice can be a helpful cough remedy for kids with chesty coughs. Pineapple contains anti-inflammatory bromelain which can break up mucus.
You can even make a simple cough syrup with pineapple for chesty coughs …
Homemade Humidifier
Keeping bedroom air moist can help suppress kids dry coughs at night but you do NOT need a fancy humidifier! Simply pop a clean, damp dish cloth or even a little cotton vest on the bedroom radiator in the evening.
Popsicles & Slushies
Popsicles and slushies can be useful cough remedies for kids with very dry coughs and painful sore throats. The cold can numb pain and keep kids hydrated when these coughs come, as they often do, with a temperature.
NB a fever and painful sore throat or cough can be signs of serious illness in children. Always seek medical advice.
Cough Syrup For Adults
Adults can take the cough syrup for kids above but may prefer this potent natural version that most kids won’t find palatable.
To make this cough syrup for adults simply whisk up these ingredients in a glass jar :
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons real honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup of slightly warm water
Take a few teaspoons every 3 or 4 hours. Store with a lid on for a week in the fridge.
Don’t make perfect the enemy of good – use what you have! If watching sugar levels swap coconut oil for honey or omit honey.
If you’re super short on these ingredients or want other cough remedies for adults to take in between the cough syrup, check out the extra cough relief tips below.
Extra Cough Relief For Adults
Adults can of course use any of the cough remedies for kids above but have also got extra – less kid friendly – options :
Salt Gargle
Simply gargle 1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water for 30 seconds.
Turmeric Gargle
Gargle for 20 seconds 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric mixed in warm water.
Cinnamon Water
Stir 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon into cup of warm water. Leave for a few minutes, then drink slowly. The cinnamon won’t dissolve but soothing benefits will seep into water.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Add 1 teaspoon of ACV to small glass of warm water and gargle for 20-30 seconds.
DIY Sore Throat Teas
A quick cup of DIY sore throat tea can relax both throat and chest. You can make these sore throat teas from basic kitchen supplies.
Cold Relief Tea
If you are suffering with a full on cold and a mucus heavy chesty cough this homemade cold relief tea can really help …
I do hope these quick homemade cough syrups and cough remedies help the whole family to stop coughing fast.
For more simple cough and cold remedies check out these posts :
- Natural Cold Remedies
- Sore Throat Remedies
- Blocked Sinus Relief
- Simple Natural Antibiotics
- Natural Headache Relief
- How To Restore Energy
