This two-ingredient Honey and Onion Cough Syrup is a powerful old folk remedy for coughs and colds. It combines the well known antibacterial and antiviral properties of onion and honey to create a simple, tasty homemade cough syrup to help sooth a sore throat and clear excess mucus.

This simple and timeless recipe for Honey and Onion Cough Syrup was first introduced to me by my mum. She started making this home remedy to help ease symptoms of a sore throat, cough, or nasty cold or flu when my siblings or I would start to get sick (or as a preventative in the wintertime to minimise our chances of catching a cold).

I was very hesitant to try it at first, as who would believe that honey and onion would go well together, but the sweet flavour of the honey pairs so well with the juices of the onion! Who would have thought?

It’s a delicious syrup that immediately brings relief to a dry, sore throat, and helps in relieving excess mucus that can come about from a cold or flu.

This home remedy is a simple one in that it only requires two ingredients and a bit of time to infuse. This traditional recipe for Honey and Onion Cough Syrup involves steeping the raw onions in with the honey for several days, allowing the onions to soften and release their beneficial sulphur compounds.

Make sure that if you are giving this to a child that they are over one year’s old.

The Benefits of this Homemade Cough Syrup

Using raw, unpasteurised honey or Manuka honey helps to provide the body with a powerful dose of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, as well as antioxidants. Honey will also help to soothe a sore, tired, dry, or inflamed throat, while the onions contain the antioxidant, quercetin, which helps in fighting inflammation in the body. Onions are also high in sulphur compounds which have been shown to help reduce inflammation, inhibit growth of bacteria, and support immune health. Plus, as onion is an expectorant, it can help in clearing mucus from the body, common with chest infections or coughs. Honey and onions both contain electrolytes, which are important for keeping the body hydrated, as electrolytes help to direct water to areas where it’s needed most and maintain healthy fluid balance inside the cells.

For another powerful remedy, placing an onion half on the bottom of each foot and covering the feet with socks to hold the onion halves in place can help provide these antiviral and beneficial compounds in another easily absorbable form. These compounds can infiltrate the body via the skin on the feet, and from there, may help to kill bacteria and viruses, purifying the blood.

Before we get started in learning how to make this homemade honey and onion cough syrup, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!

Homemade Honey and Onion Cough Syrup

This Homemade Honey and Onion Cough Syrup may help in soothing a sore throat and ease coughing and congestion.  Due to the raw honey, only use this remedy on children who are older than one (due to Clostridium bacteria that may be present).  Check with your doctor before using this syrup with kids under two years old.  

If you are treating an active cough, take one teaspoon of this syrup three to four times a day until you have recovered. At the onset of any coughing or flue-like symptoms, take one teaspoon of this syrup every one to two hours.

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, peeled and sliced into half-moons
• 1 cup raw honey

To make:

1. To start, slice the onion into thin half-moon shapes and place these pieces into a sterilised glass jar.
2. Add in the honey, pouring in enough to coat and cover the onions. They do not need to be submerged under an inch or more of honey, just enough that all of the onions are well-coated. If your honey is too solid, gently warm it until it starts to become liquid before adding it to the jar with the onions.
3. Leave the syrup to infuse in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight, for 24 hours or up to four days. If the syrup becomes a little fizzy, that’s okay, it’s just fermenting. As long as it does not smell “off” it should be fine to consume. If you need to use the syrup right away, you can start skimming teaspoons from the top of the jar after 30 minutes of making it.
4. If you want to store this syrup for up to two to six months, carefully remove the onion pieces using a clean fork. Then, transfer the jar of syrup to the fridge and use as needed. Make sure to keep an eye on the syrup each day, and watch for signs of spoilage such as an off colour, any presence of mould growth, or an off smell. Discard the syrup if there are any signs of spoilage.
5. If you leave the onions in the syrup, it will only keep in the fridge for up to one week.
6. To use, take one teaspoon of the cough syrup every one to two hours at the first signs of a cold. If you’re remedying a cold that has already started, take one teaspoon three to four times per day. Half this amount for children under ten years old. Stir or shake the syrup before each use, as the ingredients may separate over time.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user’s own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Have you made a homemade cough syrup before? Did you find it helpful? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa