Simple Soothing Cough Syrup

Benefits of Onion Honey Syrup:

Honey: Antibacterial, supports the inflammatory response,  promotes antioxidative support and soothes sore throats. Raw honey is unfiltered and unheated, preserving its natural enzymes and antimicrobial properties. Local honey is also beneficial, as it contains trace pollen from nearby plants that may alleviate seasonal allergies. There’s lots of research on PubMed about the medicinal benefits of honey too.

Onion: Contains quercetin which helps fight inflammation in the airways. It acts as an expectorant. Expectorants help thin and clear mucus in the respiratory tract.
Additionally, it provides electrolytes for hydration, and sulfur compounds that support health. The allicin and flavonoids in the onion also offer antimicrobial protection.

What you’ll need: Clean glass jar, onion, honey

Instructions:

✅ Chop and dice an onion. You’ll want to fill your jar about ¾ of the way with onion so chop accordingly.

✅ Add onion to the clean jar, leaving room at the top.

✅ Pour in enough honey to cover the onion.

✅ Secure the lid and gently rotate the jar until all onions have been covered by the honey.

✅ Let sit for 24 hours  (up to a few days) at room temperature in a pantry or cupboard.

✅ It’s Ready! Use a small mesh strainer and gently pour to separate the onion from the syrup.  Set onions and strainer aside. You can eat the onions or add them to a meal.

✅ Place lid on honey onion syrup and place in the refrigerator and use as needed.

Storage: If you decide to keep the onions in the syrup, this will typically last about 1 week in the fridge.

For longer storage (a couple of months), remove the onions. If at any point it smells a bit funky or doesn’t seem right, please toss it. Types of honey, fridge temps, etc, can all affect its longevity. I like to make mine in small batches and consume it more frequently.  

Adult Dosing Suggestions: (half this for kiddos OVER 1 year of age*)

• Onset of Symptoms: Take ½-1 teaspoon every 1-2 hours.

• Active Cough: 1 teaspoon 3-4 times daily until recovery.

In case you didn’t know, I grew up with naturopathic medicine. It’s been a part of my life since childhood. I don’t just teach it and advocate for it, I live it. It really can be simple to adopt this mindset and lifestyle. Let me guide you on how to make that shift!

*Disclaimer: If you have any specific health concerns, it’s always a good idea to chat with your doctor, hopefully your ND. Never give honey to an infant under 1 year of age. Please remember that while honey is a natural ingredient, it is still sweet so be mindful to consume it in moderation, especially if you have been diagnosed with pre/diabetes, diabetes or other metabolic conditions.