DIY: Homemade Cough Syrups For Children

Children often fall sick and one of the most common sicknesses among children is cough and cold. Since children get cough and cold pretty often it is not advisable to give them over-the -counter medicines regularly.

Many experts do not recommend giving children medication frequently for common cold and cough, especially if the child is below the age of 6. Children get quite irritable when they have cough and cold, during such times you can give them certain homemade medicines that give will your child much needed relief.

Below we list down 8 simple do-it-yourself recipes for common cold and cough.

Homemade Cough Syrups For Children

1. 1. Honeyed Milk/ Honey and Milk: Honey is one of the most common household remedies for children. It is known to cure sore throat effectively. When combined with the beneficial properties of milk. It restores the nourishment lost by the child and helps to clear his/her throat. This syrup will help reduce nasal dripping as well.
      Ingredients:
      • 1 glass warm milk
      • 1 teaspoon honey
      • A pinch of turmeric powder

      Directions: Mix 1 teaspoon honey in a glass of warm milk. Add a pinch of turmeric. Stir well. Give this to your child every day or whenever he has a cold

   2. Honey and Lemon Syrup: Lemon is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to strengthen the immune system. Honey has antibacterial properties. It is a rich source of iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Honey and lemon together act as an effective cough medicine.
      Ingredients:
      • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
      • 1 cup honey (room temperature)
      • 1/4th cup water

      Directions: To 1 cup honey add 3 tablespoon lemon juice. Add warm water and stir until the mixture is smooth. Store the syrup in a clean jar. Use 1 tablespoon at the first sign of cough

   3. Anise Seed Syrup: Anise seed is known for its healing properties. It is commonly used for cough, asthma and bronchitis. Anise seeds along with honey are highly effective to treat common cold and cough.
      Ingredients:
      • 1 tablespoon anise seeds
      • 1 ½ cup of boiling water
      • 2 cups honey

      Directions: Crush the anise seeds. Add the crushed seeds to 1 ½ cup of boiling water and let it steep until it reduces to 1 cup. After that add 2 cups of honey to the reduced mixture of water and anise seeds and stir. Let the syrup cool and then store it in a clean jar. If you refrigerate it, the mixture will last for a good 2 months. Give 1 teaspoon to your child whenever he has cough. To a child that weights 25lbs or below give half teaspoon. You can give this syrup to your child four times a day

   4. Honey and Olive Oil Syrup: Olive oil reduces the inflammation in the chest tremendously and also helps with the cough. When combined with honey’s antibacterial properties this syrup becomes extremely beneficial.
      Ingredients::
      • 3 lemons
      • 3/4th cup organic honey
      • 1/4th cup extra virgin olive oil

      Directions: Pour honey and olive oil in a pot. Add juice of 3 lemons. Let this mixture simmer on medium heat. When the mixture begins to steam, turn off the gas. Let it cool and then store it in a clean container. This syrup will last for 3 months if refrigerated. Give one teaspoon to your child at the first signs of cold and cough

   5. Garlic, Onion and Honey Syrup: Garlic and onion are antimicrobial in nature. As previously stated honey has antibacterial properties and is also rich in anti oxidants. When combined together they form a potent syrup.
      Ingredients:
      • 1 onion
      • 1 clove of garlic
      • ½ cup honey
      • ½ cup water
      • A pinch of oregano
      • A pinch of thyme
      • A pinch of sage

      Directions: Mix ½ cup honey with ½ cup water and keep it aside. Chop the onion and the clove of garlic. Add chopped onion and garlic to the honey and water mixture. Add the above mentioned herbs to the mixture. Cover the mixture and let it steep overnight. Next day strain and pour the mixture in a jar. Use one teaspoon whenever required

1. Garlic and Honey Syrup: Garlic is well known for its healing properties especially against cough and cold. This syrup is simple to make and is highly helpful to treat cold and cough.
   Ingredients::
   • 1 head of garlic
   • 1 cup organic honey
   • 1 jar/ container

   Directions: Finely slice the garlic and spread it in the bottom of the container (in which you want to store the syrup) evenly until a layer is formed. Then add a layer of honey. Keep alternating between the layers of honey and garlic. This way the garlic will be completly soaked in the honey. Cover the jar and let it rest overnight. By morning the garlic will be completely settled at the bottom and you will have a thick liquid. Use a tablespoon whenever your child has a cough. You can give him this syrup 3-4 times a day

2. Honey, Ginger and Lemon Syrup: The ginger root has medicinal properties and is used to treat nausea, headaches, cold and flu. This syrup is highly effective since it combines the goodness of ginger lemon and is enriched with Vitamin C of lemon.
   Ingredients::
   • 2 small pieces of ginger
   • 2 lemons
   • A pint of honey
   • 1 jar/ container

   Directions: Cut the lemon in thin slices and the ginger as well. Put the sliced ginger and lemon in the jar. Pour honey over the mixture until the ginger and lemon drown in honey. Cover the mixture and store it in the refrigerator. Add 2 tablespoons of this mixture to a cup of warm water and let your child drink it whenever he has cold or cough

3. Horseradish Syrup: Horseradish helps your body to get rid of mucus. If your child has dry mucus it is not a very good sign. Horseradish will help to get rid of the dry mucus. It also has antibiotic properties.
   Ingredients:
   • 1/4th cup honey
   • ½ a horseradish

   Directions: Grate half horseradish and add it to 1/4th cup of honey. Let this mixture rest for a few hours. Give one tablespoon to your child when he has dry cough and cold

**Please note that Honey should not be given to kids under 12 months of age** Read more about it here

Other Tips To Calm Cough In Children

Apart from the above mentioned DIY homemade cough syrups, the below tips can also help to alleviate cough in kids:

• Reduce or eliminate diary: Diary products produce mucus, and hence are best avoided when kids are dealing with cough with phlegm. However, if milk (breast, formula or other) is the primary food for your child, do not eliminate it
• Chest rub: You can use olive oil and give your child a nice chest rub. It can help break nasal congestion and ease the symptoms of cough
• Warm bath: A warm, steam bath can also help to calm cough in children
• No smoking: make sure that smokers stay away from kids and there is strictly no smoking inside the house
• Seek medical advice: If the cough lasts for more than days, it would be best to seek medical advice

Please note that the above homemade syrups are not a replacement for regular and prescribed medicines.