Syrup
Onion & honey cough syrup
There is no simpler recipe in the whole apothecary. One large onion, covered in honey, in a clean jar. That is it.
The onion draws in on itself, the honey turns thin and runny, and after a day you have a syrup that tastes far better than it sounds. Sweet first, then a small kick of onion behind it.
And it is one of the few old remedies where the research has caught up and agreed: honey eases a cough at least as well as over-the-counter syrup, and better than nothing in children over 1 year.
Use organic honey straight from a beekeeper if you can. It is unprocessed, and that is part of the point.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- Organic honey, enough to cover the onion completely, preferably raw and straight from a beekeeper
- For a starting infection, choose one: a few sprigs of thyme, 2-3 sage leaves, or 1 clove of garlic
- For a dry cough or something anti-inflammatory, choose one: 2 cm fresh ginger, 1 tsp turmeric, or 1 tsp powdered liquorice root
Equipment
- Clean jar with a tight lid, such as a mason jar
- Sharp knife
- Strainer
- Spoon
Method
- 1
Slice the onion thinly and put it in a clean, dry jar.
- 2
If you want the syrup to do something extra, add it now. Thyme, sage or garlic if an infection is starting. Ginger, turmeric or liquorice root if the cough is dry, or you want something anti-inflammatory.
- 3
Pour over honey until the onion is completely covered. Press lightly so the air pockets escape.
- 4
Close the jar and leave it at room temperature.
- 5
After 24 hours it is ready to use. It improves and grows runnier over the next couple of days, but do not leave it longer than 4 days.
- 6
Strain out the onion, pour the syrup into a clean jar and refrigerate.
Dosage
Adults: 1-2 tsp as needed, up to 6 times a day.
Children over 1 year: 1 tsp, up to 3-4 times a day.
Take it neat from the spoon, and do not drink anything straight after. Part of the effect is that it settles as a film in the throat.
Shelf life
Up to 4 days at room temperature while the onion steeps. After straining it keeps 2-3 weeks refrigerated.
If it starts bubbling strongly, smells of yeast or alcohol, or smells sour rather than sweet, discard it.
Safety
Never for children under 1 year. Honey can carry spores that cause infant botulism, and a gut under a year old cannot keep them in check. After the first birthday it is not merely safe, it is actually recommended for coughs.
Use a clean, dry jar, and do not leave the syrup longer than 4 days at room temperature. The onion adds water, and diluted honey loses its own preserving power.
If you choose liquorice root, read this: liquorice raises blood pressure and can lower potassium. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease, or you are pregnant, choose ginger or turmeric instead. Liquorice root should not be used for more than a couple of weeks at a stretch either.
If you choose sage, remember it suppresses milk production. If you are breastfeeding, choose thyme or garlic instead.
Turmeric and ginger are mildly blood-thinning. If you take anticoagulants, stick to the simple version with onion and honey.
If you have diabetes, remember the syrup is pure sugar. Discuss the amount with your doctor.
A cough lasting more than three weeks, or one with fever, breathlessness, chest pain or blood, belongs with a doctor.
How the herbs work
Onion contains sulphur compounds and quercetin, which loosen mucus and calm inflammation. They are the same compounds that make you cry when you slice it.
Honey is the best-documented part of the whole recipe. Several trials and a Cochrane review indicate that honey eases a cough at least as well as over-the-counter syrup, particularly night-time cough in children over 1 year. It settles as a film over the irritated membrane and is mildly antibacterial as well.
The optional additions each work their own way. Thyme loosens mucus and acts antibacterially in the throat. Sage calms irritation. Garlic contributes allicin against bacteria. Ginger and turmeric ease inflammation. Liquorice root lays a protective layer of mucilage on a dry throat.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.