A cough is one of the most common ailments that affect children. A cough makes kids very uncomfortable and cranky, and it can be daunting for parents to see their kids in discomfort. As a parent, you may feel sceptical about giving medicines to your kid, because several over-the-counter medicines may not be safe for your kid. Therefore, you may try homemade cough syrups for curing cough in children. The homemade cough syrups are not only safe for your kid, but they are also very easy to make. Here we shall discuss various homemade cough syrup recipes that you can easily make at home to cure a cough in children.
Homemade Cough Syrups for Children
You may try any homemade cough syrup recipe from the following recipes:
1. Honey and Lemon Cough Syrup:
Honey and lemon is a very good combination for warding off a cough in children. Honey is power-packed with anti-bacterial properties, and it is also a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Lemon, on the other hand, is a rich source of vitamin C. The ample amount of vitamin C in lemon helps in keeping the immune system healthy. Both the ingredients in this cough syrup are very effective in providing relief from a cough.
a. Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 and ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons warm water
b. How to make it?
- Keep the ingredients at room temperature (except water).
- Mix honey and lemon juice in a glass.
- Add warm water to the mixture to get the desired syrup-like consistency.
- Store the contents in a sterilized glass jar.
- You can administer one tablespoon of this homemade cough medicine to your kid, three to four times a day as soon as you register the symptoms of a cold.
2. Milk and Honey:
Milk and honey together work as an effective remedy to cure a cough in children. The soothing properties of honey along with nourishing properties of milk work really well in curing cough in kids. This syrup will not only provide relief from a cough, but it will also help in easing a running nose. Both these ingredients are easily available at home, and you may prepare this homemade cough suppressant for children as soon as you establish the first sign of a cough.
a. Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1/8 spoon or a pinch of turmeric powder (optional)
b. How to make it?
- Take milk in a heavy bottomed pan and bring it to boil.
- After it boils, take the pan off the flame.
- Once the milk gets warm, add honey and turmeric powder to the milk and mix well.
- You may give it your kid as an effective cough remedy any time during the day.
3. Anise Seeds and Honey Syrup:
Anise seeds are well known for its healing properties. It is used for curing upper respiratory tract infections, such as asthma, bronchitis and it is even beneficial in battling cough in children. Anise seeds and honey are very effective in treating symptoms of a cough and cold in children.
a. Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon anise seeds
- 2 cups honey
- 1 and a half cup water
b. How to make it?
- Take anise seeds and crush them.
- Boil water in a pan.
- Once it starts boiling, add the crushed anise seeds in water and boil it till it is reduced to one cup.
- Turn off the flame and add honey to the mixture.
- Once the mix mixture cools down, store it is a sterilized glass container.
- Give one tablespoon to your kid three to four times a day.
4. Honey and Ginger Cough Syrup:
Ginger is anti-inflammatory and has medicinal properties too. Honey is loaded with anti-bacterial properties. Together, both these ingredients work wonders in fighting cough in children. These easily available household ingredients can be used to make cough syrup for children.
a. Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- ¼ cup ginger juliennes; alternatively you can take ½ cup grated ginger.
- ½ fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup water
b. How to make it?
- Take a heavy bottomed saucepan and put water, lemon juice and ginger in it.
- Bring the mixture to boil and then simmer it for 5-6 minutes.
- Take the mixture off the flame and let it cool.
- Once the mixture cools down, strain it.
- Add honey to the mixture and mix well.
- Store the contents in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
- You may give ½ to one tablespoon of this cough syrup to your kid, three to four times a day.
5. Mint and Ginger Cough Syrup:
This is an excellent homemade cough syrup for infants sans the honey. Honey should not be administered to babies who are less than one year of age; rather it is one of the forbidden foods for infants. This cough syrup includes mint, which is loaded with methanol and also has anti-bacterial properties.
a. Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped or grated ginger
- 4 cups water
b. How to make it?
- Take water in a pan.
- Add ginger and mint leaves in the water.
- Boil the water and then let it simmer over the flame for five to six minutes.
- Once the water reduces, take it off the flame.
- Strain the water and refrigerate the contents.
- Bring the syrup to room temperature before giving it to your baby.
- You may give one teaspoon of this syrup to your baby, two to three times a day.
6. Onion, Garlic and Honey Cough Syrup:
The anti-bacterial properties of ginger and anti-microbial properties of garlic and ginger can be combined to make potent cough syrup for the kids.
a. Ingredients
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 onion
- ½ cup honey
- A pinch each of, oregano, thyme and sage
- ½ cup water
b. How to make it?
- Take water and honey and mix well.
- Crush the garlic clove and chop the onion.
- Add onion and garlic to the honey mixture.
- Add thyme, sage and oregano to the mixture.
- Stir all the ingredients well and cover them.
- Let the mixture sit overnight.
- Strain the contents and refrigerate them.
- You may give one teaspoon of this syrup to your kid at the onset of a cough.
All the above-mentioned homemade cough syrups are very effective is treating couch in kids. However, if you notice your kid’s condition not improving or deteriorating further, you should seek immediate medical help. Sometimes children may be allergic to certain ingredients. Therefore it is recommended to consult your doctor before administering any homemade cough syrup to your kid.
