Sick Day Home Remedy

The alarm clock goes off and before you can even open your eyes to greet the day, you are hit with the fact that you have a stuffy nose or a sore throat. You realize with alarm and not a small amount of irritation that you are getting sick, and let's face it, no mama has time to be sick.

Whether it's the flu or a cold, these nasty seasonal viruses come at the most inopportune times and are indiscriminate about who they decide to cozy up to.

Every family has a bit of a "sick mode" routine around their home when the germs come for an uninvited visit.

 In our home, you can find a pretty even mix of store-bought medicine, "old family fixes" and natural remedies that guarantee to make you feel better.

One of my favorite tried and true "old family fixes" for the common cold and flu is Honey Onion Cough Syrup. The recipe was handed down to me by my dad and grandma.

Now, I know the name of this family fix sounds a bit dubious, but it's one of the most effective home remedies I've found to help with a cough, soothe a sore throat, and help fight off a virus.  Not only that, but it's simple and easy to make, only using a few ingredients. For that reason, it is a staple in our home during cold and flu season.

While this recipe isn't suitable for children under the age of one, due to the main ingredient being honey, it tastes much better than over-the-counter cough medicine and you can take it more often without side effects.

There are several variations of this recipe, but the one my family has passed down to me uses just three ingredients and doesn't require any cooking. All you will need is honey, onion, and lemon.

If you are wondering, why we use these specific ingredients, here are just a few benefits.

• Honey is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and a powerful antioxidant.

• Honey soothes a sore throat.

• Onion contains the antioxidant quercetin, which fights inflammation in the body.

• Onion is an expectorant, it helps clear mucus, which is common with a cough.

• Lemon can help loosen congestion.

• Lemons are loaded with healthy vitamin C and antioxidants, which can boost the immune system.

• Lemons have antibacterial properties that fight infections.

Honey Onion Cough Syrup Family Recipe

What you will need:

• 1/2 - 1 Onion

• Honey (raw works best)

• 1-2 Lemons

• Glass jar

How to prepare it:

1. Finely slice or chop the onion

2. Place chopped/sliced onion into bottom of glass jar

3. Cover onion completely with honey

4. Add juice of 1-2 lemons (about 3TBS)

   1. note: you can add more lemon to taste

5. Cover and let sit for a minimum of 24hrs at room temperature before use

Dosage:

• Take 1-2 TBS of the infused honey syrup every 2-4 hours.

  • This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or on the counter for one week. As with all food, check for spoilage before consuming.

Variations:

• You can add some chopped garlic or sliced ginger to this recipe for additional benefits.

  • Ginger calms coughs as well as irritation of the throat. It breaks down and eliminates phlegm while opening the bronchi, helping to ease your breathing.

  • Garlic has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can reduce the severity of the illness, the number of days you're ill and help you heal faster.

    
    

I hope you enjoy this simple and surprisingly yummy cough, cold and flu home remedy as much as we do in our home.

I hope you give this Honey Onion Syrup Recipe a try Dear Reader and let me know what you think in the comments!

NOTE: I am NOT a doctor, and this is NOT medical advice. Always see a health care professional for medical treatment or questions and before taking anything for illness. Using home remedies is a personal decision. Nothing I say on this blog is intended to treat or prevent disease. Consult your own doctor.