Soothe Coughs Naturally with Onion and Honey Home Remedies

Soothe Your Throat with Onion and Honey Home Remedies for Cough

When an irritating cough strikes, you don’t have to suffer through it. Natural ingredients like onion and honey can provide fast, effective relief right from your kitchen. These homemade cough remedies can tackle the underlying causes behind your cough to help you breathe easier.

Why Onion and Honey Work

Both raw onion and honey have properties that make them ideal home remedies for coughs:

• Onions contain quercetin, a strong anti-inflammatory that inhibits coughing.
• Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat while fighting infection.
• Together, they thin mucus, ease swelling, and suppress cough reflexes.
• Onion and honey mixtures are safe for adults and older children.

And best of all, you probably have onions and honey at home already. No need to run to the drugstore when these natural cough helpers will do the trick.

Types of Coughs They Treat

Onion and honey can relieve coughs caused by:

• Colds and flu
• Allergies and post-nasal drip
• Dry air or environmental irritants
• Smoker’s cough
• Asthma
• Pneumonia

Both the antibacterial properties and throat-soothing abilities make onion honey mixtures ideal for productive/chesty coughs as well as dry, non-productive coughs.

Onion and Honey Cough Remedies

Here are easy ways to harness the therapeutic power of onions and honey for cough relief at home:

Onion Tea

Chop 1 large onion and boil in 2 cups water for 5-10 minutes until onions are soft. Strain out the onions and mix the remaining liquid with 1 tsp honey and the juice from 1 lemon. Drink a few sips of this mixture every 2-3 hours to suppress coughs.

Onion and Honey Syrup

Slice 2 onions and boil in 1 cup water for 15 minutes until very soft. Blend or mash the onions, then strain. Mix liquid with 1 cup honey until combined thoroughly. Take 1 tsp as needed for coughs.

Onion Juice and Honey

Juice 2 onions in a blender or juicer. Add 2 tbsp honey and stir to dissolve. Consume 1-2 tsp up to 3 times daily. The straight onion juice maximizes the quercetin content.

Baked Onion with Honey

Cut the top and bottom off a large onion and bake whole at 375°F for 30 minutes until very tender all the way through. Unwrap the layers and drizzle with 1-2 tsp honey. Eat a few layers 2-3 times a day to stop coughs.

Onion and Honey Lozenges

Dice 1 small onion and puree in a blender with 3 tbsp honey until smooth. Pour mixture into a small tray, spread thinly, and freeze. Cut or break into small lozenges and allow to dissolve slowly in your mouth to coat and soothe the throat.

For any recipe, raw organic honey offers the highest antibacterial and healing effects. And be sure to strain out all onion pieces, which could irritate throat tissues.

Other Soothing Home Remedies for Coughs

In addition to onion and honey mixtures, give these natural cough soothers a try:

Warm Liquids

Sipping warm broth, herbal tea, lemon water, and other heated beverages can temporarily relieve coughs by soothing irritation. Add honey for extra coating power. Some favorite cough-calming teas are licorice, mint, and slippery elm.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root contains a mucilage that coats and protects sore throat tissues. Simmer 1-2 tsp dried root in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain and slowly sip. Or take marshmallow root capsules as directed.

Ginger

Ginger’s anti-inflammatory compounds inhibit coughing much like onion. Steep fresh ginger slices in hot water or boil grated ginger before straining. Can add lemon and honey for extra potency. You can also take ginger capsules.

Peppermint Oil

Menthol in peppermint oil offers a cooling sensation to ease throat irritation. For quick relief, deeply inhale the vapors from the open bottle. Or dilute a few drops in water or coconut oil and rub onto your chest.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptol gives eucalyptus its ability to shrink swollen membranes in your throat and clear congestion. Add several drops to a diffuser, steamy shower, or diluted rub. But keep away from children under age 2.

Salt Water Gargle

Gargling with warm salt water pulls excess mucus off throat tissues. Dissolve 1 tsp salt in 1 cup warm water. Gargle a mouthful for 30 seconds before spitting. Repeat each hour as needed to manage coughs.

For best results, combine several remedies like ginger tea with honey and salt water gargles to hit coughs from multiple angles.

When to See a Doctor for Your Cough

Contact your doctor if any cough lasts over 3 weeks or comes with:

• Fever
• Green or bloody mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing or chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss

These may indicate a more serious condition requiring medical treatment. For chronic coughs, see a doctor to check for underlying illness.

Suppressing Coughs Naturally at Night

A nagging cough that keeps you up at night can run you down. Use these remedies to ensure restful sleep:

Humidifier

Dry irritated air passages can lead to coughing fits. Run a cool mist humidifier in your room while sleeping to lubricate your throat and lungs.

Wedge Pillow

Let gravity help your cough by propping up your head and torso on a wedge pillow. This prevents mucus from pooling around your larynx while lying flat.

Neti Pot

Before bed, flush mucus from your nasal passages using a neti pot or nasal irrigation bottle with saline solution. This drainageprevents mucus dripping down your throat overnight.

Guaifenesin

The expectorant guaifenesin thins mucus to stop coughs. Take up to 400 mg with plenty of water right before bedtime as recommended.

Throat Lozenges

Allowing slow-dissolving menthol or eucalyptus throat lozenges to coat your throat overnight can suppress cough reflexes. Just don’t overdo it, as too much menthol could irritate.

Avoid thick cough syrups at night that can pool in the back of your throat while lying down. And skip caffeine, which acts as a stimulant to keep you awake.

Best Foods and Drinks to Soothe Coughs

What you consume during the day impacts irritation and mucus production at night. Focus on these healing foods and beverages:

Warm Fluids

Sip warm broth, herbal tea, or lemon water throughout the day to loosen mucus and temporarily ease coughs through soothing action.

Yogurt

The probiotics in yogurt help speed your recovery from coughs caused by viral or bacterial infections. Choose plain, unsweetened varieties.

Soubps and Broths

Warm, salty broths made from real vegetables, herbs, and spices both hydrate your throat and reduce inflammation. Micronutrients also help heal tissue.

Dark Leafy Greens

Spinach, kale, and other dark greens provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and quercetin for anti-inflammatory benefits internally. Excellent when cooked into soups.

Bananas

The soft texture of ripe bananas coats and protects sore throat tissues. Bananas also replace electrolytes and potassium lost from excessive coughing.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile contains cough-calming compounds called flavonoids. Its mild sedative action also promotes sleep. Sweeten with honey for extra soothing power.

Garlic

Garlic’s antimicrobial effects battle cough-causing bacteria and viruses. Eat garlic in soups or other dishes, or take garlic capsules daily.

When to See Your Doctor for Chronic Coughs

While home remedies can relieve many minor coughs, chronic or persistent coughs lasting over 3 weeks require medical evaluation. See your doctor if your cough:

• Occurs alongside fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain
• Produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus
• Happens after quitting smoking
• Gets worse at night
• Continues after a respiratory infection clears up

Untreated allergies, asthma, COPD, reflux, and other conditions can cause ongoing coughs. Your doctor can help diagnose the root cause and provide appropriate treatment.

For kids’ coughs, see a pediatrician if symptoms last more than 2 weeks or are accompanied by fever, fatigue, or poor eating. Prompt treatment will help prevent complications.

While annoying, coughs are a protective reflex that keeps your airways clear. Be patient, treat at home with natural remedies, and see a doctor if symptoms don’t improve after 3 weeks. With the right care, your cough will resolve and breathing easy again.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.