Make your own cough syrup: You only need two ingredients.

It couldn't be simpler: You can make a home remedy to soothe a cough with just two ingredients. Who is this homemade cough syrup suitable for – and what are its limitations?

appears in many advice guides: An onion is finely chopped and layered in a glass with two tablespoons of honey. After a few hours, juice forms, which is then taken by the spoonful. Utopia describes this minimal recipe precisely as a cough syrup variation with only two ingredients.

Several health websites list onion juice with honey as a classic home remedy for coughs associated with colds. Onions contain sulfur compounds and essential oils, which are said to have expectorant and antibacterial properties. Honey, in turn, coats the irritated mucous membranes and is perceived as soothing by many people.

There is even some research on honey: reviews and evaluations commissioned by health organizations confirm a moderate effect of this home remedy for acute coughs. In several studies, honey alleviates nighttime coughs in children, sometimes better than a placebo or over-the-counter cough medicines, especially in terms of cough frequency and severity.

It remains important to remember: onion juice with honey is a home remedy, not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or guideline-based therapy. Those experiencing severe or persistent symptoms, fever, shortness of breath, or pre-existing conditions should seek medical advice. This is also emphasized by neutral health portals, which, while mentioning honey as an option for coughs, clearly place it within the context of a common cold.

Home remedies checklist for everyday life – when onion juice is useful

Who should use this cough syrup: Homemade onion syrup is particularly suitable for mild coughs associated with colds, without serious accompanying symptoms. Many people use it in the evening to soothe a cough. Since it's made from kitchen ingredients, this home remedy is an easy option for adults and older children – as long as there are no allergies to onions or honey.

What honey can demonstrably do – and what it can't: Honey is considered one of the few traditional cough remedies with measurable benefits. Systematic reviews and a Cochrane analysis show that honey often reduces cough symptoms in children with acute infections better than a placebo or some standard medications. The effects aren't spectacular, but they are practical for everyday use, for example, for more restful nights. However, this home remedy doesn't target the cause of the illness, but primarily alleviates the symptoms.

Important warning: No honey for babies: One point is non-negotiable: Children under one year old should not be given honey. Experts such as the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, pediatricians' associations, and hospitals have been warning for years about the risk of infant botulism. Honey can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can germinate in infants' intestines and cause severe poisoning. For older children and adults with a stable gut flora, however, honey is considered safe.

Vegan option, sugar instead of honey – with limitations: Some guides suggest sugar or sugar syrup as an alternative if the cough syrup is to be vegan or if no honey is available. The resulting onion syrup then resembles a sweet onion infusion. However, specialist websites point out that the research specifically refers to honey, not table sugar. The vegan onion syrup may still feel pleasant, but it doesn't replace the data on honey.

When medical advice is important: A cough lasting several weeks, high fever, chest pain, bloody sputum, or significant shortness of breath are warning signs where home remedies are insufficient. Health portals also explicitly advise consulting a doctor instead of attempting self-treatment in the case of young children, people with heart or lung conditions, and if the condition worsens.

In conclusion, onion juice with honey is a simple home remedy that has many fans in everyday life – and there is indeed some evidence for honey's effectiveness against coughs. However, anyone using this recipe should be aware of its limitations, consistently keep babies away from honey, and seek medical help for serious symptoms. Then the DIY cough syrup will remain what it should be: a gentle supplement, not a sole treatment.

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