Homemade Cough Medicines

When you have a nagging and annoying cough due to a cold or the flu, your first reaction is to buy an over-the-counter cough medicine. While that's fine, many people with chronic medical conditions can't take cough medicines. According to WebMD, cough medicines with decongestants raise blood pressure. If you want to avoid taking commercial cough medicines, you can make effective home cough remedy from two basic ingredients: honey and lemon.

Things You'll Need

• Mixing Bowl
• Lemon juice
• Honey
• Water (warm and cold)
• Container with lid
• Cayenne pepper
• Ginger
• Vinegar (optional apple cider vinegar)

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Instructions

Simplest Homemade Cough Medicine

• 1

  Pour three tablespoons of lemon juice into a mixing bowl.

• 2

  Pour one cup of honey into the mixing bowl with the lemon juice.

• 3

  Slowly add one-quarter cup of warm water to the bowl with the lemon juice and honey. Stir as you pour it into the bowl.

• 4

  Pour your homemade cough medicine into a container, cover and store in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling.

• 5

  Drink one or two tablespoons of the cough medicine to help soothe your cough and irritated throat.

Stronger Homemade Cough Medicine

• 6

  Add one-quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a mixing bowl.

• 7

  Add one-quarter teaspoon of ginger to the bowl.

• 8

  Add one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar for a sweeter taste.

• 9

  Add two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the contents, pour into a container and store in the refrigerator.

• 10

  Take at least three teaspoons of this concoction for your cough as needed. Be aware that it may not taste as good as the basic lemon and honey recipe because of the vinegar and cayenne pepper.