Easy Home Remedies for Alleviating Cough Naturally

Easy Home Remedies for Alleviating Cough Naturally

Written and medically reviewed by Veronique Claes d’Erckenteel, D.C., chiropractor since 1991 · Last reviewed: 15 October 2026

The best cough remedies at home are the ones already in your kitchen: a warm ginger, lemon and honey tea, a spoonful of honey before bed, onion syrup, thyme tea and steam with eucalyptus. Most of them have been passed down from generation to generation, and several now have good studies behind them too. They soothe the throat, loosen mucus and support your body while it clears the cause. Most coughs settle within one to three weeks; one that lasts longer is worth getting properly checked.

A cough is not your enemy. It’s your body’s way of keeping the airways clean, pushing out mucus, dust and germs. That’s why the best natural cough remedies don’t just switch the cough off. They calm the irritation behind it and give your body what it needs to finish the job.

Many of the remedies on this page came to us the way they came to most families: from mothers and grandmothers who made onion syrup on the stove and put a towel over your head above a bowl of steam. Some of them have since been studied properly, and where that’s the case, I link to the research. Where a remedy is traditional use only, I say so. Both have their place.

Not sure what kind of cough you’re dealing with? Start with our guide on how to stop coughing, which helps you find your type of cough first.

Table of Contents

• Why We Cough, and What a Cough Is Trying to Tell You
• What Is the Best Home Remedy for Cough?
• 14 Natural Home Remedies for Cough
• Onion Cough Remedies: Grandmother’s Favourite
• Natural Cough Remedies for Adults
• Which Remedy for Which Cough?
• Essential Oils for Cough: Diffuser and Steam
• Home Remedies for Cough in Children
• When to Get Your Cough Checked, and by Whom
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why We Cough, and What a Cough Is Trying to Tell You

When something irritates your airways, whether that’s mucus, dust, smoke or a virus, nerve endings in your throat and lungs send a signal to your brain, and your body answers with a strong burst of air to push it out. The cough reflex is one of the most important ways your lungs protect themselves.

So an occasional cough is completely normal. Most coughs that last a week or two come from an ordinary cold. Others come from mucus dripping down the back of the throat, from acid reflux, from dry air or from allergies. Knowing which one you have tells you which remedy to reach for, and that’s where home remedies really shine: they’re gentle enough to try, and you can match them to the cough.

Ginger, honey, thyme and marshmallow root also make wonderful teas. Our guide to tea for cough has a recipe for each.

Tip: Pay attention to your cough for a day. Is it dry or wet? Worse at night, after meals, or in the morning? That one observation will tell you more than any list of remedies.

What Is the Best Home Remedy for Cough?

If I had to choose one, it would be a warm ginger, lemon and honey tea, because it brings four remedies together in one cup: warmth, ginger, vitamin C and honey. Honey on its own has the strongest research of all the natural cough remedies. But the honest answer is that the best natural cough remedy is the one that fits your cough:

• Dry, tickly cough: honey, marshmallow root and humid air.
• Wet cough with mucus: steam with eucalyptus, thyme tea, ivy leaf and onion syrup.
• Cough that keeps you awake: honey before bed, a raised head and a diffuser.
• Cough with a cold: ginger tea, broth, salt water gargles and lots of rest.

Start with one or two of the best home remedies for cough below, give them a few days, and add more if you need them.

14 Natural Home Remedies for Cough

1. Ginger, lemon and honey tea

This is the classic, and for good reason. Grate or slice a thumb of fresh ginger, simmer it in a cup of water for 10 minutes, squeeze in half a lemon and stir in a spoonful of raw honey once it has cooled to drinking temperature. Warm, not boiling, so the honey keeps its goodness.

Every ingredient pulls its weight. The warmth loosens mucus and relaxes a tight throat. Ginger calms inflammation, and a 2024 review of plant remedies for cough lists it among the extracts that work on the inflammation behind a cough instead of only suppressing it. Lemon adds vitamin C, and honey coats the throat. Drink two or three cups a day while the cough lasts.

2. A spoonful of honey

Honey is one of the oldest cough remedies there is, and one of the best studied. A Cochrane review of honey for children’s coughs found it eased coughing better than no treatment and about as well as some common cough syrups. A spoonful straight from the jar before bed is especially good for a cough that keeps you awake. Raw or manuka honey is my choice. Never give honey to a baby under 12 months. More in our guide to honey for cough.

3. Onion syrup

This is pure grandmother medicine, and one of the easiest cough remedies at home. Slice an onion, layer it in a jar with honey, leave it overnight and take a teaspoon of the syrup several times a day. More onion cough remedies, with the full recipe, are just below the list.

4. Thyme tea

Thyme has been the herb for chesty coughs for centuries, and this is one where the old wisdom and modern trials agree. In a trial of 361 adults with acute bronchitis, a thyme and primrose root extract reduced coughing fits more than a placebo. At home, pour hot water over a teaspoon of dried thyme (or a few fresh sprigs), cover it for 10 minutes so the oils stay in the cup, strain and add honey.

5. Ivy leaf

Ivy leaf has specific components, called saponins, that loosen mucus, relax the airways and calm the urge to cough, often quite quickly. A systematic review of ivy leaf for colds and coughs found that every trial reported fewer symptoms with ivy leaf, though most studies were small. Use it as a syrup or a ready-made ivy leaf tea from a pharmacy or health shop. Never pick garden ivy yourself; the fresh plant irritates the skin and stomach.

6. Marshmallow root

Marshmallow root turns into a soft, slippery gel in water, which coats a raw, scratchy throat. It’s traditionally used for dry, tickly coughs, and lab studies show its polysaccharides calm the cough reflex. Soak a teaspoon of the dried root in a cup of cool water for a few hours, strain and sip throughout the day.

7. Licorice root tea

Licorice root has a naturally sweet taste and has been used for coughs and sore throats in both European and Chinese traditions. It soothes the throat and helps loosen mucus. Simmer a teaspoon of dried root for 10 minutes. Keep it to a week or two, and skip it if you have high blood pressure, heart or kidney problems or are pregnant, because licorice can raise blood pressure.

8. Steam with eucalyptus

Sit over a bowl of steaming water with 5 drops of eucalyptus oil, put a towel over your head and breathe in for 10 to 15 minutes. The steam moistens your airways, and eucalyptus does a lot more than smell fresh: a review of six trials with 1,857 people found eucalyptus products improved cough more often than a placebo. More on oils below.

9. Propolis

Propolis, the resin bees use to protect their hive, is part of my own go-to routine: 10 drops three times a day. In a trial of 122 adults with a mild cold, people using a propolis spray got over their symptoms about two days sooner than those on a placebo. For children, choose an alcohol-free version. Skip it if you’re allergic to bee products.

10. Salt water gargle

Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle a few times a day. It’s one of the simplest remedies there is, traditionally used to soothe the throat and rinse away mucus that triggers a cough. Great for older children and adults who can gargle without swallowing.

11. Chicken or vegetable broth

Every culture has its healing soup. A good broth gives you warmth, fluids, salt and nutrients when you don’t feel like eating. And it may do more: in a laboratory study, chicken soup slowed down the white blood cells that drive inflammation in the airways. Make it with plenty of onion, garlic, carrots, celery and herbs.

12. Liposomal vitamin C

During a cough I take liposomal vitamin C, and more than the dose on the label. Vitamin C supports your immune system, and taken regularly it shortened colds in a Cochrane review. Read about why I choose liposomal and how I take it in our guide on how to stop coughing.

13. Humid air and a raised head at night

Dry air from heating makes every cough worse. A humidifier, a bowl of water on the radiator or a hot shower before bed keeps the airways moist. Sleeping with your head slightly raised helps when mucus drips down the back of your throat at night. See how to stop a cough at night.

14. Rest

The simplest remedy of all, and the one we skip most often. Your body has its own capacity to heal, and it does most of that work while you sleep. Give it the time.

Onion Cough Remedies: Grandmother’s Favourite

Onion is probably the oldest cough remedy in European kitchens. Every family seems to have its own version, and they’ve been passed from generation to generation. These are traditional remedies rather than something tested in clinical trials, but onions are rich in sulphur compounds and quercetin, and many families swear by them for a chesty cough.

Onion and honey syrup

1. Peel and thinly slice one medium onion (red or white).
2. Layer the slices in a clean glass jar, covering each layer with raw honey.
3. Close the jar and leave it at room temperature overnight, or at least 8 hours.
4. The onion releases its juice into a thin, sweet syrup. Strain it, or spoon it straight from the jar.
5. Take a teaspoon every few hours. Keep it in the fridge and make a fresh batch after 3 to 4 days.

Honey makes this syrup for adults and children over 12 months only. For more recipes, see our homemade cough syrups.

Onion tea

Simmer half a sliced onion in two cups of water for 10 minutes, strain and add honey and a squeeze of lemon. It’s milder than the syrup and a warm way to get fluids in.

An onion by the bed

Many grandmothers put a cut onion on a saucer next to the bed at night. Many people find the sharp smell helps a blocked nose, and it’s a gentle tradition that costs nothing. Use a fresh one each night.

Natural Cough Remedies for Adults

Some of the strongest natural cough remedies are meant for adults, because they’re too concentrated for young children. These are the ones I use myself:

• Propolis drops in alcohol, 10 drops straight onto the back of the throat, three times a day.
• Eucalyptus steam with a towel over your head, 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times a day, and the diffuser running at night.
• Liposomal vitamin C at two to three times the label dose for a few days, as I explain in how to stop coughing.
• Licorice root tea for a dry cough, for a week or two, if your blood pressure is normal.
• Ivy leaf syrup or thyme extract at the adult dose on the label.
• A hot shower before bed, followed straight away by honey and a raised pillow.

Adults who smoke, have asthma or a heart or lung condition, or take regular medication should check with their doctor or pharmacist before starting herbal remedies, because some herbs, like licorice, can interact with medication.

Which Remedy for Which Cough?

Want something that calms the cough reflex itself? See our natural cough suppressants. Want to bring mucus up more easily? See natural expectorants. A cough that comes with a cold? Our head cold remedies cover the whole picture.

Essential Oils for Cough: Diffuser and Steam

Essential oils are one of my favourite ways to support a cough, especially at night. In a diffuser they fill the room with fine, fragrant vapour that you breathe in while you sleep. These are the oils I reach for:

In a cineole trial, people with acute bronchitis had fewer coughing fits after four days, and a clinical review recommends steam inhalation for 10 to 15 minutes, two to four times a day, with a short rest afterwards.

Get the eucalyptus oil I use (Affiliate link: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

I only ever buy food grade, quality controlled essential oils; cheaper oils can contain other chemicals you don’t want to breathe in all night. Never swallow essential oils unless a professional tells you to. For more, see our guides to essential oils for cough and essential oils for bronchitis.

Home Remedies for Cough in Children

Children’s airways are smaller and more sensitive, so a few remedies change with age:

• Honey: from 12 months only. Under one, honey can cause infant botulism.
• Essential oils: from age 3, eucalyptus in the diffuser in their bedroom. Between 2 and 3, use a blend made for small children like Plant Therapy Sniffle Stopper KidSafe. Under 2, no oils: a humidifier and a steamy bathroom do the job. Never put undiluted oil on or near a child’s face.
• Steam: sit together in a steamy bathroom instead of using a bowl of hot water.
• Propolis: an alcohol-free children’s version, not under 12 months.
• Teas and broth: mild ginger, thyme or chamomile tea with honey, and plenty of warm broth.

For croup, toddler coughs and more, read our guide to cough remedies for children. If your child has coughing fits that end in a “whoop”, read about whooping cough in children and see a doctor first.

When to Get Your Cough Checked, and by Whom

Home remedies can carry you through the vast majority of coughs. What makes them work is knowing what you’re treating, so a cough that doesn’t follow the usual pattern deserves a proper diagnosis first. Then you can choose the right natural treatment with confidence.

• Get help straight away for trouble breathing, chest pain, blue lips, coughing up blood, or any cough in a baby under 3 months. Call 112 (Europe) or 911 (US) in an emergency.
• See your GP or family doctor for a high fever, coughing fits with a “whoop”, or a cough that keeps getting worse after a week.
• A cough lasting more than three weeks deserves a proper look. If it goes on for two months or more, a pulmonologist (lung specialist) is the right person to find the cause.
• A cough with a constantly blocked nose or throat clearing points to an ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat).
• A cough with heartburn or a sour taste points to a gastroenterologist.
• Children: your pediatrician, especially for babies, a barking cough with noisy breathing, or a child who is very sleepy or not drinking.

More in when a cough needs a doctor and our medical disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best home remedy for cough?

Honey has the strongest research behind it, and a warm ginger, lemon and honey tea combines several remedies in one cup. For a chesty cough, add steam with eucalyptus and thyme tea. The best remedy depends on your type of cough.

What are the best cough remedies at home?

Ginger, lemon and honey tea, honey on its own, onion syrup, thyme tea, ivy leaf, steam with eucalyptus, a salt water gargle, a good broth and plenty of rest. All of them use things you probably already have.

What is the best natural cough remedy for adults?

For adults I use propolis drops, eucalyptus steam and a diffuser at night, and liposomal vitamin C, together with ginger, lemon and honey tea. Ivy leaf and thyme extracts at the adult dose are good additions.

Does onion help a cough?

Onion syrup made with honey is one of the oldest traditional cough remedies in Europe. It hasn’t been tested in trials, but it’s gentle, cheap and many families use it for a chesty cough.

How can I stop coughing naturally?

Drink warm fluids, take honey, breathe in steam with eucalyptus and rest. Match the remedy to your cough: soothing remedies like marshmallow root for a dry cough, and mucus loosening ones like thyme and ivy leaf for a wet cough.

What are easy homemade cough remedies?

Ginger, lemon and honey tea, onion syrup, thyme tea, a salt water gargle and a good homemade broth. All of them are made from things most kitchens already have.

Does ginger help a cough?

Yes. Ginger calms inflammation and relaxes the throat, and as a warm tea with lemon and honey it also loosens mucus and keeps you hydrated.

Which essential oils are good for a cough?

Eucalyptus is the best studied. Thyme, tea tree and lavender are also traditionally used. Use them in a diffuser or as steam, and follow the age guidance for children.

Can children use home remedies for cough?

Yes, with a few age rules: honey from 12 months, a kids’ oil blend from 2 and eucalyptus from 3. Warm drinks, broth, humid air and rest are safe at every age. See your pediatrician for any cough in a baby under 3 months.

Recommended

• How to Stop Coughing: What to Do When You Can’t Stop
• Tea for Cough
• Homemade Cough Syrups
• Honey for Cough
• Dry Cough Remedies
• Natural Cough Suppressants

Some links on this page are affiliate links, marked as such. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This article is for general information and does not replace a diagnosis from a qualified professional. Read our medical disclaimer or browse more natural remedies.

Veronique Cleas D'erckenteel

See Full Bio