Quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot or on the stove-top, this old-fashioned homemade cough syrup uses real food ingredients to help relieve a persistent cough and sore throat!
Remember when I gave you a peek inside my medicine cabinet? Nothing's changed… I'm still fighting illness with food!
It's always best to keep your immune system strong to keep from getting sick in the first place. For us, we like to use the immune-boosting tips in this post.
My most recent addition to our natural homemade remedies is this cough syrup — made with one of my favorite kitchen gadgets, the Instant Pot!
If you don't have an Instant Pot, don't let that dissuade you! You can easily make this recipe in a saucepan on the stove instead.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love giving my family all-natural ingredients that not only fight illness, but also nourish their bodies.
Fresh herbs have many medicinal benefits on their own, and when you combine them together they can be a powerful remedy!
Here are a few reasons I love this recipe:
- It whips together very quickly.
- It lasts a very long time in the refrigerator.
- I can be confident giving it to my family because I know every ingredient used to make it.
- It really works!
Benefits of Honey And Herbs For A Cough
I've got nothing against plain ol' raw honey as a natural cough remedy. I've given my family many a spoonful of it to ease a cough. It's powerful, and it works!
Yet, for stubborn coughs or coughs that accompany colds, herbs and spices speed healing and bring relief more quickly.
This is where my Instant Pot comes in handy. Using the Sauté feature, I can gently simmer herbs in water with a constant temperature. No more adjusting the stove and babysitting the pot!
Ingredients Needed
- Fresh Thyme* – Fresh thyme is anti-inflammatory and disinfecting. It's the perfect addition to homemade cough syrup, especially when the cough accompanies a cold. And you just can't find its lovely herbaceous flavor in any store-bought syrups.
- Fresh Sage* – Traditionally added to old-fashioned cough syrup recipes, sage is anti-inflammatory and an expectorant.
- Fresh Ginger – Ginger works as an expectorant to loosen and break up mucous in the lungs. Gingerol, the main bioactive compound in ginger, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and immune-boosting properties. Exactly what we need to fight illness and stop persistent coughing! If your cough is caused by a bacterial infection, you want ginger in your Instant Pot cough syrup! (Source.)
- Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin “relieves the pain by suppressing a chemical that carries the pain message from nerves in the affected area to the brain” (source). This is especially relieving if coughing causes or worsens a sore throat. Feel free to omit or reduce this ingredient if you plan to administer your homemade cough syrup to children or sensitive adults.
- Lemon – Finally, lemon is anti-bacterial, helps boost the immune system, and can open up the sinuses. I've even used it alongside raw garlic to treat strep throat!
*In this recipe, use either thyme or sage. Both are unnecessary since their properties are very similar. Medicinal use of sage is contraindicated for pregnancy, so please use fresh thyme if you are pregnant.
Now that you know a little bit about the ingredients, let's make cough syrup in the Instant Pot!
Directions
Now that your ingredients are gathered and ready to go, let's get started!
- Add water, thyme, and chopped ginger to the Instant Pot and press the “Sauté” button.
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Simmer the herbs in water until reduced by half.
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Allow it to cool until the temperature is warm, not hot, steeping the herbs the entire time.
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Strain the liquid into a bowl through a fine-mesh sieve, discard or compost the thyme and ginger.
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Return the thyme-ginger tea to the Instant Pot.
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Whisk in honey, lemon juice, and optional cayenne pepper, and stir until all the honey is dissolved.
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Transfer cough syrup to an airtight jar or bottle and store in the refrigerator for best results.
How to Use Homemade Cough Syrup
More Immune Boosting Remedies
- Immune Boosting Homemade Elderberry Gummies
- Homemade Elderberry Tincture
- 7 Immune Boosting Remedies
- Cinnamon Licorice Tea (to boost your immune system)
- Pepper Juice – An Immune Boosting Tincture
- 14 Herbs to Boost Immunity
- Homemade Beef Broth
- Homemade Vegetable Broth
Have you made this homemade cough syrup? If so, I want to see your homemade remedies! Snap a photo and tag me on social media @tradcookschool! Then leave a star rating on the recipe card below to tell us how you liked it!
Homemade Cough Syrup
Make homemade cough syrup with real food ingredients to help combat the cold and flu season naturally. This easy old-fashioned remedy works wonderfully.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pure water
- 8 fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup ground ginger finely chopped
- 1 cup raw honey preferably local
- 1 organic lemon juiced
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
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Put water, thyme, and chopped ginger into the Instant Pot.
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Press the Saute button.
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Simmer the herbs in water until reduced by half.
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Allow to cool until the temperature is warm, not hot, steeping the herbs the entire time.
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Strain.
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Discard or compost the thyme and ginger.
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Return the thyme-ginger tea to the Instant Pot.
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Whisk in honey, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper, if using.
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Transfer to an airtight jar or bottle.
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Syrup will keep in a dark cupboard for 1 week. After that, it should be stored in the refrigerator.
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Administer a tablespoon as often as necessary to soothe a sore throat and calm a cough.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Store up to one week at room temperature, or up to a month or more in the refrigerator.
- For stubborn coughs or coughs that accompany colds, the combination of honey, herbs, and spices speeds healing and brings relief quickly.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. All information is meant for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home.
This post was originally published and written by Lindsey Dietz on 10/10/16. It was updated and republished on 2/10/21.
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After the directions in step 8 how long to you leave the thyme-ginger tea in the Instant Pot? Your directions don’t say and then goes on to step 9 of putting the Cough Syrup in an airtight jar or bottle. Thank you! I can’t wait to make this 🙂
You simmer the herbs in water until it’s reduced by half, then strain. Make sure to cool the “tea” before adding the honey so as not to destroy the benefits of raw honey. Mine was ready for honey in about 15 minutes.
Why is the liquid returned to the Instant Pot in Step 7 if the Instant Pit is not turned on again?
Carol, I return it to the pot to whisk in the honey, lemon, and cayenne pepper. It was easier for me to whisk those ingredients in the larger pot of the Instant Pot than in my smaller Pyrex measuring cup. You do what works for you! 🙂
I just got my Instant Pot last week – so excited!
Just wanted to clarify the instructions…you are using the saute function with the lid off? And when you add the honey….you are just re-using the pot as a mixing bowl? Not cooking again, right? Keeping the honey raw to maintain all its beneficial properties….
Thanks for this recipe! It looks doable and we have colds right now.
Yes, Nikki, the lid is off. Add the strained “tea” back to the pot and then add honey to the warm tea, but don’t turn the heat on so as to keep the honey raw. That’s right!
Great! Thanks!
Why use the instant pot at all since your not pressure cooking? Seems like it could be just done in a pot on the stove.
From the post, “This is where my Instant Pot comes in handy. Using the Sauté feature, I can gently simmer herbs in water with a constant temperature. No more adjusting the stove and babysitting the pot!”
We just moved to Nepal, and I have a pressure cooker (pot) and a gas range. I’ve never used an Instant Pot and am only just learning how to use my pressure cooker. Wondering if there is a relatively simple way to adjust the directions? Thanks for this recipe!
You could make it on the stove in a stainless steel pot, if you have one. Follow the directions by simmering the herbs in water until reduced by half. Remove from heat, let cool, strain, add honey. It would work!
super, thanks so much! Half my family has come down with a headcold that has lead to the “Kathmandu Cough” so I’ll be making up a batch of this tomorrow!
Hi! I wonder what is an instant pot?
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that also has the ability to saute, slow cook, and keep warm. There are links within the post for you to get more information or buy one if you decide you just can’t live without it! 😉
I was wondering if you know how long this will keep in the refrigerator? Winter is almost here in Wisconsin, so I won’t have access to my fresh thyme much longer. If I make up some batches, I’m wondering if it would keep through the winter/spring? Honey never spoils, but with the other ingredients, it probably does. Do you have any thoughts on that?
I would say it could safely last for a month, maybe longer. Just go by taste and smell. If it tastes or smells off, it’s probably off. And of course, if it begins growing mold, you know it’s time to toss it.
Why not store in the freezer? Then take it out as you need it.
Where can I find out more information about the instant pot and about how and where to purchase one?
The Instant Pot is linked within the post, so feel free to click on those for more info! 🙂
Thank you so much! Made this last night…breastfeeding and have a terrible cough. How long will it keep in the fridge?
I have an Elite Platinum Programmable 8-qt electric pressure cooker.. how is the “Instant Pot” different?
Just the name and possibly some features are different. I have the power pressure cooker XL 6qt and also an instant pot 8 qt. Different name brands with different features
Thanks for sharing. What to give this a try.
I made this today, and it is very runny. Is that supposed to be the consistency?
It’s definitely not thick like store-bought cough syrup. Mine thickened up a bit once it chilled in the fridge. The benefits are not found in the consistency, but in the ingredients. Hope that helps!
Hello Lindsey! I know this post is over two years old, however, I had to compliment you on this recipe. I made it for my sick children(croup). I had the same question about consistency so your reply cleared that up. I did use the stovetop method. In addition to your recipe(well minus cayenne), I added the peel from the lemon in pot while it was cooling. The taste was splendid straight off the spoon! Thank you for this lovely recipe!
Hello, I am so interested in getting this instant pot a try. Do you store your cough syrup in the jar in the pic? Where did you get the jar? I absolutely love it.
Thank you in advance
Hi Brenda, No, I don’t store it in that bottle… I put it in there just for the photo. If I had a cork to fit in it, I probably could! Ironically, I think I paid $1 for that bottle at a thrift store. So there’s no telling where it’s originally from or what it’s actual value is! I’m glad you like it! (I store my syrup in a plain ol’ Mason jar.)
Can you use dried thyme? I have a ton of dried sprigs that I harvested from my garden this year.
Yes, I believe dried sprigs would also work!
How do you simmer with the Instant Pot? Simmering is to stay just below the boiling point while being heated. If I use sauté it comes to a rolling boil. Am I doing something wrong and need to press a different button?
I use the Saute feature, Dee. It only needs 5 minutes of simmering (medium-small bubbles rising to the top), so you shouldn’t be at a total rolling boil yet. Are you covering it w/ the pressure sealing lid or glass lid? Perhaps it’s holding in too much heat, causing the temperature to come to boiling sooner?
I guess I just don’t understand why you’d go to all the trouble to use the instant pot when it would be simpler to just make this on the stove. Am I missing something?
The point of this recipe, Angela, is to show the Instant Pot’s versatility. If you prefer to make the syrup on your stovetop, that’s totally fine!
Is the Instant Pot and Electric Pressure Cooker the same thing?
The Instant Pot is a specific brand of electric pressure cooker. There are other brands, though the IP is the one we at TCS use! Hope that helps!
So sick this week! Just made a batch of this to help with my cough.
We’ve been sick all week too! Feel better! I hope the cough syrup helps!
I wanted to share how I’ve been using this over the past few days. I was taking a TBSP at a time but I grew tired of going back to the refrigerator every 20 or 30 minutes. So I poured about 1/4 cup in a small bowl (a cup would work) and I sip it over the course of 5 or so minutes. Almost like a tea.
This has been especially helpful when a “fit” of coughing comes up.
~Danielle, TCS Community Manager
That’s awesome, Danielle! I hope you’re feeling better!
I made this with a normal pan not a pressure cooker and its more liquid not like syrup but i think the benefits stays the same .
This sounds like an excellent cough recipe! Thanks for making it available in PDF form for keeping!
Just curious if there is a dosage suitable for toddlers?
I don’t want to destroy all the medicinal properties in raw honey that can easily be destroyed at high temperatures, such as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do you know if there is an option with the instant pot to cook at a temperature under 120 for several hours so that I can infuse my honey?
I know that there is a yogurt option on the instant pot that cooks below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but I have no idea if that option would work with my honey.
Any guidance would be great!
Turn off the IP and let cool for 5 min. Stir in honey, etc. It will infuse slowly while in cupboard for a week. Or heat very low an hr to infuse for present illness.
If I don’t have the dried ginger powder can I use fresh ginger? If so how much would I use? Thanks!
I have a few questions that were asked but weren’t answered yet. Can we use fresh ginger instead of dried. If so, how much? Also, what dose do you recommend for a one year old? Thank you!
Why keep in dark cupboard for a week?
If you are traveling and will be without a refrigerator it’s good to know that it will last at room temp for a week as long as it isn’t in the sun.
What if you dont have Instant pot ??? How do you make it ?
Would this be worth making with dried herbs?
Is it ground (dried) ginger or fresh ginger, finely chopped?
Have you ever tried to make any of your syrups into cough drops?
I made it and succeeded! Thank you for your recipe!
Just made this for my family who have been coughing for two days. While I DO have an instant pot, I opted for cooking on the stovetop. Just use a pot, over low heat. It will boil with herbs and once reduced I turned off the burner and let it cool (just as the recipe suggests). ? I enjoyed the process and the fragrance, can’t wait to have my loved ones try this. I have a picky one, so interested to see how he does with this. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Can I use a crockpot for this recipe? Thank you!
Hi, Jeanetta.
We have not made it in the crockpot. Since it needs to simmer you may try doing it stove top instead. Your crockpot may not be hot enough to simmer it.
~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
Is it dried ginger powder, or fresh ginger? The recipe says 1/4 cup ground ginger, finely diced. That is very confusing! So is it ground ginger, or fresh? Would like to make this before cold and flu season hits. Thank you!
Can you make it without the thyme it’s hard to find where I live and my kids are always coughing.