Grandma’s Homemade Cough Syrup
We are talking about liquor. Medicinal liquor. The stuff that generations of sick folks depended upon before the invention of dextromethorphan.
I decided, after waking up yet again with a fully congested head and ears along with an inflamed painful throat, that I’m not taking any more drugs for this stuff.
I’ve been on an anti-biotic for 7 weeks along with various cough suppressants, expectorants, and heavy doses of ibuprofen for rib pain. Obviously, nothing is working or else my body has built up resistance to them.
And the “nighttime” prescription narcotics keep me wide awake with itching skin and weird states of in-between sleep.
It’s time to handle this the all natural way. What did our ancestors do when a head cold/flu/sinus crap got ahold of them? They used what the Good Lord gave them. Honey, lemon, peppermint (for flavor) and whiskey.
I vividly remember a jar that sat on top of my grandmother’s refrigerator before it was either used up or it disappeared.
I remember seeing various members of my family take a spoon and dip out of it. . . some only once. Some certain family members needed a little more healing than one spoon could give.
But I remember the big peppermint stick and that is what I found myself holding in the checkout line at the grocery store. You can usually find these around the holidays.
What do you need to make this?
Grandma’s cough medicine is 4 ingredients: peppermint, honey, lemon, and liquor/whiskey. I don’t think it really matters which liquor you use. My family always used a dark whiskey/ bourbon. The point is NOT to get so drunk you can’t stand. Why these 4 things?
- Honey coats the throat, is anti-bacterial and builds the immune system. It can also be used for burns and keeps infection away. Honey also draws pus out of wounds and sores.
- Whiskey works as an anesthetic to the cough response so you can sleep. If you can't sleep, your body can't rejuvenate. Whiskey is also higher in antioxidants than red wine so it fights free radicals too.
- Lemon provides Vitamin C and helps the liver cleanse the body. Lemon is one of the best foods for the liver because it cuts through mucous which often accompanies colds. It is also alkaline once it's ingested which is especially good while fighting flu and coughs.
- Peppermint flavors the syrup and stops coughing. Spices such as cayenne pepper, ginger and cinnamon can be added for flavor and extra healing. Just make sure they are thoroughly mixed.
What is a "Big Peppermint Stick"?
The big peppermint sticks may not be as easy to find as years ago. I find them every year at walmart or the grocery store.
If you can't find one around the holidays in the gift basket or specialty candy sections of the grocery store, just use regular peppermint sticks or the candies. The sugar and peppermint is for flavor only.
When I saw the peppermint stick as soon as I walked in the store and had the revelation to ditch the meds, I also decided to fill my basket with flu-fighting foods.
I loaded up with a whole chicken for soup with bone broth. Salmon for Omegas, spinach for fighting free radicals, asparagus to clean out the bladder/kidneys, and nuts for clean protein.
If I’m going all natural with the cough/congestion medicine, I’m sticking to real foods, too.
The Verdict: I slept great last night. I have a lot of congestion but I got some good sleep.
Grandma's Homemade Cough Syrup
Using whiskey, honey, lemon, and peppermint, this homemade cough syrup is just what you need for sleepless coughing nights.
Ingredients
- 1 peppermint stick, large
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup bourbon or whiskey
- 1.5 cups raw honey
Instructions
- Melt ¼ a peppermint stick in ½ cup of water and ¼ cup of lemon juice (or juice of 1 lemon).
- Add a half of cup of Southern Comfort and 1.5 cups of raw honey to pot and reduce heat.
- Stir to combine. Put ¼ of a peppermint stick in jar.
- Using a funnel, pour the mixture over ¼ of peppermint stick (total of ½ of peppermint stick used.)
- Let it cool. Store in cool dry place.
Notes
Dosing: 1-2 Tablespoons every 3-4 hours as needed. No need to swig the jar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g
OMGosh!! Have been coughing for a couple of days and remembered when my in-laws gave me some of their "homemade cough syrup" and how good it worked. Searched and came up with your sight.
Good Stuff!! Thanks.
sorry, "site".
By cooking the liquor, there would be zero alcohol content. Ethanol boils at 173* F -- much lower than water. I'm going to try this, but I will adjust by adding the liquor to the jar before pouring the heated mixture.
Trust me, there is plenty alcohol content. I didn't boil it. I melted the peppermint in water/lemon juice. Turned the heat to lowest setting. Added whiskey and honey. Stirred until combined, approx. 1 minute, then removed from heat. 🙂
Good point! I would add the honey at the end too so as not to destroy the natural antibiotics.
@Roo, If you do that, the alcohol serves no purpose and you might as well be adding more water. The alcohol is there for a reason.
@Katrina, could you just use peppermint extract?
@Cindy, no. It MUST be a whole peppermint stick. Not the little round ones. Not extract. If anything else, maybe leaves from an actual peppermint plant.
If i used peppermint essential oil instead of the peppermint stick do you think this would work just as well? Thanks!
Only way to know is to try
The peppermint oil will float on top. I would use peppermint candy.
My Mom always used this for my Dad when he was sick. We just use a Tablespoon of each thing and
mix in a cup when needed! Easy and it
soothes. They lived to be 94 & 96!
Thanks for photo and reminder!
Try Peppermint Schnapps instead of peppermint.
@James, Peppermint Schnapps is what I've always used since Granny passed away at the ripe old age of 101
If you pour honey in while mixture is above 130° you will kill the bacteria fighting agent. Let cool for 20 minutes, then add hony while it's still warm enough to blend.
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@lori, Always, add liquor and honey after it cools, other wise it won't work as well
This is such an easy recipe for homemade cough syrup, and it is great that you provided photos for the step-by-step procedure which makes it more easier. I have known of whiskey to also cure for sore throat (blended with honey, of course). Thanks for sharing. - Howard
My mom made something similar, except she didn't use any alcohol and she used pure peppermint oil instead of a peppermint stick. I just made up a batch of hers, and even without the whiskey, it packs a punch with the cold and cough.
Why make things complicated? When I'm sick the last thing I need is complications. All you need to do is throw the stuff together and add a little bit of this and/or a little bit of that for your taste, take a sip (I took a large sip) and wake up the next morning feeling better than you have in days.
@ how do nyou make the syrup your mom made .would send me what go in it would appreciate hearing from you. thank patrick
,
I use peppermint schnapps, honey, lemon juice and soft peppermint round candy that I crush. I do not heat, just shake and put in the refrigerator. Shake before each dose. It helps wheezing from asthma.
Oooh...I love the schnapps idea...
If ill, for more than a week with cold or virus...I CHANGE MY TOOTHBRUSH OUT FOR NEW ONE, so not to RE-INFECT MYSELF.
If new brush, boil some water so hot, add 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts boiled hot water..soak toothbrush for 10 mins.
It shortens lifespan of bug, and changes environment bug likes.
You can’t reinfect yourself. Once you’re over the cold you’ve developed antibodies and you’re immune.
@Joe,no, a virus doesn't enter your body and say "oh they have antibodies we need to leave". It still infects you, your body is just ready for the fight. So you can reinfect yourself. You just might not be aware you've done it.
@Maria,
Then tell me how exactly the flu shot works since you know so much? When you get a virus you can not reinfect yourself with that virus more than once. Your body does create antibodies so that when it comes in contact with the virus then the body's memory remembers and does not reinfect you. The flu shot is last years strain but if you get the same strain you already had then your body will not allow it in. Do your research coming from a nurse. Just saying
@Crystal, coming from a DNP for over 20 years it is always recommended that you change out your toothbrush or disinfect after being sick with a cold or flu. Yes you build antibodies but in certain viruses and people those antibodies are short lived or become weak and you can become reinfected. Vaccines DO NOT keep you from getting sick with a virus they just help you fight it so hopefully you don’t get as sick as you may without the vaccine. Yes current flu vaccines are based on last years prominent strains but you absolutely can still get the flu. Also your body takes weeks to build enough antibodies against a virus, it is not immediate just because you got sick. So yes you should change or at the very least disinfect your toothbrush once your symptoms resolve. You should also keep your toothbrush covered to avoid cross contamination with other viruses or bacteria in your bathroom but that’s another lesson for another day.
Dad made it with whiskey, honey, lemon, and rock candy. Just dont know the measurements.
@David, and that's how I remember my grandma making hers
@David,1 pint whiskey. 1/2. Corn syrup. Rock candy
What’s the shelf life?
I remember my family having this Homemade Cough Syrup for apx 4 to 6 mos, it depends on how often you need to take it, my family poured it into an old Vicks Cough Syrup Bottle and they weren't small back then.
Search the Old Vicks Cough Syrup.
@Debi, tasted like black licorice. One of my favorites. Can’t lie, but I also love black licorice.
@Debi, I made this at the start of the pandemic and still have the jar. Does it ever really go bad?
We always used Rock n Rye. Hard to find now. I just replenished my bottle .
Abc store is where I bought mine last night!
My Grandmother use to mix up something very similar, put some rock cAndy in large Mason jar, extremely tight lid (To keep me ok of it) and put it on top of her upright piano.
Used as.needed for months. I sure loved thst stuff, LOL.
The honey and peppermint will melt in it's own from the alcohol and acid in the lemon. If you heat the honey your ruining everything good about it, the liquor too. Dump it all together shake it and let it sit an hour or so it will be ready to go...I make this often.
Hi Rochelle honey I have been this for over 50 years and it gets better when it is is all heated up but I only mix mine for about 5 minutes and then only when you take it
Hi Rochelle honey I have been doing this for over 50 years and it gets better when it is all heated up but I only mix mine for about 5 minutes and then only when you take it
Is there a version of this for children? Thanks in advance ❤
Did you ever get any response on the measurements? My mother would make this, only she'd get the old fashioned clear rock candy on a string, the top of the line Seagrams 7 whiskey to start. Only she made a 1/2doz batches at tge beginning of summer. She'd cut off about 6-8 inces of the rock candy put it in a pint size mason jar filled the jar with whiskey put the lid on tight, then it sat somewhere she'd be able to see, get to it and shake it every time she'd think of it through the summer months until the rock candy completely disappeared. Then she'd remove the string, added a couple of Tbsp of the frozen, concentrated orange juice melted just enough to be able to scoop it out. Then she'd shake the jar till it was mixed. She would get some of the brown cough medicine bottles from our pharmacist (this was back in the 60's so it really was a pharmacist who could mix up Rx's from the doctors, and so always had empty new brown bottles). I actually found them at my veterinarian's office since she too mixed meds when it was needed. Anyway, she'd fill the bottles put them in the fridge. And our immediate and extended family were set for the winter.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get mine done this summer and my kids are now paying for it. So I was hoping i could find out if it was okay to make a "quick" batch without destroying what was in it that worked. I had never seen my mother do it any other way so i was not sure it was possible. This site seems to feel it is so I'm going to try but was really hoping someone could let me know if it really helps. When I saw that your "tonic",as my Nanie always called it, was very close to my families it gave me hope. Could you let me know if you made yours and how it worked please? I know it's a few years since you wrote this but I'm crossing my fingers that you'll see my call for help and be able to respond. I would greatly appreciate it and my girls would be overjoyed, my youngest suffers from athsma and it's being affected terribly with what she has and the "normal" meds are doing absolutely nothing to help her. Again, thank you in advance
My mom's childrens version? Use a smaller spoon. I'm not being cheeky that's what she did, lol. I never had an issue. Of course she didn't give it to us before school, if we were able to go but if we stayed home and before bed we were given it. We ended up being better within a day or two and always slept very well. I was a sickly child. Dr. diagnosed me with bronchitis which I would get year round. I remember being really embarrassed go grocery shopping with my mom after A.C. became common. I'd be in a winter coat and hat in the middle of July! My daughters pediatrician told me that i probably had Childhood Asthma. All I know is that I sounded like a barking seal, couldn't breath and spent a lot of time under a towel over a vaporizer filled with Vicks. But I have to say even now at 56 years old that whenever I smell Vicks I am immediately comforted and relaxed, lol.
This, minus the peppermint, is what I took as a kid. It's not like they're drinking the whole concoction.
@Joann, yeah you can throw some together. The candy is pretty much for taste. Use room temp ingredients and you’ll be, probably, better off than leaving it set bc bacteria that’s not so good, will grow too. Brown bottles were used to shade light into the contents so store in a dark cupboard.
What are you calling a large peppermint stick?
Mix equal parts LHW shake well use as needed !
This is what I do!
Quick
Simple
Very effective l
@Cynthia Brooks,
1/3 lemon juice
1/3 honey
1/3 whiskey
Shake well &
Take before bedtime or if you are where you can sleep because it WILL put you to sleep!
No driving!!
Morning I laughed when I ran across this I am 63 and my mother use to make this for us minus the peppermint and I raised my children on it and now I give it too my grandchildren