DIY Home Remedy For Bronchitis

As the temperatures start to drop and colder months are approaching, you might be wondering when the first bout of bronchitis might hit. If not bronchitis, a nasty cough from the common cold can even stop you in your tracks. However, traditional prescription and over-the-counter medicines are not only costly but who wants to take them? If you have any doubt, check out the arm’s length list of ingredients in some of those “cures”.

An all-natural home remedy, on the other hand, could save you time and money, as well as potentially harmful ingredients going into your system.

I am going to share a recipe that could be made with ingredients currently in your home. If not, they are readily available…and none of them are difficult to spell or pronounce.

It might not even be bronchitis or a cold. Your cough might be stemming from allergies, asthma, smoking, or other various reasons. So, if you have a cough and want to avoid going into the doctor, or take unnecessary chemicals, this recipe is worth trying!

Homemade Remedy to Help with Bronchitis and Cough

We are fortunate that we are able to tap into previous generations and their wisdom of natural medicine. For many of them, it was a necessity. For us, it’s a wonderful option. Our grandparents and great-grandparents most likely were often treated with homemade natural remedies for bronchitis, asthma, and other various coughing ailments.

The following homemade remedy is an easy recipe that can be made quickly when you feel that you are developing bronchitis, or a cough stemming from something else. However, you don’t need to take this treatment from the onset to provide relief for it to be effective like other treatments require.

The Ingredients

• 1-2 red organic onions, chopped;
• 1 lb brown dark sugar;
• 6 cups of water;
• 2 lemons (juice only);
• 7 tablespoons honey;

If you are a vegan, you can substitute the honey with molasses.

The Reasoning Behind the Ingredients

The combination of these ingredients might seem odd. But, each ingredient is chosen for a specific reason, with some due to their medical component.

The onion is good for strengthening the immune system. An onion is also known to work as a natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant.

Honey and lemons are both great for soothing an irritated throat. Honey is also known for building the immune system and working as an antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral agent.

Brown sugar? Well, it just helps it taste better.

Preparing the Homemade Remedy

The instructions are easy but do require a bit of constant stirring and a careful eye at times, such as when the brown sugar is melting. For example, it’s not melting, then blink and it’s melted…yes, that quick.

So, here are the instructions…

#1. Melt the brown sugar over medium heat, stirring continuously.

The color should turn a reddish tone when it’s ready.

#2. Add the chopped onion.

#3. Add the water.

#4. Bring this mixture to a boil until approximately ⅓ of the water has evaporated.

#5. Remove from the heat and let it cool, then add the lemon juice.

#6. Add the honey, and stir thoroughly.

#7. Pour the liquid, along with the cooked onion, into a glass container with a lid.

Let it sit for the night (or a few hours) before using.

How to Use the Bronchitis Remedy

For adults: Take 1 tablespoon before every meal. You should repeat this until bronchitis or cough has resolved.

For Children: Use no more than 1 teaspoon, in the same manner as you would for adults. However, since it contains honey, you should consult with a physician before giving to a child under the age of 6, and never before the age of 1 due honey containing spores of bacterium that can cause botulism in young children.

This mixture actually tastes better than you might think. The onions are cooked, so they are not as pungent, and the brown sugar, honey, and lemon juice combination have a decent flavor. However, this should not be made in advance and put on the shelf for later. This should be made about a day before starting to use it. In other words, there isn’t anything in this process that would give it long shelf life.

A Bonus Remedy for Sleeping at Night

Bronchitis can be stubborn and linger a bit longer than normal. And, that can often keep you up at night with all the coughing…even if your life goes on with work, school, or any other plans. And, lack of sleep can not only be aggravating but hinder the recovery as well.

So, if you have a stubborn case, or can’t stay home to rest while recovering, you might consider making yourself a hot toddy before bed. It’s easy to make and should help you achieve a better night’s sleep than you would without it.

All you need to do is boil some water, and then pour it in a mug with a tea bag. Allow it to steep for about 5-10 minutes, then add the following:

• A pinch of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1-3 tablespoons of whisky (depends on your tolerance)

Stir the above ingredients until the honey is dissolved. Next, simply drink it to soothe your throat and suppress the coughing. If you don’t want that much liquid before bed, just mix the honey, lemon, and whiskey and drink the smaller amount. My grandma gave this to us kids when we were young, and it works to help with sleep and cough.