When a child has a cough something has to be done or no one’s getting any sleep. Fortunately, raw honey can soothe an irritated throat and suppress the cough reflex, helping kids and adults alike get some shut-eye.

There’s plenty of evidence that honey can make an effective antidote for stubborn coughs. In fact, in the UK, the National Health Service recommends honey as the first treatment for a cough. However, remember that children under a year old can’t have honey. Prior to that age, their immune systems haven’t developed enough to handle it properly.

Multiple studies have shown that honey is as effective as cough syrup – specifically cough syrup with either guaifenesin or DXM (dextromethorphan) – for relieving cough symptoms in children. When you consider its potential for toxicity and the fact that, in many cases, cough syrup just plain doesn’t work for childrens’ coughs, honey is a no-brainer home remedy.

If you or your child are caught with a cough, try this recipe for homemade cough syrup made with raw and unfiltered Local Hive Honey. It features your immune system’s treatment trifecta: lemon, ginger and honey. Plus, this recipe is enough for multiple doses, so if it does the trick after just a few spoonfuls, you can store it in the fridge for up to two months.

Ingredients:

Zest of 2 lemons

1/4 cup ginger, sliced or 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 cup water

1 cup honey

1/2 cup lemon juice

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add in lemon zest and ginger, then simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Strain mixture into a measuring cup and discard the remaining zest and ginger.
3. Warm the honey on low.
4. Add the strained lemon-ginger water and lemon juice. Stir the mixture until it combines to form a thick syrup.
5. Pour into a clean jar with a lid and store in the fridge.

For ages 1 to 5, take 1 tsp every 2 hours. For ages 5 to 12, use 2 tsp every 2 hours. For ages 12+, take 1 to 2 tbsp every 4 hours.

If that isn’t quite enough to relieve your cough, try adding roughly ½ tsp of some of these other effective, if somewhat less delicious, all-natural ingredients to help soothe your throat:

• Cayenne pepper, which reduces pain
• Sage, which kills viruses and bacteria
• Garlic, which is anti-inflammatory and stimulates the immune system