Today we’re going to ditch the commercial cough syrup and trade it for a natural remedy that works even better. This recipe is made with all-natural, food-based ingredients that provide instant cough relief – and it tastes amazing, too!
The truth is, we reach for over-the-counter remedies because we don’t know there’s an easy, natural alternative.
I wanted to give you the easiest possible remedy to grab when you need help with a cough:
Pineapple juice.
That’s it!
You can sip on pineapple juice for a super easy, effective home remedy for a cough. You don’t even need to make a full cough syrup recipe if you don’t want to.
One study found that pineapple juice alone is effective for suppressing a cough and reducing mucus.
So, while I include an awesome cough syrup recipe below, just know that pineapple juice by itself works wonders.
Why is pineapple juice the best homemade cough remedy?
Between artificial dyes, alcohol, corn syrup, and all the other ingredients in store-bought cough syrup… let’s just say I’m not a huge fan.
Pineapple juice helps you avoid those ingredients, but that’s not the only benefits it provides.
Pineapple juice not only gives you cough relief, it also supports your overall wellness:
- It’s high in vitamin C.
- It’s a good source of calcium and magnesium.
- It’s rich in the anti-inflammatory enzyme bromelain.
- Research has shown it’s amazingly effective as a cough remedy.
- It also tastes delicious – so it’s much easier to get your kids to drink it!
Homemade Cough Syrup with Pineapple Juice
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- pinch of sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper and/or ground ginger (optional)
Instructions
-
Blend or stir ingredients together.
-
Store in a glass bottle (mason jars or these reusable glass bottles will work if you don’t have any leftover glass bottles around).
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Take 1-3 tablespoons as needed to soothe a cough, cold or sore throat.
Recipe Notes
Tip: Try some homemade throat soothing popsicles with your pineapple juice! Just grab a nice set of stainless steel popsicle molds, pour in your juice, and there you go! Kids (of all ages) will be big fans of these.
More Natural Remedy Recipes:
- Homemade Calendula Oil Recipe
- Homemade Pedialyte Recipe with Fruit Juice
- DIY Toner for Acne and Oily Skin
- Home Remedies for Headaches and Migraines
- Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Rande @ RandeMoss.com says
Crazy, I never would have thought of this! Sounds freaking delicious too 😀
Elizabeth Walling says
Definitely delicious! In fact, it’s rather easy to take more than a few tablespoons at a time. Luckily, it’s food so it’s safe! 🙂
Stephanie says
WOW! I definitely have to try this!!! Thanks for the info!
Elizabeth Walling says
You’re welcome! If you try it, let me know how it works for you. 🙂
Gina says
How long will the mixed (including the honey, lemon, etc) cough syrup store? Should it be refrigerated?
Elizabeth Walling says
It should store for at least a couple of weeks in the refrigerator.
Christi says
Have you seen the natural cure for earaches that someone blogged about? (It might have even been here?) Urine! So I saw this photo and I thought, “Please, no, not again!!” 🙂
Elizabeth Walling says
Ha ha! Definitely not urine. Eek!
Cheryl says
I LOVE this!! Last year my daughter had the flu for 6 weeks, and she was 16 at the time. I had it too, but fought it off faster then she did. I tried to get her to take lemon and honey but she didn’t. I was on quercitin/bromelain and taking probiotics and drinking honey/lemon, sometimes with a little rum, alcohol does have anti-inflammatory. How fast does your remedy start to work? Also, what stages of the cough is it most effective? There are different types of coughs.
Elizabeth Walling says
The juice soothes the throat right away to relieve coughing, but any other effect is more subtle and takes consistency to see the benefits. I’m honestly not sure about how it does with different types of coughs. It’s worth a try to figure it out though!
cheryl says
Elizabeth, I feel that the natural enzyme, Bromelain, in pineapple, may be what triggers defense against mucous, bacteria’s, and other cough culprits. Since our pancreas is where all of our good and bad bacteria live and I have read that many diseases start to develop there then go out to a place in the body to find their homes. But, yes, it will be kind of neat to experiment with pineapple. I have always liked fresh pineapple, and pineapple juice! One more thing, I used to have chronic sinus infections from 2006-2012. A friend of mine told me about Bromelain and suggested I take it for 2 years. I did. I have had only 1 sinus infection in 17 months!
Elizabeth Walling says
That’s really awesome! Bromelain is definitely a powerful enzyme.
Beatrice says
I have serious allergy or let me serious sinus infection for about 6 years now. I have been taking Cetirizine every blessed day. If I don’t take the cetirizine a day, I will sneeze, get itchy throat and tears will be flowing from my eyes, and that will be continuous until I take the cetirizine. I am really suffering, what do I do. Naturally.
Thank you.
Bea
Elizabeth Walling says
I’m not a doctor, so I can’t give medical advice as to how to get off of prescription drugs. However, I would look into naturally anti-histamine herbs and essential oils that support sinus health.
Anne Marie says
Ok… google sinus massage for congestion and lymph drainage. Also, try taking Pineapple Juice/Apple Cider Vinegar/RAW LOCAL honey (must be raw and local) as a shot each day…up to three times a day. Also, try to do it before you eat about 30 minutes prior. Pinterest is full of instructionals and recipe amounts. I do about 1 tsp of each. Totally works (and a lot of other benefits).
Dale Moore says
Not a doctor; just telling you what worked for us.
Local Honey!!!! Tablespoon each morning. By next spring, you might see a difference. (my disclaimer, ha)
My daughter did this. GONE.
Makes so much sense. The bees produce something of a vaccine with the local pollen in the form of local honey.
Anne Marie says
My girls had PJ and ended a horrible cough that wanted to stay forever and just get worse at night. As a side note, certain Essential oils are not really useful for children and are even toxic so this is a much better solution. I use Apple Cider Vinegar, Raw Honey and take it as a shot daily for my seasonal allergies. AMAZING. When the kids were sick I just added the PJ and I didn’t get sick. Totally back this information!
Theodora says
Thank you for the infor. I will try it because my nose runs like water outdoors. It is always embarrassing.
Lori says
Definitely! As soon as I step outside my nose turns on. I will be using this recipe this year – and adding the ACV and local honey – all great ideas to improve health.
victoria j ingham says
oh at last I just need to try this as it does sound very full of natural ingriediants not like the over the counter chemist types honestly they just do not work but I have heard pineapple is very good for you so Thank you so much for sharing kind regards
Laura Brittain says
I didn’t have any pineapple juice so put contents tin of pineapple chunks in juice in blender. The result was immediate, it soothed my coughing fits and relief lasted ages. I particularly like this as it requires no added sugar or honey. I will make sure I always have a thin of pineapple chunks in the cupboard. Big thank you.
Elizabeth W. says
So glad you like it! It’s amazing how well it works.
David says
Can these be taken during pregnancy?
Elizabeth Walling says
Because this recipe is food-based, it should be perfectly safe during pregnancy. But always consult with your doctor if you’re concerned.
Maria John says
Extracting the essence from fresh ginger roots by boiling them in water and drinking also help to relieve cough and sore throat. Would like to try pineapple juice next time. Thank you for the post.
Krista says
Thanks for sharing this – I’ve been looking for a good recipe since I heard pineapple was good for coughs. Going to try this with my 4 year old next time she comes home from preschool with a cold. Thanks again!
Kay says
Pineapple is also good for inflammatory issues in your body!