Finding the best cough syrup for adults and/or children isn’t easy. But it’s well worth the effort since coughs often accompany colds and flu.
While there are many over-the-counter cough syrups you can take to suppress a cough, they often come with side effects, like drowsiness. Moreover, popular cough suppressants are filled with unnecessary artificial colors, preservatives (like polysorbate 80 and propylparaben), sucrose, and high fructose corn syrup. Far from what the best cough syrup should be like!
In fact, the active ingredient in many commercial cough remedies is dextromethorphan; it can adversely interact with many other medications, especially anti-depressants and hypertension medication. (1, 2)
Dextromethorphan works by blocking cough signals to the brain. It therefore doesn’t nourish and protect, it incites an unnatural chemical reaction that messes with neurotransmission. In addition, prescription cough medications often contain codeine, which can be addictive even in small doses. (3)
Fortunately, there are natural ways to treat a cough that work just as well as all those chemicals without messing with your brain.
The Best Cough Syrup For Adults & Children
Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients used in the best cough syrup recipe below:
Honey has been used for time immemorial for all types of ailments, including coughs. It’s not only sweet and tastes good, it’s effective medicine. One of Nature’s perfect foods, honey is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and soothes a sore throat with its thick creaminess. Honey can be applied topically in a plaster or taken internally to naturally fight coughs and reduce mucus in the lungs—whatever the cause.
Ginger is a medicinal wonder. With anti-inflammatory qualities, phytochemicals in ginger boost the immune system to help your body combat the cause of your cough. Ginger is antibiotic and has been shown a powerful substance against viruses that attack the respiratory system.