The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kels (Philly, Pa) on 10/17/2011
★★★★★
My poor 4 year-old had the worst cough he has ever had. I tried treating it with honey, chest rub (on chest and feet), diluted apple juice, bananas (he got tired of those after only one) and cough drops. Well let me tell you, after reading your remedy of 1/2 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar and 1/4 cup of water, and trying it - he was 50% better after the first dosage.
I used Manuka Honey and unfiltered ACV with warmed water from the stove, he said it was strong, but he actually drank it. I was so pleased with the results that I had to reply and tell you and EC - THANKS!!! It was really worth the research and has solidified my faith in natural products.
Vicks
Posted by Victoria (San Diego, Ca) on 02/12/2011
★★★★★
My 5 year old son has a cough that really flared up today. There were constant hacks the whole day through. I looked here on earth clinic and saw the Vicks remedy, went to the store a couple hours ago and applied it to the bottom of his feet in the car. I put his socks and shoes on and at my young daughters request we stopped at the park where they played for an hour. There was only 2 coughs in the last couple of hours.
Tonight will be the true test when I put him to bed, but so far I must admit it seems to have made a difference for the better.
Garlic, Honey, Lime
Posted by Kara (Chatham, Ma) on 11/11/2010
★★★★★
My husband is from the moutains in Jamaica. When I was pregnant and could not have cough syrup, I learned this remedy from him. It works! You can make a thick syrup or tea. Something about the three ingredients together soothes the cough for hours.
Vicks
Posted by Angie (Mount Juliet, Tn, Usa) on 09/17/2010
★★★★★
This is the second night I've put Vick's on my 6 month old's feet for her cough. Works like a charm. I was skeptical, but she's sleeping like a baby, literally.
Essential Oils
Posted by Jackie (Belfast, Northern Ireland) on 07/10/2010
★★★★★
My daughter gets occasional asthma and on some of these occasions the coughing is quite troublesome at night. It not only disrupts her sleep but mine too. However, I have found that mixing 2 or 3 drops of each of the following essential oils (frankincense, cypress and lavender) has soothed the cough, allowing everyone to get a good night's sleep. I have used this for years and I can truthfully say that in her case it has worked everytime.
I would "not" recommend using an oil burner with a candle for night time use. It is safer to use an electric oil burner. Or if you do not have one, just try putting the oils on the pyjamas/pillow/tissue etc. Or maybe even in a bowl of water or place on a damp cloth over a low heat radiator. Just so long as the oils are being inhaled.
Heather's Cough Formula
Posted by Heather (Ortonville, Michigan, Usa) on 03/04/2010
★★★★★
Hi recently out of frustration i mixed this up for my 5yr old because he was coughing constantly for a week and nothing was coming out. I knew he was at risk for infection because I had the same thing and got myself over it in less then 4 days, however it is not so easy to get a little one to take things. should have treated him sooner.
I took freshly squeezed juice of a half of an organic orange, half of an organic lemon, 1 tsp organic non pasteurized etc. apple cider vinegar, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, splash of Tabasco sauce, few drops of organic garlic juice, few drops of juice from freshly chopped onion (after sprinkling sugar on chopped onion and setting in fridge for 20 min or longer till juice comes out) and finally a large spoon of raw organic honey. mix all together in pan on stove till warm not boiling. Drink with plenty of water after. Will be spicy but sweet and tangy. Does not taste near as bad as it sounds! My 5yr old son started pouring out snot after one dose and stopped coughing right away! I gave him one more dose that night and he slept through the night. I gave him one more the next day and he went back to school the following day!!
When I was using these ingredients on myself. I increased the amounts, 1 tsp instead of 1/2 etc. use common sense. Thank you earth clinic for helping me through trial and error figure out a magic potion to heal myself and my baby! Medicine in your cupboard, I tell everyone. Thanks again and God bless!!!
Elderberry
Posted by Jae (Baltimore, Md) on 11/17/2009
★★★★★
My son had a bad cough and wheezing and we used elderberry syrup and it went away quickly.
Vicks
Posted by Ranjana (Arlington, Tx Usa) on 09/14/2009
★★★★★
I have had wonderful success with coughs for my child with this. I slather the vicks on his feet, put on socks and the coughing stops immediately for 6 plus hours, so we can all get a good nights sleep. If he wakes up coughing, I repeat this, and the coughing stops again. I have not figured out how to stop the cough in the daytime. Have had some success with honey with a pinch of black pepper.
Vicks
Posted by Domesticruby (Prague, Czech Republic) on 09/05/2009
★★★★★
Yes!! Vicks worked on my 6 year old and almost instantly!!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Brenda (Ottawa, ON Canada) on 05/30/2009
★★★★★
3% HP cured bad cough
May 29, 2009
My 14 year old son tried the inhale method below with much success. He woke up with a sore throat in the morning. He took the cayenne pepper in orange juice to get rid of the sore throat. It worked like a charm!! Then he asked me if there was a good remedy for a cough. I found your info on using a 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide and thought we would give it a try. I had 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide in the house so I mixed it up according to the direction: 2oz of 35% HP with 22 oz of distilled water = 3% HP. We put it into misting bottles and he proceeded to inhale this in the evening. He woke up early Saturday morning feeling much better! His sore throat is gone, and his cough is almost gone too. This stuff is awesome!! I feel this would be totally effective on any kind of Swine/Bird flu. We are grateful for this wonderful web site!
Cheers, Brenda
Onions
Posted by Willowone (Athens, GA) on 05/02/2009
★★★★★
Onions for cough and congestion: My first child was colicky and had several colds with congestion. The doctors gave him antibiotics that did not seem to help. I felt like the cold went away on its own. My grandmother told me about the onions. My second and third children never had to take antibiotics. I would take a onion or part of onion about the size of a golf ball and grate up in a bowl.Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Cover and put in the fridge for 45 minutes. The sugar draws the syrup out of the onion. I would then take a dropper full and give to the child. It does not taste bad (try it yourself). It clears their chests and helps them sleep. I never had a problem with using it. Now when I feel like I am getting a cold I always eat more raw onions.
Onions
Posted by Marcela (Mexico) on 03/01/2009
★★★★★
Hi, my toddler had been coughing a little at night and after waking up, for several weeks now, but the last two days it was getting worse, so I decided to try two remedies at once: I cut an onion in half and put one half in a dish on his night table. And I spritzed a little Apple Cider Vinegar on both sides of his pillow. He coughed once, and then nothing. Slept through the whole night without a single cough. Upon waking up he coughed a little bit but nothing like the days before.
My husband is also recovering from some bad sinusitis and he began coughing last night as well, so once we saw that it worked for our little boy, we tried the same with him, only both halves of a (freshly cut) onion. And it was like pressing the "mute" button! No more coughing till like 5 a.m. I think the vapors wear off and it wasn't enough for the entire night for my husband, so tonight I'll try slicing another chunk off the onion when the cough restarts.
I had previously tried just the onion or just the Apple Cider Vinegar but I hadn't noticed much improvement. With both it was a really dramatic change, a mute button!
Garlic, Honey, Lime
Posted by Marcela (Malge Mountain, Utah, Usa) on 12/22/2008
★★★★★
My son 7 years old and he had a bad cough the kind that would not let anyone sleep..i heard about the garlic honey and lime..i blended 6 cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons of 100% bee honey and 2 big limes..this will last a few days..i gave my son 1 small tablespoon and right away calmed his coughing..he did not cough at all and when i heard him cough i gave hime another dosage..for three days i gave him this remedy and now he doesn't cough at all..
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kim (Spokane, WA) on 12/11/2008
★★★★★
My son is 5 yrs old and had a nasty cough for almost 2 months. So bad he would wake up in the middle of the night and cough to the point of vomiting. Being desperate I looked on line and came upon this site with all the testimonies. The next morning I gave him a mixture of 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 Tablespoon of honey in 1/2 cup of hot water. Within 5 mins it worked. He now drinks it 3 times a day. I couldn't believe after spending alot of money on many different over-the-counter medication that there was a simple solution at home. Thanks
Onions
Posted by Faith (Louisville, KY) on 12/03/2008
★★★★★
When I was younger, around 10 or 11 years old, I went with my grandma to visit her relatives. I think I caught cold during that time because I played outside a lot in the snow with my cousins.
When the night came, I was coughing non-stop. No body could sleep because of me. Needless to say that we were at some village far from civilization, lol, and they could not take me to the doctor. Well, in the middle of the night, the lady of the house got up and came to me asking me to get up and eat some onion. Nooo!!! I hated onions. But, she talked me into eating some. I wrapped it in a piece of bread and swallowed quickly without chewing. Amazingly, I did not cough at all for the rest of the night.
I think it really worked, and I tried it few times later in my life. It is not pleasant to eat raw onions, but it will help you, that is for sure.
Now, when I get sick and cough, I cut up a whole onion and mix it with cottage cheese and some sour cream add some salt and eat it like a salad. It tastes so much better and helps me get rid of the cold much faster.
Vicks
Posted by Kristin (Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA) on 07/26/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I've tried the Vicks remedy several times on my 6 year old daughter. It has never worked for her.
