Amish Cough Syrup is an old-fashioned homemade cough syrup recipe that is used to help calm coughs, soothe sore throats, and curtail congestion. While the origin and original recipe of this kitchen pantry remedy is a mystery, many of its ingredients have been used for decades, even centuries, to cut the common cold short. Amish Cough Syrup is an easy and inexpensive 5-ingredient syrup that will help you and your family conquer colds all year long.
Medicinal Benefits of Ingredients
Lemons
Lemons are rich in antioxidants vitamin C and flavonoids. The combination of these two powerful nutrients helps support the body’s natural defenses and promote health and well-being. Containing natural antiviral and antibacterial properties, lemons are reported to weaken cold and flu viruses, reduce phlegm and shorten the length of illness.
Onions
Considered to be one of the most powerful natural antibiotics, onions are an immune-boosting superfood packed with vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and sulfur compounds that ease cold and flu symptoms mucus, and throat irritation. Vitamin C, as mentioned above, helps fight off foreign invaders that pose the risk of viral and bacterial infections. Zinc prevents viral cells from multiplying and lodging in the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Selenium helps lower oxidative stress in the body, reduces inflammation, and enhances immunity. And lastly, sulfur compounds help fight the production of mucus in the airways.
Honey
Honey is a centuries-old remedy used to soothe common cold symptoms due to its many anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. It is a mixture of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, like iron and zinc. Studies have shown honey, specifically, manuka honey (1), may suppress cough and sore throat symptoms even better than diphenhydramine, a common active ingredient found in over-the-counter cold medications.
Blackberry Brandy
Blackberry brandy has been a longtime trusted cold fighter for several decades due to its antibacterial components coming from its high alcohol content. What makes blackberry brandy a famous old-timey tonic is its antioxidant activity produced by the copper that is used during the distillation process. As the fruit wine goes through column distillation to become the beloved spirit, copper produces a by-product of vitamin C – our favorite infamous immune-boosting vitamin.
Peppermint Schnapps
The key cold-fighting ingredient in peppermint schnapps is surprisingly not alcohol, but menthol – an ingredient found in several plants and herbs, including peppermint, basil, and sage. What started as a popular herbal medicine, menthol quickly gained the attention of medical doctors who began conducting experiments on it as early as 1885. Today, menthol is recognized as a type of drug therapy for treating symptoms of the common cold. Menthol is an effective decongestant and expectorant. Not only does menthol help shrink swollen membranes in the nose to make it easier to breathe, but it also loosens mucus in the lungs and respiratory system to alleviate coughs.
Comes in a large 2oz Dropper bottle. Store in a cool dark place at room temperature.
Take 20 drops 4-6 daily every 4-6 hours as a cold remedy. For preventive maintenance, use 10 drops daily before bed.
