If you (or your kids) are battling a lingering cough, you might want to give this all-natural remedy a whirl – its effectiveness might surprise you.
Australian mum-of-two, Carol Heaton, recently explained to
Kidspot how a family member had shared an old-school home remedy recipe with her after her 8-month-old son had fell sick with a cold he just couldn't seem to shake.
“When we were on holidays visiting family in Canada my son Zavier got really sick. He had an ear infection for which he was taking antibiotics and was terribly congested and coughing, Heaton told the website.
“I tried putting a baby balm on his chest, keeping him hydrated and used a saline spray for his nose. There is not much out there you can give a young baby for the common cold.”
After nothing seemed to do the job, Heaton explains how a family member mentioned an old-school DIY remedy using only natural ingredients, and how she decided to give it a try.
“My family insisted on me trying this old remedy on him – an onion sugar cough syrup. It has been used in my family for many years, my mum used to give this to us when we were kids. I was desperate to help him feel better and for some sleep myself.”
And the mixture delivered.
Within hours, the 8-month-old was bringing up phlegm, which ultimately eased his congestion in his chest.
“He was sleeping better at night and the coughing started to ease too. To say I was amazed would be an understatement. Wow, something that actually works,” Heaton said.
“It's a great recipe because it's easy to do, two ingredients which you have sitting in your pantry or fridge. It's quick acting and all natural. And the most important part is that it actually works.”
Fancy trying this at home?
"Onion Sugar Syrup"
For: Coughs and congestion (suitable for babies 6 months+ and toddlers)
Ingredients
- 1 large brown onion peeled
- 3 heaped tablespoons of white granulated sugar
- Small plate
Method
Cut the onion into large slices, sprinkle the sugar over the onions. Let this sit on a small plate or a small bowl for a few hours until you see the juice from the onion start to collect at the bottom of the plate. Give a spoonful to the child every hour, it has a nice sweet taste which babies love. It is best to make this syrup fresh every day and store in the fridge.
Why this works?
Onion is a natural expectorant and can help to rid the lungs of congestion by thinning out secretions. It has long been used as a natural cold remedy. Not to mention the other added benefits of onions as an immune booster as it contains both vitamin c and phytochemicals, which increase the effectiveness of vitamin c in your body.
(Feature image via Archerfriendly.com)
