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    Home » Recipes » Cold And Cough Remedies

    Honey And Garlic Elixir For Cough And Cold

    Modified: Dec 7, 2023 · Published: Feb 21, 2020 by Shelby Stover · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text, and image of Mason jar with cinnamon, honey and garlic cloves and a wooden spoon pulling out a scoop
    Pin image with text and two images of a mason jar with honey, garlic, and cinnamon sticks, one image close up.

    Sick isn’t an option when you’re a busy mom. Soothe a scratchy throat and combat winter blues with this simple yet effective honey and garlic elixir. This homemade remedy is a comforting cough drop, and uses the natural properties of honey and garlic to help ease the onset of a cough and keeps you feeling your best!

    Mason jar with cinnamon, honey and garlic cloves with more cinnamon sticks behind it.

    When it comes to being sick, I just can’t. I run two and a half businesses from home and have super young kids.

    Life can’t just “go on hold” for me to feel better! Even without fitness being a priority it’s chaos around here.

    So as a Certified Nutrition Coach, when I feel a scratchy throat coming on I reach for this honey and garlic elixir as well as a few other natural cough and cold remedies I keep on hand (see below).

    Made with only three ingredients and definitely potent, this honey and garlic elixir is both heavenly and tasty, just like these homemade cough drops.

    Plus, the elixir takes two minutes to whip up before it sits on your counter for a few days (or multiple days because you forget about it). So even the busiest of us have time for this honey and garlic for coughs!!

    Why You'll Love It

    • 3 main ingredients only and you probably already have them
    • Made in just two minutes before letting it sit
    • Versatile: you can alter the flavor of the honey and garlic for coughs a bit for preference
    • Though you can just grab some off a spoon you can also make it into a salad dressing for frequent use

    Why Honey And Garlic

    Raw honey is one of those “cure-alls” with a ton of benefits that I actually love.

    I’ve used it on everything from cuts to sore throats and bloody knees to desserts. There is ALWAYS some in the house.

    Honey is:

    • Antibacterial
    • Antifungal
    • Soothing
    • Great for digestion

    And honey when for a cough and cold is even better.

    It’s why I make homemade honey cough drops at the start of winter. It just feels extremely good when you feel a scratchy sore throat.

    And while I love the DIY cough drops, that honey has been heated. So while they’re great for soothing you won’t get all the bacterial benefits of leaving it raw (like in this homemade elderberry cough syrup or homemade fire cider).

    Which is why this honey and garlic elixir is important. The honey never gets heated and so it retains all the benefits.

    Garlic, the other key component to this magic sore throat remedy.

    Garlic is:

    • Antibacterial
    • An immune system boost
    • Potent

    My grandma used to always say to eat a clove of garlic if you think you’re getting sick. Works every time. Well, I tried it, and actually chewing into garlic was scarring haha.

    Which is why this sore throat remedy is key. The honey makes you not cry when you try to eat garlic and the garlic infuses into the honey to help your throat.

    Add in some cinnamon because yum and you’re set!

    Sources used in this blog post: benefits of honey, benefits of cinnamon, health benefits garlic.

    Natural Cough And Cold Prevention

    One thing to note is that while there are tools to help ease the intensity and symptoms of a cold, the best thing is to not get sick in the first place!

    To do that make sure you:

    • Keep hydrated always (learn how to drink more water)
    • Focus on nutrients not calories
    • Keep your gut healthy with probiotics and fermented foods
    • Opt for immune-boosting healthy foods like mushrooms, turmeric, protein and garlic regularly (learn how to increase your protein intake).

    This garlic and honey elixir is a great staple but it’s not a cure-all.

    Note: I also use a lot of bone broth to both fight colds and prevent them! It's actually one of my most recommended foods for toddlers because it's so healing.

    However, making homemade broth takes TIME (a lot of it!) which I'm slightly limited on. So while I do strive to make my own I also make use of two-time savers:

    • I use bone broth powder from perfect supplements (use code mamabear10 to save some money) normally whisked into something (or even snuck into a gut healing smoothie!)
    • I also use Kettle & Fire pre-made bone broth (I like straight-up chicken or the turmeric one!) because it's pre-made and their quality is so high (simmered for ten hours!).
    Chocolate smoothie in a glass with toddler hands holding it.

    The Cough And Cold Elixir & Kids

    Yes, I have totally given this to my kids. However, they’re not a fan of garlic. I did try crushing and blending the garlic so it was smoother in the honey but it took too much work.

    However, since I know that the honey absorbs the garlic after it’s sat a few days, I now just give them a bit of the honey when their throat is bugging them. It’s soothing, comforting and no kid will refuse honey.

    I also sneak bone broth into them wherever I can which is normally in the form of this awesome bone broth powder because who has time to consistently make bone broth year round?!

    Other Cold & Flu Remedies I Use

    And as a mom, being sick is even worse! It’s not like you can laze around and watch Netflix all day (or at least not the shows you want!) and if your throat hurts you can’t exactly stop speaking with a toddler ????

    Which means I do everything in my power to keep myself healthy. I’m a huge supporter of:

    • Gut-Boosting Homemade Gummy Bears
    • fire cider tonic (my full fire cider recipe)
    • Homemade elderberry cough syrup
    • good old fashioned, super healthy eating
    • Spirulina and chlorella tablets (use code mamabear) to give the immune system a crazy boost (learn more about algae)
    • Gut healing smoothie
    • Homemade cough drops

    Ingredients In The Garlic And Honey Elixir

    • 20 garlic bulbs, peeled & sliced
    • ¾ cup raw, unpasteurized honey
    • 1 long stick of cinnamon

    Don't Forget To Pin This Honey And Garlic Elixir For Cough and Cold!

    Pin image with text and two images of a mason jar with honey, garlic, and cinnamon sticks, one image close up.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Garlic And Honey For Coughs

    What does garlic and honey do for the body?

    Both garlic and honey are antibacterial which means they help fight inflammation and keep you healthy. Honey itself is extremely soothing on sore or dry throats. So, the combo together is a great one to take during cold season.

    How long can you leave garlic in honey?

    If stored at room temperature to ferment, you can leave the garlic in honey for about 90 days. After that, you can either remove the garlic and leave the honey in a cool dark place or store the entire thing in the fridge.

    Mason jar with cinnamon, honey and garlic cloves and a wooden spoon pulling out a scoop

    Honey & Garlic Cough & Cold Elixir

    Shelby Stover
    An easy, three-ingredient recipe containing honey and garlic to ease cough and sore throat symptoms.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    4 days d
    Total Time 4 days d 5 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20
    Calories 44 kcal

    Video

    Equipment

    • Wide Mouth Mason Jar

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 cloves garlic peeled & sliced
    • ¾ cup raw honey
    • 1 large cinnamon stick

    Instructions
     

    • Peel the garlic
    • Place the cinnamon and garlic in a mason jar.
    • Pour honey over top of the garlic.
    • Cover with a lid and let sit on the counter for four days.
    • Once it's "done" you can place it in the fridge to keep.
    • To use: pop a clove of garlic or a teaspoon of honey into your mouth when you feel a cold or sore throat coming on.

    Notes

    Note: I originally made this with whole garlic cloves. However, eating the whole clove of garlic was not... delicious. Slicing them makes it much more practical.
    Recent knowledge bomb: it turns out that the darker the honey the more healing it is (said by a bee farm I went too!). If at all possible, get a buckwheat based honey or a darker blend.
    Disclaimer:

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

    Nutrition

    Calories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cold and flu, garlic, remedy
    Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!
    garlic and honey elixir in a mason jar with cinnamon

    An easy, immune-boosting recipe to help naturally ease and prevent cough and colds.

    Use this honey and garlic elixir when you feel a scratchy throat coming on and give your system a fighting chance!

    More Cold And Cough Remedies

    • Jar with brown honey and onions in it.
      Homemade Honey Onion SyrupFor Coughs
    • Homemade sore throat lozenges in a tipped over jar and in a silicone mold with dried elderberries around it.
      Elderberry Cough Drops Recipe For Sore Throat Relief
    • Homemade elderberry syrup in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, honey and elderberries around it.
      Elderberry Cough Syrup Recipe With Cinnamon And Honey
    • Fire Cider in a Jar with a lid on a distressed wood table.
      Homemade Fire Cider Recipe For Cough & Cold

    Comments

    1. Vladka says

      January 14, 2023 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      Such a potent elixir with immune-boosting properties that it is really easy to make. Moreover, all ingredients are in my pantry!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 14, 2023 at 2:11 pm

        Haha it's nice to have on hand that's for sure!

        Reply
    2. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says

      January 14, 2023 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      I found this at just the right time because we are passing around a family cold right now. I tried it out last night and it was refreshing and soothing!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 14, 2023 at 2:11 pm

        Ugh cold season is hitting it hard this year. This stuff is POTENT but it works!

        Reply
    3. Sara says

      January 14, 2023 at 11:45 am

      5 stars
      With kids in the house, I feel like we are alwaaaaays sick, so this is a recipe I've wanted to try for a while. I made it for my husband and me (both sick with colds) and it was amazing for our sore throats. We stored the rest away in a jar for when we are, inevitably, sick again.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 14, 2023 at 2:11 pm

        Haha I feel the same. Ah I'm so happy to hear it! It's a hard flavor combo but it works! Feel better!

        Reply
    4. Erin says

      January 14, 2023 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      My son just got sick, so I made this in hopes of keeping myself healthy! I love how quick and easy this recipe is. Fingers crossed it works! 🙂 How long does it stay good in the fridge?

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 17, 2023 at 8:13 pm

        Aw I hope he gets better soon! I had mine in the fridge for 5 months and it stayed okay, just don't get water into it and it should be fine.
        🙂

        Reply
    5. Lara says

      January 14, 2023 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for my boyfriend because he's been traveling so much and came back with a sore throat. In a few days he was back to normal and never got sick. Definitely keeping this on hand!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 17, 2023 at 8:21 pm

        Wahoo! Happy to hear it!

        Reply
    6. Traci says

      January 14, 2023 at 10:09 pm

      We’ve got the cold and flu going around and this was so helpful! Loved it and it helped us so much!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 17, 2023 at 8:15 pm

        Nooo! I hope yyou heal up quickly!

        Reply
    7. Lisa says

      June 01, 2023 at 1:07 pm

      5 stars
      This elixir really works to soothe a throat and help with coughs. It's much better than a store-bought blend.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 03, 2023 at 10:29 am

        And so easy to make!

        Reply
    8. Elizabeth S says

      June 01, 2023 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      This is potent (in the best way possible)! I can feel it working the second I eat it. I will always have this in the house to avoid big pharma.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 03, 2023 at 10:29 am

        It's such a great one to have on hand.

        Reply
    9. Jane says

      June 01, 2023 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      I love this! I've been using honey and garlic for a while now, but I never thought to add it to an elixir. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 03, 2023 at 10:29 am

        Haha two birds one stone!

        Reply
    10. Janice says

      June 01, 2023 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      This honey garlic elixir just came at the perfect time, as my kids are currently battling a cold. Last night, I decided to give it a shot, and it works! Such a lifesaver!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 03, 2023 at 10:29 am

        It's great on their throats, glad it helped!

        Reply
    11. Jessica says

      June 01, 2023 at 9:53 pm

      5 stars
      While I personally love all the flavors in this elixir, I had my doubts about whether or not my kids would find it palatable. But they do! I feel so much better about giving this to them than some store-bought cough drops made with artificial colors and flavors.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 03, 2023 at 10:30 am

        It's definitely a challenge with kiddos but thank god for honey lol

        Reply
    12. Allie says

      July 24, 2023 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I really like to try new homeopathic remedies and this elixir actually worked! I was feeling a little under the weather last week with a sore throat and took a spoonful and felt better the next day. Definitely going to keep this on hand for the fam this fall and winter.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:58 pm

        So happy it worked for you!

        Reply
    13. Sharina says

      July 24, 2023 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      This is a very effective and convenient cough and cold remedy! I can't sleep whenever kids are sick, but with this amazing honey and garlic elixir, we can all sleep soundly!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:58 pm

        Ah, total win!

        Reply
    14. LIndsey says

      July 24, 2023 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      This is the remedy that I keep coming back to. I've used your recipe for years and it works every single time. I keep the cloves whole because I'm lazy and nothing tastes as unpleasant and a cold feels lol

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:59 pm

        Haha I feel you on the lazy lol love it! Thanks for following along for so long!

        Reply
    15. Rini says

      July 24, 2023 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      This elixir was not only delicious, it was also very effective. I felt a scratchy throat and was feeling a little run down. This elixir was a great pick-me-up and my throat feels much better.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:59 pm

        Literally the best pick me up!

        Reply
    16. Ali says

      July 24, 2023 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      I felt GREAT and ready to tackle life back again the next day! 10/10 recommend! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:59 pm

        Wahoo!

        Reply
    5 from 15 votes

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    Welcome!

    I'm Shelby, a Certified Strength & Nutrition Coach who has spent the last 10 years helping women feel more comfortable in their skin though home strength training and healthy food- no diets, no shortcuts

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