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Category: > Recipes > This Homemade Natural Cough Syrup Recipe Helps Remove Phlegm From The Lungs

This Homemade Natural Cough Syrup Recipe Helps Remove Phlegm From The Lungs

Feb 17, 2025 Carly Fraser Save For Later Print

Last Updated: Jan 06, 2026

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Homemade cough syrup recipe.  Made from lemon, ginger, sage, licorice and marshmallow.

If you’ve ever reached for an over-the-counter cough syrup only to feel groggy, wired, or worse—no relief at all—you’re not alone. Conventional cough syrups are often loaded with artificial colors, high-fructose corn syrup, and synthetic drugs that do little more than suppress your symptoms. But here’s the thing: your body isn’t making you cough to annoy you—it’s trying to clear out mucus, irritants, and pathogens.

That’s why natural remedies, like this homemade cough syrup, work with your body rather than against it. Using time-tested herbs and healing ingredients, this syrup will help loosen mucus, soothe your throat, and support your immune system without the harmful additives.

Understanding the Two Types of Coughs

Before choosing the right remedy, it’s important to identify what type of cough you have:

1. Dry Cough

  • Also called a non-productive cough, as it doesn’t produce mucus.

  • Often caused by irritation, allergies, or viral infections.

  • Can lead to throat discomfort, soreness, and inflammation.

  • Best treated with soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like honey, marshmallow root, and licorice root.

2. Productive Cough

  • Also called a wet cough, as it brings up mucus from the lungs.

  • Typically caused by respiratory infections, colds, or chronic conditions like bronchitis.

  • Helps clear the airways but can become excessive and uncomfortable.

  • Best treated with expectorants like ginger, licorice root, and lemon to help loosen mucus.

By recognizing whether you have a dry or productive cough, you can tailor natural remedies to effectively ease your symptoms and promote healing.

The Hidden Dangers of Over-the-Counter Cough Syrups

Most conventional cough syrups don’t actually heal your cough. Instead, they suppress your body’s natural response, making it harder to clear mucus and fight infections. Here are some of the biggest concerns:

1. Toxic Ingredients

Many store-bought syrups contain artificial dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, and preservatives that can burden your liver and immune system.

2. Suppression Instead of Healing

Coughing is a natural reflex designed to expel mucus and irritants from your lungs. Suppressing a cough with medication can prolong illness and lead to congestion buildup.

3. Side Effects

Common side effects of conventional cough syrups include:

  • Drowsiness or hyperactivity (depending on the formula)

  • Dizziness

  • Nausea

  • Increased heart rate (from ingredients like dextromethorphan)

With these risks in mind, it makes sense to turn to a natural remedy that supports your body’s healing rather than working against it.

The Benefits of a Homemade Natural Cough Syrup

This DIY cough syrup isn’t just about avoiding harmful ingredients—it’s packed with benefits that actively help your body heal. Here’s what it can do:

1. Loosens Mucus

Certain herbs and ingredients, like licorice root and ginger, act as expectorants, helping to thin and loosen mucus so your body can easily expel it.

2. Soothes Throat Irritation

Honey, marshmallow root, and lemon have natural anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that coat the throat, reducing pain and irritation.

3. Boosts Immunity

Ingredients like lemon and honey provide antimicrobial properties and vitamin C to help your body fight off infection more effectively.

4. 100% Natural & Safe

No artificial ingredients, no harmful side effects—just pure, healing herbs and natural compounds.

The Power of Natural Ingredients

Each ingredient in this homemade cough syrup serves a purpose. Let’s take a closer look:

Licorice Root

Licorice root is a powerhouse when it comes to respiratory health. It acts as a natural expectorant, helping to loosen and expel mucus while also soothing throat irritation. This makes it especially useful for both dry and productive coughs. Its anti-inflammatory properties help calm the airways, reducing coughing fits and discomfort.

Ginger

Ginger, well known for its warming and anti-inflammatory effects, plays a crucial role in breaking up mucus and clearing congestion. It stimulates circulation and opens up the airways, making it easier to breathe. Plus, its immune-boosting properties support your body’s ability to fight off infections.

Lemon

Lemon brings a refreshing zing to this syrup while offering a hefty dose of vitamin C. It works as a natural antiseptic, helping to kill bacteria and viruses that contribute to coughs and colds. Lemon also acts as a natural mucolytic, meaning it helps break down thick mucus so your body can eliminate it more easily.

Sage

Sage has long been used in herbal medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to ease throat discomfort while also providing a powerful defense against respiratory infections. Its ability to reduce inflammation in the airways makes it an excellent addition to this healing syrup.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root is one of the best natural demulcents, meaning it forms a protective coating over irritated tissues. This is particularly beneficial for soothing a scratchy throat and reducing persistent coughing. Its mucilage content provides deep relief, keeping your throat hydrated and preventing further irritation.

Raw Honey

Raw honey not only enhances the flavor of this syrup but also adds potent antibacterial and antiviral properties. It coats the throat, reducing irritation and providing immediate relief. Rich in antioxidants, honey supports overall healing and boosts your immune response.

Homemade cough syrup recipe. Made from lemon, ginger, sage, licorice and marshmallow.

Homemade Natural Cough Syrup Recipe

A homemade natural cough syrup recipe to relieve a tired throat and excess mucus.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups hot water
  • 2 tsbp dried licorice root
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 1 tsp marshmallow root
  • 1 tbsp raw honey

Method
 

  1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
  2. Add licorice root, ginger, sage, and marshmallow root.
  3. Reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat, strain, and stir in lemon juice and honey.
  5. Pour into a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to one week.

Notes

How to Use:

  • Take 1–2 tablespoons as needed throughout the day.
  • For best results, take a spoonful in the morning to clear mucus and before bed to soothe nighttime coughing.
  • Pair with warm herbal tea and hydration for added relief.

Additional Lung-Healing Remedies

To maximize your recovery, try these natural remedies alongside your homemade cough syrup:

1. Steam Inhalation

  • Add eucalyptus or peppermint oil to a bowl of hot water.

  • Drape a towel over your head and inhale deeply for 5–10 minutes.

  • Helps break up stubborn mucus and open airways.

2. Herbal Teas for Mucus Relief

  • Mullein tea: Soothes inflamed lungs and helps clear mucus.

  • Licorice root tea: Acts as a natural expectorant.

  • Thyme tea: Antibacterial and excellent for respiratory health.

3. Hydration & Diet Tips

  • Drink plenty of warm fluids to keep mucus thin and moving.

  • Avoid dairy and processed foods, which can increase mucus production.

  • Eat anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, turmeric, and garlic

The Bottom Line

Coughing is a sign that your body is working hard to clear out irritants and heal. Instead of suppressing this natural response with chemical-laden syrups, give your body the support it needs with this healing, homemade remedy.

By using natural expectorants, soothing herbs, and immune-boosting ingredients, you can ease your symptoms without harming your body. Plus, making your own cough syrup ensures that you’re in control of the ingredients—no hidden toxins, no unwanted side effects, just pure, healing goodness.

Try this homemade cough syrup and let me know how it works for you! If you have your own go-to natural remedies for coughs and mucus, share them in the comments—I’d love to hear what works for you.

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Filed Under: Drinks, Herbs & Spices, Recipes Tagged With: cough, lungs, remedy

Carly Fraser

About the Author

Carly Fraser has her BSc (Hons.) Degree in Neuroscience, and is the owner and founder at Live Love Fruit. She currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a determined life mission to help inspire and motivate individuals to critically think about what they put in their bodies and to find balance through nutrition and lifestyle. She has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals to re-connect with their bodies and learn self-love through proper eating habits and natural living. She loves to do yoga, dance, and immerse herself in nature.

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Comments

  1. Robin Griffin says

    Jan 2, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    Thank you I will try this for my friend who is always coughing up junk

    Reply
  2. Bella Uí Bhaoill says

    Jan 3, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    Hi, I was wondering if this remedy can be given thread a feeling tube, Thank You

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jan 8, 2020 at 9:59 am

      I’d check with your doctor about that.

      Reply

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